electric · vintage
Silvertone 1449/1457 amp-in-case
| Maker | Historic & Defunct Brands (Kay, Silvertone, Teisco, Mosrite, Burns, Harmony, Supro, Eko, Airline) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Various |
| Type | electric · vintage |
| Introduced | 1962 |
| Maker founded | 1880s–1960s |
| Status | current |
The Silvertone 1449 and 1457 were department-store guitars sold with a small amplifier built into the case, made for Sears by Danelectro.
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Why it matters
These sets show that entry-level instruments once shipped with an amplifier included, and their lightweight short-scale build later turned up across garage and indie recordings. Vintage examples are collected rather than gigged, and condition varies enormously between survivors. Anything bought now is an old instrument needing service, not a modern budget alternative.
Note
The Sears guitar-and-amp-in-case set that became a garage-rock staple.
Specifications
- Scale length: unknown
- Neck shape: C
Before you buy
- Case amplifiers usually need service or restoration
- Necks and tuners are often worn
- Value depends on originality, so replacement parts affect price
Other opinions
One video is one opinion. These are the other videos for this entry, most-viewed first. The order is the view count, not a ranking of ours.
Normans Rare Guitars · 2018-04 · 40,654 views
“Episode 8: The Guitar Demo with Michael Lemmo "My Affordable Favorites" - Early 60's Silvertone 1457 Guitar for $795 here at !”
Norman's Rare Guitars demos an early-Sixties Silvertone 1457 with its case amp.
Chicago Music Exchange · 2019-05 · 12,354 views
“Classic cool 1963 Silvertone 1449L Amp-In-Case.”
Nathaniel Murphy plays a 1963 Silvertone 1449L through its built-in case amplifier.