Danelectro or Hofner: help me choose!

[shoulderpet]

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That Hofner is one handsome bass. The Dano is just weird, in a good way.

Thanks for the tips so far! The string spacing issue is especially interesting ... I did have a Club several years ago, and couldn't get rid of it fast enough.

In that case go with the Dano, Hofner basses all have that same 14mm super narrow string spacing

 

[AlexanderB]

Another vote for the Danelecro. I am very pleased with my Longhorn Pro, and it is very gig friendly.

 

[Guitalia]

Just checked Hofner's page for the Verythin bass. They don't give the spacing at the bridge, but they give these dimensions for the fingerboard:

Nut Width 42mm
Width At 12th Fret 48mm

For what it's worth, I have an original, mid-1960s Danelectro/Sears Silvertone model 1444 single-cutaway bass and a Hofner Verythin guitar. Both are great instruments. The Hofner looks and feels like a much more expensive instrument than it is. The hardshell case came with a built-in hygrometer, which is a nice touch.

For those saying that the Hofner is a much more common instrument: I've seen a number of Danelectros used on stage over the years, but I've never seen a Verythin bass anywhere.

 

[pbass2]

I'm trying to decide between an apple and an orange:

You nailed the dilemma with your first sentence. These are two very different beasts! I have a Jerry Jones Longhorn that I record with a ton (it's a Dano essentially) but I still want a Hofner for more of the Macca sound. The Dano doesn't really go there.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I have had both. Did not really love the Dan. I currently have two Hofners. I love the way the Hofners look and sound but prefer my Jbass to any of these.

 

[berlihe]

Look, yer going to EQ your amp (or compressor/preamp) a little differently paying a light weight maybe med scale bass vs your full scale solid body, but the Dano doesn't suffer MUCH loss which is a miracle, and has an enhanced mid range, they can move some air plugged into a big rig. And music store experiences are based on the demo amp and room acoustics and all kinds of distractions, to be taken with a grain of salt. Ending up with an Eastwood sounds very fine as well.

Yeah, I wasn't saying the Dano was bad (like I said, I thought it sounded great at some live shows), just that those pickups have a very particular sound, so a person might want to try before buying. As someone said further down the thread, they also don't sound at all like Hofner pickups.

 

[msb]

Danos were built to be inexpensive but playable instruments . Nathan Daniel had a unique vision . He decided the adjustable truss rod was the weakest part of guitar design so he eliminated it . And the necks on the originals are usually still great today . He came up with a wooden frame , covered in Masonite , that could easily be constructed . The wooden bridge and lipstick pickups were simple and effective . They work .
The Dano completely changed my understanding of just what it was that made a great instrument . Mine are feather light , sound wonderful , and are a joy to play . The reissues have adjustable truss rods but are nice recreations of the originals .
Dano prices , like most everything it seems , have been creeping up .
String condition has a huge reflection on the sound , I find Danos too zingy with fresh strings , but develop a wonderful , deep , rich , thump if the strings are allowed to get older .

 

[wooden kimono]

Definitely a Dano!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm trying to decide between an apple and an orange: a Danelectro '59DC short scale, or a Hofner Verythin short scale. Which one?

I would like to get my very first short scale scale bass, and something out of the ordinary. Mostly I play a Fender Precision, and sometimes a Rickenbacker 4003; for this bass, I'd like something completely different. I'd also like to keep it cheap and cheerful, relatively speaking.

I like that they're both lightweight, they're both a little odd, they both look like fun, and they both seem good for old school 60s vibes, for pick and fingers. Other than that, what should I know about them?

Danno

 

[west al]

The Danelectro. Hofners use a standard guitar size tuning peg. Your choice of bass strings that fit Hofners are limited. Jack Bruce played, and liked Danelectro also.

 

[msb]

Bruce used a Bass VI too .
I just realized I’ve got the modern versions of his Cream era basses , a Squier VI , reissue Longhorn , and a Gibson SG bass .
I’m a pretty straightforward groove player , just about the complete opposite of Bruce .

 

[NoiseNinja]

Danelectro, hands down!

Maybe consider the Danelectro Longhorn Bass as well.

Those basses are surprisingly great, both feels amazing to play and sounds amazing as well.

 

[GIBrat51]

IMO? Get the Dano. I have 3; two 1st Gen MIK DC59 Pros (34" scale), and an '18 Gen 3 MIK Longhorn. Yes, the Hofners are very nice, and I have played a few - never a VeriThin, though. I suspect they sound pretty much like every other Hofner short scale, hollow body bass - thumpy, woody, with little/no sustain. Even with rounds, that's still how they sound; maybe an extra spoonful of mids, but not much change. Danelectros, OTOH, are "string chameleons". Yes, you can get that quirky "Dano sound" out of them, but you have to have the right strings. Especially with the Gen 3s, which don't have the reverse-engineered, vintage American pickups like the Gen 1's do. They're wound hotter and more "modern". I have the right strings for the Dano tone on one of the DC59s, and on the Longhorn, too. It took several tries with the Longhorn to get it, though. And, the other DC59? Very different strings; you'd be hard pressed to tell it's a Dano unless you saw it. Within the... usual characteristics... of short scale strings? You can make that Gen 3 DC bass sound like anything you want. Get the Danelectro...