Author Topic: Cool time sink (Read 240 times)

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.

Peter

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2013, 11:36:53 AM »

Cool site, Peter. Thanks.

Bill, tgo

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #2 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.

lbpesq · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2013, 02:07:12 PM »

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

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #4 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

tncaveman · « **Reply #5 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

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #6 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:

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #7 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

keith_h · « **Reply #8 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

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2013, 07:23:47 AM »

Wikipedia says that Matsumoku also made Univox. Check out the tremolo on this guitar: