Silvertone Model #1444 Model Electric Bass Guitar, made by Danelectro (1961), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 4081, black lacquer finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The 1960's Silvertone Model 1444 Bass, nicknamed "Dolphin Nose" for its trademark drooping minimalist headstock was one of the most popular budget 4-strings of its era. Made by Danelectro for Sears beginning in 1959, this bass listed at $79.95 complete with the Masonite hard-shell case. This one carries pots dating to 1961, fairly early in the model's run and the at the beginning of the 1960's guitar boom.
With a long 22 fret, 29 1/2" scale neck and single "lipstick" pickup the Model 1444 is an extremely useful and good sounding bass. Designed to be light, handy and easy to play, the 1444 was aimed by Sears at novice players and teenagers and arguably helped popularize the electric bass by making it affordable to all. This early example is the nicest and most original we have ever had, and in fact is still carrying with the ORIGINAL Danelectro thin-gauge roundwound strings! The classic garage band bass, this was the first 4-string for thousands of players in the 1960's and is still an excellent value over 50 years later!
Overall length is 43 1/2 in. (110.5 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 29 1/2 in. (749 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This bass is in very clean and 100% original shape-even the strings have never been changed. There is some very light play wear but no damage or alteration. A real time capsule, complete with the original (and better quality) 1961 Sears HSC. Excellent + Condition.
