Tall Order: PROPER Strings for a Danelectro Dead On '58

Bongolation · #1 07-03-2010, 07:34 PM

I'm not sure if such strings actually exist.

The "DOA" Longhorn (as it is beginning to be referred to) is a bass with many problems, including a short scale, guitar machines and a sub-guitar-grade bridgeplate.

It needs a very short E and very low string tension.

The strings that come on it are grossly wrong -- so heavy that they've bent the bridgeplate on arrival, overloaded the machines with string tension at least three times that for which they were designed, and too long in that the full .100" diameter of the E goes beyond the machine post and is too big to wrap around it.

I've searched, but there's nothing about fitting up THIS Longhorn, which is different (and worse) than the earlier ones.

I was thinking about maybe something for the old-style "student" basses -- very low tension and very short...but I dunno.

If you own one of these, what did you finally do for strings?

knuckle_head · #2 07-03-2010, 08:23 PM

Seems the only real alternatives are strings meant for Bass VIs;

La Bella

D'Addario

Ernie Ball

I owned a Bajo Sexto that was a bit more stalwart than your Dano - least tension to most would be D'Addario, EB, La Bella

Bongolation · #3 07-03-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Seems the only real alternatives are strings meant for Bass VIs;

How's E length on these?

knuckle_head · #4 07-04-2010, 01:27 AM

They cover a 30.5" speaking length.

Bongolation · #5 07-05-2010, 12:34 AM

I'll do some more measuring when the replacement Longhorn gets here, but the length is odd.

The short-scale E that's on it has a speaking length a full 1"-1.5" too long, and they try to make .100" wrap around the little guitar post, which it won't. It just jams up on its windings.

There are 6-string baritone sets that might work, I dunno.

At this point, I'm thinking of getting out the micrometer and checking core and wrapped diameters, piecing together a set from various odd strings I have here, using salvaged bass string balls as bushings to contain the smaller guitar balls on the extra-heavy guitar strings I might use for the G and D. Supposedly, a "historically correct" Danelectro Longhorn E is only .075", which sounds awful small -- but at least it's in the tension range suitable for the supplied machines.

knuckle_head · #6 07-05-2010, 01:26 AM

The D'addario's .084 would carry a 20 lb tension - the Dano ought to be able to handle that.

ricca · #7 07-05-2010, 02:46 AM

In my Danos (a 1960 shorthorn and a 1990 longhorn) I used short scale strings of different brands (usually the one available at the moment). I then discover an italian brand called D'Orazio and they custom build good quality short scale strings for me, regular gage 045. I'm very happy with them and I can order also small quantity (usually 5 sets ).

**TRichardsbass** · #8 07-05-2010, 01:51 PM

The "Dead On" should be fine with EXL-170S, D'Addario short scales. The D'Addario chromes ES81S should be the same.

Labella makes the original Dano string, which has a .79 E. These typically run you just under $40 a set and Labella only makes them about once a year, so at times they are not easy to find.

I put D'Addario XL155's (the Jerry Jones six string set) on all my Danos. On the four strings I just throw away the high B and E. At $10 a set you can afford to do that. And don't worry, your bass will still "boom" with the best of 'em even with the tiny E.

Bongolation · #9 07-06-2010, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

The "Dead On" should be fine with EXL-170S, D'Addario short scales.

That's supposedly what comes stock -- .045"-.100", way too much string tension and way too long, the total fail I'm trying to get out from under.

Quote:

Labella makes the original Dano string, which has a .79 E. These typically run you just under $40 a set and Labella only makes them about once a year, so at times they are not easy to find.

Is that the "Deep Talkin'" set?

I'm considering that, if they actually fit properly, but they're dang pricey...also, according to other posts here, (1) the Longhorns didn't come with these strings in the old days, but some type of rounds and (2) Longhorns don't work that hot with flats in any case. True? I have no idea.

Quote:

I put D'Addario XL155's (the Jerry Jones six string set) on all my Danos. On the four strings I just throw away the high B and E. At $10 a set you can afford to do that.

Yeah, that's probably what I'll do, or something like it, when the replacement DOA gets here in a week or two.

Thanks...

**TRichardsbass** · #10 07-17-2010, 06:40 AM

Been a little bit, but Labella made the original strings for Danelectro, and the basses came with flats. I live and have lived my whole life just a few miles from the Dano plant. The LaBella flats are the originals. Any Dano bass strung with rounds was post factory.

Having said that, the Short Scale D'Addario 170s fit perfectly. I used them exclusively on my original Dano re-issue and they were fine. Part of the Dano problem now is that the strings are NOT D'Addario and everything is assembled overseas and shipped in. Low QC, so the strings are just sort of machine wound on and probably over tensioned, and the shipping containers probably went through some really crappy temperature changes as well.

I still have the LaBella set if you want it, at a big discount. Otherwise, just go with the JJ D'Addario XL-155 set and enjoy!