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1966 Silvertone by Harmony Silhouette 1478 Vintage Guitar DeArmond Gold Foils

Estimated price for orientation: 799 $

Category: Electric Guitar
Class:











Description
Dexterity: Right-Handed Model: 1478 Silhouette
String Configuration: 6 String MPN: Does Not Apply
Brand: Silvertone, Harmony Exact Year: 1966
Body Type: Solid Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
UPC: Does not apply


Up for sale, a 1966 Silvertone Silhouette Model 1478 in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This is one of the cleanest Silhouette guitars we've ever had in the shop, with a red sunburst finish that glows like new, with spotless chrome hardware, perfectly transparent bell knobs, and a similarly flawless blonde/gray original case.The most upscale solidbody guitar offered via the Sears catalog under the Silvertone brand and produced by Harmony, the Silhouette features DeArmond gold foil pickups (these ones in particular have diamond silver inserts), a nitrate tortoise pickguard that closely followed the body's offset contours, Brazilian rosewood floating bridge, and a Bigsby-esque vibrato unit! It's hard to match the Silhouette for feel, tone and great playability and this example is very soulful and resonant with a loud acoustic voice that translates well through the gold foils. The guitar weighs in at 7lbs 6oz. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and strung with a fresh set of 10-46 strings, this Silvertone plays very well with comfortable, low action and a very straight neck.The pair of DeArmond gold foil pickups have strong and even output, with a full and balanced sound that has plenty of top end chime and clear, percussive attack. There's nothing that comes close to the tone of a gold foil in terms of balancing the clarity of an acoustic guitar with the midrange rich fullness of an electric, and the rosewood saddle adds a certain warmth to the overall sound with round, mellow overtones. Plug in any tube amp and your favorite overdrive or fuzz and the DeArmonds respond beautifully!The neck has a generous C shaped profile that has plenty of chunk and roundness, graduating to full "baseball bat" heft as you move into the higher registers of the fretboard. Extremely solid yet also very easy to play, this neck boasts a bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard and pearl block inlay.  The frets are in truly incredible condition, with their full, original height, well rounded crowns and only the faintest wear on frets 1-3, with virtually no wear further up the fretboard. The neck has a nut width that's just shy of 1 3/4" and the strings are ideally spaced for fingerstyle playing. The original Waverly open back tuning machines hold pitch well and the script "Silvertone" silkscreened logo is mint. 
All of the electronics work as they should, with four original mini pots and bell knobs, giving you individual Volume and Tone controls for each pickup. The original wiring is untouched, with pots that date to early 1966 and a pickguard date stamp from March of the same calendar year. The vibrato unit works well for quick shimmies and surfy dives and it's certainly an underrated unit, given it's response and stability (just look at any St. Vincent performance to see how well these vibratos can work!).Cosmetically, the guitar borders on near mint, with flawless chrome hardware and a vibrant, unfaded red nitro lacquer sunburst finish. The finish is 100% original with no touchups or overspray, with only a few faint scratches in the pick path. There are also some minor assorted tiny nicks around the edges of the body, mostly located just south of the input jack on the treble side of the instrument. As the photos show, this is an extremely clean and well cared for vintage Silvertone.This vintage Harmony made Silvertone 1478 Silhouette is a very reliable, responsive and exceptional sounding instrument, professionally setup and ready for the stage and studio!The original two tone blonde/gray chipboard case is included. The case has a very tidy red plush interior, and all original working latches and handle are intact, along with the elastic strap built into the case to further secure the instrument.
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.Shipping in the continental USA will be $55, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!