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Danelectro Baritone as a bass?

#41
Yeah, I'm taking into account the $399 street price. It's not a bad deal but I think it should be in line with their previous offerings [$499 list / $299 street] at which point they would be moving through the retail channel quite well. As is my local guy's who carried the previous Dano's will only bring in the Longhorns on special order because of the pricing. By way of comparison I picked up my Double for $365 of eBay and it was in new condition.
 
#42
I play a Jerry Jones longhorn (new shape 2004) I also converted a Danelectro 56 U2 into a baritone. I used the Allparts baritone neck and had to open up the neck pocket just a bit. The body I used did not have a neck when I bought it so that could have contributed to the tightness of the neck pocket. The Allparts baritone neck is a 30" scale and is contoured on the lower edge for the U2 body. That contour would make the neck a poor choice for the longhorn body (look at the neck heel on a longhorn, DC59 [shorthorn], and then look at a 56 U2 you will see what I mean). The longhorn bass neck has the same nut width and should work with a nut change and extra holes drilled for the two additional tuners. The nut and tuners are obtainable at various web stores and Allparts. You can get the bass bridge (Longhorn) there as well. The bridge you can't get is the correct baritone bridge. The intonatable guitar bridge will need the string holes drilled and intonation is real close but not 100% +/- 5 cents. The intonatable bridge for bass may need a new hole drilled for the rear screw it is longer than the old rosewood saddle bridge. The rosewood saddle bass bridge should fit.

For sound and feel etc... I use Fender 5250XL short scale strings on my Jerry Jones Bass and Ernie Ball 3837 6 string bass guitar strings on the Dano bass 6 I built. The Fenders are 40/60/75/95 the EB's are 20/30/42/54/74/90. Both sets sound good and fit correctly. The machine ends are tapered on the larger strings allowing them to fit into the guitar tuners on the JJ and Dano. I play with a light touch into a B100R and both sets thump with fingers or light pick (tone control adjustments or palm muting required). I have tried heavier sets and the thump goes away and dead spots show up on the neck at various spots. At less than $10 bucks a set I may try the EB 2837's on my JJ as I know what they sound like on the Dano bass 6.

I havent played my Dano out but the JJ over the B100R is solid. Typical comments from longscale bass players "short scale oh a girlie bass" then I play and I get "wow dude that bass thumps I can hear it in the mix and what settings are you using cause I can't get that sound". They really get messed up when they realize the JJ only has a four way pickup selector switch and volume controls. This was with the Fender 5250XL strings on the JJ. The stock D'Adarrio XL-170S string set was just two bright and did not have the same thump. Half rounds and Flats killed the sustain and disappeared in the mix not cut at all. I arrived at these string options after about $200.00 worth of playing to get the tone I was after. When I go direct no B100R the results are very close to what I hear with the B100R little bit more bottom due to more 15's and larger cabs with a lower F3.

I hope this helps as the beauty of these basses JJ and Dano is how they play and sound.
 
#43
FYI - Invalid Link Removed has all the dano replacement parts Allparts carries but I've found their pricing is much better and they are great to deal with. I bought a Dano 6 intoneable bridge to replace the rosewood [screws right in with existing bolts and holes] and have no problem recommending them.

I'm gonna try something really nuts for stringing my baritone. I got a set of D'addario Jerry Jones 6-string bass strings and I'm going to try stringing it B standard using the low B from my baritone set, the E and A from the bass set and leave the top 3 as baritone. The theory is I'll get the same bass playing on the lower strings as I get from my 5-string regular bass but get a low B [bass vi strings are for E to E] and can still play lead licks and chording. That's the theory anyway - we'll see how it works out.
 
#44
Dano has both a Baritone (tuned in A-A) and a Bass (tuned in E-E) and both are (or were anyway) available in the Longhorne body style and the UB-2 Style.
I have an Aqua Metal-Flake UB-2 six-String Bass and it is every bit as punchy as any of my other Dano's
Here is a pic.

I also have some sound bites if you are interested.

Dave
 

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#45
Here is a shot of the Dano baritone / bass 6 bridge note the E and A lock screw location that solves one problem. Relocate those two screws and bore out the lower 4 string holes and the U3 upgraded adjustable saddle bride will work. Here are some pics to support this.
 

