HomeStore

1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette Vintage Guitar DeArmond Red Foils, Harmony USA

1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette Vintage Guitar DeArmond Red Foils, Harmony USA

Up for sale, a 1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette in excellent condition and in perfect working order. The 1488 was the only Harmony-made Silhouette to feature three pickups, and this top-tier model features a “hand-rubbed Cherry luster finish,” according to the original catalog description. Significantly rarer than the 1488s produced earlier in the decade, this particular example is the last iteration of the model, with tweaks from previous designs both aesthetic and functional including a roller bridge, unique red foil inserts on the DeArmond pickups, a second mini tortoise pickguard accent, and the same large witch hat knobs seen on Harmony’s Color Kat lineup.

This Silhouette has a huge range of tones thanks to the three pickup design and dished on/off toggle switches for each pickup. The DeArmond-made foil pickups deliver a certain percussive cut, jangle, and surprising kick, and this guitar can offer everything from spanky twang in the bridge position to warmer, mellow jazzy tones with only the neck pickup selected. The inclusion of a middle pickup really opens up the range of this instrument beyond what can be achieved with any other Silhouette (or Bobkat) model. Although the red diamond inserts on the pickup covers are one of the notable cosmetic features of this model, the pickup still falls within the "gold foil" family, having identical construction to its assembly line brothers with gold metal inserts. This 1488 Silhouette weighs 7lbs 8oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: “Baseball bat” C, measuring .935” 1st fret, .975” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, pearloid block inlay
-Frets: Slender, faint wear on frets 1-2
-Scale Length: 24 1/4”
-Nut: 1 3/4”
-Tuners: Open gear, white buttons

Body Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Pickups: DeArmond red foil x3
-Harness: CTS mini pots date to the 23rd week of 1966 (one pot + knob replaced)
-Controls: Volume, Tone x3, Pickup On/Off x3
-Hardware: Six-saddle roller bridge with flip-up string mute, vibrato
-Plastics: Four-ply red tortoise nitrate pickguard (Jun 19, 1967 date stamp), witch hat knobs

The Cherry luster nitro lacquer finish shows a few small dings on the body perimeter, and minor scuffs and signs of light wear consistent with careful use.

A gigbag is included.
$665.00

Original: $1,899.99

-65%
1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette Vintage Guitar DeArmond Red Foils, Harmony USA

$1,899.99

$665.00
Product image 1
Product image 2
Product image 3
Product image 4
Product image 5
Product image 6
Product image 7
Product image 8
Product image 9
Product image 10
Product image 11
Product image 12
Product image 13
Product image 14
Product image 15
Product image 16
Product image 17
Product image 18

Description

Up for sale, a 1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette in excellent condition and in perfect working order. The 1488 was the only Harmony-made Silhouette to feature three pickups, and this top-tier model features a “hand-rubbed Cherry luster finish,” according to the original catalog description. Significantly rarer than the 1488s produced earlier in the decade, this particular example is the last iteration of the model, with tweaks from previous designs both aesthetic and functional including a roller bridge, unique red foil inserts on the DeArmond pickups, a second mini tortoise pickguard accent, and the same large witch hat knobs seen on Harmony’s Color Kat lineup.

This Silhouette has a huge range of tones thanks to the three pickup design and dished on/off toggle switches for each pickup. The DeArmond-made foil pickups deliver a certain percussive cut, jangle, and surprising kick, and this guitar can offer everything from spanky twang in the bridge position to warmer, mellow jazzy tones with only the neck pickup selected. The inclusion of a middle pickup really opens up the range of this instrument beyond what can be achieved with any other Silhouette (or Bobkat) model. Although the red diamond inserts on the pickup covers are one of the notable cosmetic features of this model, the pickup still falls within the "gold foil" family, having identical construction to its assembly line brothers with gold metal inserts. This 1488 Silhouette weighs 7lbs 8oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: “Baseball bat” C, measuring .935” 1st fret, .975” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, pearloid block inlay
-Frets: Slender, faint wear on frets 1-2
-Scale Length: 24 1/4”
-Nut: 1 3/4”
-Tuners: Open gear, white buttons

Body Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Pickups: DeArmond red foil x3
-Harness: CTS mini pots date to the 23rd week of 1966 (one pot + knob replaced)
-Controls: Volume, Tone x3, Pickup On/Off x3
-Hardware: Six-saddle roller bridge with flip-up string mute, vibrato
-Plastics: Four-ply red tortoise nitrate pickguard (Jun 19, 1967 date stamp), witch hat knobs

The Cherry luster nitro lacquer finish shows a few small dings on the body perimeter, and minor scuffs and signs of light wear consistent with careful use.

A gigbag is included.
1967 Silvertone 1488 Silhouette Vintage Guitar DeArmond Red Foils, Harmony USA | Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar