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Danelectro Longhorn bass

#101
Thanks for the info, Bassman. When I had it off, it almost looked like the saddle compensated for the bend. I would like a little more clearance over the two middle strings, though. When I get the urge, I'll try to hammer it flat between a couple pieces of 2x4. Like you mentioned, a replacement is pretty cheap.

I kinda want to remove the silk from the strings because I'm not really liking the blue on the Chromes against the deep red/maroon headstock with the beige/yellow logo.
 
#102
Your body is solid under the bridge. What iamthebassman said about keeping the bridge plate parallel with the body is good. I actually drilled a hole in the center of my bridge plate and counter bored it from the bottom, then placed a screw in the body which I can adjust through the hole to keep the plate from collapsing. You need a screw head that fits in the counter bore, without slipping through. In that way, that screw supported the bridge plate in the center and helped keep it flat regardless of it's angle
 
#105
I use both with my gig, tho' my Hofner's a "real deal" Beatle, I imagine the Icon Club isn't that dissimilar. The Hofner neck is a bit narrower than the Dano, and neither have much taper, they aren't that much wider at the body end of the neck than they are at the nut, especially compared to a Fender.
 
#106
From not too recent memory, if the Club's neck is like the Icon Violins that I've played, I believe the Longhorn is thinner front to back.

I was having a good time with an exacto and a Nat Geo magazine last night making some underlays for the pickguard. This isn't my favorite image of the bunch, and the beaver isn't my favorite animal on earth (that kind of beaver, anyway), but I like the way the colors work. It's also funny for a hollow body.

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#108
landau roof said:
From not too recent memory, if the Club's neck is like the Icon Violins that I've played, I believe the Longhorn is thinner front to back.

I was having a good time with an exacto and a Nat Geo magazine last night making some underlays for the pickguard. This isn't my favorite image of the bunch, and the beaver isn't my favorite animal on earth (that kind of beaver, anyway), but I like the way the colors work. It's also funny for a hollow body.

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Click to expand...

Put a pic of my mom on my JJ Longhorn Bass VI several years back.
longhorns.jpg
 
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#116
I'm new to the forum. I just registered so I could reply to this post. I used to own two JJ Longhorns. I bought my first one when i stumbled upon it at a music store about 1992. I had an accident that messed up my back so my J bass bass was a little heavy to gig with. I fell in love with size weight and sound of the bass it became my number one for years. About 8 yrs ago I found a newer JJ with the neptune body option and an adjustable bridge. So I bought it but still preferred my older bass with the rosewood bridge. I ended up selling both about 4 years ago for whatever dumb reason. I wish I had them now! I am considering the new Longhorn from Korea. I have heard good things about them, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with this new version. Not so crazy about the color but was told its as good as the JJ Longhorns.
 
#117
Lo-E said:
The original Danelectros were also very poorly constructed and, from a repairman's point of view, an absolute catastrophe. They also happen to be a blast to play and sound great. Some things go beyond practicality and dollars and cents.
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A sizable lot of the Danelectro parts were bought by Fatdawg, who runs Subway Guitars in Berkeley, CA. He occasionally builds guitars and basses from those parts but typically defers to telling clients to go find one on their own.
 
#118
Back in 1962, my dad bought me a 50's Danelectro Longhorn Bronzeburst, with the factory rectangular case for around $120. I took lessons for 6 months, then got in with a bar band at age 15. Played that Dano as my ONLY bass for almost 13 years. I adjusted the truss rod twice in that time, changed strings maybe 3 or 4 times...I used Black Diamond light gauge round wound strings. VERY "ringy"....when I turned the tone up on the bridge pup, I got a near Rotosound sound, but VERY thumpy bass otherwise. I took it along when I went to see an old girlfriend in Berkeley in 1975, and eventually sold it to Fatdawg hisown self...for about what I paid for it. I found this old thread because I just got a reissue Longhorn, solid color rather odd blue, truss rod head at the body end, no 3 way switch, concentric round know V&T's, rosewood saddle bridge. Don't know where or when it came from, but it does have heavy cast solid tuners, not the same as the originals...

(FWIW, my old Longhorn had Kluson/Deluxe tuners, like those on old Gibson guitars - never had any trouble with them at al - They had oil holes and I did add a drop or so every few years)

I almost never played up beyond the octave, so the intonation was not an issue, and I just set this one up using a Korg tuner - works just fine. I adjusted the wood saddle using the handle end of a dinner fork. I got it online for $199, and it seems near perfect,, and my only dislike is plastic strap knobs...but they seem to work, so...

I like odd basses - my main bass axe is an '90's Peavey Foundation, and I have an Epi EB3 and a Zenith as well as a no name Chinese Hoffner type violin hollowbody.

I replaced that old Longhorn with a then new Fender Telecaster Bass reissue...Good bass, but I liked the Dano better and I like the Peavey Foundation better now, too.

Good to see some people still playing Longhorns. A LOT of 50's rock & roll records were made with them holding down the bottom, and they are still good recording basses.

Added: My "new" longhorn is like the marroon one with the beaver posted by Laneau Roof, and the all black posted on previous pages...so I guess it's a 1990's Korean made Dano. I'm very pleased with it and it seems to feel very similar to my '50's original...maybe a bit better finished.

mark
 
#120
EricBKR said:
Trying to sum up parts of the previous exchanges on the Dano Longhorn Dead On 58 bass : are the Korean really superior to the Chinese one ?
What would be a faire price for a bass from either origin ?
Click to expand...

I have not handled a Chinese made Dano Longhorn...But I have a Korean made Longhorn and 2 Korean made Danelectro 6 string guitars, and they are all VERY well made. FWIW, I played my original '50's Longhorn in bar bands for over 12 years as my only bass, and never had a bit of trouble with it...The tuners held very well and IMO the new ones, while small, are better than the originals, so I expect no problems. These basses are NOT "flimsy"...mine held up very well through over a decade of regional road travel and bars and even an occasional concert, and was still very solid when I sold it to Fat Dog in Berkeley in '75. I would not think twice about doing this all over again with the Korean made Longhorn...I think it's actually better made.

For used Danelectro basses, check Music Go Round online or eBay or Guitar Center.
mark
 

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