Danelectro Owners Club

[danosix]

Just recently got a set of the old Danelectro bass strings (nos) and even 20 years old they're the best strings I've used on one of these (and easy to put on being guaged to play well with the tuners)... Nice balance between top end definition and low end warmth.
Anyone know what these strings really are (is who made them) and if essentially the same set is available from the maker?

 

[TomB]

Just recently got a set of the old Danelectro bass strings (nos) and even 20 years old they're the best strings I've used on one of these (and easy to put on being guaged to play well with the tuners)... Nice balance between top end definition and low end warmth.
Anyone know what these strings really are (is who made them) and if essentially the same set is available from the maker?

I'll be interested too. Can you tell what kind of strings? ...round wound nickel, for instance? ...guages, even a guess? Thx.

 

[msb]

Still got the factory strings on my first generation re-issue Longhorn . There's going to be a major heartbreak when I eventually break one .

 

[Gringo Basso]

I'd like to join the Danelectro Club - here's my Korean 90-ish something DC, pic is horrendous, but no picky, no shirt, right? These are surprisingly versatile basses IMO, and light is right!

 

[portaflexer]

I suppose it's time for a membership update. Let me know if I missed anyone.

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
102 - pedwar
103 - FitzFitz
104 - Arturo+music
105 - Thwack
106 - donny brooks
107 - *open*
108 - Marcocolo
109 - Gringo Basso

 

[danosix]

I'd like to join the Danelectro Club - here's my Korean 90-ish something DC, pic is horrendous, but no picky, no shirt, right? These are surprisingly versatile basses IMO, and light is right!

If you care, 1999 or 2000 for this original DCs.
Don't be surprised, Danelectros were brought back because they were stone cold classics, and this model was an attempt at making it even more "mainstream" with a long scale and semi-solid construction.
Do you by any chance play it in some Mexican setting (gringo basso) like mariachi or tejano? That would be sweet and the Dano thump would be perfect for it.

 

[danosix]

I'll be interested too. Can you tell what kind of strings? ...round wound nickel, for instance? ...guages, even a guess? Thx.

They are round wounds, I'm guessing heavy on the nickel, 45 to 105 if you'll believe it, but because they are the right length the string is (just) small enough to go through the guitar tuners. The only guessed part is the nickel... I'll have to find the package for the content though I don't think it actually said... Lots of cool retro graphics, not much info.

 

[TomB]

They are round wounds, I'm guessing heavy on the nickel, 45 to 105 if you'll believe it, but because they are the right length the string is (just) small enough to go through the guitar tuners. The only guessed part is the nickel... I'll have to find the package for the content though I don't think it actually said... Lots of cool retro graphics, not much info.

Thanks. Did the reissuers miss the boat by not making a dedicated set readily available? ...just thinkin'...

 

[SJLee]

I currently have an adjustable metal bridge on my longhorn. I have been contemplating switching over to a wooden bridge for a warmer more woody tone. Is this snake oil or do those of you with wooden bridges notice a difference?

 

[danosix]

Thanks. Did the reissuers miss the boat by not making a dedicated set readily available? ...just thinkin'...

That's what these were, they sold strings when they came out, but I presume low demand ended them as a product.

 

[mongo2]

I currently have an adjustable metal bridge on my longhorn. I have been contemplating switching over to a wooden bridge for a warmer more woody tone. Is this snake oil or do those of you with wooden bridges notice a difference?

Flats or nylon tapewound strings did it better for me.

 

[SJLee]

Flats or nylon tapes did it better for me.

I have some very dead sounding Labella low tension flats on right now. I do like the tone but was wondering if I might be able to push that further with a wooden bridge.

Sounds like I may have things covered.

 

[danosix]

I currently have an adjustable metal bridge on my longhorn. I have been contemplating switching over to a wooden bridge for a warmer more woody tone. Is this snake oil or do those of you with wooden bridges notice a difference?

A lot of people claim a difference, and I personally prefer the rosewood, but its pretty subtle, and I'd say less than the difference between two guitars of the same model, try a warmer set of strings (nickel or flatwound) you'll get a biggest difference.
If hover you're looking to do a lot of palm muting, I think the rosewood is more comfortable on the hand.

 

[danosix]

I have some very dead sounding Labella low tension flats on right now. I do like the tone but was wondering if I might be able to push that further with a wooden bridge.

Sounds like I may have things covered.

Not likely noticeable on strings with that little zing to start with.

 

[TomB]

Yeah, I guess the one set I buy wouldn’t keep ‘em going . Still, do normal short-scale sets fit reissue tuners? My Hodad’s long scale and I think it’s not an issue - need to check.

 

[mongo2]

I have some very dead sounding Labella low tension flats on right now. I do like the tone but was wondering if I might be able to push that further with a wooden bridge.

I've used both bridges and didn't notice much difference using flats/tapes but I prefer the intonation capabilities of the metal bridge on RIs.

Same with my Jerry Jones basses. With flats/tapes, I don't notice much of a difference in tone between his stick and metal bridges.

I stick with the OEM stick bridges on my Silvertone 1444s. (pun intended)

 

[Mastermold]

A lot of people claim a difference, and I personally prefer the rosewood, but its pretty subtle, and I'd say less than the difference between two guitars of the same model, try a warmer set of strings (nickel or flatwound) you'll get a biggest difference.
If hover you're looking to do a lot of palm muting, I think the rosewood is more comfortable on the hand.

I too prefer the rosewood bridge. More wood and less metal equals less zing IMO.

 

[danosix]

Yeah, I guess the one set I buy wouldn’t keep ‘em going . Still, do normal short-scale sets fit reissue tuners? My Hodad’s long scale and I think it’s not an issue - need to check.

Depends, dano string length is VERY short, so so short strings are even problematic. Having said that, I've use long scale setting and patience to fine effect, though it looks bad, and of course it's only ever the e string that's a problem.
As far as the Hodad, depends on if its long scale or short scale, the long scale should be zero problem b/c its long and had proper tuners, the shorty will be similar to a longhorn.

 

[danosix]

I too prefer the rosewood bridge. More wood and less metal equals less zing IMO.

You're not wrong, its just whether the difference is "worth it" and with dead flats the chances are no.

 

[danosix]

Depends, dano string length is VERY short, so so short strings are even problematic. Having said that, I've use long scale setting and patience to fine effect, though it looks bad, and of course it's only ever the e string that's a problem.
As far as the Hodad, depends on if its long scale or short scale, the long scale should be zero problem b/c its long and had proper tuners, the shorty will be similar to a longhorn.

If you like rounds, I'm not sure what to recommend (except the dano strings) but labella makes a popular flatwound set labelled as their danelectro set, virtually any sdtore will have to special border them for you. AFAICT they're similar to the hofner set which I have experience with (on a hofner) which were pretty nice though my experience with f!ATS is limited to those and the dead sets my 70s Fenders came with.