October 2009

10/30-31

As expected, not a huge Hallowe'en, that's OK, though; it was an interesting October, and if you haven't looked it over I encourage you to. It's all downwhill from here... it'll be New Year's before you know it!

831 ukulele VG $51  Skier design, clean, light wear, tuners tight, script logo strong


1495 Teisco MIJ HBEG Bass $67 Clean, minimal wear, stylized 'SR' logo, some pitting to tuners, rest of chrome shiny/clean, small ding on scroll, original strap incl.


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only VG $550 Clean, minimal wear,  chrome shiny, (1) knob insert worn/discolored


1466 Dano Solid State amp only G $150 Front panel rough, rusty handle captures, rusty power transistor covers, tape residue around logo, alligator clips on speaker lead, seller claims  'great tone'


1448 Dano SSEG guitar 1457 ampcase G $300 Guitar has plenty of edge wear, NS knobs, amp covering has light wear and a few big scrapes, tremolo doesn't work, footswitch incl.


1481 Dano tube amp F $322 Round speaker cutout, covering roughed up a good bit, grille is OK with no major snags/picks,  the most corroded logoplate I've ever seen, tone knob missing, back panel present, handle captures show some rust


1400 Microphone G $55  Clean, NS replacement 1/4" plug



Parts is parts...

Here's the last of that de-constructed 'Chris Isaak' model:

1446 Parts
(4) Knobs: $51



Tuners: $30


1487 Teisco MIJ SBEG pickguard $3 Electronics only, no knobs, no pickup, untested



Cant finish up the month without one more mystery f-hole! Little bit of wear, no pickguard, pretty clean.
Sold for $235.




If you haven't visited yet, make sure you check out the gallery of FRANKENTONE guitars and amps

Hey, you wanna see Frankenstein play a Japanese-made 1437? Then check out the video for my friend Paul Johnson's "Frankenstein Island!" Oh, yeah... Frankie's got a bank of 1474s, too! Yeah, OK... I animated this.

10/29

Yesterday was a nice grab bag, but today we start off with one of the rarest Silvertones around, and in great shape, too! It's one of those groovy Harmony-built H42 'Newport'-based guitars from the fine folks over at VintageSilvertones.com, and was a real treat to see. Another treat was the Country Gentleman clone 1475 in fine shape that went for less than 4 bills! Also in today's mix yet another baritone uke (what's up with so many of those lately?), a project-grade 'Beatle' bass, a few nice amps, and a road-worn 1444 Dano-built bass.

Have a great Hallowe'en weekend! I'll be closing out October on Sunday afternoon with some $$$/item totals and see you in November!

UNK Harmony SBEG VG $1225 Clean, light edge flaking, light crazing, some playing wear at 1st 2 fret positions, bridge repaired, deco logo strong



This next guitar and the 1463 Solid State 35 amp sold a little further down used to be a pair; both found at an estate and demo'd together by their former owner... kinda sad to see 'em split up after all these years. *sniff*

1475 Teisco MIJ HBEG w/ C VG $372  Clean, light wear all over, whammy intact with wood inlay still present, goldtone finish eroding off hardware, binding tight, "#189" scratched into back of headstock.


856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele VG $128 Very clean, minimal wear, binding looks good, tuners tight, logo strong


1495 Teisco MIJ HBEG Bass $67 Sold as a project; no pickups/electronics, no tailpiece, logo looks good, bridge is present, tuners and neckplate show some pitting, some edge flaking, back has a nice grain pattern but also a long scratch


1444 Dano SSEG Bass G $299 Surface wear, edge wear, pickguard missing, major playing wear to neck, logo is present but dirty/corroded, NS access cover


1245 Kay FHAC G $79  Clean,  high action, bow to neck, light edge wear to headstock, some edge flaking, pickguard and truss rod cover missing, NS tuners/bridge/tailpiece



This next amp was paired with the model 1475 'Country Gentleman' clone sold above throughout its working life.

1463 Dano solid state amp and speaker cabinet G $175 Some edge and corner wear to both amp and cab, grille looks good, stock Jensen speaker present, handles present, back panel present


1483 Dano tube amp w/ speaker cabinet G $295 Clean covering on both amp and cab with just a few 'small tears,' control face 'could use a good polishing,' grille looks good , some 'crackling' until amp warmup. All quotes from seller.


1483 Dano speaker cabinet only G $105 Light edge/corner wear, some water staining evident inside/on back, grille looks good, amp keepers in place, speaker present and in working order


1481 Dano tube amp G $213 Square speaker cutout, clean covering and grille, some kind of input or output mod on back, adhesive seep through tone knob insert, NS back panel


605 Harmony FTAC G $34 Looks OK from the limited views provided, deco logo strong, seller ID'd it as mid-'70s vintage; actually this design was early-mid '50s


603 harmony FTAC G $31 Looks OK from the limited views provided, logo strong, original owner, don't know what's up with the masking tape


10/29

1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet VG $550 Clean,  grille and logo tag look great, light rust to front panel, one corner on speaker cab damaged, rev/trem  functional, footswitch incl.


1256 MIJ Ukulele VG $25 Clean, light edge wear, still has MIJ sticker on back of head, stock machine heads, paper label and block logo clear


1482 Dano tube amp F $173 Round speaker cutout, beige over blue paintjob, some partial removal of the beige paint on top of amp, looks like grille was also painted,  amp works, trem status unknown


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $599 Clean guitar and amp, light edge wear to headstock, a few dark stains to outer covering of ampcase, no footswitch, (1) knob missing paper insert on amp


1448 Dano SSEG ampcase only F $61 Doesn't work (one tube doesn't light), handle missing, black spot on grille


Parts is Parts...

These all came from the same 600 series Harmony-built flattop, even though the seller ID'd them as all Kay parts.

600 series Parts:

Body: $38

Pickguard: $7

Bridge Assembly: $15 Screws, saddle, (4) of 6 endpins incl.


1485 Dano Tube Amp Knob only VG $30




Well, it's nice not to be leading off the "unknowns" with an f-hole acoustic, I must say. This is a weird one. Made In Japan, certainly has that weird serif'd font block logo that would be proper to a guitar of this era.  Roller bridge, but no obvious missing whammy arm. .Like I said; a weird one. This just in... the seller has confirmed that the sticker on the head tags it as a 1404! Doesn't look like the one in the 1969 Wish Book, though; the finish is different, the pickguard is different, the headstock design is subtly different with no logo, and it's got a 'straight' bridge. With its mishmash of parts, and only this single catalog listing, it's entirely possible that whatever parts were laying around were used to put out a low-end budget guitar for the '69 holiday season.
Clean, looks good, sold with a nice case for $115.




It's a Kay, and it's an f-hole acoustic... that's all I know. I don't think the bridge is original, and it's got a rusty tailpiece, bowed neck. Showing some edge wear and finish flaking. Stamped L 1551.and  N-2, sold for $100.



