This is way cooler (and far more unique). But I you decide you really need that Tele-style bass, I'll pm you my address to dispose of this one.
Actually, on second thought - you really SHOULD go the tele route...
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Danelectro Owners Club
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Actually, on second thought - you really SHOULD go the tele route...
Heads up to anyone in NW Oregon: there's a new-looking Dano 56 bass on Craiglist, Clackamas County, for a nice $300. I'm not affiliated in any way with the seller. It looks like a good deal for someone...
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Did they make these in any color except black? I've looked at buying one but I've never seen one that wasn't black which would mean I'd have to refinish it to a real color.
When I bought mine, there was also a baby blue or seafoam one available. Some of the ones available now on Amazon from 3rd-party sellers could be blue, but the listings don't say. But they seem to be $500+. I should have bought a half-dozen when I bought mine (for $175 new).
I think in the past couple years some time I remember seeing another color (maybe grey) on the Danelectro web site, but I don't think I've seen one listed in the usual places (ebay, Musician's Friend, Amazon). But such a thing may exist.
The current 56 baritone is basically the same 30" scale guitar. A string change (and maybe a nut change or modification) and setup will turn it into a 6-string bass. It seems to be available in black, sparkle black, and sparkle grey, if the Danelectro website is reliable. I think my 56 bass has a .1 uF tone capacitor. If the baritone has a more guitary cap value, one might want to change that as well.
Something to think about when I get a couple of the projects I currently have going done. Not afraid of a refinish and I've seen where you can buy new replacement tape for the sides.
I just came across this on YouTube. It's a review (in German) of the 2011 56 bass (blue and aqua)...
And the 2013 version, in gloss black, with shiny hardware. (The 2011 was matte black with matte hardware. I don't know if the aqua version was also matte. Probably yes.)
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Just a quick check-in on my blueburst Longhorn restoration project (I really should have made a separate thread). A couple of months ago I ordered replacement tape from Blacky Bokich over on eBay. My schedule got very busy and I didn't get a chance to put it on until this week. The tape is great! A few mils thicker than the standard tape and a more interesting textural pattern. It's pretty heavy duty stuff.
Anyway, I put the tape on and also used dowels to fill the holes where the plastic strap buttons used to be. Once the glue dries I can drill new holes for some Fender vintage strap buttons I picked up from GC. Then I can finally put this sucker back together!
Danelectro re-tape and plugs by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
Another minor update was replacing the pickguard screws. I don't know if this was standard, but the screws it came with were the same type used under the wood saddle - very tiny and ready to pop out. I found longer ones with the same thread size over at Ace.
Side note: I also rescued a Dead On '58 Longhorn from a rinky-dink pawn shop a couple of weeks ago! After a quick setup (the truss rod was completely loose) and cleanup, it's doing great. It has none of the quality problems that my first one had; it's very solidly put together. If this had been my first Longhorn, I'm not sure that I ever would have felt the need to replace it.
Untitled by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
I have it on the local Craigslist so I can put it back into circulation. (At least, that was my plan... it feels and sounds really nice...)
Anyway, I put the tape on and also used dowels to fill the holes where the plastic strap buttons used to be. Once the glue dries I can drill new holes for some Fender vintage strap buttons I picked up from GC. Then I can finally put this sucker back together!
Another minor update was replacing the pickguard screws. I don't know if this was standard, but the screws it came with were the same type used under the wood saddle - very tiny and ready to pop out. I found longer ones with the same thread size over at Ace.
Side note: I also rescued a Dead On '58 Longhorn from a rinky-dink pawn shop a couple of weeks ago! After a quick setup (the truss rod was completely loose) and cleanup, it's doing great. It has none of the quality problems that my first one had; it's very solidly put together. If this had been my first Longhorn, I'm not sure that I ever would have felt the need to replace it.
I have it on the local Craigslist so I can put it back into circulation. (At least, that was my plan... it feels and sounds really nice...)
That looks great. That tape looks more textured than what would have come on the bass - but that makes it more authentic to the originals, and likely more durable and less likely to shrink.Just a quick check-in on my blueburst Longhorn restoration project (I really should have made a separate thread). A couple of months ago I ordered replacement tape from Blacky Bokich over on eBay. My schedule got very busy and I didn't get a chance to put it on until this week. The tape is great! A few mils thicker than the standard tape and a more interesting textural pattern. It's pretty heavy duty stuff.
Anyway, I put the tape on and also used dowels to fill the holes where the plastic strap buttons used to be. Once the glue dries I can drill new holes for some Fender vintage strap buttons I picked up from GC. Then I can finally put this sucker back together!
Danelectro re-tape and plugs by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
Another minor update was replacing the pickguard screws. I don't know if this was standard, but the screws it came with were the same type used under the wood saddle - very tiny and ready to pop out. I found longer ones with the same thread size over at Ace.
Side note: I also rescued a Dead On '58 Longhorn from a rinky-dink pawn shop a couple of weeks ago! After a quick setup (the truss rod was completely loose) and cleanup, it's doing great. It has none of the quality problems that my first one had; it's very solidly put together. If this had been my first Longhorn, I'm not sure that I ever would have felt the need to replace it.
Untitled by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
I have it on the local Craigslist so I can put it back into circulation. (At least, that was my plan... it feels and sounds really nice...)
I posted mine back in July - a '58 reissue. I had the local tattoo artist do the artwork on the pick guard - I'm very pleased as it gives the bass a little sci-fi look - since the 50's when a lot of "alien science fiction " was coming out.
Besides it's a good excuse to post a pic of a favorite bass of mine.
Besides it's a good excuse to post a pic of a favorite bass of mine.
