The Dano-built 1444 was the longest available member of a four-member family
of Silvertone basses that was proceeded by the very scarce two-pickup 1373 6-string bass, then followed by the single
p/u 1442 and two p/u 1443 starting in Spring of 1966, lasting only until S/S
'68, when the MIJ guitars (and basses) took over.
Click for catalog listings
The 1444
bass was the very first 4-string electric bass offered by
Sears. Featuring the Dano 'U' style body with the rounded neck cutaway
and aluminum cavity cover, and a four-string version of the
famous Dano bridge, the 1444 held
down the bottom end for 7 strong years. The 1444 was also the last of the 'U'
body-shape instruments to appear in the Sears catalog. Initially offered with
the rare 1473 combo bass amp from '59 to mid-'63, the 1483 through mid-'66, then
listed solely with a case for the remainder of its available life.
Introduced:
Fall/Winter 1959
Retired:
Spring/Summer
1966
