First off, I need to put a block on my computer for craigslist... I have this disorder where, even though I have all the basses I really need, I can't stop looking at CL daily... "Hello. My name is Robert and I am a G.A.S.-oholic"...
Picked up a Danelectro 63 Long Scale yesterday off of the list. Great seller, had the bass in my hands, tuned and plugged in a few minutes after we walked in. Plunked some notes, made sure everything functioned, cased and cashed out in about five minutes. I love these kinds of transactions!
Got the bass home and gave it a more thorough going-over for build issues, etc... I am a long-time owner of an early Longhorn RI, so I'm familiar with the Dano's design and construction 'flaws', (I actually dig their 'unapologetic' vibe). The 63 is really not so much a 're-issue', but more of a new bass with old-shcool appointments. It is built well, sturdy neck join, thick slab rosewood board, chunky masonite pickguard, (no breakout on the input jack with this baby!!)... The finish is a satin-y black that feels great and doesn't show a ton of prints. Smoked chrome bridge, tuners, and strap pins. Decidedly different that the Longhorn!
The biggest thing that I've read about these basses is that the pickups are supposedly more approximating the originals than the earlier basses, (late '90s). I will say that the output is a bit hotter and that the p'ups sound throatier than those on my '00 LHRI... More grunt than punch. They are different. Not better or worse, just a different sounding package.
My major electronics gripe is with the controls and switching system. Personally, I've never liked the 'Neck/Both/Bridge' type switches, but hey, that's just one guys' opinion... Obviously, it has it's place. I've grown accustomed to the Longhorn's concentric pots and have dialed in a tone on it that I cannot duplicate on the 63, (Neck: V = 10, T = 10 -- Bridge: V = 10, T = 0)... Also, the pots seem to me to be linear taper, with the first 10% being the most effective. At this point, I will say that I usually play a two-pickup bass with everything dimed, so this is almost a non-issue. The 63 has a great tone full up. I just don't find a very effective taper in the tone pot until nearly the zero position. That's probably a future mod... Each pickup soloed sounded clear and distinct like a good single coil should, though the output was somewhat reduced, (duh!!)... I'd probably never run either p'up soloed in a band context anyway, so another non-issue...
Another gripe, albeit it one that I knew going in, is that Danelectro used the same 63 body for guitar, short-scale bass, and long-scale bass... That first fret is way-the-hell-and-gone out there!! Quite a reach that will take some getting used to... A longer strap may help. BTW, has anyone else noticed their straps 'shrinking' as they age?? All my basses seem to sit higher on me these days
The 63 will take some getting used to playing standing up, and it will probably be a bit before this turns into a more-than-one-set-a-night bass...
I was able to play it for a few songs last night during a jam at a friends place, and in a band setting it really sat well in the mix... Very even response and nicely voiced for rockin' blues, which is what was going on. Really responsive to plucking position, with decent variety. I had a tougher time today trying to comfortably thumb-pluck-palm-mute by the bridge, which is becoming a staple in my roots group, so I will have to work on that, but I can see this bass sitting well with my group. I'll be gig-testing it on the 26th...
I'll give it some time before making a final decision, but right now, this bass is screaming "I'm a keeper!!!"
-robert
Picked up a Danelectro 63 Long Scale yesterday off of the list. Great seller, had the bass in my hands, tuned and plugged in a few minutes after we walked in. Plunked some notes, made sure everything functioned, cased and cashed out in about five minutes. I love these kinds of transactions!
Got the bass home and gave it a more thorough going-over for build issues, etc... I am a long-time owner of an early Longhorn RI, so I'm familiar with the Dano's design and construction 'flaws', (I actually dig their 'unapologetic' vibe). The 63 is really not so much a 're-issue', but more of a new bass with old-shcool appointments. It is built well, sturdy neck join, thick slab rosewood board, chunky masonite pickguard, (no breakout on the input jack with this baby!!)... The finish is a satin-y black that feels great and doesn't show a ton of prints. Smoked chrome bridge, tuners, and strap pins. Decidedly different that the Longhorn!
The biggest thing that I've read about these basses is that the pickups are supposedly more approximating the originals than the earlier basses, (late '90s). I will say that the output is a bit hotter and that the p'ups sound throatier than those on my '00 LHRI... More grunt than punch. They are different. Not better or worse, just a different sounding package.
My major electronics gripe is with the controls and switching system. Personally, I've never liked the 'Neck/Both/Bridge' type switches, but hey, that's just one guys' opinion... Obviously, it has it's place. I've grown accustomed to the Longhorn's concentric pots and have dialed in a tone on it that I cannot duplicate on the 63, (Neck: V = 10, T = 10 -- Bridge: V = 10, T = 0)... Also, the pots seem to me to be linear taper, with the first 10% being the most effective. At this point, I will say that I usually play a two-pickup bass with everything dimed, so this is almost a non-issue. The 63 has a great tone full up. I just don't find a very effective taper in the tone pot until nearly the zero position. That's probably a future mod... Each pickup soloed sounded clear and distinct like a good single coil should, though the output was somewhat reduced, (duh!!)... I'd probably never run either p'up soloed in a band context anyway, so another non-issue...
Another gripe, albeit it one that I knew going in, is that Danelectro used the same 63 body for guitar, short-scale bass, and long-scale bass... That first fret is way-the-hell-and-gone out there!! Quite a reach that will take some getting used to... A longer strap may help. BTW, has anyone else noticed their straps 'shrinking' as they age?? All my basses seem to sit higher on me these days
The 63 will take some getting used to playing standing up, and it will probably be a bit before this turns into a more-than-one-set-a-night bass...I was able to play it for a few songs last night during a jam at a friends place, and in a band setting it really sat well in the mix... Very even response and nicely voiced for rockin' blues, which is what was going on. Really responsive to plucking position, with decent variety. I had a tougher time today trying to comfortably thumb-pluck-palm-mute by the bridge, which is becoming a staple in my roots group, so I will have to work on that, but I can see this bass sitting well with my group. I'll be gig-testing it on the 26th...
I'll give it some time before making a final decision, but right now, this bass is screaming "I'm a keeper!!!"
-robert
You should see his "Bass Collection" book. It's full of references to gear that he trashed and he even has a framed, display case with about 30 pieces of a Warwick Buzzard in, which he smashed repeatedly into the ground during one show. It was given to him by his road manager (IIRC), as a testament to "The Wrath of The Ox" 
), so I would believe that the same parallels could be drawn. I'm not a fan of the 63's controls, but again, that's solely my own opinion.
