Danelectro Owners Club

[Robroy]

That Thing You Do was oddly authentic:

 

[danosix]

I never seen pickups like this on a longhorn. Danelectro 4423 Longhorn Bass 1958 Copper Burst (Refinished) | Reverb

That looks like something some one made from a Guitarlin body and a bass bridge and neck - either new/old stock stuff like Fat Dawg puts together at Subway guitars or (since it's a refin) just bits the person had and put together filling the holes where the guitar bridge had been and drilling new ones for the bridge.
The write-up says that's correct for first year ones - but I ain't never seen one like that and I've seen a LOT both in person and in pictures.
I don't think I'd want that - the wider spaced pickups creates a more balanced and "wider" sound, but cool and different none-theless. If it IS authentic, doubly cool for being different - which is what Danos are all about.

 

[danosix]

The early Longhorns had a different spacing .

Interesting. Learn something new everyday. They must have been like that for a VERY short time - I have literally NEVER seen one like that (and of course Evetts claims the 59 is more or less what we know of as the standard).
It was definitely a good decision to move the pickup - though I'd love to that have a THREE pickup one - like the U3 - then the added flexibility would be awesome.

 

[danosix]

I was looking at the bridge on the Guild Chris Hillman bass which has rosewood bridge saddles and thought this would be a nice direction for the bridge if Daneletro comes out with a new series. It would be the best of both worlds to have the thump of the wood bridge "AND" intonation.

View attachment 799931

I've advocated for that for YEARS. But alas - there are generally two school of thought for bridges - people who want the "vintage correct" design and those who want something modern and intonatable.
There are people making things like that for retro-fit though.

 

[SJLee]

I've advocated for that for YEARS. But alas - there are generally two school of thought for bridges - people who want the "vintage correct" design and those who want something modern and intonatable.
There are people making things like that for retro-fit though.

It seems like a no brainer.

 

[narwhale]

I've advocated for that for YEARS. But alas - there are generally two school of thought for bridges - people who want the "vintage correct" design and those who want something modern and intonatable.
There are people making things like that for retro-fit though.

Anyone I can buy from now? CJ Tooling makes the only improved bridge I've been able to find, and upon emailing they aren't currently making bass bridges.

 

[danosix]

Anyone I can buy from now? CJ Tooling makes the only improved bridge I've been able to find, and upon emailing they aren't currently making bass bridges.

I couldn't think f his name while I was posting - but that's him, if he's out of business, I'm out of ideas.

 

[SJLee]

Too bad. I hope everything is OK. Unfortunately not a bass bridge, but here is a test with the rosewood bridge for guitar.

 

[narwhale]

I don't think he's out of business; I just emailed him a while back and he said he wasn't making bass bridges.

 

[SJLee]

Hmm. A bit confusing. On both his website and FB page there is the following:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, as of March 15, 2016, CJ Guitar tooling is closed until further notice. Orders will not be made or filled during this time. We appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have recently placed an order, we will be in contact with you shortly. Thank you.

 

[narwhale]

Hmm. A bit confusing. On both his website and FB page there is the following:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, as of March 15, 2016, CJ Guitar tooling is closed until further notice. Orders will not be made or filled during this time. We appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have recently placed an order, we will be in contact with you shortly. Thank you.

Oh, wasn't aware of that! I emailed him about 6 weeks ago.

 

[Old Fart]

Sorry Old Fart. I totally missed your # request above. Here ya go... and btw, you are our first centenary member.

100 - Old Fart

Thank you! I just can't stop playing this DC-59. I have a dozen basses or so, half of them very nice basses, considerably more expensive. This Dano has the potential to be #1. Right now, it is #1.

 

[danosix]

I don't think he's out of business; I just emailed him a while back and he said he wasn't making bass bridges.

Sorry - I read right, I just meant he's out of the bass bridge business - so he might as well be out of business to us.
The funny thing is I think I read that elsewhere (maybe even on this thread). I think it's a little odd that he stopped supporting the basses since the Danelectro BASS is by far more of a classic instrument - as far as the percentage of pros who play them regularly and not as a prop than the guitars are (which I also love and think are great - but the longhorn is one of the GREAT basses (behind only two the iconic fender models, the Stingray, maybe the Ric and the Hofner - IMHO and that last one had a little help in becoming a classic) in guitars there are DOZENS of classics after which the Danelectro comes in as great alternative to the classics.
EDIT: Oh, nevermind - I read the notices after I posted.

 

[danosix]

I have both. They both sound like Danos.

Yeah, people get a little too tied to the models with these Danos - they all have the same pickups same construction (or very close) same materials same basic bridge design (even the adjustable bridges float about the body which no doubt has more of an impact on sound than whetgher the saddles are metal or wood). So the only functional difference is scale length - and even that minor difference seems to eve less on these than other bass modelsavailable in different scales - my guess is the hollow body reacts more "hollowly" to the higher tension of the long scale making it less "solid" and thus more similar to the shorties than it might otherwise be - just a guess, if someone who understands the science better than me has an explanation I'm glad to hear it).