10/28

What an exciting Wednesday! Our first up today is a super-rare Silvertone 'Crest' model from the early 40s, and it's a great specimen. Then, we've got a wonderful Buck Owens 'American' model, and THEN, we've got a beautiful 'Hawaiian Girl' model ukulele,  a rare re-list from earlier in the month, a nice 'Black Beauty,' one lone amp, plus the parts to finish your 'Chris Isaak' 1446.

Don't forget to check out the new pages for the  633/1220/1221 Silvertone guitar, based on the Harmony 'Sovereign.'

291 Harmony FHAC w/ C VG $350 Some light surface wear, NS tuners, possible NS tailpiece, logo strong, binding looks great, neck tight


1219 Harmony FHAC VG $600 Some edge flaking, light playing wear, headstock laminate repro'd very nicely, neck tight. Note to sellers: please always include at least one full-length shot of your item!


852 Harmony Ukulele VG $100 Very clean, minimal wear, stencil clear and strong, finish looks great, neck joint sound, logo strong, tuners tight, one small 1.5" spot on back where back is lifting from side. Not bad for a five-decade old uke!


1322 Harmony HBEG w/ OC VG $356 Minimal wear, looks like mildew on pickup bezel, deco logo strong, slight neck separation, stamped 2099H55, electronics untested, this is a relisting from the 1st of the month


1385/1427 Harmony HBEG VG $1250 Clean, minimal wear, pickguard present but cracked, light oxidation to pickup covers, logo's a little 'bendy,'  selector switch tip missing. This guitar is the direct predecessor to the 1446.


1484 Dano tube amp only VG $329 Clean, minimal wear, rev/trem status unknown



These next four items sold separately; I generally ignore pickups, tuners, bridges, etc. that are described as 'Silvertone,' because so frequently, folks just call anything they can't determine the lineage of as a 'Silvertone' part. These, however, were obviously from a de-commissioned 'Chris Isaak' 1446, and all from the same seller. I'd never seen the back of the 1446 pickguard, so that was pretty cool; see the body bumpers and the reinforcing ribs underneath? Looks like the guitar these were taken from has about 4 days left on its auction.

1446 Parts
(2) Humbuckers: $103 apiece with unique mounting rings, both of these had the patent #2,737,842 rather than the 'Patent Applied For' stickers on back


Selector switch: $86With diamond-shaped mounting ring


Pickguard: $85 With mounting hardware and body bumpers.



10/27

A smattering of Silvertonium today; a lovely 1476, a couple of ampcases and their guitars and a few '60s era amps. Looks like Tuesday has taken the mantle of 'slow auction day' over from Wednesday. I do have some good news to report in that we have exciting new pages up for the Harmony-built, Sovereign-based 633/1220/1221 model!

1476 Harmony SBEG VG $400 Clean, playing wear to neck, lamination line on body, light edge wear to headstock, logo strong, chrome shiny


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG Guitar / G amp $330 Clean, a few light dings and some edge wear to guitar, V/T knob insert discoloration, grille staining, plenty of wear to outside of ampcase, inside OK, (1) NS tube


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only w/ C G $184 Wear to top, sidewalls clean, knob inserts discolored


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $342 Clean, logo worn away, looks like some chrome rubbed off pickup cover, (1) NS knob, stock knob missing paper insert, NS tuners, amp looks good


1484 Dano tube amp only G $244 Some edge/corner wear, weird residue on back chassis panel, sounds 'weak,' rev/trem work


1464 Dano Solid State amp and speaker cabinet $200 Amp does not work; blew fuses at power up, light grille staining, otherwise in good cosmetic shape, logoplate present on speaker cab, cord/amp keepers in place, covering clean


1472 Dano tube amp VG $375 Light edge/corner wear, dirty pots, no footswitch, tremolo status unknown, round speaker cutout, red border control panel with 'tremlo' misspell, light rust to xformers, grille looks good, speaker dated 1962


1482 Dano tube amp G $280 Square speaker cutout, clean, back panel missing, no footswitch, tremolo works, (2) NS Sovtek tubes, 3-prong AC mod


10/26

Wow, what a weekend! From a rare but rough 'Thin Twin' to a couple of Harmony-built 1454 models to another couple of early 'student' 608 guitars to an array of other guitars, amps and assorted parts, this weekend before Hallowe'en was probably the biggest of the month. I expect next weekend's offerings won't fare as well; smart sellers shouldn't have auctions ending on holidays, so I imagine next week will be a bit suppressed. That wasn't the case this past weekend, however... let's go!

1369 Kay SSEG w/ C G $1060 Finish flaking, NS knobs, black script headstock, back looks nice


1454 Harmony HBEG w/ C VG $515 Clean, minimal wear,  Bigsby intact, chrome shiny, logo strong, playing wear to fretboard at 'cowboy chord' area, playing wear on back on neck, serial #5675H1454, stamped F-65-M


1454 Harmony HBEG G $455 Finish flaking to sides, surface wear all over, (4) V/T knobs missing, (1) pot shaft broken, Bigsby intact, logo strong


1423 Harmony SSEG w/ C $307  Sold as a project, pickguard cracked, fretboard cracked at first fret, (1) NS knob, (1) knob and 'blender' switch missing, truss rod cover missing, NS tuners, bridge missing, jack area repaired


Wow! I don't see any of these 661 models in... um... forever, and then two in a month!

661 Kay FHAC $86 Sold as a project, no bridge, significant playing wear to finish, tuner buttons all but gone, tuner housings rusty, front binding tight, back binding pulling up at top and bottom, 'wind chime' logo strong


These 608s will fool you! Compare to a 604 further down the page and note the slightly different soundhole placement. 608 models were available from Spring/Summer 1959 through Spring/Summer 1961

608  Harmony FTAC VG $60 Clean, light edge wear, one owner who only strung w/ nylon strings, bottom strap button missing, unusual stamping of FL-59-NK


608  Harmony FTAC G $45 Clean, some edge wear front and back, playing wear to 'cowboy chord' area, stamped S-60


658 Kay FHAC w/ C  G $130 Weird residue on bass upper bout; very clean otherwise, block neck markers signify pre-68 model, logo strong, unusually stamped 57-658 and 52T


"There's somethin' happenin' here... what it is ain't exactly clear..." Well, I kinda hate to quote the Buffalo Springfield for something as ultimately trivial as this 1420 amp, but that was the first phrase that popped into my head! Weird mod on this 1420 caused all kinds of commotion on this auction. Nobody could quite figure out what it was all about, but I was interested to find out this thing had Silvertone branded tubes with a 'Japan' stamp on them as well (see last pics). Bought at the same time as the 1456 that follows it, but sold in separate auctions. Relisted in November sold for $103.

1420 Sears tube amp MOD $123 Clean, mod to circuitry (function unknown), speaker date-coded 1971
Relisted in November sold for $103.



