In the '60s, Rock 'n' Roll had captured the nation, and folks far and wide were clamoring to try an electric guitar and play music inspired by the new sounds they heard on the radio. But for those outside of major cities, guitar stores were few and far between. Fortunately, department stores and mail-order catalogs satisfied the desires of aspiring rockers.
Under the Silvertone name (which just sounds like it'll have great tone!), the Sears house brand electric guitars were made in Neptune, N.J. by Danelectro. One of Danelectro's most novel designs was the Amp-in-Case set. You need a guitar case, right? And you need an amp? Guess what? Here's a package that conveniently includes both, and it's well-suited for mail order because it packs easily into a single box.
The Silvertone 1448 Amp-In-Case set had everything a beginning guitarist could need. The guitar is a comfortable 24" short scale with a single lipstick pickup. In classic Danelectro form, it is totally hollow with a masonite top and masonite back. It sports the classic metal nut and Brazilian Rosewood bridge saddle, and the groovy pointed double cutaway body looks the part, too. Dig the grain on the Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, and Black sparkle finish to boot!
The amp in the case offers 5 watts of ripping tube tone through an alnico 6" speaker. With a single volume control, it's easy enough to find a good sound. Plug in, and you're ready to rock.
This circa 1964 Silvertone 1448 Amp-In-Case set is in excellent condition for its age. The guitar is all original and plays nicely. It shows expected wear here and there (see photos), but it has been nicely preserved. The amp is 100% functional, and it actually sounds pretty good. Very much like a Champ, it shines when you crank it up and saturate the tubes. The original two-prong power cord has been updated to a safe three-prong set up so you won't shock yourself.
All in all, this 1964 Silvertone 1448 Amp-In-Case set is a nice conversation piece that's a lot of fun to play. Short-scale guitars are lot of fun, and this one is a great fit for slide and open tunings. Plug in and crank it up!