Danelectro 56 Single Cutaway Dolphin Head bass

[basslinejam]

Bumping this thread for any more opinions... I've been looking around at short scales and this single cut Dano definitely will not duplicate anything I have already.

Bongolation: what kind of problems have you been seeing? Fixable or fatal?

 

[Rob Martinez]

What is the scale for these basses? Anyone know?

 

[basslinejam]

30" scale AFIK

 

[mongo2]

No problems with my original Silvertone/Dano Dolphin-Nose so I guess I'll pass on these.

Over five years later and things have changed. I was looking for a replacement for my Silvertone Model 1444 dolphin nose basses since I've decided to retire them from the rigors of gigging, so I found a '56 Single Cutaway on the local Craigslist for a very decent price. Compared to my originals, it's a "Super Dano" with its hotter pickups that still retain the original bottom, clarity and chime/jangle.

The 29.5" scale neck has a double action trussrod and is a bit wider at the nut than the originals (1-3/4" instead of 1-5/8") but still with a very comfortable profile. I installed a flat neck pocket shim to get more adjustment in the string action (just like on my originals since they also don't have the Dano microtilt found on later models of the 1444), loaded it with D'Addario nylon tapes, replaced the bridge with an Allparts 4 saddle bridge because I had it laying around, and replaced the cheap jack with a Switchcraft.

I've found no inherent problems with it, certainly nothing "fatal" at all. Judging by the use I got and could still get from my originals, I'm looking forward to a couple of decades of gigging with it then I'll pass it on to my one of my sons for several decades more.

 

[msb]

Danos are what they are , and some people will complain about the design and how they are built . Others love them . I'm in the later camp . They've changed my conception of exactly what makes an instrument a quality one .

My love for them simply comes down to how they play , and how they sound . I've been gigging a Longhorn for years now without any issues . And I haven't had to adjust the action for about sixteen years .

 

[mcgreivey]

Another report from 56-Land:
My 56 bass has served me well for 6 or 7 years. The only thing I've had to do to it was to replace the bridge. The original collapsed because it was made of cheap metal. I put a Jerry Jones popsicle stick bridge on it.

I've never had to touch the truss rod. Setting intonation with the popsicle stick bridge is no problem. It plays nice and sounds nice. Perhaps the best $175 I ever spent.

 

[bobyoung53]

No images when I click on it. I just realized why, another Zombie thread back from the dead.

 

[mcgreivey]

I've been giving mine a workout recently.

 

[daveman50]

Here's mine (on the right... duh) - modified with a Dan Armstrong plexi-bass pickup (made for me by Kent Armstrong), bridge p/u removed. I love it, play it out a lot.