1456 Teisco MIJ HBEG w/ C VG $275  Clean, chrome very shiny, original strap incl., whammy present, pickup mounting rings split, Space Dot 'SR' logo, stamped F-71-SW


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $350 Clean, V/T knob insert discoloration, light buckle rash, a few surface dings, light headstock wear, amp has grille discoloration, wear to amp mounting board, all stock tubes, corner/edge wear


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $299 Dusty, amp untested, transitional guitar;  three bolt neck but strip tuners and triangle knob inserts, still has cord retainer


1443   Dano SBEG Bass G $330 Edge wear, some finish checking, triangle neck plate, tailpiece cover present, repro logo, electronics re-soldered, string tree present, headstock broken/repaired, intermittent pickup selector, CTS pots date to 1967


1481 Dano tube amp F $73 Square speaker cutout, dirty, NS speaker and handle captures rusty, speaker needs edge re-foaming; foam ring incl.


1463 Dano solid state amp and speaker cabinet G $103 Clean amp, couple of scratches to face, speaker cab has handles present, NS speaker, corner wear, brass corner protectors on speaker cab


1448 Dano ampcase only G $78 Covering shows wear and a rip or two, rusty clasps, handle missing, rusty speaker cage, discolored volume knob (line insert)


1483 Dano tube amp only G $275 Minimal wear, front face clean with a mar on the 'Sears' silkscreen, (2) tubes missing, remaining tubes tested good


1482 Dano tube amp G $199 Square speaker cutout, 2-part baffle, edge and corner wear, speaker cage shows some rust, AC cord cut/taped, trem status unknown, no footswitch


1482 Dano tube amp VG $370 Square speaker cutout, light grille staining, otherwise clean, minimal wear, full set of NS Tung-Sol tubes (originals incl.), tremolo functional


758 Kay Mandolin w/ OC VG $130  Late 'Venetian' model w/ rare script logo, minimal wear, light checking below bridge, back grain very pretty, chrome parts shiny, stamped N-1


856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele G $82 Clean, a few surface dings/scratches, (2) unseparated cracks to back, binding and neck tight


856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele w/ OC F $40 Surface nicks and wear,  top cracked below bridge, looks like a cat got hold of the neck, logo strong, tuners loose


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet F $311 Front panels show rust dots, some knobs chipped, spkr. cab has plenty of wear and the grille has been painted, speaker connections masking taped, (1) speaker missing, rev/trem status unknown, amp does work


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet G $372 Front panels show light rust dots, edge wear to both cabinets, logo missing from speaker cabinet, speakers need re-wiring, rev/trem work, no footswitch


660 Kay Classical w/ C G $50 Significant fingerboard wear, possibly the most-played classical Silvertone I've ever seen! Sold middle of last month; guess the deal fell through.


Parts is Parts...

1444 Dano SSEG Bass body $140 Surface and edge wear, red-painted  pickguard, knobs, and bridge screws, pot codes read 1376510, dating the CTS pots to the 10th week of 1965, rounded neck cutaway


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar neck only $78 Early neck, two-bolt mount, strip tuners, serial dates to 21st week 1962, no nut


1446 Harmony HBEG body $100 Routed for normal-size humbuckers, no electronics or hardware, input jack hole is sound, binding is tight


640/642/644 Kay FHAC pickguard $25 Bracket incl., ca. late 1950s



Our first UNK is a Kay-made f-hole acoustic, pegged as a 1940s era guitar by the seller. Don't know what they're basing that estimate on, I'd place it firmly in the late, late 50s or early 60s, probably a 627 or early 619. Thick script logo, shiny chrome, clean finish, hardshell case included. Stamped N-1 internally. Went for $229.


Well, we know it's a Kay from the internal stamping, but that's about it... pickguard missing, NS tuners... went for $128. Stamped  L3597 and N-3.



10/23

A small but varied bunch today as we head into the weekend. See you Monday!

1482 Dano tube amp VG $401 Square speaker cutout, very clean, minimal wear, no footswitch, NS tubes, light water stain to bottom of speaker baffle


1430 Dano tube amp G $175 Light edge/corner wear, handle looks good, NS chicken head knob


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet G $460 Front panels show rust dots, spkr. cab has covering tear along top edge, rev/trem status unknown, grille staining


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $330 Clean, some edge wear to headstock, NS speaker, otherwise quite nice all around


604 Harmony FTAC G $27 Edge wear, bottom strap button missing, low E shaft missing, rust to tuner plates


Yep, this is one of those weird 604 models built by Kay. Stamped K-50. Compare and contrast with Harmony built example above, esp. the headstock and paint job. You just can make out the neck-attach bolts in that third edge-on picture, but the lack of a heel lets us know the neck is bollted on.
604 Kay FTAC w/ C G $125 Clean, light edge wear, rust to tuner plates


2574 Oscar Schmidt Autoharp w/ OC G $51 Some edge wear, tuner wrench incl., strings missing (but I would hope you'd be re-stringing it, anyway)



10/21-22

Since the dawn of my computer age, I've always been slightly trepidatious every time I hit the 'Save' button. It was my first year of Computer Science (back when Pascal was the big thing... 1980), it was the last night before the semester project was due, saving my 600-line BASIC Program to an 8" (!) floppy disk, that I received my first (of way too many) disk errors. Project gone. Backup? Isn't that what McGarrett calls in for on Hawaii Five-O? I did have an embryonic version of the program (a tiresome pseudo-point-of-purchase/inventory manager full of character arrays and poorly named variables), so I wrote an amusing letter to my professor about the energy from my final project being off somewhere powering someone's toaster that got me off the due date hook, and re-wrote everything in a day or so. So it was yesterday that Microsoft Front Page locked up as I was saving the auctions for the 21st. So here I am, telling you, for no other reason than to make the comment that very little has changed in 30 years in the computer world. Sure, they're faster, prettier, capable of doing amazing things... but as far as making your hard work disappear with little or no recourse, still just as susceptible to the 'random glitch' as ever.
What was it David Byrne said? Same As It Ever Was...

Now that I've got that out of my system, onward!

Bunch of great Harmony-built guitars today, from that very early carved-top f-hole to a rare 600-based mahogany 623 to that nice 'Chris Isaak' to the trio of 'Bobkat'-based solidbodies, we've got a harmonious group today here in Silvertone World!

2255 Harmony FHAC w/ OC G $382 Pickguard missing, NS tuners, NS bridge, some surface wear, binding lift/crack on back, Claricon pickup assembly installed, stamped S-39, serial #2591 2255


623 Harmony FTAC VG $130 Very clean, light buckle rash on back, bridge sound, jack added to tail button for a pickup, stamped F 66 B. This is a rare guitar, quite similar to the popular 600 series, but all mahogany, and offered only in the 1966 Sears Wish Book.