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#46
Hi guys, I decided to bump this thread rather than start a new one as I have a question for ya' all. I just found a good deal on Ebay for a BC Rich Bich Baritone guitar. This is in the 30" scale. Looks really cool. I nabbed it new for $300 where normally they are a bit over $450. Anyway, a different Ebay seller (with same guitar still currently listed http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BC-Rich-Bic...ryZ33035QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) noted that this guitar, which it normally tunes A-A can also be tuned as a 6-string bass with .20 - .90 strings. Super lightweight, that's for sure. But it did not mention if (as tuned as a bass) that it would be normal 6-string bass tuning, or still A-A but with heavier gauge strings than whatever it is strung with out of the factory as a baritone guitar.

ANYWAY, have any of you had experience with this, or have any idea what I just got myself into? I bought this thing purely for fun so I'm not sure what to expect. Thanks.
 
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#48
iamthebassman said:
30" scale is norm for 6-string bass(E-E). Some makers even call their 6-string bass a baritone, even tho' a baritone (A-A or B-B) has a shorter scale than 30".
Click to expand...

OK, thanks, I see now. When tuned as a bass, you are actually tuning it like a normal guitar E-E. Or in otherwords, the pitch is higher when tuned as a bass as opposed to a baritone guitar that starts on a low A. However, when tuned as a bass you are using heavier guage strings than when tuned as a baritone guitar, even though the pitches are higher. I got that right? If so, I will need to buy a set of extra light normal bass strings (E,A,D,G) and then use two guitar strings to cover the two high strings B and E. Thanks. I hope I got it.
 
#49
6-string bass is tuned E-E as a guitar, but an octave lower. It's like a 4-string bass with two extra, higher strings. A baritone guitar is pitched between a bass and a guitar, just like a baritone horn is between a tuba and trumpet. Hence the name. D'Addarrio, among others make 6-string bass sets, they usually sell for less than $10. Typically: 24-34-44-56-72-84
 
#50
iamthebassman said:
6-string bass is tuned E-E as a guitar, but an octave lower. It's like a 4-string bass with two extra, higher strings. A baritone guitar is pitched between a bass and a guitar, just like a baritone horn is between a tuba and trumpet. Hence the name. D'Addarrio, among others make 6-string bass sets, they usually sell for less than $10. Typically: 24-34-44-56-72-84
Click to expand...

OK, that kind of makes sense. BUT, a normal bass is not tuned an octave below a normal guitar. It is the same. Same octave low E string, then a 5-string bass goes lower to a B. The bass guitar just sounds lower due to the long scale and thicker strings. As far as I know, the baritone guitar goes even lower than a normal 5 or 6 string bass (both with low Bs) as the baritone goes down to an A. I know that all sounds weird, but a bass vs. a guitar is different than a tuba vs. a trumpet.

However, I am now cleared up on the baritone guitar vs/ short scale 6-string bass, that part I didn't know but it makes sense now.
 
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#51
BassDudeSA said:
OK, that kind of makes sense. BUT, a normal bass is not tuned an octave below a normal guitar. It is the same. Same octave low E string, then a 5-string bass goes lower to a B. The bass guitar just sounds lower due to the long scale and thicker strings. As far as I know, the baritone guitar goes even lower than a normal 5 or 6 string bass (both with low Bs) as the baritone goes down to an A. I know that all sounds weird, but a bass vs. a guitar is different than a tuba vs. a trumpet.

However, I am now cleared up on the baritone guitar vs/ short scale 6-string bass, that part I didn't know but it makes sense now.
Click to expand...

OK...everything you just said is wrong, so I give up.
 
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#52
iamthebassman said:
OK...everything you just said is wrong, so I give up.
Click to expand...

Don't give up. Think about it. I did not know how a 6-string short scale bass/baritone guitar was tuned at first, but I've been playing normal bass for almost 30 years and I know exactly what I am talking about. A normal 4-string bass is tuned EXACTLY like the first four strings of a normal guitar, same EXACT octave of E,A,D,G. You go down to a B when adding another lower string on a bass (or 7-string guitar). Baritone guitar is tuned down to an A which is one full step LOWER than a B on a 5-string bass or 7-string guitar. That is FACT. At least when considering standard tuning.
 
