Danelectro Coral Deluxe Bass project

[JIO]

JIO I had hoped you had snagged it. You have a genuine appreciation for this era of gear. I’d never seen a 34” scale bass either, much less in that condition. That one is truly the kind you hear that was under the bed for 50 years.

Between David Lindley and my friend Mike Henderson here in Nashville I gained a truer appreciation for what can be done with Danolectro , Silvertone and the like. Mike even has a lipstick tube pickup in his main Tele, an original Japanese Squier, but they’re a whole ‘nother story .

The one that got away - I'm also a recent convert of Dano's - but now that I am I know what they are worth.

 

[JIO]

JIO I had hoped you had snagged it. You have a genuine appreciation for this era of gear. I’d never seen a 34” scale bass either, much less in that condition. That one is truly the kind you hear that was under the bed for 50 years.

Between David Lindley and my friend Mike Henderson here in Nashville I gained a truer appreciation for what can be done with Danolectro , Silvertone and the like. Mike even has a lipstick tube pickup in his main Tele, an original Japanese Squier, but they’re a whole ‘nother story .

My '68 Coral (exactly the same as the Dano Dane) is 34" scale. It's a long bass in general at 49" from top to bottom. The Corals seem to be more available - not many but more than these early '60s Danes. This is the only one I've ever seen.

Here's another cool "Hawk" from '67 on Reverb (no affiliation) The Hawk was a student level 15 fret short scale.

Love the textured finish on these. Eventually I will create a bass that has a finish like this.

Similar hs badge on this '67 that was first seen on the early 60's Dano's.

 

[JIO]

Here's a black CDB with the swirl shape very similar to mine. The thin translucent grooved plastic material (think "flicker picture") had a variety of 'waves' (as you can see illustrated on the blue Dane) but must have had repeats within a roll. Also has original angular bridge cover. The one I had made cloned it - it lives in the case.

 

[JIO]

Below, a '67 Dano "Dane" 12 string guitar with a great crackle finish. Body shape looks a lot like the Coral Vinnie Bell sig Wasp guitars/basses from that period.

And, a '67 Dano Dane "C" Model C2B4 in Baby Blue - this presents yet another layer of questions - the body shape & pg/pu surrounds/knobs looks exactly like a Silvertone Hornet from the same year but with the same hs shape as the Coral Deluxe Bass/early Dano Dane bass in the same Baby Blue as the early '60s Dano Dane.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I first remember those crackle finishes on the Coral Electric Sitars. Probably most famously played by Garry Talley on the Box Tops’ Cry Like A Baby. Frank Zappa used them as well.

I’ve been a lifelong fan of Alex Chilton and related bands and was fortunate enough to see several Box Tops reunions over the years.

You guys ever get a chance to see Mike Henderson in any capacity he’s usually got a bunch of Danos and Silvertones on the bandstand.

 

[JIO]

Check this out - (found on Pinterest) since the hs is not shown, it's not known if this is a early Dano Dane or a later '60s Coral Deluxe Bass but it's the first one I've seen in 3TSB.

 

[JIO]

I first remember those crackle finishes on the Coral Electric Sitars. Probably most famously played by Garry Talley on the Box Tops’ Cry Like A Baby. Frank Zappa used them as well.

I’ve been a lifelong fan of Alex Chilton and related bands and was fortunate enough to see several Box Tops reunions over the years.

You guys ever get a chance to see Mike Henderson in any capacity he’s usually got a bunch of Danos and Silvertones on the bandstand.

There's a few retro clones of the sitar out there - my band shared the stage with a band who played one and it sounded great! A very simple but effective was of reproducing that sitar sound.

Scalloped wood bridge block close to the resonating string creates the 'buzzy' effect.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

In case anyone cares, Allparts still has the new version of those bridges.
SB-5810 Bridge for Danelectro® Sitar

 

[JIO]

In case anyone cares, Allparts still has the new version of those bridges.
SB-5810 Bridge for Danelectro® Sitar

Yah I knew that and wonder what a bass would sound like using one. Could be cool, especially if like an adjustable mute it could be raised and lowered. Also, could just make one of hard wood like maple. Food for thought...