1446 Harmony HBEG w/ OC G $650 Pickguard missing, Bigsby intact, edge/surface wear, logo missing, case held together with duct tape


1488 Harmony SBEG VG $407 Clean, light edge wear, whammy present, logo strong, hairline finish crack on headstock, chrome looks great


1477 Harmony SBEG VG $400 Very clean, minimal wear, early non-whammy version, missing ferrule for high E tuner, pickguard dated Feb. 10, 1965


1476 Harmony SBEG F $150 Plenty of wear, no bridge, pitting to chrome, high and low E tuners missing, (1) knob missing, rust to tuner plate, pickguard cracked at treble horn, logo strong, neck solid


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case G $255 Clean guitar, edge wear to headstock, NS tuners, tremolo intermittent, corner wear to ampcase, tremolo controls knob inserts in rough shape/missing


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG Guitar / G Amp $455 Clean guitar, amp has a bit of wear and tear on the outside, inside looks good, but amp doesn't work


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $271 Light edge wear to guitar, tuners look re-buttoned, very early stock ribbed dome knobs Case has edge/corner wear & inside wear. This is one of the earliest 1448s; strip tuners, two bolt neck and narrow attach pier, offset strap button. Also compare the body shape of this early 1448 to the later model directly below it; see how the bass side cutout is more open and that 'horn' just a little pointer?


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only VG $289 Clean, minimal wear, knob inserts missing


1460 Teisco MIJ HBEG G $213 Clean, whammy missing, pickguard missing, truss rod cover missing, logo present


Let's not forget the amplification! It's been a while since we saw a 1433, and the one up today is a bit worse for wear, but that didn't keep this vintage amp from bringing home three and a half bills plus!

1433 Dano tube amp G $352 Wear and tear to cabinet/covering, grille staining, (1) knob missing, handle worn, 3-prong AC mod, flying V logo intact


1420 Sears tube amp VG $141 Very clean, covering is nearly perfect, grille looks great, back panel clean, handle captures shiny, NS Electro-Harmonix speaker, recently re-capped and serviced, extra tube set incl.


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet G $455 Front panels shows plenty of rust dots, pilot light bulb/bezel missing, amp works, but everything's 'scratchy,' cab looks good; minimal wear, maybe some mildew spots to grille, original Jensens present


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet VG $595 Some light grille staining, corner wear, rev/trem functional


1482 Dano tube amp VG $325 Square speaker cutout, clean,  recently serviced, 3-prong AC mod, tremolo 'touchy'


853 Harmony Ukulele VG $41 Clean, minimal wear, old school logo


805 Banjo G $XXX Open-back 5-string, clean head, (1) fret marker missing, screw eye installed at peak of head, hardware looks good, light rust to tuner plates


Here's the rest of that parted-out 1454 from Monday:
1454 Harmony HBEG parts: tuners: $86 All nuts/screws incl., truss rod cover $28 Screws incl.


Dano 'Skate Key' tuners $26 Nuts and 2 of 3 mounting screws incl.



Well, I reckon I don't have to tell you it's another f-hole mystery guitar. Folks these are the absolute most difficult instruments to ID. To all you sellers out there, please take a minute and peek inside the body to see if there are any tell-tale stamps, labels or numbers located inside; it can only help potential buyers out there. Today's question mark is a rather attractive guitar, good-looking 'burst finish, pretty cream colored pickguard and clean lines. A little edge flaking to the finish and some edge wear, but overall quite nice. The seller ID'd it as a Harmony-built model 623 (the one based on the Harmony H1213, not the flat-top shown in todays second auction... see how hard it can be?), but I really don't think it is.
Anyway, mystery or no, the $203 selling price is a fer sure!


10/20

The J-200 is a classic guitar; made by Gibson, everyone from Elvis to Emmylou has strummed on one and made it part of their visual and musical history. Not all of us can afford one of those lovely guitars, so we go searching for the next best thing. Kay knew this, and made a really rather lovely line of 'Jumbo' guitars. Today's first at bat is a fine example of one of the Kay-made Silvertone 620 models, the last of this particular body type to grace the pages of a Sears Roebuck catalog. In addition to this 'wanna-be,' we've also got a totally unique Silvertone guitar in that nice 'Chris Isaak' 1446. I remember Chris playing one of these a decade ago on the "Tonight Show" with his band Silvertone, offering a rocking rendition of "Rudolph." I can't find it on YouTube, believe it or not. Anybody got a copy in their personal archives? I'd love to show some screen captures of Chris and his namesake guitar.

620 Kay FTAC w/ OC VG $331 Clean, a few light surface dings/scratches, some finish checking, not quite sure what happened to the bridge; perhaps the saddle was removed and the bridge carved down to better the action, stamped L 1453 8105. Relisted in November.


1446 Harmony HBEG w/ OC VG $699 Pickguard present, Bigsby intact, hairline crack at output jack, neck playing wear, NS wiring panel installed on back below jack, cursive silkscreen logo


1477 Harmony SBEG w/ C VG $400 Very clean, minimal wear, early non-whammy version, nice graining to back, missing high E ferrule, light ding on back of neck, pickup assembly dated June 10, 1965


1316 Harmony Lap Steel VG $321 Clean on top, some scrapes and dings to back, cord still attached, headstock and neck look great



10/19

At least once a day, I see a guitar that sends me scrambling for the catalogs to figure out what it is. This great 661 that opens today's auction was just such a guitar. Unusually large block fret markers and an alternating black and white binding on the top finally pinned down this classy-looking strummer that was available from 1955 until 1957. Also, gotta mention that flood of 1304 "Wish Book" only models that flew out the auction door this weekend, and the prettiest 'Flamingo/Tennessee Red' 616 I've seen (out of an admittedly small sample of four), AND a seldom-scene Harmony 'Sovereign'-based 1220, one of the last guitars to receive the Silvertone brand.

661 Kay FHAC G $133 Clean, some side wear, 'wind chime' logo looks good, pickguard missing, back binding separated near heel, heel separating, tuner buttons deteriorating, stamped L-4


1304 Dano SSEG G $360  Surface wear, wear around circular access panel, scratch on back bottom, squared neck cutout


1304 Dano SSEG G $270  Surface wear, logo worn, only "ertone" left, circular neck cutout, aluminum access panel


1304 Dano SSEG G $208  Surface wear, logo worn away, circular neck cutout, aluminum access panel


1304 Dano SSEG VG $305  Surface wear, logo strong, circular access panel, squared neck cutout


616 Harmony FTAC VG $150 BIN Best I've seen, clean, minimal wear, snowflake markers strong, brass bridge insert good


1220 Harmony FTAC VG $261 Based on the Harmony 'Sovereign,' picking wear, design worn from pickguard, action 1/4" at 12th fret, nice graining to top and back, some finish flaking around binding in spots


Well, I followed as many parts of this guitar as I could... everything totaled up to $526 pretty good haul for parting out a damaged 1454.
1454 Harmony HBEG parts: Pickups/knobs/electronics (pickups dated Feb. 10, 1966): $218, Bigsby assembly: $83, bridge: $22, neck (broken nut): $203