Attachments
Just a quick check-in on my blueburst Longhorn restoration project (I really should have made a separate thread). A couple of months ago I ordered replacement tape from Blacky Bokich over on eBay. My schedule got very busy and I didn't get a chance to put it on until this week. The tape is great! A few mils thicker than the standard tape and a more interesting textural pattern. It's pretty heavy duty stuff.
Anyway, I put the tape on and also used dowels to fill the holes where the plastic strap buttons used to be. Once the glue dries I can drill new holes for some Fender vintage strap buttons I picked up from GC. Then I can finally put this sucker back together!
Danelectro re-tape and plugs by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
Another minor update was replacing the pickguard screws. I don't know if this was standard, but the screws it came with were the same type used under the wood saddle - very tiny and ready to pop out. I found longer ones with the same thread size over at Ace.
Side note: I also rescued a Dead On '58 Longhorn from a rinky-dink pawn shop a couple of weeks ago! After a quick setup (the truss rod was completely loose) and cleanup, it's doing great. It has none of the quality problems that my first one had; it's very solidly put together. If this had been my first Longhorn, I'm not sure that I ever would have felt the need to replace it.
Untitled by thaddeusthompson, on Flickr
I have it on the local Craigslist so I can put it back into circulation. (At least, that was my plan... it feels and sounds really nice...)
That new tape looks great! It looks the same as what was on my Jerry Jones Longhorns when I owned them.
Hello, Fellow Dano-users!!!
Any of you the west end of GTA (Toronto, Ontario) have or know of a Rumour bass I might be able to acquire cheap? (Like around the $150 they're worth - they were $200 new after all).
I'm really looking to get a PBass back into my stable, and this seems like the ideal one for someone named DANOsix to add to their collection. I also like the promise of what having a buffer in line might be able to do for with (along with the option of NOT having a buffer in line (or using both to bi-amp - one line with effects/distortion, one line clean).
I will almost certainly be upgrading the pickup, pots and bridge - but, that'll still give me something cool and unique and Dano for cheaper than pretty much anything else that would be close to equivalent.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Also, if you are in the North End of York Region or South of Peterborough, I can arrange to get it there too - I work in Newmarket and my old man who lives to make guitar deals is in Trent Hills.
Any of you the west end of GTA (Toronto, Ontario) have or know of a Rumour bass I might be able to acquire cheap? (Like around the $150 they're worth - they were $200 new after all).
I'm really looking to get a PBass back into my stable, and this seems like the ideal one for someone named DANOsix to add to their collection. I also like the promise of what having a buffer in line might be able to do for with (along with the option of NOT having a buffer in line (or using both to bi-amp - one line with effects/distortion, one line clean).
I will almost certainly be upgrading the pickup, pots and bridge - but, that'll still give me something cool and unique and Dano for cheaper than pretty much anything else that would be close to equivalent.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Also, if you are in the North End of York Region or South of Peterborough, I can arrange to get it there too - I work in Newmarket and my old man who lives to make guitar deals is in Trent Hills.
Tell me more about this. Did you use a guitar body and just swap the neck and bridge?
It's a guitar body and a (24-fret) longhorn bass neck. The bridge is mounted at the same spot as a guitar bridge would have been. I had to cut the neck pocket deeper (in the direction of the bridge).
I recently relocated for work. The computer was packed for a bit and I haven't been checking in regularly. I apologized if I missed any member# requests. PM me if you need a number.
Also - given tis is talkbass - did everyone notice this is a 6 string bass? (They weren't "baritones" in '59) - you can tell by the 24 frets.When Danelectro used switches on the originals, they were toggles.
Here's a picture of some soldier playing an original toggled Dano U2:
It would be ore obvious if whatshisname there wasn't such a big guy disguising the fact that the neck is much longer than a guitar "should be". (And the angle of the shot is also just right to reduce it without looking forshortened.
The difference between a Dano 6-string bass, and Dano baritone, is mostly the strings. The current 56 baritone has a 30" scale length. A slightly fatter set of strings, and maybe a little widening of the nut slots, would make it a bass 6. Maybe a darker tone capacitor, if you wanted.
Right - I was just saying THEN they didn't call them baritones - they were all 6 string basses and some people restrung them A to a instead of E to e.
Evetts made the difference the switch - 6 string bass didn't have a switch, baritone did (along with the "bass" was in "pro" dress - non-painted necks, better tuners, 6 piece adjustable bridge).
My point was simply - Elvis is playing a bass six - not being that serious a guitar player I doubt he went to the trouble of restringing it to A.
Just wanted to share a little Dano story. We are "breaking in" a new singer for our blues/rock band, and we needed to change the key of some songs. Suddenly, ie. "Still got the blues" presented some challenges for the reach of my hands, when dropped from A to G.
Knowing this, I brought my Longhorn strung with rounds to practice. So for that song plus "Pride and joy" and something more, I put down the Jazz bass, plugged the Dano into my VT Bass at some mild vintage setting and enjoyed.
It can sometimes sound slightly clanky, but with a hint of OD, the tone just melted into the mix, filling the low end with fat, greasy and slightly growling glue. Bliss!
While it lacks a bit of the Fender authority, it still has as much power and weight, just in a different way.
And man, what a relief to play that short scale!
This bass will be on stage next gig, for sure...
Knowing this, I brought my Longhorn strung with rounds to practice. So for that song plus "Pride and joy" and something more, I put down the Jazz bass, plugged the Dano into my VT Bass at some mild vintage setting and enjoyed.
It can sometimes sound slightly clanky, but with a hint of OD, the tone just melted into the mix, filling the low end with fat, greasy and slightly growling glue. Bliss!
While it lacks a bit of the Fender authority, it still has as much power and weight, just in a different way.
And man, what a relief to play that short scale!
This bass will be on stage next gig, for sure...
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Flats on a Dano can give you more wood and less clank.
Sometimes you want the clank, though. So ... two Danos!
