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Danelectro Owners Club
- Thread starter portaflexer
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As the man said... "you can check out ANY time you want..."
Ductapeman
Ringmaster and Resident Geriatric
West coast checking in-- I have (and play) an early Longhorn repop. What a little monster-- we put it straight into the board and the sound guy just couldn't believe a short, light little thing like that was making all the noise. (I really couldn't believe it either--) It's at the other house, when I dig it out and figure out how to put up sound clips I'll get some pix up.
Amost forgot: My very first electric guitar was one of the Silvertone amp-in-case jobs, for Christmas of 1966, the two-pickup model yet. It knocked me over that my Dad would spend that kind of money on what he had called a "hobby--" if the old Sarge had only known! I still have it-- I believe the main chassis ground solder has crystallized, as has most of the joints, and of course the caps all need replaced, but it's still a little 9-watt beast. The guitar is still playable, though it too needs rewiring. The last time it ran it sounded more like a Strat than the guitarist's Strat. (Didn't stop me from buying a Strat though lol) Who knew that things like this and my old Harmony H22 would end up being this valuable-- oh btw, is there an H22 club?
Amost forgot: My very first electric guitar was one of the Silvertone amp-in-case jobs, for Christmas of 1966, the two-pickup model yet. It knocked me over that my Dad would spend that kind of money on what he had called a "hobby--" if the old Sarge had only known! I still have it-- I believe the main chassis ground solder has crystallized, as has most of the joints, and of course the caps all need replaced, but it's still a little 9-watt beast. The guitar is still playable, though it too needs rewiring. The last time it ran it sounded more like a Strat than the guitarist's Strat. (Didn't stop me from buying a Strat though lol) Who knew that things like this and my old Harmony H22 would end up being this valuable-- oh btw, is there an H22 club?
First off, as lightweight as the Danno's are anyway any neck dive wouldn't be much to deal with (I play a Thunderbird as my main go to, nuff said on that point). Yes I do like the Longhorn and yes I do already own one, as stated by my already established membership in the Danno Club listed in my notes at the bottom of each of my posts.
I think they're cool looking (and sounding) which is my personal attraction to them, but I think they'd be even cooler looking in long scale which is why I brought up the subject. I spoke with the guy at Ft. Madison Guitars (which is the ONLY source for Danno parts if you didn't notice my post on the subject several pages back...) about building one. He said he'd basically have to destroy two to make one in long scale because the bridge would have to be moved forward a few inches requiring the body to be taken apart, reinforced on the inside to be able to move the bridge, and a long scale neck attached. He says it can be done if I wanted to spend that much money on one (I don't). It would still be a 24 fret neck, just longer, and it would work just like the long scale '59. And it would look cool as hell.
Hi,
Sorry, I think my very pointed writing style came off as sarcastic and judgey - not my intention. I totally support ANY fantasy projects, I just hate to see someone waiting for something that doesn't exist and not enjoying something they could be enjoying now. (Glad you do have and are enjoying your longhorn).
So - having said that - didn't mean to offend and I actually do think the idea is cool - but was mentioning some practical pitfalls.
I will stand by my statement that the longscale (other than feel) is no big deal on these, I have both and the sound is nearly indistinguishable - but the DC is a 20 fret bass (ala Fender). What that means is - if you have an adventurous luthier (sounds like you do) he could recut that body (you'll notice if you squint that a Longhorn is a DC with REALLY deep cutaways) that would probably be easier and more practical than combining bodies - of course you end up without 24 frets...
No worries danosix, no offense taken, we're good. Ft. Madison Guitars, according to the owner whom I spoke with is trying to buy Danelectro outright and take it over, he already has 100% of the parts business. Had a nice 20 minute conversation on the phone with him on the subject. He has big plans for the company assuming he takes it over, just wanted to try to plant a seed with him. You never know...
Hondo made a long scale Longhorn back in the 70's . It had Dimarzio Pbass styled pickups , I don't think they were hollow bodied . I've only seen one , years ago but they occasionally come up for sale . The one I saw had been re-finished in a hot pink . It was pretty wild looking .
Edit ... apparently they were just made for one year , 1980 .
Edit ... apparently they were just made for one year , 1980 .
I haven't played my Wild Thing as much as I'd like thus far, as I've been putting a lot of time into songs for shows that needed a P and somewhat more "serious" j-style, and was worried that switching scales would screw with my muscle memory.
But I've busted it out at an open mic jam, and it sounds every bit as good turned up on a big rig as it does in the house. Hell, even better. While I'm on the fence about the high end that comes ringing out of the Flex Steels that it came with, its mid range is HUGE and ballsy and decidedly unique. The lipstick pickups are HOT, too, on par with my P. And it's so lightweight!
I've yet to regret it for even a second.
But I've busted it out at an open mic jam, and it sounds every bit as good turned up on a big rig as it does in the house. Hell, even better. While I'm on the fence about the high end that comes ringing out of the Flex Steels that it came with, its mid range is HUGE and ballsy and decidedly unique. The lipstick pickups are HOT, too, on par with my P. And it's so lightweight!
I've yet to regret it for even a second.
Is it a particular one you're looking at?
Only because any of the double pickup models (from any era) would tend to give you a better sound for harder musics - the series setup puts out a LOT more output (they are quite low output individually).
Obviously, if you've tried it I context and it's the sound you want, my opinion means nothing - but if you're drooling over the old shorthorn look - I'd go with the new DC and get the two pickups - if it's good enough for Fat Mike...
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Saturday Night Live is airing a special on Prince tonight with a bunch of video of his performances on SNL over the years. Undoubtedly they'll show the 8+ minute medley he did on the show last year with his band Third Eye Girl, which if you haven't seen it previously is a must watch, awesome execution and musicianship. The gal playing bass (awesome player and hot too!) is playing a Longhorn style bass. I'm positive it's not a Danno, just hoping someone here will see the clip and be able to identify the brand or maker. Looks like a long scale, really curious to find out who the maker/brand is.
After watching that clip again last night I'm now not so sure that it isn't a Danno after all. Definitely had double lipstick pickups, the logo on the tuner head looked like it could have been the Danelectro logo but never could get a clear view of that. Looked like upgraded tuners so it could be the Pro model but never got a good look at the bridge. Looked like the normal binding around the outside of the body too.
A couple of the things that throw me on identifying the bass - the body looked larger to me than normal and the neck looked longer than short scale. However the bass player wasn't any physically larger than Prince and he was a physically fairly small guy I'm told so that would be one thing. Secondly she was slapping it some (great slap sound) which is doable with a Danno but I never thought of my LH as something I'd use for slap much (don't slap much anyway though so...).
A couple of the things that throw me on identifying the bass - the body looked larger to me than normal and the neck looked longer than short scale. However the bass player wasn't any physically larger than Prince and he was a physically fairly small guy I'm told so that would be one thing. Secondly she was slapping it some (great slap sound) which is doable with a Danno but I never thought of my LH as something I'd use for slap much (don't slap much anyway though so...).
I believe this is the performance you guys are talking about. It definitely looks like a Dano Lornhorn. To me anyway.
Prince Performs On 'Saturday Night Live'
Prince Performs On 'Saturday Night Live'
I say '90s Dano. Concentric pots without pointers. I guess pointers came laster than 97 anyway.
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Yep, that's it. After watching it again I now think that it is indeed a Danno Longhorn. Probably Pro model, looks like an upgraded bridge too. Love the punch and snap she's getting out of it. Anyone happen to know who the bass player is, name? She's good.
Mines a '98 with same concentric pots so pointers came later than that I'd guess FWIW.
