It’s a silvertone! I think...

[Kmaxbrady]

So I posted about my new guitar a couple days ago. Because of the refinish I wasn’t sure which model it was. I’m 90% sure now that it’s a silvertone.
I’m totally in love with this thing. It sounds fantastic, it’s feather light, and actually plays really well for a cheap Sears guitar from the 60s.
All I’ve done to it so far is polished the frets, sanded the fretboard edges (huge difference) and put some new strings on it. I still need to oil the fretboard, clean the pots and output jack, and I have plans to upgrade the tuners and replace the bridge with a tune-o-matic (or something similar). The nut needs a little lowering and I’m thinking about trying some 10s with a wound G to get the best intonation possible.
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[brookdalebill]

I can’t view the pictures.
The links don’t work.
Anyone else?

 

[rangercaster]

Fix the pix ... I'm on the edge of my seat here !!!

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

No pix here.."error not allowed" etc.

 

[Kmaxbrady]

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Kay? I have seen variations labeled for most of the Chicago mail order stores, actually owned one from Aldens. Sears may well have had a version.

 

[rangercaster]

Nice guitar !!! Even nicer if it's playable and sounds good ... Sort of the purpose of it ...

 

[Mike Simpson]

I vote made by Kay, headstock shape and 3 bold neck pattern are signature Kay features. Could have been badged Truetone, Silvertone, Kay or others.

 

[Kmaxbrady]

I vote made by Kay, headstock shape and 3 bold neck pattern are signature Kay features. Could have been badged Truetone, Silvertone, Kay or others.

I think it started life as one of these, made by harmony. I haven’t seen a Kay with with picguard shape

 

[Kmaxbrady]

I guess it could have been made by Kay for Sears. I wish there was more info on these

 

[tintag27]

I think it started life as one of these, made by harmony. I haven’t seen a Kay with with picguard shapeView attachment 656244

Yes - hollowbody, probably the same construction as my 1960 Harmony Stratotone (except mine has a truss rod). Lovely wood - Is it short scale?

 

[skunqesh]

nice!! love it.

but the lack of bushings on the tuners is triggering my 'ocd' (lol).

perhpas upgrade with a modern set of strip Klusons? a better mechanism but keeps that old skool vibe. Probably would swap right in, since the specs are still pretty much the same.

I have mixed feelings about the bridge - obviously a ToM would be a huge improvement, but I like the look of the rosewood original.

 

[BB]

Silvertone (made by Kay) 1420 is correct. I have one myself in sunburst. Love the Hershey bar pickups.

 

[Kmaxbrady]

Yes - hollowbody, probably the same construction as my 1960 Harmony Stratotone (except mine has a truss rod). Lovely wood - Is it short scale?

Yeah I think it’s 24.75

 

[Kmaxbrady]

nice!! love it.

but the lack of bushings on the tuners is triggering my 'ocd' (lol).

perhpas upgrade with a modern set of strip Klusons? a better mechanism but keeps that old skool vibe. Probably would swap right in, since the specs are still pretty much the same.

I have mixed feelings about the bridge - obviously a ToM would be a huge improvement, but I like the look of the rosewood original.

I agree about the bridge, but I’m determined to make a player out of this thing, and I get pretty OCD myself when it comes to intonation

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

Looks like a Silvertone 1420, made by Harmony.
http://www.vintagesilvertones.com/forsale_silvertone_1420_black_h3069.html

 

[Dacious]

Yeah I think it’s 24.75

I think these are actually something like 24.6

 

[charlie chitlin]

Deadly pickups.