1960s Silvertone (Harmony Jupiter) 1423 Semihollow Electric Guitar

Overview: This is a Silvertone (Sears) branding of a Harmony Stratotone H-49 Deluxe Jupiter electric, and unlike the Harmony versions which are mostly finished in natural, this one is a dark grey/black base with gold-sparkle flecks in it. It's definitely got that "atomic" look. These are cool, compact, lightweight guitars and they sound as good as they look -- with a pair of hot, aggressive, DeArmond single coil pickups fit. They're great garage-rock rhythm guitars that also fit right into blues and rockabilly, too.

Interesting features: The most obvious benefit of the guitar's design is that it's easy on the shoulders -- lightweight and with a body shape that's both comfy in the lap, too, and with an outline that catches the eye with all of that trim. The wiring is a little over the top, though -- it has a 3-way switch with positions neck, blend, and bridge. The blend setting in the middle is controlled by the first knob below the switch and allows, supposedly, for balance between the neck and bridge pickups. In practice it makes the middle position odd-sounding no matter what you do, but there are useful tones to be found in there, especially if you like a "backed-off" position for strumming chords or whatnot. The rest of the controls are normal tone/volume for each pickup.

Repairs included: It got a level/dress of the frets, replacement tuners, cleaning, a ground added to the wiring for the tailpiece, replacement truss cover, compensation added to the bridge saddle, and setup work.

• Weight: 5 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 24 1/8"
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Neck shape: medium full C
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 61/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 61/64"
• Body width: 13"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Body wood: ply top/back, birch sides?
• Bridge: adjustable ebonized maple
• Fretboard: ebonized maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Pickups: 2x original DeArmond single coils
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: This one is actually in terrific shape for one of these models, though it does have the usual assortment of small scratches and usewear throughout and a little obvious pickwear to the treble side of the bridge on top. The tuners are not original (though they look period) and the truss rod cover is unoriginal, too. The rest of the guitar is completely stock save for an added ground to the tailpiece. I added compensation to the bridge for 3-wound, 3-plain stringing (like in normal modern electric sets).

It comes with: It actually has its original chip case and that's in decent shape.

Consignor tag: STGL