856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele VG $85 Clean, minimal wear, logo strong, tuners tight


856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele G $25 Surface wear, neck separating, old school logo


1226 Harmony FTAC 12-string G $100 Clean, light surface dings/edge wear, neck bowed, truss rod still has some leeway, NS bridge, stamped S-69, block logo


1444 Dano SSEG Bass w/ OC  VG $400 Logo present, knobs and chrome very clean, light scratching, output jack nut missing


1421 Harmony HBEG VG $362 Clean, light surface dings, tuner ferrules missing, jack output intermittent, stamped F-62 WN


1296 Harmony FTAC VG $31 Clean, light wear, fingerboard worn at the 'cowboy chord' positions


604 Harmony FTAC G $22  Some edge/surface wear

604 Harmony FTAC F $22  'El Ka-bong' special, broken bridge, stamped F-54-AP, serial #4741H604


803 Banjo G  $42  4-string w/ resonator, edge wear, neck wear, no nut


1478 Harmony SBEG VG $407 Later whammy system, whammy arm missing, playing wear to neck, logo worn


1451 Dano tube amp VG $135 Clean, light edge wear, sparkles strong, handle worn


1482 Dano tube amp G $320 Round speaker cutout, tremolo works, footswitch incl.


1420 Harmony HBEG G $274 Clean, a few surface dings, repro pickguard, jack area in rough shape; repaired




1331 Dano tube amp chassis only $46  Worked when removed from rotten cab, tubes incl.


1425 Sears Solid State Amp VG $150 Branded '200 XL' with a 'Space Dot,' covering looks good, (1) slider knob missing, reverb not working


1452 Dano SBEG guitar only VG $405 Whammy present, triangle neck plate, whammy spring cover present, repro pickguard, logo strong, footswitch incl., amp has corner wear, not an original couple; amp and guitar were purchased separately


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $405 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $300 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $330  Minimal wear,  4" of sidewall missing, rust to speaker cage, rusty clasps, discolored knob inserts


2574 Oscar Schmidt Autoharp w/ OC $51 Clean, tuner wrench and Korg tuner incl.


10/16

Starting off this mid-October Friday with a real rarity; the Kay-made 1411, available from 1966-1968. Also, a beautifully restored 1317 from our friends at H.Co. (that's the abbreviation that Harmony would use on mailing labels to try and hide its identity when shipping direct to customers or even to Sears stores).

1411 Kay SBEG VG $152 Very clean, minimal wear, tailpiece cover present and shiny, 'cheese grater insert' pickup looks great, logo strong, very light scratches at neck bolts


1317 Harmony HBEG G $450 Clean, light dings, surface scratches, some crazing, repro pickup bezel and pickguard, NOS knobs, NS tuners, slight heel separation (1/32")


621 Harmony FTAC w/ OC VG $130 Clean, pickguard present, a few light surface scratches on top, light checking, NS bridge (original incl.)


1484 Dano tube amp and speaker cabinet G $565 Some edge and corner wear to amp and spkr. cab, rust to front panel, light rust to xformers, reverb not working, footswitch incl.


1484 Dano tube amp only G $518 Amp head looks good, rev/trem work, spkr. cab a bit road rough, back panel missing, rust to xformers, reverb not working, footswitch incl., 1/4" jack mod


1484 Dano tube amp only G $350 BO Covering shows minimal wear, weird oxidation pattern on front panel, paint stains to end, rev/trem status unknown


802 Banjo VG $141 Very clean,  5-string w/ resonator, NS tailpiece


1448 Dano ampcase only G $215 Normal wear and tear outside, inside looks great



It looks a lot like a Kay-built 1412, but I've got my doubts that this one is even a Silvertone; no logo, tobaccoburst finish, lead pickup is closer to the bridge than the 1412 illustrated in the 1967 catalog.... maybe an Old Kraftsman or a Truetone? Aside from a missing logo and whammy bar, it's in pretty nice shape, and went for $143.


I know it's a Kay from the P-16 I can see through the f-hole, but that's about it. It's in pretty good shape, with minimal wear and some nice graining on the top, sold for $161.


10/15

A right purty bunch of guitars and amps today, and our lead auction sporting one of the most sought-after amps of the era, the 1474. Plus, check out the 1478 sold below with the early whammy assembly, available on that Harmony-made guitar from 1964-1966.

1474 Dano tube amp VG $900 BO Recently serviced, light edge wear, trem/rev work, stock Jensens, cooling fan mounted to back


1478 Harmony SBEG w/ OC VG $450  Earlier whammy system, couple of small dings, light edge wear to headstock, logo strong


1300 Dano SSEG MOD $305 Refinished, repro logo, NS knobs, NS access cover, holes patched in top from a bridge move, NS sidewalls


1482 Dano tube amp G $200 Square speaker cutout, some sloppy modding on the back, footswitch incl.


1484 Dano tube amp only G $349 Covering shows minimal wear, light rust to xformers, (1) knob missing insert, weird oxidation pattern to front panel, re-capped, 3-prong AC mod


1446 Harmony HBEG MOD $566 Nicely restored 'Chris Isaak' model, refinished, NS tuners, NS nut, repro logo decal, NS knobs, new spring on original Bigsby, NS bridge, repro pickguard


1485 Harmony HBEG VG $510 Bigsby intact, all stock knobs present, (1) missing tuner, (1) bridge adjusting screw missing, logo status unknown; only one photo provided for sale


658 Kay FHAC  G $279 Edge wear, some finish checking, pickguard present, block neck markers signify pre-68 model, bridge bowed slightly, tape residue at neck


1307Valco Lap Steel VG $161 Clean, light edge wear to back, serial # X 58919



10/14

Looks like Tuesday and Wednesday have traded places. Tuesday has been the slow one the past couple of weeks. Anyway, a net full of goodies from today's haul, and the second pairing of a 1423 and an amp in as many weeks!

The following two items auctioned as a pair for $860
1423 Harmony SSEG w/ OC E Very clean, minimal wear, strong print on pickguard, plenty of glitter, tuners bright, metal logo strong, plastic protector/cord/strap incl.
1472 Dano tube amp VG $375 Clean, minimal wear, round speaker cutout, red border control panel with correct tremolo spelling, grille looks great


632 Harmony FTAC F $90 Refinish begun but not finished, no bridge, pickguard missing, diamond painted fret markers.
An uncommon guitar from the late 50s/early 60s, I think the last time we saw one was this past January.


1431 Dano tube amp G $152 Edge/corner wear, handle broken, stock tubes, NS AC (not 3-prong), grille discoloration, some scratches to control panel


615 Harmony FTAC w/ C VG $61 Clean, light wear, logo strong, neck tight, stamped F-64


1452 Dano SBEG guitar only w/ C G $179  Whammy missing, finish flakes, edge wear, cracked near neck, HOLE sticker on bass bout, logo strong, pots scratchy


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $470 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear, some knob insert discoloration, original cord incl.

