Up for sale, a 1960s Silvertone "Chris Isaak" Model 1446 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. Manufactured by Harmony in the USA and featuring a stock pair of Seth Lover-designed (and Gibson manufactured) mini humbuckers, this unique model boasts quality electronics and hardware beyond what's seen on most Harmony/Silvertone offerings.
The fullness and upper midrange focus of these pickups is fantastic, with more open, shimmering top end than a standard humbucker and bass response that is nice and tight, further improved by the fully hollow body. As the architect of the PAF (and later Fender's Wide Range humbucker) Seth Lover is a luminary of guitar pickup design, and the pickups in this Silvertone are true golden-age Gibson humbuckers, right down to the patent stickers on the baseplates. The guitar is featherweight at 6lbs 13oz, benefitting from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings and easy-playing action.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: “Baseball bat” C, measuring .890” 1st fret, .940” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Dyed maple, multi-ply binding, pearloid block inlays
-Frets: Slender, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-2
-Scale Length: 24 1/4”
-Nut: 1 3/4”, nylon
-Tuners: Waverly open-gear
Body Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Pickups: Gibson-made mini humbucker, patent # decals on baseplates
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Brazilian rosewood bridge with bone saddle insert, Bigsby B3 vibrato
-Plastics: White molded pickguard, cream “cupcake” knobs, diamond switch surround, switch tip
The original Black lacquer finish has some pinhead-sized finish chips and scuffing in the nitro gloss on top, cable worming in the clear coat across the back, and various minor marks consistent with modest use. The dyed maple fingerboard exhibits wear on the treble side from frets 1-2, and the neck profile has a smooth nitro gloss finish, with palm wear down to the bare maple behind frets 1-3.
The original two-tone chipboard case with red velvet interior is included. The case is well-kept, complete with its stock handle and functional latches.