Silvertone 1413 Turquoise 1965
Silvertone 1413, turquoise green, made in USA circa 1965. This is so fun, I really enjoy it. Silvertone were a massive market force in the 1960s, offering low cost but reasonably made guitars through mail order and department stores, and getting a whole generation of players up and going, including many who would go on to become musical icons. This one was a more basic offering in it's day: one pickup and simple controls, adorning a cute little thinline body with a beveled edge and matching headstock. It's in good functional shape: the tuners work, the neck angle is fine, truss rod functions, electronics are all good. If you were going to gig with it, you might end up upgrading the tuners and pots or whatever pleases you, but there's nothing wrong with what's there for now. The DeArmond pickup rules: it's clear and warm with a fat low end and heaps of complexity and breath through the mids. The little pattern on it is super cute too. The colour looks very similar to Fender's 'foam green' from the same era, although apparently the catalog called this 'turquoise'... whatever it was called, this looks so charming, it almost hurts a little. This isn't a hyper-precise shred machine, but gosh... it's so enjoyable to sit on the couch and play, and that's a beautiful thing.
Model: Silvertone 1413
Made: Chicago USA, 1964-5
Serial: none
Finish: turquoise, urethane
Body: solid wood, species unverified, possibly maple
Neck: species unverified, possibly maple, rosewood fretboard, 25.5" scale, 43mm nut, soft V shape
Weight: 2.340kg
Mods: none (not verified, but looks original)
Pickups: DeArmond single coil
Accessories: basic non-original hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has chips and scuffs on the end, dimples on the edges, scuffs on the front and some fading on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, there's a bald patch behind the fifth fret approx, plus some rub wear and dents on the back ad edges, but it all works nicely. The back has some dimples and surface scratches on the horns, rub wear on the elbow area and bottom corner and some widespread minor scuffs around the whole body. The sides have a chip and some scuffs on the top horn, a decent pair of chips and some scuffs and dents in the elbow area, dents and scuffs near the jack and some dimples and scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has dimples around the bridge, knobs and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 strings.
Fret life: 6/10, normal wear but playing smoothly, small size wire from factory