Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: cozmik_cowboy on April 30, 2013, 08:57:18 AM

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 30, 2013, 08:57:18 AM

If you're interested in strange guitars from the '60s, check out Drowning In Guitars (http://drowninginguitars.com/).
 
Peter

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: lbpesq on April 30, 2013, 11:36:53 AM

Cool site, Peter.  Thanks.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: hydrargyrum on May 01, 2013, 08:58:26 AM

Speaking of interesting guitars from the 1960's, I picked up a Silvertone 1475 the other day.  It is a near copy of a Gretsch Country Gentleman, and to my surprise it has fantastic tone.  Everyone I've shown it to says that it looks fantastic, but it's a Silvertone and they were all made cheaply.  Then they play it, then their eyes get wide and their jaw drops.  I've read that it was made in the Matsumoko factory, but I'm having a hard time confirming it.  
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/160572.jpg)

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: lbpesq on May 01, 2013, 02:07:12 PM

Love the angled neck pickup/diagonal cut fretboard.  Cool looking guitar.
 
Bill, tgo

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 01, 2013, 07:41:51 PM

AFAIK, the classic Silvertone electrics were made by Danelectro, National, Harmony, Kay, & Teisco - but I don't know very far.  The neck p/up angle, zero fret, & general air of the fretboard make me think Mosrite.  Samick owns the trademark now.
Looks like it would feel good.
 
 
Peter

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: tncaveman on May 02, 2013, 05:08:03 AM

What do the 4 toggle switches control?  Nice looking guitar.  Looks like it was never played.
 
Stephen

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: hydrargyrum on May 02, 2013, 09:51:00 AM

Stephen - The two switches on the upper cutaway seem to be coil taps for the two mini-humbuckers,the pick up selector is on the lower cutaway, and there is a kill switch by the knobs.  
 
Peter - Some of the information I've read certainly points to Teisco.  It also bears some striking similarities to this Ventura:
 
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/160727.jpg)

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on May 02, 2013, 04:20:12 PM

Some?!?!  Like pretty much every detail except the inlays & the color of the truss rod cover!  So who made Venturas?  
 
Peter

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: keith_h on May 02, 2013, 08:15:26 PM

Some stuff I have found makes me think that the 1475 was built in the Matsumoku factory between 1968 and 1971.  
 
The Ventura name was used by the C. Bruno company who used the Matsumoku factory for their guitars around this timeframe. In this same period Silvertone was being made by Guyatone who also happened to subcontract some of their instruments to Matsumoku. Guyatone does not appear to have ever done anything for C. Bruno. All this along with the same looks leads me to thinking  Matsumoku.  
 
Keith

Title: Cool time sink
Post by: hydrargyrum on May 03, 2013, 07:23:47 AM

Wikipedia says that Matsumoku also made Univox.  Check out the tremolo on this guitar:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/160870.jpg)