 

[b/o 402]

Yah I knew that and wonder what a bass would sound like using one. Could be cool, especially if like an adjustable mute it could be raised and lowered. Also, could just make one of hard wood like maple. Food for thought...

Maybe you could get the fretless "mwah" out of a fretted bass?

 

[JIO]

Maybe you could get the fretless "mwah" out of a fretted bass?

I do recall something similar made for that purpose years ago. Obviously it didn't catch on. Like I said, it can easily be fabricated, you'd just have to experiment with different materials to get the best sound.

 

[farace]

Not a bass, but we were watching an old episode of Night Music tonight and I saw this.

 

[Pocket4]

JIO, I really like the dedication you give to these very interesting basses. I keep a distance from Dano but always looking to see where I might take a plunge for the right one.

 

[JIO]

JIO, I really like the dedication you give to these very interesting basses. I keep a distance from Dano but always looking to see where I might take a plunge for the right one.

I've never played the more common models like the longhorn or shorthorns so can't say if I'd like them or not. But it's not only the look & feel, it's also the tone/sound I like about these Danelectro/Coral products. It's pretty unique. The late '60s models were poplar body & neck - not sure if the earlier ones were poplar also, and then there are the masonite-bodied ones. The sound comes from the lipstick singles & electronics, but construction and wood factor in to a degree. I think once you play one that speaks to you - you'll know.

 

[JIO]

Yet another Coral Deluxe Bass (? - as advertised anyway) currently on Reverb but different from my '68 CDB and also different from the Dano Dane. (post #284 above) Looks to be DIY refinished and with a replaced bridge so anythings possible here. Black pg, as was the case with my Silvertone Hornet looks to be painted and is most likely vintage tort underneath. So here's the differences; headstock shape is somewhere between a Silvertone Hornet, Dano Dane and Coral Deluxe Bass. (now three different shaped hs's!) Same tuners, same twin steel bar 22 fret neck, same lipstick pu's and stacked knobs (as the CDB) ... but, the body is a cross between the Dane/CDB and Silvertone Hornet. Same outline but what looks to be more sculpting as the CDB. Even my '68 Hornet is different - it has beveling on the front and back that most I've seen pics of don't. Wood finger-rest has been moved from the G side to the E side - you can see the two holes there. This white example has stacked knobs like the CDB but on a pg like the Hornet, which has 4 pots/controls and a 3-way switch.

More rounded/curvy hs. String retainer bar may or may not be original. Ones like it were used commonly on '60s Japanese basses, but this is the first one I've seen on a Dano/Coral. Coral badge in a different configuration than my CDB. May have been repositioned after refinishing as I haven't seen one located like it.

Obvious DIY finish. No neck plate - my CDB has one, the Silvertone Hornet didn't and I've seen the Hornets with and w/o a plate. Same 3 bolt connection. Small hole is for tilt-neck adjustment access.

Refin painted neck, some had them - others were clear-coat over wood. Who knows what this bass originally had.

My '68 Silvertone 1443 Hornet with beveled edges. Haven't seen another with this detail. As it was heavily DIY'd when I got it - it's possible someone beveled the front and back of the body and sculpted the hs.

For reference -

 

[JIO]

"Who" knew!

Dano guitar too!

 

[JIO]

Another Coral related bass - looks to have been mucked with... but once again a bit of this design and ingredient-wise.

 

[ATLbassist]

Did you get it? If so, what is that metal doodad on the headstock?

 

[Reedt2000]

Another Coral related bass - looks to have been mucked with... but once again a bit of this design and ingredient-wise.
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Poor bass...

Looks like someone mistook it for a piece of toilet paper

(Hey, in March/April of 2020 you did what you had to do... )

 

[Bloomfield]

Did you get it? If so, what is that metal doodad on the headstock?

A drawer pull I'd say. Why, I don't know.