1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $405 Clean guitar and ampcase,  minimal wear, NS speaker, small scuff to outside of case

1391 Dano tube amp G $133 Clean, 1/4" paint dot on grille, scuff on grille, wear along top edge of grille, handle worn


10/13

Haven't seen a 1344 in a while, and this is a pretty nice example of one of the first amplifiers that Danelectro built for Sear & Roebuck. It sports the two-part (controls separate from the amp section) design that became prevalent in almost all Silvertone amps.

1344 Dano Tube amp VG $338 Light corner wear, logo strong, handle looks good, tremolo works, pots a little scratchy


750 Kay Mandolin $40  Surface scratches, neck separating, tuners show some rust


1482 Dano tube amp G $263 Square speaker cutout, light corner wear, tremolo works, no footswitch, pots a little scratchy

1482 Dano tube amp VG $265 Square speaker cutout, minimal wear, tremolo works, no footswitch, all stock

696 (?) Kay FHAC G $86 Edge/surface wear, action high, 'wind chime' logo strong, pickguard present


10/12

Here's an amazing sight; the largest number and greatest variety of vintage ukuleles I've ever seen gathered for one portrait and one big sale... and in the midst of the Kays and Dixies and Harmonys and Regals and Playtunes and Mauna Loas and other unbranded diminutive instruments is a rare Silvertone 'Hawaiian Girl.'



852 ukulele G 'Hawaiian Girl' model, some wear, screen print clean, slight back and top separation, neck tight, bridge sound, part of a lot of fifteen total ukuleles that went for $134


1444 Dano SSEG Bass w/ C  G $307 Logo present and broken at 'S,' pickguard missing, NS bridge (original incl.), white specks on finish, wear to headstock, new output jack, five-sided aluminum access panel, circular neck cutout  and individual tuners indicates later model


28875 Teisco MIJ HBEG w/ OC G $198 Whammy present, pickguard present, high action, lead pickup bezel cracked,  finish checking on back, some binding broken off, finish checking to back, Canadian-sold version of the 1455, block logo


1210 Harmony FTAC w/ OC VG $149 Very clean, minimal wear, 'how to play' pamphlet incl.


1212 Harmony FTAC F $28 Plenty of wear all over, finish chips, scratches, crack in side, rough ding in top, 'Space Dot' missing, pickguard missing, serial #8613S1212, stamped S-70, seller ID'd guitar as a 1964 model for some reason


1200 Harmony FTAC F $36 Cursive logo worn, scratches/dings, edge wear, neck has been re-glued, nut re-glued. Re-listed in December


658 Kay FHAC  G $85 Edge wear, pickguard missing, block neck markers signify pre-68 model, NS tuners (one missing button)


26877  Teisco SBEG w/ C  VG $241 Jack is intermittent, pickguard cracked near jack, clean guitar, minimal wear, logo intact, small ding on back, whammy present, Canadian-sold version of the 1445, pointy headstock w/ cursive logo indicates earliest available


1484 Dano tube amp w/ cabinet VG $525 A couple of edge/corner wear spots, light rust to xformer, some oxidation to back chassis panel, otherwise quite nice, 1/4" jack mod


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $659 Very clean guitar and ampcase, xformer cover missing, light playing wear to neck, tremolo doesn't work


1457 Dano tube amp in case only VG $162 Clean, light scuffs to covering, footswitch splice mod


1420 Harmony HBEG VG $425 Clean, edge wear to headstock, playing wear on back of neck


1204 Harmony FTAC w/ OC G $50  Clean, back separating at bottom, light rust to tuner plates, logo strong


856 Harmony Baritone Ukulele G $82 Clean, NS tuners (3 originals incl.), light scratches all over surface, older style silkscreen


750 Kay Mandolin w/ C $50  Surface scratches, needs neck re-set, rust to tailpiece, crack on top treble side, NS pickguard


1444 Dano SSEG Bass  G $307 Pickguard painted red (or NS pickguard), logo missing, STP sticker near controls, rust to bridge screws, 5-sided aluminum access panel in place, circular neck cutout indicates later model, stock 'skate key' tuners, sidewalls painted black


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $380 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear, light yellow smudge on pickguard

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $300 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear, white scuffs on ampcase

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase VG $296 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear, playing wear on back of neck, ampcase cracked by one hinge

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase P $117 Head broken, no saddle, amp untested, sidewalls dirty, edge wear, grille picks, no tuners, ampcase broken near handle



Well, fancy that.... it's an acoustic f-hole that we can't ID! *ahem* Yes, well, anyway, here it is... an unfortunate victim of 'Silvertone Shame,' the script has been rather vigorously removed from the 'wind chime' logo'd (and possible physically altered along the top edge) headstock. Went for $103. By the way, don't think I don't spend some time trying to ID these 'unknowns.' From the four-dot neck to the fancier-than-usual binding to the longer-than-normal and more towards the sides f-holes, this one (and most others) certainly give us clues as to their identity. Sometimes my catalog illustration are too murky, sometimes the description details don't quite fit... all I can say is that when I see guitars like this, I try to get the seller to look inside for a stamped number or marking... any kind of clue as to the pedigree of the instrument. Sellers, try and look for these identifying marks and included them in your auction info... it can only enhance the value of your article (and help keep us obsessives sane!).



10/9

So, Silvertonian Chris emails me about a 1464, and I let him know we don't see them too much (although we did see  a nice setup in September)  then we get two in as many days. Synchronicity in Silvertone World! I love it! Also, a long-stored but functional and well-remembered 1484 from Buffalo NY Music Hall of Famer Dave Constantino.

1464 Dano Solid State amp only F $446 Amp works, all stock knobs, 1/4" jack mod, cabinet in rough shape; particle board deteriorating (looks like the amps has seen some water at some point), xformer shows rust, rusty handle captures, tremolo non-functional, reverb controls affect sound but no reverb, AC cord cut/taped


1484 Dano tube amp only F $203 Lots of oxidation to front panel, knobs worn/chipped (but all stock!), bottom edges very rough, tremolo works, reverb untested but springs sound when moving amp, channel one volume low, pilot lamp missing, lamp cover changed to green, no footswitch. Seller is Dave Constantino, guitarist for The Tweeds and Talas. Quote in auction from Dave: "This was my first larger amp in my band The Tweeds. We recorded on a Decca label Coral (same as Buddy Holly) in 1967 with a regional hit record " A Thing Of The Past" I switched to Fender, then Marshall which I stayed with through my years with my band Talas."


