1957 Silvertone Six String Bass Model 57 1373L Black with ivory

An all Original & Super Rare 1957 Silvertone Baritone/Six String Bass Guitar

1957 Silvertone Six String Bass Model 57 1373L

This exceptionally rare and 100% original 13 inch-wide, 1 3/4 inch-deep, single-cutaway semi-hollow 'Baritone' guitar weighs just 6.80 lbs. Factory 'Gleaming Black Laquer' over masonite top and back over a pine frame with 'solid center' strip. Sides of body covered in ivory patterned vinyl. One white plastic and one aluminum strap buttons. One-piece maple bolt-on neck (secured by three screws) with twin truss-rods and a nut width of just over 1 5/8 inches, a scale length of 30 inches and a very fast thin-to-medium profile. Brazilian 'slab' rosewood fretboard with aluminum nut, 24 medium-jumbo frets, white plastic 'dot' position dot markers and small silver dot side markers. Black faced 'Quarter Bell' shaped headstock with "Silvertone" silk-screened (horizontally) in silver. Individual single-line Kluson Deluxe tuners with oval metal buttons - stamped on the underside "2356766 / Pat Appld.". Two "Lipstick tube" pickups with nicely matched outputs of 3.57k & 3.62k. The height of the pickups can be adjusted via two pairs of screws on the back of the body. Clear plastic pickguard with perimeter outline in silver, secured by two screws. Two concentric 'stack' controls (two volume, two tone) + three-way metal toggle pickup selector switch. The potentiometers are stamped: 137 650 (CTS, December 1956) and there are two large black "Pyramid" capacitors. Concentric white plastic knobs with ribbed top edges. Combination rosewood bar bridge on a three-way adjustable aluminum tailpiece. The serial number "3037" is stamped twice on the rim of the control cavity and signifies that the guitar was produced in the 30th week of 1957. This exceptionally rare guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition with just a few very small and insignificant dings/marks and there is finish/playing wear on the back of the neck. Housed in the original 'coffin-shaped' three-latch, straw cloth covered hardshell case with black plush lining (9.00).
This model was only produced from mid 1956 thru mid 1957.

We have strung the guitar with .014, .018, .028, .038, .050 & .064 wound baritone strings.
**We have tuned the guitar to a standard baritone tuning of B,E,A,D,F#,B.

"Appeals to both players and collectors. Fairly rare model. A 6-string guitar with extra long neck and fingerboard, extra long strings, Twenty-four frets, two full octaves on each string, total range of four octaves, Neck joins body at 17th fret. **Tuning is the same as on a regular guitar, but one octave lower. Since the bottom four strings are tuned exactly the same as a big string bass, this instrument makes a perfect bass, except for bowing. Total range is much greater than that of a conventional bass, so that the playing of melody, chords and riffs can be accomplished as on regular guitar. It is possible to produce melody and bass accompaniment so complete musically, that only large keyboard instruments can compare. This instrument is terrific for rhythm and for melody, and simply cannot be beat for combining both. Measure of comparison is the conventional 4-string electric base. The Danelectro bass has six strings, giving much greater range; double pickup instead of single; 3-way switch; softer action; non-warp neck – slimmer and stronger; fully adjustable bridge; solid center body. If you are a professional guitarist, this instrument means more demand for your services, because with it you can do more things. You can play guitar and double on bass with one instrument. If you are a teacher or school operator, this instrument will round out your ensembles. It will supply the missing depth. If you are a student, you can master this instrument as easily as regular guitar, but with it you will stand out from the crowd." (Doug Tulloch. Neptune Bound. The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide. pp. 160 and 265).

"The 1373 6-string bass was offered for only 3 catalog cycles, so barely a year and a half before it was gone, replaced by the 4-string 'dolphin nose' 1444. Sometimes referred to as a baritone guitar, the 1373 was targeted in the catalog write-ups towards being played as guitar or bass, albeit an octave lower. Players argue constantly over the best way to tune these, many prefer E-E, some come up with other variations. Introduced: Spring/Summer 1958
Retired: Spring/Summer 1959" (Silvertone World) - According to Doug Tulloch the Silbvertone Baritone was produced from 1956 to 19657 (DJB) (#2173)