- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,591
- 221,975
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
So once again I've plucked a less than perfect late 60's vintage US made bass from messed-around-with obscurity and will give it the old once-over to return it to its past glory. It's a Danelectro Coral Deluxe Bass, a full scale version of the short-scale Coral Wasp. For some of you you'll recall my Calabrone build (Italian for Wasp-thanks Ivan!) and if not, here's the thread - Coral Wasp inspired build - The Calabrone Until I saw this one I had no idea there was a 34" scale version of the Coral Wasp. It was only made for 3 years ('67-'69) according to my researching it, the same years Kay made the Custom Kraft "Bone Buzzer" hollow-body. ('67-'68) I have one and it's an awesome bass! Both companies introduced them as a premier line and then both went out of business. Dano re-emerged later with many re-issues and some new wacky shaped basses/guitars but Custom Kraft and Coral are history. For a more in-depth history of Danelectro - check out this link: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Here's a pic of the bass with original HSC (bonus!) - it's making its way here and should arrive early next week. In the meantime - some examples I found on-line.
Similarities to the Coral Wasp include the swirl-pg, lipstick pu's, a similar body and hs shape and a thin sculpted body. So far from what I've found, it came in only a few stock colours including Black Pearl, 3TSB, Natural Sunburst and this one - Fire Red.
Raised Coral badge with faded DELUXE BASS printed in white on it.
Some had matching lower control skirts - like these in red. Two finger rests for player preference.
This is a DIY black refin - it was originally white (as the neck is) and may have been one of the special order colours.
This one has a raised Danelectro hs badge. Headstock was usually not painted.
Here's an example of "Natural Sunburst" on the Coral "Vincent Bell" Hornet guitar. If I were a guitarist - I'd play one of these beauties!
Like the one I got - this one was stripped and judging from the red knob-skirts it was probably Fire Red originally. It's also missing the 'swirl' which is a thin material under the translucent acrylic pg. Mine has black knob skirts.
And here's one in a champaign/copper colour with black lower knob-skirts. It's missing it's angular bridge cover as mine is. The Coral solidbodies were listed as available in "25 Custom Color" finishes on special order, of which this is probably one. It looks very much like the color used on early Longhorns and late 50's U-1 & 2 & Standard 3021 guitars.
Here's a pic of the bass with original HSC (bonus!) - it's making its way here and should arrive early next week. In the meantime - some examples I found on-line.
Similarities to the Coral Wasp include the swirl-pg, lipstick pu's, a similar body and hs shape and a thin sculpted body. So far from what I've found, it came in only a few stock colours including Black Pearl, 3TSB, Natural Sunburst and this one - Fire Red.
Raised Coral badge with faded DELUXE BASS printed in white on it.
Some had matching lower control skirts - like these in red. Two finger rests for player preference.
This is a DIY black refin - it was originally white (as the neck is) and may have been one of the special order colours.
This one has a raised Danelectro hs badge. Headstock was usually not painted.
Here's an example of "Natural Sunburst" on the Coral "Vincent Bell" Hornet guitar. If I were a guitarist - I'd play one of these beauties!
Like the one I got - this one was stripped and judging from the red knob-skirts it was probably Fire Red originally. It's also missing the 'swirl' which is a thin material under the translucent acrylic pg. Mine has black knob skirts.
And here's one in a champaign/copper colour with black lower knob-skirts. It's missing it's angular bridge cover as mine is. The Coral solidbodies were listed as available in "25 Custom Color" finishes on special order, of which this is probably one. It looks very much like the color used on early Longhorns and late 50's U-1 & 2 & Standard 3021 guitars.
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(never knew that Vespa=Wasp!)
So does that mean The Killer Bees (SNL) were a bunch of striped apes? 