1392 Dano tube amp VG $255 Some edge and corner wear, handle looks sound, tremolo works, flying V logo and stock knobs look good


615 Harmony FTAC F $23 Crack on back, NS bridge, edge/surface wear


10/8

Wow, usually Wednesday is the slow day here in Silvertone World, but this week the Day of Thor takes the molasses prize! Perfect time to tell you about some newly deciphered info on the 1413/1417 Kay-built Silvertone guitars. I was looking through some old photo folders when I saw a beat-up (what I thought was a) 1417 that just didn't click. The 'burst paintjob look pro enough that I though "OK, custom factory job... it's happened before." Then I ran across another, much nicer set of photos of what looked like a 1417 with a pretty tobaccoburst finish. "Hmmm....." says I. So, I started going through my catalog pages, and lo and behold, I find a very blurry 1966 reference to a stock Kay-built paddle-headed single pickup guitar (still turquoise), and a stock whammy-equipped "dark mahogany shading" model, with a whole new set of numbers! Most of the catalog pages you see here at Silvertone World are scanned in from catalogs or microfilm, but these catalog references are small, low resolution photos of catalogs, so it wasn't readily apparent what I had until I started really looking, and enlarged the shots somewhat. Anyway, another little bit of Silvertone history proudly unearthed! Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the very rare and only briefly available
 Kay-built Silvertone 1415 and 1416!

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $322 Buckle rash, logo worn nearly away, sticker residue front and back, rust to tuners and screws, speaker blown, seller is original owner, 'how to play' record, manual/schematic folder incl. This is an early transitional setup; triangle knob inserts, strip tuners, but a three bolt neck w/ neck tilt


1483 Dano tube amp only G $295 Minimal wear to covering but needs a good cleaning, control panel shows rust/pitting, xformer rusty, amp has been re-capped, 3-prong AC mod


1452 Dano SBEG guitar with ampincase VG $650  Clean guitar and amp, whammy present


1464 Dano Solid State amp w/ speaker cabinet G $255 Clean, light grille staining, NS speakers, blew fuses at power up, not working


1446 Harmony Pickup manuf. by Gibson $106 No way to prove it's really from a 1446, but it sure looks like the famous mini-humbucker



10/7

There are some pretty guitars out there, and many of our beloved Silvertones stack up against anything that Gibson, Fender, Gretsch or even Taylor or Paul Reid Smith has put out. Our first guitar today just struck me that way this morning... this particular 1425 is in great shape, has its unique pickguard present, and went for a pretty price, too!

1425 Kay HBEG VG $750 Very clean, spent most of its life in a closet, light scratches, pick scratches on bass side, some finish checking,  possible neck reset, sides look good, jack area is strong


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar with ampcase G $240 Buckle rash, knob insert adhesive discoloration, amp handle broken, amp panel seems to have been damaged/cut. This is an early transitional setup; triangle knob inserts, strip tuners, two bolt neck and narrow attach pier, offset strap button
 

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only G $320 Pickup split, extra jack (?), edge wear, light scratches, some rust to tuners, signed by Johnny Winters; nice quote at signing " This is just like the 1st guitar my momma bought me."



699 EKO FTAC G $28 Very clean, nut missing, top has 3 big checks (typical of these models), bottom strap button missing, light oxidation to tuners


1446 Harmony HBEG G $750 Pickguard missing, logo worn, paint worn from Bigsby, NS knobs (originals incl.), NS or painted switch bezel, truss rod cover has screw split at top


1446 Harmony HBEG G $650 NS pickguard, NS tuners, surface scratches, pickup bezels and knobs yellowing


1495 Teisco MIJ HBEG Bass VG $380 Clean, minimal wear, metal logo unbroken


1296  Harmony FTAC VG $90 Clean, light edge/headstock wear, block logo, NS bridge, one of the last Silvertone branded guitars sold by Sears


1420 Harmony HBEG w/ OC VG $255 Light scratches/surface dings, headstock edge wear, tuners bright, logo strong, bridge chipped on treble side


1487 Teisco MIJ SBEG w/ amp in guitar G $203 Clean, light surface scratching, all covers present, tested; onboard amp makes a 'crackly' sound when you connect the batteries, but amp does not work, functions fine in 'traditional' manner, 1.5" ding on upper bout, (2) tuner ferrules chipped



10/6

There are a lot of scary movies about monsters with two heads, people with more than one personality, things that change from one thing to another and back again... some Silvertones are kinda like that... take our first guitar today, the 1441. It started life as the 1445 during the Japanese Invasion of 1968, and then was retired as a model number in mid-1970, only to come back as the 1441, briefly as a Silvertone branded guitar, then to a 'Space Dot,' available in the catalog at least until 1972. Oh yeah, there was also a Kay-made 1445 from the 60s, too...
Ooooooweeeeeeooooo...

1441 Teisco MIJ SBEG VG $300 Clean, minimal wear, whammy present, swoop head, block logo, this is one of the last Silvertone-branded guitars from Sears


Right in line with our "duality" theme, here's a Harmony made 1245! The truss rod is clue #1 to it's Harmoniness, the set neck is clue #2; Kay used a 'bell' cover, Harmony the 'bullet.' Kay-made 1245s had a 3-bolt neck, Harmonys were glued. Also, the stamped number on a Kay made headstock was 349.12459 vs. Harmony's 349-12451. This happened a few times throughout Sears history. One plant couldn't make the quota, so another was pressed into service.
1245 Harmony  FHAC G $99 Clean, missing pickguard, block logo, glued neck


Here's the first one of these puppies I've ever seen... looks like a retrofitted 702 (another dual personality guitar!!!). The 1322  was available from 1953 until early '56. Relisted and sold on 10/28.
1322 Harmony HBEG w/ OC VG $369 Minimal wear, looks like mildew on pickup bezel, deco logo strong, slight neck separation, stamped 2099H55, electronics untested


1304 Dano SSEG VG $499  Light edge wear, light rust to tuners, some surface dings, "Wildcats" pennant sticker, spent some time as a wall hanger, as evidenced by the headstock hole


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $595 Clean guitar, case is rough outside; inside is clean


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only MOD $114 Clean, NS neck, bridge relocated,  knob inserts discolored


1472 Dano tube amp $375 Some edge/corner wear, square speaker cutout, red border control panel with correct tremolo spelling, grille looks great


1483 Dano tube amp w/ speaker cabinet VG $370 Very clean amp and cab, grille and control panel look great, all stock tubes, still wired together


1421 Harmony HBEG G $362 Clean, some surface dings, neck wear, playing wear, jack is intermittent, logo strong


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar only G $250 Surface/edge wear, pickguard worn, knob inserts discolored


1442 Dano SBEG Bass w/ OC MOD $411 Refinished, NS tuners, logo has broken 'S,' triangle neck plate, tailpiece cover missing, surface dings, playing wear, rust to pickguard screws and jack nut, don't know what's up with the two screws above the nut


658 Kay FHAC  MOD $180 Clean, electronics added, stamped L3675



10/5

The late 40s and early 50s saw a lot of great designs and beautiful guitars. That said, our first guitar today is a seldom-scene strummer from that era. The 670 is easily identified (thank goodness!) by it's "double cheese wedge" fret markers and shield decorated pickguard. The scalloped head indicates a Kay-built machine, but I haven't seen the innards of any 670s to locate a Kay-type stamping.