As you say ALL danos (of the classic lipsticks and hollow Masonite design) sound like Danos - either you like that or you don't. I was fooled somewhat in the past thinking I wanted a longscale when I only had a shorty and then when I hadthe longscale and didn't have the shorty I was surprized at how similar they it was to what I remembered (and I still had my six string to compare to) but longed for the shorty (I was still convinced the scale length would make a big difference in sound) - but now that I have both to compare directly, they sound so much alike I just stick with the longhorn because it's easier on the hands (the 63 has a bridge in a very guitar-ish position so the nut is further away than it should be, combined with the short horns (which put the nut further away again) and the longscale makes for a VERY long reach (and a slightly odd hand-position) at the lower frets. There is a difference - but no more than the difference between ANY two instruments of essentially the same design.

 

[danosix]

I would like a number. Here is a pic of a Dano EXACTLY like mine. I am thrilled.

View attachment 816112

A picture of a Bass "just like yours" only qualifies for a picture of a number.
EDIT - says the guy who didn't post a pic for about 2 years after he got his number.

 

[stringthrough]

At the urging of danosix, here is a quick review of my newly purchased Dano '59 Long Scale Neck bass.

Workmanship is fair - One of the screws that supports the neck pickup is not flush and fully screwed in. All else seems fine.
Components also fair - The neck PU volume pot goes from 0-60 in the last 10% of its turning range. I will probably have the pots replaced by ones of higher quality (CTS?). All else seems fine.
General issues - The bass is a bit neck heavy and the strap pin near the neck is so tucked in that it's hard to attach all but vintage style straps. (The other option is to move the pin to the upper horn.)
Sound - Terrific. I put on D'Addario medium gauge nylon tapewound strings and I'm getting great vintage tones out of the combo. It's worth mentioning that the string holes on the tuners are so narrow that I had to taper 3 of the 4 thicker string to get them to go through the holes. A process that took almost 1/2 hour.
Playability - Excellent, I was able to get nice low-medium action on the bass without excessive buzzing. Viewing down the neck and using the strings as a straight edge I could detect no twists, bumps or rises - Basically this is a nice straight neck. I was also pleased to find out the truss rod was nowhere near maxed-out after I tightened it to reach my desired string action.
Intangible - These basses are manufactured in Korea which, with the exception of Japan, is considered to produce the best instruments in the Far East.

Is this bass a keeper? Absolutely!

The attached pictures were taken by the dealer but they are of the very same bass.

 

[stringthrough]

Stringthrough here; requesting permission to join this club... Thank you

 

[danosix]

That Thing You Do was oddly authentic:

If that's a REAL one - that must be one SMALL dude. It actually looks like a bass on him and they are a guitar body and guitar neck blank with the bridge moved and a 30 inch scale fretboard added - which is to say they are exactly the same size as a guitar and look like one on most people.

 

[Robroy]

If that's a REAL one - that must be one SMALL dude. It actually looks like a bass on him and they are a guitar body and guitar neck blank with the bridge moved and a 30 inch scale fretboard added - which is to say they are exactly the same size as a guitar and look like one on most people.

Most actors are small people. It works better for the camera. Part of it is the size of the head relative to the body.

 

[portaflexer]

Please join me in welcoming #101.

01 - portaflexer
02 - Rob Martinez
03 - rllefebv
04 - The EH Man
05 - Turock
06 - Abaroa
07 - mongo2
08 - deste
09 - JimmyM
10 - Mastermold
11 - williamk
12 - smcfarland1337
13 - jumbodbassman
14 - atomicdog
15 - rfslick
16 - Bullitt5135
17 - bamofo88
18 - sub006
19 - emblymouse
20 - msb
21 - GBassNorth
22 - guylorenz
23 - moonshinegtrs
24 - AphekGreg
25 - brokencode
26 - Farmerboymusic
27 - Wagz
28 - ddinpsl
29 - johninmemphis
30 - gus79seyffert
31 - sneha1965
32 - jasongil1
33 - 1stnamebassist
34 - iamthebassman
35 - rodl2005
36 - April
37 - JoeyDiLamma
38 - rapidfirerob
39 - Southway
40 - benlauziere
41 - FatherG
42 - JGintheHam
43 - mcgreivey
44 - King Kenton
45 - racecarguy
46 - CaptainGrog
47 - SherwoodGreen
48 - foxxiroxx
49 - johnnyangel69
50 - DENelectro
51 - RandyMolson
52 - pinebrookjohn
53 - GIBrat51
54 - suprblip
55 - 4-stringB
56 - tacman6749
57 - Thedeadking
58 - leftieray
59 - jsutton1988
60 - AaronVonRock
61 - scabpicker
62 - rogerbmille
63 - danosix
64 - RicMetsBruce
65 - Back To Bassics
66 - fjadams
67 - Fuzzbass666
68 - old mark
69 - HelpImaRock
70 - R&B
71 - Robin
72 - AlexanderB
73 - biglugpa
74 - sethmadsen
75 - mel0dic.bassist
76 - Eldo
77 - lowendfriend
78 - tomshepp
79 - TDZ
80 - CatSquare
81 - ack
82 - hodad
83 - Celtic59
84 - Michael King
85 - MVS
86 - secretsound5
87 - ScarfFace
88 - blankfield
89 - SamanthaCay
90 - TBPlayerOC
91 - danomite64
92 - Rikki_Sixx
93 - Real Soon
94 - radioripster
95 - Ductapeman
96 - Jouleo
97 - ba$$
98 - CharlyG
99 - EdO.
100 - Old Fart
101 - stringthrough