Danelectro Owners Club

[danosix]

Every reissue that I have ever seen the inside of was definitely plywood. Originals were pieced together poplar or pine (or whatever was available for cheap).

IMHO, I doubt there's much tonal difference between plywood/hardboard and cheap wood/hardboard. I'm sure if plywood was cheaper and readily available in the late fifties, Mr Daniels would have used it in a heartbeat.


Moonshine

I would tend to say that as a FRAME plywood, which was inveted for strength and rigidity, would have certain advantages, especially for basses. And the masonite and glue will definitely undermine any claims to the "tone" of solid wood - which as you say, wasn't solid anyway.

 

[TomB]

Huh... The Hodads are plastic top & back and STILL sound like Danos to me .

 

[danosix]

Huh... The Hodads are plastic top & back and STILL sound like Danos to me .

Are you sure about that?
I've never heard of them being any different than the rest of the series (construction-wise) which are made of Masonite (or technically hardboard as Masonite's a brand of hardboard).
I can't find anything definitive, but the only thing that claims to describe the construction says it is Masonite like the rest.
They certainly can FEEL like plastic with a thick poly finish (especially the matte finish), but they're (AFAIK) not plastic.

 

[TomB]

Are you sure about that?
I've never heard of them being any different than the rest of the series (construction-wise) which are made of Masonite (or technically hardboard as Masonite's a brand of hardboard).
I can't find anything definitive, but the only thing that claims to describe the construction says it is Masonite like the rest.
They certainly can FEEL like plastic with a thick poly finish (especially the matte finish), but they're (AFAIK) not plastic.

You may be right. I'll check closer - sure looks like glossy plastic.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Just saw this on Ebay...

Danelectro Rumor Bass Guitar- Sparkle Sunburst | eBay

I don't know much about these.


Moonshine

 

[mcgreivey]

Are you sure about that?
I've never heard of them being any different than the rest of the series (construction-wise) which are made of Masonite (or technically hardboard as Masonite's a brand of hardboard).
I can't find anything definitive, but the only thing that claims to describe the construction says it is Masonite like the rest.
They certainly can FEEL like plastic with a thick poly finish (especially the matte finish), but they're (AFAIK) not plastic.

My sister has a nineties Hodad guitar (formerly mine). I never opened it up. But I would wager that the top and back are either Masonite or plywood.

 

[allotabass]

Didn't say it had to be a bass.....did it?
Number please.

 

[danosix]

Didn't say it had to be a bass.....did it?
Number please.

Actually, I think it was said somewhere that it is only basses here. So, just mail that to me - you don't want it.

 

[danosix]

Anyone tried the 64 bass yet? Worth a try or not?
Do the Lipsticks in the humbucker at the bridge justify it being called a Danelectro or no?
I always liked the Mosrite look and this seems like the way to get that for a Dano geek like me, but I'm dubious of the weird pickup combination. FI - why didn't they do TWO lipstick humbuckers and do a coil splitting option so you can get conventional Dano tones and then other more meaty tones with the pickups in humbucker mode? With that setup you'd have like 6 distinct tones (single coil a, a+b, b and humbucking a, a+b, b) - if they added a series parallel switch for the pickups you'd have another 6 tones.
Not putting it down, just genuinely curious and making a point about what might have been...

 

[allotabass]

Actually, I think it was said somewhere that it is only basses here. So, just mail that to me - you don't want it.

I'll be accepting cash all day.

 

[danosix]

I'll be accepting cash all day.

Obviously I was kidding, but that is EXACTLY the Dano guitar I have next on my list to complete the collection - that era Hodad with he tremolo and that finish.
Lucky guy. Bass-wise, my next goal is a Rumor to mod and become my number #1 "Fender" bass - good pickup, good bridge, probably better tuners and pots. Done.

 

[danosix]

Just saw this on Ebay...

Danelectro Rumor Bass Guitar- Sparkle Sunburst | eBay

I don't know much about these.