670 Kay FHAC G $256 The wear you'd expect on a nearly 60-year old guitar; picking wear, edge wear and surface scratches, but overall pretty nice. The logo is strong on headstock and pickguard, bridge looks stable, neck beginning to separate, rust to tailpiece and tuners. ID'd as a 'Sovereign,' but I believe this to be a Kay-built model.


14XX Dano SBEG MOD $444 Top sanded down to Masonite, edge sidewalls removed, edges bound and top clear finished, back left in its found 'monogrammed' condition, pinstripe decoration to neck, NS knobs, logo present


1452 Dano SBEG guitar only w/ C G $500  Whammy present, light edge wear, wear at bridge plate and on back, some cracking to body


1443   Dano SBEG Bass G $461 Edge wear, logo broken at 'S', NS knobs, oxidation to chrome parts, triangle neckplate


1304 Dano SSEG w/ OC VG $750  Clean, minimal wear, mis-ID'd as a 1317, pots date to 1958, natural headstock makes this example the earliest of the 1304 models


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar and tube amp in case G $223 Edge and corner wear to amp, half of sidewall missing on guitar, speaker shows rust, also latches and hinges


1448 Dano  SSEG with tube amp in case G $293 Clean, minimal wear to guitar, very early transitional guitar; ribbed dome knobs, guitar has strip tuners, two bolt neck and narrow attach pier, offset strap button,  amp has NS knob, edge/corner wear


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case VG $750 Clean guitar and amp, finish chip on headstock, 1/2" ding to guitar sidewall, 'cord rash' on back of guitar, original cord and footswitch incl.


1484 Dano tube amp only G $255 Light edge/corner wear, some oxidation to front panel, not working; tubes light up, no sound

1484 Dano tube amp only VG $307 Clean, light paint overspray on top panel, rev/trem functional, (1) NS knob

1472 Dano tube amp $153 Chassis only, red border with correct tremolo spelling, untested


1485 Dano Tube Amp only VG $349 Light corner/edge wear, 3-prong AC mod


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar and tube amp in case VG $375 Very clean guitar and amp, very light surface dings on bass edge, DYMO label below bridge... rock on, Midnight Raiders!


1482 Dano tube amp G $265 Square speaker cutout, light corner wear, NOS tubes (originals incl.)

1448 Dano  SSEG guitar and tube amp in case VG $420 Clean guitar and amp, minimal wear, two-bolt neck but skate key tuners, son-in-law of original owner

661 Kay FTAC 4-string tenor VG $280 Very clean, minimal wear, neck got a little tilt in a re-set, saddle modded to compensate


1412 Teisco MIJ SBEG VG $153 Light edge wear, whammy missing, logo replaced by New York Transit Authority token


696 Kay FHAC G $155 Edge wear, stock pickguard, neck needs re-gluing, bridge missing, 'wind chime' logo strong, stamped 696 6749 and P-4


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar and tube amp in case G $250 Edge wear, some scratches, amp has 'static,' holes drilled in back, triangle knob inserts, note stickers on neck


612 Harmony FTAC G $46 Blue marks and finish damage on either side of front, otherwise clean

1449 / 1457 Footswitch $60 Clean


853 Harmony Ukulele VG $53 Clean, includes 'how to play' books


853 Harmony Ukulele G $15 Clean, back is cracked, one tuning peg missing


2574 Oscar Schmidt Autoharp w/ OC $53  Bar hold-down mount cracked/repaired, otherwise clean


2574 Oscar Schmidt Autoharp w/ OC $81 Clean, minimal wear, incl. tuning wrench




10/1-2

The September totals weren't too bad, really, compared to last year.  I tracked 257 items in September, and they sold for a total of $64,153. That's only $4,000 less than the September '08 numbers! Considering the economic situation here in the US and the world, I'd say not too bad. I'm sure there are some folks out there who wish their stock portfolio had only dropped 4 grand since last year!

Here's some highlights of what changed hands: A record (41) 1448 guitars/amps or one or the other, (13) 1457s, (15) 1484 amps, (10) 1485 amps (!), (10) 1482 amps, and (7) 1481 amps. The highest dollar item was an OK 1485 amp and cabinet that went for $995, and right on its heels an excellent 1423 that went for $985. The least amount brought in September was $5 for a 1448 speaker/amp mounting board.

Alright, October.... here we go!

1446 Harmony HBEG w/ C VG $850 Very clean, logo gone, small crack in rhythm pickup bezel, light surface wear, neck playing wear, scatches in side


1354 Kay HBEG MOD $926 Modified from original 1-pickup 1354 with (2) ca. '70s Gibson mini-humbuckers, NS Gibson knobs, ES-175 tailpiece, NS bridge, NS selector switch, NS pickguard


The following two items auctioned as a pair for $642
1423 Harmony SSEG w/ OC VG Clean, minimal wear, all stock, plastic protector cover incl.
1431 Dano tube amp VG Clean, light grille staining near logoplate, some edge wear to covering


1463 Dano solid state amp only G $81 Very clean, untested, 3-prong AC mod, 1/4" jack mod, would have rated VG if we knew it worked


1457 Dano SSEG w / C VG $449 Edge wear, NS bridge (original incl.), sidewall tear at bass horn, neck playing wear


1316 Harmony Lap Steel G $179 Edge wear, finish checking, cord cut; untested, light pitting to chrome


1484 Dano tube amp w/ cabinet G $450 Edge/corner wear to cab, grille stains, light rust to control panel and chassis, reverb/tremolo status unknown


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case G $510 Clean guitar, light edge wear, saddle mounted upside down, (1) pickup height adjustment screw missing, amp shows light rust to xformer, rusty latches, original footswitch incl., corner of amp missing covering material, untested


1448 Dano SSEG working half of ampcase only $100 All stock, functional


1478 Harmony SBEG `P $54  Whammy missing, no nut, no bridge, missing (1) knob, all tuners missing, fingerboard loose from neck, pickups stamped Feb 23, 1966


1457 Dano SSEG with tube amp in case G $356 NS speaker, tremolo works, ampcase is rough outside; grille stains, rips/wear



1333 Dano Tube amp G $430 Edge wear, back panel slanted (I see that from time to time), tremolo works, handle in good shape, top panel slightly bowed, all original tubes


1421 Sears tube amp G $135 Looks like some rust to control panel edges as well as xformer and chassis, grille is clean, back panel in place


1481 Dano tube amp F $68 Square speaker cutout, water stains to grille, NS knobs, worked until 'about five years ago' says seller


1251 Banjo P $35 4-string w/ resonator, head cracked/repaired, no bridge, dirty, rusty


1448 Dano  SSEG guitar and tube amp in case VG $450 Clean guitar and amp, light headstock wear, volume knob insert very worn, still has cord retainer at jack, ampcase lining has some rough spots inside


1457 Dano SSEG pickguard $18