Danelectro Owners Club

[JEBassman]

Hi Dano owners,

I read some posts going back a few years in our forum, about fretless Dano basses. A couple of posts mentioned luthiers like Jerry Jones who were making fretless Longhorns. Someone else suggested making their own fretless neck, or having one made for them.

I'm enjoying my Longhorn a lot, and I can envision having a second Longhorn if it was fretless. It could add some cool options for playing styles and probably a different sound. I think of using a Longhorn because they are so light, have nice tone and I can play one despite having nasty injuries. I might consider a different Dano short scale as an option but the Longhorn is what I'm familiar with right now.

What might the options be? Do any of you have a fretless, and are you happy with your bass?

 

[odysseios]

I bought this today, can I join, please? 1999 LeftyView attachment 3384328

Hi, i’m searching for a LH DC bass. What would be a correct price for a 99 one like yours?

 

[portaflexer]

Another new member.

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02 - Rob Martinez
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113 - marmil
114 - Groove Doctor
115 - bassburner
116 - JEBassman
117 - Patrick Spencer

 

[GIBrat51]

Hi, i’m searching for a LH DC bass. What would be a correct price for a 99 one like yours?

I don't know what Patrick paid for his, but I have a couple of them - really early Gen 1 Korean ones - and they cost me about $250 or so each. But that was at least 10-12 years ago, and when I see a lefty for sale now? At least twice that, if it's a good one. For a lefty anything, it's pretty much always a seller's market. I doubt the things will get any cheaper any time soon...

 

[mcgreivey]

Hi Dano owners,

I read some posts going back a few years in our forum, about fretless Dano basses. A couple of posts mentioned luthiers like Jerry Jones who were making fretless Longhorns. Someone else suggested making their own fretless neck, or having one made for them.

I'm enjoying my Longhorn a lot, and I can envision having a second Longhorn if it was fretless. It could add some cool options for playing styles and probably a different sound. I think of using a Longhorn because they are so light, have nice tone and I can play one despite having nasty injuries. I might consider a different Dano short scale as an option but the Longhorn is what I'm familiar with right now.

What might the options be? Do any of you have a fretless, and are you happy with your bass?

It's possible to de-fret a a fretted neck. I suppose it's also possible to do it in such a way that it's reversible.

I've never done it, myself.

 

[JimmyM]

It's possible to de-fret a a fretted neck. I suppose it's also possible to do it in such a way that it's reversible.

I've never done it, myself.

If by reversible, you mean cutting new slots and installing new frets, then yeah, it's reversible. Wouldn't put it in the category of swapping pickups for ease of reversability, though.

 

[Jazz Ad]

On a Dano I would replace the board as a whole rather than defretting. It will pop off easily in the hands of a pro.

 

[JEBassman]

If by reversible, you mean cutting new slots and installing new frets, then yeah, it's reversible. Wouldn't put it in the category of swapping pickups for ease of reversability, though.

Thanks Jimmy. I think you're right about the amount of labor involved. I have a local tech who's more than capable of the job. I have no sense of the cost yet. It's something I plan to ask him about.

~ Joel

 

[JEBassman]

On a Dano I would replace the board as a whole rather than defretting. It will pop off easily in the hands of a pro.

Hi JazzzAd,

Thanks for replying. That makes sense. Are Danelectro fretless necks available as parts, or would I need a luthier to build a new neck for me?

Getting price quotes might be my next step. I got excited when I found the Jerry Jones web site until I saw that they'd closed their factory.

~ Joel

 

[JimmyM]

You might want to contact Moonshine Guitars if you're interested in a new neck.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Any competent luthier should be able to replace the board. Just visit the nearest to you and talk about it.

 

[JEBassman]

You might want to contact Moonshine Guitars if you're interested in a new neck.

Thanks Jimmy. I'm having GAS for owning two Longhorns; one fretted and another bass fretless. If I can't find a fretless already built and in good condition, one possibility, if I can afford it, would be to buy another fretted Longhorn and then have a neck built for that bass. That way I'd hold on to the fretted Longhorn I already own and enjoy.

Depending on the cost that might be the quickest way to get that second bass. Time will tell. Thank you for your suggestion.

~ Joel

 

[Jazz Ad]

I don't know that Dano ever made stock fretless instruments.You will need modding somehow.

 

[mongo2]

I don't know that Dano ever made stock fretless instruments.You will need modding somehow.

Here's a link to a completed sale on Reverb of the closest to a factory fretless Dano I've ever seen. I have a '65 Silvertone 1444 that was de-fretted decades ago by a previous owner.

Dynelectron Fretless Longhorn bass Danelectro copy RARE 60s/70s

 

[Jazz Ad]

It would be fun to find a material that fits the Dano design.
Are bakelite boards a thing ?

 

[mongo2]

It would be fun to find a material that fits the Dano design.
Are bakelite boards a thing ?

Original Danos were masonite top and back on a wood frame.

If I had to replace the top or back of a Dano I'd use some 1/8" masonite from Home Depot or similar.

 

[odysseios]

Present Danos aren’t?

 

[odysseios]

Spencer Dunham (Allah-las)

 

[mongo2]

Present Danos aren’t?

I thought so but I have a recent Danelectro U2 guitar that's a solidbody, so I can't be certain all are masonite.

 

[mcgreivey]

I thought so but I have a recent Danelectro U2 guitar that's a solidbody, so I can't be certain all are masonite.

I've never heard of a solid-body Danelectro U2. Have you opened the control cover and looked inside?