Moonshine

They are exactly what they loo like - a low end PBass copy that Evetts gave some Dano/Mosrite mojo to.
They were the first (and only until recently) Evetts Danos with the original Dano style wide-space flake finish - including the sparkle red-burst that Dano was famous for and ha finally reissued on the '63 (amp in case model).
They also have built in chorus (they wee part of the Danoblaster series which all had effects built in and where essentially Fender copy guitars).
They do get reasonably positive reviews, though they are a cheap plywood PBass (though the playability at least is Dano-worthy).
And in case you think I'm ragging on them, I'm not, totally want one - just letting you know they may or may not be all that exciting to a guy that builds custom hand-made instruments, since it's not even "really" Danelectro-ish other than in its sense of style.
People say they are semi-hollow but I'm pretty certain they are solid plywood - they're just light and people know other Danos are hollow so they make the assumption - though I haven't been able to get my hands on one to confirm my suspicions and the catalogues of the time are typical Evetts non-sense - lots of verbiage, little information.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

They are exactly what they loo like - a low end PBass copy that Evetts gave some Dano/Mosrite mojo to.
They were the first (and only until recently) Evetts Danos with the original Dano style wide-space flake finish - including the sparkle red-burst that Dano was famous for and ha finally reissued on the '63 (amp in case model).
They also have built in chorus (they wee part of the Danoblaster series which all had effects built in and where essentially Fender copy guitars).
They do get reasonably positive reviews, though they are a cheap plywood PBass (though the playability at least is Dano-worthy).
And in case you think I'm ragging on them, I'm not, totally want one - just letting you know they may or may not be all that exciting to a guy that builds custom hand-made instruments, since it's not even "really" Danelectro-ish other than in its sense of style.
People say they are semi-hollow but I'm pretty certain they are solid plywood - they're just light and people know other Danos are hollow so they make the assumption - though I haven't been able to get my hands on one to confirm my suspicions and the catalogues of the time are typical Evetts non-sense - lots of verbiage, little information.

@danosix ... Thanks for the info!


Moonshine

 

[GIBrat51]

I'd be willing to bet that they're a "chambered" semi-hollow body like MY Korean DC 59s. There's plenty of wood in the center block for that Dano-Bigsby tailpiece. If they came in a lefty, I might be tempted myself....

 

[danosix]

I'd be willing to bet that they're a "chambered" semi-hollow body like MY Korean DC 59s. There's plenty of wood in the center block for that Dano-Bigsby tailpiece. If they came in a lefty, I might be tempted myself....

Hey GIBrat,
If you're responding to me - I'm describing the Rumor Bass - which is not part of the main series but part of the Danoblaster series - all of the guitars of which where solid. It clearly takes its styling cues (and neck) from the Hodad series - but I am reasonably certain that it is "solid" plywood.
Again - I am NOT certain, but:
1. the guitars in that series were solid.
2. the bass cost WAY less than the lipstick and masonite basses - and the only way to save THAT much is to a. use standard pickups (which they did) and b. reduce labour and materials by just cutting the main shape and pickup/electronics routes.
3. @radioripster had one of these and added a J pickup in the bridge position and when he described how to do it he mentioned the need for a drill bit long enough to route the wires from the pickup to the control cavity.

Again, you may be right - I would personally prefer if you were, cause it will make it more cool to me (and if so, when I get one and add the a bridge pickup, it'll be a lipstick to make a P/D bass (or is that P/L?).
Maybe I should ask @radioripster.

 

[ATLbassist]

Just stumbled across this and thought it might be of interest. One of Marc Ribot's groups tearing it up with a Dano bass.

 

[Thwack]

Hi, I'm Dave. I like

 

[RobertFL]

I just got started a little over 3 months ago..so I'm very much a newbie. I just got a Korean made Longhorn in the mail today. It is at least 10 years old but looks new!. So far it is going well, I may need to adjust the neck. But I will wait till I get some LaBella 760fd Flat wound strings on it first.

 

[Thwack]

Hi, I'm Dave. I like View attachment 1135054

Is this thread too old for me to request a number?

 

[portaflexer]

Not all all. You're #105 Thwack. Let me know if anyone else needs a membership# or if I missed your post. Thanks.

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