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#53
mange656 said:
Here is a shot of the Dano baritone / bass 6 bridge note the E and A lock screw location that solves one problem. Relocate those two screws and bore out the lower 4 string holes and the U3 upgraded adjustable saddle bride will work. Here are some pics to support this.
Click to expand...
That's the same bridge one I bought. It is a direct replacement for the rosewood type - same screws go in the same holes. No drilling required. Phillips screwdriver is all that's required.
 
#54
BassDudeSA said:
Don't give up. Think about it. I did not know how a 6-string short scale bass/baritone guitar was tuned at first, but I've been playing normal bass for almost 30 years and I know exactly what I am talking about. A normal 4-string bass is tuned EXACTLY like the first four strings of a normal guitar, same EXACT octave of E,A,D,G. You go down to a B when adding another lower string on a bass (or 7-string guitar). Baritone guitar is tuned down to an A which is one full step LOWER than a B on a 5-string bass or 7-string guitar. That is FACT. At least when considering standard tuning.
Click to expand...

NO! A normal 4 string bass is tuned EADG - an octave BELOW a guitar. Try listening to a bass and a guitar and it will be clear to you. If they were the same what would be the point?

A 6 string Dano/Fender Bass VI type bass is tuned an octave below guitar, the 4 low strings the same as a 4 string, with a high B and E added - both an octave below the B and E on a guitar. The B on a Dano 6 string bass is an octave above the low B on a 5 string bass.

A baritone guitar is a 4th or 5th higher than a 6 string bass, the equivalent of capoing a 6 atring bass at the 5th or 7th fret.

I've owned 4, 5 and 6 string basses, a 6 string Dano bass, and a baritone Dano guitar, and I can tell you absolutely you are 100% wrong.
 
#55
BassDudeSA said:
Don't give up. Think about it. I did not know how a 6-string short scale bass/baritone guitar was tuned at first, but I've been playing normal bass for almost 30 years and I know exactly what I am talking about. A normal 4-string bass is tuned EXACTLY like the first four strings of a normal guitar, same EXACT octave of E,A,D,G. You go down to a B when adding another lower string on a bass (or 7-string guitar). Baritone guitar is tuned down to an A which is one full step LOWER than a B on a 5-string bass or 7-string guitar. That is FACT. At least when considering standard tuning.
Click to expand...

You must be playing a piccolo bass or something.
 
#56
BassDudeSA said:
I've been playing normal bass for almost 30 years and I know exactly what I am talking about. A normal 4-string bass is tuned EXACTLY like the first four strings of a normal guitar, same EXACT octave of E,A,D,G. You go down to a B when adding another lower string on a bass (or 7-string guitar). Baritone guitar is tuned down to an A which is one full step LOWER than a B on a 5-string bass or 7-string guitar. That is FACT. At least when considering standard tuning.
Click to expand...

just thought i'd quote this and add this smilie---:eyebrow:
 
#60
Verne Andru said:
That's the same bridge one I bought. It is a direct replacement for the rosewood type - same screws go in the same holes. No drilling required. Phillips screwdriver is all that's required.
Click to expand...

You are correct the screws that mount the bridge to the guitar are an exact match. I was referring to the screws that lock down the low E and A string saddles. In the photos the white baritone guitar bridge has those lock down screws closer to the back end of the guitar while the stock upgrade bridge has them closer to the neck. I found the adjustment range for the low E and A strings to be a bit short (not enough string length between the nut and saddle). Drilling, tapping and using new holes closer to the back side of the bridge would allow for enough string length for correct intonation at both the 12th and 24th fret. You would still need to open up the bridge string holes on the low E, A, D. You may or may not need to open up the top 3 G, B and high E. I do not have a Danelectro Longhorn bass 4 rosewood bridge but I believe it will fit as well. The last specs I viewed on the longhorn and baritone necks indicate the nuts are the same width. In theory, you would be able to convert the Dano between a bass 6 and bass 4. Enjoy.
 

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