In the early '50s, Nathan Daniel began experimenting with Danelectro electric guitar designs, and his intention was mainly to secure the contract to provide electrics for the Sears catalog. By saving costs and increasing production speed, the goal was to produce no-frills instruments with good tone at affordable prices. But perhaps unintentionally—with their masonite hollow-body construction and lipstick pickups—the Danelectro guitars bring something entirely new to the table. With their retro stylings, vintage Danelectros capture a tone and feel entirely their own.
Danelectros with the "Silvertone" brand name were sold exclusively through the Sears catalog. The Silvertone 1417 is essentially the Sears version of the single-cutaway Danelectro-branded U-1. The 1417 model features the classic masonite design, a 25" scale length, "dolphin" headstock, and a single lipstick pickup.
Both pots on this 1417 date to the 43rd week of 1959, so this guitar probably rolled out of New Jersey some time in 1960. All of the electronics appear to be original, and it appears to be setup and functional with all of its original parts and hardware including metal nut and rosewood saddle bridge. The original six-in-line tuners work backwards from how you expect them, and they still hold tune nicely.
With old Danelectros, there can be some quirks and compromises, but this Silvertone 1417 is extremely playable and the lipstick pickup sounds fantastic. The bridge height screws are a little bent, but the action is still set to a very playable spot. The bridge saddle has been precisely carved to improve the intonation. While the three-way switch is intended to give you two different tone cap options, neither of the tone caps still works. It would be easy to add some modern-day options and find some fun tones, but these are the original parts!
The Silvertone 1417 always looks right in the Metallic Copper finish! We love how this one is worn in the picking area. Authentic Danelectros often provide so much of the vibe and character we love about vintage American guitars, but they can be found for much more palatable prices. Plus, there is a particular tone to the masonite body/lipstick pickup construction that you will only get from a real US-made Danelectro! This 1960 Silvertone 1417 includes a decent gig bag.