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Danelectro '59DC Long Scale Bass Questions.

Nolan Farr

Nolan Farr

Guest
Apr 2, 2016
6
3
48
#1
Hey, Ive been on the fence on a new bass to get. I was kind of straying away from fender seeing as I already have two of them and want to get something a bit different. I play using a pick and I play mostly old school fast punk music. I wanted to know if the danelectro DC59 Long scale would do the trick for this. Does anybody have any experience with these basses? How is the sustain? Does it have that thumpy 60s sound or can I really crank it and make it growl like my jazz bass?
 
#2
If it's built like the the long scale DC's from the 90's, it is more "typical" sounding than the old Danos. Instead of just having a block of wood under the bridge, it has a solid piece running from the neck pocket to the bridge. This greatly increases the sustain.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, Fat Mike from NOFX is known for rocking the long scale DC...

o-NOFX-FAT-MIKE-facebook.jpg
 
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#3
Dominic D said:
If it's built like the the long scale DC's from the 90's, it is more "typical" sounding than the old Danos. Instead of just having a block of wood under the bridge, it has a solid piece running from the neck pocket to the bridge. This greatly increases the sustain.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, Fat Mike from NOFX is known for rocking the long scale DC...

View attachment 1004786
Click to expand...

So all else aside do you think the tone this bass gives out would be good for punk music. I know fat mike uses it but I just would like some confirmation before I drop some money on this bass here. I play a 2007 Fender Jaguar and I know this bass is sort of a downgrade but would I be able to attain tones *similar* to that of a jag? Also thank you for the response I haven't been getting that on most places I've asked so far.
 
#5
Thought I would post here rather than clog up the forum with a new thread.

So I have just ordered a Danelectro 59 for £375. I have no idea what it will sound/feel like.

I have been playing my first ever bass (squier jazz with quarter pound pups) for 2 years now but I am finding it too heavy for the long band practices. I love my bass so much that I could never bring myself to splash a serious amount of cash on a "proper" Mexican/USA fender which would still be heavy anyway.

First I was looking at the Japanese made non-export Fender Aerodynes (white vintage with black scratch plate). A year or two ago they were fairly easy to get hold of but now they are like gold dust and selling for double the value (last one I saw in 2016 was going for £700). As lovely as they are, I think that's too much money.

So there you have it! Thomann are shipping my Danelectro today and I wait in anticipation. The one thing I am certain of is that it will sound completely different to my jazz bass. Excited and nervous! They look cool though...

P.s I will post my first thoughts here once I get my hands on it.
 
#6
I had a DC bass from the '90s. The necks are really fast and guitar-like in feel. The fretboard width and string spacing doesn't change in width along the length of the neck as much as a Fender.

Mine was fully hollow and didn't have a block of wood running through the center. I think this type of construction imparts a natural reverb to the sound.

Despite the good sound and playability, everything about it was really really cheap. The plastic guitar tuners were the worst I've ever seen on any guitar or bass. The tone/volume knobs were made of the same grade of plastic as disposable bottle caps. If the new ones are the same, Danelectro is pretty brazen charging $450 for them.
 
#7
ricky_perils said:
Thought I would post here rather than clog up the forum with a new thread.

So I have just ordered a Danelectro 59 for £375. I have no idea what it will sound/feel like.

I have been playing my first ever bass (squier jazz with quarter pound pups) for 2 years now but I am finding it too heavy for the long band practices. I love my bass so much that I could never bring myself to splash a serious amount of cash on a "proper" Mexican/USA fender which would still be heavy anyway.

First I was looking at the Japanese made non-export Fender Aerodynes (white vintage with black scratch plate). A year or two ago they were fairly easy to get hold of but now they are like gold dust and selling for double the value (last one I saw in 2016 was going for £700). As lovely as they are, I think that's too much money.

So there you have it! Thomann are shipping my Danelectro today and I wait in anticipation. The one thing I am certain of is that it will sound completely different to my jazz bass. Excited and nervous! They look cool though...

P.s I will post my first thoughts here once I get my hands on it.
Click to expand...

so did it ever arrive?
 
#8
I love the sound of this bass! Here’s a demo I found on YouTube, Igor is funky AF too! Joey Spampinato from NRBQ played one as well through an old SVT. I’m waiting for Sweetwater to get them in stock so I can order one , the one thing I will change are the strings, I’ll put on some Thomaston-Infield (JF344) i love the tone and the tension! They’re available on Amazon, not cheap but worth every penny! I put some on a ‘51 RI Fender P bass.
 
#9
Old thread. I completely agree with today's post. I found an old DC59 in good shape and was happy to pay $400. This was about six years ago. And I put the TI Jazz Flats on it. I put those strings on pretty much everything.

I the reason I bought the DC59 was because I heard one on a recording and just HAD to have it. In the recording, the sound was fat and textured, if that makes sense. Fat and detailed. This bass is not a one-trick pony. I used it to cover the Foghat version of I Just Wanna Make Love To You, and it NAILED that tone, which is quite edgy. So yeah....this bass has tonal range. It is also my lightest bass. What's not to like?
 
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#10
Old Fart said:
Old thread. I completely agree with today's post. I found an old DC59 in good shape and was happy to pay $400. This was about six years ago. And I put the TI Jazz Flats on it. I put those strings on pretty much everything.

I the reason I bought the DC59 was because I heard one on a recording and just HAD to have it. In the recording, the sound was fat and textured, if that makes sense. Fat and detailed. This bass is not a one-trick pony. I used it to cover the Foghat version of I Just Wanna Make Love To You, and it NAILED that tone, which is quite edgy. So yeah....this bass has tonal range. It is also my lightest bass. What's not to like?
Click to expand...
Long scale or short?
 

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