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Danelectro Longhorn bass
- Thread starter cajunbass1985
- Start date
BTW, I don't care if anyone thinks the newer Chinese Danos are poo or not, I'm digging my Longhorn. Had it for about 18 months now. Sounds like a Dano should...got a nice mid-scoopy twang to it and fattens up when you run just the front pickup. The tuners are definitely poo, but they work and they're holding up so I'll use them till they don't, then I'll get a good set of Klusons. But it stays in tune and the action stays pretty consistent, so what else do you want? Not like the originals were much better.
Did you read the rest of my post, Jimmy? I was defending them. I'll reiterate: The QC is poo. The basses are a blast to play. We're in agreement here.
Cajunbass1985: I believe 1998 was Korean. I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that was the period during which some of the longhorns were long scale. You might want to check it. IMO, the shorties are a lot more fun to play.
Technically, they scream - POS.
When you find a winner, they can be fun to play.
I'll never, ever get why investors spent money on the Danelectro name and line, and never bothered to make a true modern, version of that body design. There is actually serious tone magic that can come out of that body design, but the people who own the name apparently aren't smart enough to know that.
Every reissue has been about the old styling, with the ridiculous tape, fugly paint and colors, and POS bridge. That body design, with modern paint/finishes, and Real parts - would kick butt in the market.
When you find a winner, they can be fun to play.
I'll never, ever get why investors spent money on the Danelectro name and line, and never bothered to make a true modern, version of that body design. There is actually serious tone magic that can come out of that body design, but the people who own the name apparently aren't smart enough to know that.
Every reissue has been about the old styling, with the ridiculous tape, fugly paint and colors, and POS bridge. That body design, with modern paint/finishes, and Real parts - would kick butt in the market.
msb said:
Yup. They're one of those basses that isn't quite like anything else in a weird/cool way, and even though it probably won't be your main gigging/recording instrument, love definitely use it and love it.
And definitely string it with flats.
Blech!!! I want the tape, fugly paint and colors, and POS bridge.
Word... That's the whole point IMO... Keep the 'upgraded' bridge away from both my Longhorns! I'll stick with the popsicle stick bridge! Both of mine are early Korean re-issues and thay're screamers... FWIW, I had a Chinese '63 Longscale that was certainly no slouch...
-robert
I have one of the newer iterations - High gloss paint ("Limo black") and chrome hardware, fully painted (no tape), real bridge etc. The only weak point is the tuners that are guitar sized. (But I have not had any issues with them.) I use rounds on mine.
Neck is great for the price - easily on par with my Squier CV Jazz. Removal of the neck is required for truss rod setting but that is something I have only done twice in 4 years.
The tone and playability is also very good. The bubbly and thick tone sits perfect in the mix for 50/60s rock and blues, expecially with a bit of boost in the lows. Not so good for 80s rock, though.
It also has quite good sustain and tonal variation. Dead spots? Not really - only a noticable as a shorter sustain around E/F on the G-string.
And it is really fun to play!
Edit: picture!
Link Removed
Neck is great for the price - easily on par with my Squier CV Jazz. Removal of the neck is required for truss rod setting but that is something I have only done twice in 4 years.
The tone and playability is also very good. The bubbly and thick tone sits perfect in the mix for 50/60s rock and blues, expecially with a bit of boost in the lows. Not so good for 80s rock, though.
It also has quite good sustain and tonal variation. Dead spots? Not really - only a noticable as a shorter sustain around E/F on the G-string.
And it is really fun to play!
Edit: picture!
Link Removed
That could be either the original Korean 58 re-issue or the Longhorn Pro . The Pro had an adjustable bridge ( rather than the mahogany one ) and improved tuners . The Pro was Korean made also . Personally I like the original 58 over the Pro .
Get it ! Some aficionados believe the wooden bridges sound better than the adjustable ones . There is a sweet spot where the intonation is good . I had to make a very slight adjustment on mine years ago . You have to take the neck off to adjust the truss rod , I have only adjusted mine once , and that was a dozen years ago .
I use mine a lot .
- Feb 24, 2004
- 4,103
- 642
- 68
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
And those were neither hollow, masonite or light!
But they used the same "popsicle stick" bridge and guitar tuners.
Sounds to me more like a Fender with lipsticks. I guess some people might want that, but that would be the last thing I'd want in a Dano.
Well, it sounds pretty good, but I've not heard a straight out clip of the Longhorn. But have heard Brian Bourne (Rawlins Cross) playing his live in El Camino with Thom Swift. Spoke to him after the gig and he really enjoy's it, "plays great and cost a couple hundred bucks." He usually plays a Chapman Stik.
Too bad they didn't make a longscale longhorn, with a better finish. That tan cream whatever it is burst is the yukkiest finish known to man.
Too bad they didn't make a longscale longhorn, with a better finish. That tan cream whatever it is burst is the yukkiest finish known to man.
