1960s Silvertone 1304 (Danelectro) 3-Pickup Modded Semihollow Electric Guitar

Overview: This is a wild guitar! It started-off as a one-pickup (middle-only) Silvertone 1304 model. Someone installed two more original '60s Danelectro pickups, a Gibson-style ABR bridge, and a friggin' Bigsby tail on it. The wiring is simple -- a 3-way selects between the neck, both, and bridge pickups and there are two volume controls and a tone. The first volume is for the neck and bridge pickups and the second is for blending-in the middle pickup. The trick here is that the middle pickup, when blended-in, is out of phase with the neck pickup, so in the middle+neck and all-three settings, it's got that quacky, out-of-phase thing going on. I imagine for practicality's sake most people will run it as a 2-pickup guitar and then blend the middle one in or use it on its own for fun now and then.

As a huge Danelectro fan, I can't help but be attracted to this monstrosity. It's compact and comfy to play, the whammy works nicely as long as you don't get too crazy with it, and it looks amazing. It's extremely fortunate that real Dano pickups were sourced for it because, while all the newer ones get close to the flavor, only the originals really have that sound.

I will say that, for me, the very short 23 1/2" scale on these "student" models means that I tend to bend the strings out of tune because I'm not as accurate on the left hand as folks that grew up with the feeling of 8s and 9s are (at this scale, 10s feel somewhere between 8s and 9s). Because of that, I tend to favor stringing these shorter-scale Dano models with 11s and then tuning them to open E and the like to get a bit more tension on them. If you listen closely in the video you will hear me bending some of the "stretchy" cowboy chords out of tune as I play. I only mention this because I know some other local players of the more old-timey variety that have the same issue and that solved it for them, too.

Repairs included: This arrived in decent shape but it did need a level/dress of the frets and some setup work. It's now playing spot-on and is ready to go.

• Weight: 6 lbs 11 oz
• Scale length: 23 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium C
• Board radius: 20"
• Depth at first fret: .79"
• Depth at seventh fret: .85"
• Body width: 13"
• Body depth: 1 5/8"
• Body wood: poplar/pine blocking, masonite top and back
• Bridge: ABR-style replacement
• Fretboard: rosewooe
• Neck wood: poplar
• Pickups: 3x period Danelectro single coils
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-10
• Truss rod: non-adjustable steel bar
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: wider/medium-lower height

Condition notes: The wiring harness and two of the pickups are unoriginal but at least they're period. The Bigsby and strap buttons are unoriginal. The tuners are unoriginal. Everything that was lackluster for live/gigging use has been upgraded, basically! It has its fair share of small nicks, scratches, and scuffs here and there throughout but overall looks great.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: SIU