Sears Silvertone 1448 setup

[tuuur]

I got the chance of buying back this Silvertone (which is not going to leave any more!).

When I first sold it it was unplayable. Still had the original tuners which barely turned.

Now it has been worked on by the guy I bought it back from and it's action and tunability is actually pretty ok. Plus I love the sound of that pickup!
But a few things bother me...

General overview:

Check the neck pocket. There is a spacer ring nearest to the body and a considerable gap...

The bridge seems to be very high from the body.

He also changed the tuners. I would have installed a 6 on a plate Kluson type setup.

My questions:
is it normal that the bridge is set up that high? Or should it be flush to the body?
I'd rather have the neck sit tight in that pocket, especially given the fact this neck is attached with 2 screws only.
Would a 6 on a plate Kluson type tuner package fit? Thinking about ordering one from Guitarfetish.

Thanks!

 

[jayyj]

The bridge is designed to float above the top rather then screw down flush. It does look a little on the high side - both of mine have the bottom of the front edge about 4mm above the top. I prefer to set the rear edge a little lower then the front to get as much downward pressure on the Rosewood saddle.

I would imagine you could put a smaller shim in the neck pocket and reduce the bridge height a little. I'd suggest trying to take out the shim altogether and see what the action in like, then adding small shims a little at a time if you can't get the bridge low enough. It might take a few attempts but it will be better then having that huge gap.

I love the original tuners that came with these. They may not have been the best tuners in the world but they look so cool and if it were me I'd have to go with sourcing some originals.

 

[VintageSG]

The bridge does sit high, that looks about normal/bit front high and will become normal if you get the shim out. It shouldn't be flush. You need some clearance at the rear for the strings and some height at the front to get a decent break angle over the rosewood.
The strip of tuners should fit, but you may require adaptors for the shafts if they've been reamed for modern tuners.

 

[tuuur]

Definitely reamed.

Or should I say abused?

Serial 3112. I thought these were date stamped but apparently I was wrong...

The shims in place

 

[tuuur]

Lowered the bridge with the front screws at 6 mm now. Replaced the shims with 4 5 eurocent coins. Thise are approx 1.5 mm a piece so 3 mm shim. Seems to be alright now.

 

[tuuur]

I think I found the problem. There's a big wobble in the backplate and I think the center piece of wood where the neck is attached to is bent, hence the need of a disproportional thick shim.

 

[cowboytwang]

Serial 3112. I thought these were date stamped but apparently I was wrong...

That is the date stamp.. 31st week of 1962. So it was built and stamped the week of July 30 - August 4 1962.

 

[24 track]

this is a sears silvertone made by Dan electro , I had one made by Kay it was Metal flake green. a POS

 

[tuuur]

Thanks for the info! It plays well but that lipstick tone is really awesome.

 

[24 track]

your lucky this one looks like it a solid body, some of these were made from Pressed paper or plywood ( I really could not tell from your picts) but it looks like one piece of wood

very cool MOJO get a goosd set of 6 inline heads , set it up and rock on ! Nice guitar

 

[jayyj]

your lucky this one looks like it a solid body, some of these were made from Pressed paper or plywood ( I really could not tell from your picts) but it looks like one piece of wood

very cool MOJO get a goosd set of 6 inline heads , set it up and rock on ! Nice guitar

Danelectros and Dano made Silvertones from this era were made using Masonite top and back over a frame of pine and poplar.This is the neck pocket for my '59 Deluxe where you can clearly see the construction - Masonite top, poplar block running down the centre, pine either side of the poplar.

 

[24 track]

Ive Never owned one but always thought of getting one, thanks for the info , I had the Kay dual humbucker silvertone It was plain unadulterated crap the dano silvertones were much better made This is my model but it had two pickups and 4 knobs

 

[dqami]

Ive Never owned one but always thought of getting one, thanks for the info , I had the Kay dual humbucker silvertone It was plain unadulterated crap the dano silvertones were much better made This is my model but it had two pickups and 4 knobs



View attachment 359875

Yours is a Vanguard. I have a couple of them and love their pickups and light weight. Like most cheap guitars that old they need a proper setup to be playable.

 

[jayyj]

The Danos from this era are one of the best buys on the bottom rung of the vintage market - the necks are heavily reinforced so most of them are still nice and straight and the actual profile is a very comfortable, modern feeling shape. Before I started taking an interest in Danelectro my only ventures into budget vintage guitars were German made instruments that looked cool but invariably had horrible U shaped necks with way too much relief - my two Danos play at least as well as a modern Mexican Fender and they have a unique sound.

These are they, a '59 Dano Deluxe and a '61 Silvertone:

 

[adamsappel]

That's my first guitar! Of course, it wasn't "cool" enough at the time, but I would love to play it now.

 

[tuuur]

I am increaslingly not satisfied with the somewhat muddy tone...
Does anyone here have any experience with the Jeff Senn replacement bridge?

(link removed)

image removed

 

[philosofriend]

When you tinker with it and the tone gets just like you want, don't tinker any more! Danelctros can sound fantastic in spite of some horrible looking details, the bridge can look like the three stooges worked on it and still sound just right.
Almost looks like you could try the modern bridge and if you don't like it switch back to the classic one. Don't throw the old one away, these will increase in value as time goes on.

 

[ukepicker]

I am increaslingly not satisfied with the somewhat muddy tone...
Does anyone here have any experience with the Jeff Senn replacement

I just installed one last week - on my dad's early '63. Mine looks just like yours, but has a 3 screw neck joint.

I really like the bridge, although the string spacing is a little weird. I just dropped it in and set the intonation and action, so I think the neck still needs to be reseated a little to help line everything up.

But MAN!!! being able to set individual action height and intonation is a dream come true. I've had this guitar for almost 30 years now. There are no pickups that sound like these original lipsticks - it's nice finally be in-tune and it's a pleasure to play.

Tonewise - it's a bit snappier with the brass saddles. But not so much that I felt I was losing the original tone. I was concerned that the old rosewood bridge was a big part of the tone. But it turns out, it's just a small part.

FWIW - the Jeff Senn bridge screws down tight to the top. First thing I noticed while restringing is an improved energy transfer to the body - the whole body came alive and resonated. (Masonite - the other, other tonewood)

Also, I shimmed the neck years ago with nickels. Then installed some ping tuners - reamed the holes just like yours. I recently installed some white button kluson 6-on-a-plate and I like them better. But if you go that route, get the conversion bushings and order a lefty set of the klusons. The righties stick out the too too far. I'll upload some picks if i can figure out how.

 

[ukepicker]

Here's the bridge:

And the weird string alignment:

And the nut, to prove that it's not misaligned:

Somehow, it's still very playable. Really, the bridge brought it up to a very usable instrumentz

 

[ukepicker]

Oh yeah - and the Klusons. Seems to me that a lefty set would be offset the other direction....