Danelectro Owners Club

[danosix]

Correction fully read his post, he's doing to a double cut what I described - just using a pic of the Hodad guitar as a model.

 

[AlexanderB]

I've still yet to take my Wild Thing out for a stage gig, but have done some rehearsals on it, and it punches.

Funny thing: I put some tapewound strings on it in an attempt to mellow its punch a bit, which was a resounding success. However, there was suddenly no way to ground it with my fingers, so it was buzzing loudly and nonstop any place with dirty power. So, I did some googling, made a cardboard frame for a Faraday cage, and put copper tape on the cage + pickup wires...and now that thing doesn't even whisper until I a) PLAY IT or b) turn one of the pickups down more than a bit relative to the other, classic hum.

The band I was playing in split up, and I'm thinking of marketing myself for local gigs with a lil shoot of me on the Wild Thing. It's just so much fun.

Could you please elaborate on the Faraday cage? I gig my Longhorn, and better shielding would be great!

 

[GIBrat51]

"Faraday Cage" is the correct term for a cage - or a box - that keeps electromagnetic radiation in - or keeps it out. Rooms or buildings that are shielded in this way have a literal metal wire (usually copper) "cage" around them, built into the walls; usually to keep outsiders from intercepting stray electronic emanations. In a bass or a guitar, this is what the shielding does; it's making a tiny Faraday Cage. In the original Danelectros, they actually did use a stiff paper/copper foil box in the control cavity to shield the pots. The Silvertone/Dano Amp-in Case guitar I restored for a friend has a very nicely intact one in it. And, yes, it seems to work very well, too; although it doesn't shield anything else...

 

[AlexanderB]

Sorry about being unclear... I know what a Faraday cage is - rather my question is how you implemented it! Not much wiggle room inside a Dano body, and access holes are small, too...

I have shielded Fender style instruments with good result.

 

[GIBrat51]

The Silvertone 1448 guitar is just a Danelectro with a different decal. The pickguard comes off the same way, with all the controls on it. The "Faraday Box" is just a small, copper tape-covered cardstock box, folded around them. IIRC, the top of the box had small cutouts to fit around the pot shafts, and a small slot for the pickup and ground wires to come out. It was elegantly simple; seemed to work very well; and was, I thought, very advanced for it's time (1962-ish). It was the last thing I expected to find inside a guitar that sold for about $100 - including the amp/case....

 

[R&B]

View attachment 2963641 The Silvertone 1448 guitar is just a Danelectro with a different decal. The pickguard comes off the same way, with all the controls on it. The "Faraday Box" is just a small, copper tape-covered cardstock box, folded around them. IIRC, the top of the box had small cutouts to fit around the pot shafts, and a small slot for the pickup and ground wires to come out. It was elegantly simple; seemed to work very well; and was, I thought, very advanced for it's time (1962-ish). It was the last thing I expected to find inside a guitar that sold for about $100 - including the amp/case....

Cool! These were produced from 1962-68 if my info is correct. And according to a handy online calculator, $100 in 1968 equals $727 today. And from 1962, $821!

Value of $100 in 1968. Inflation Calculator for Today's Dollars

 

[Real Soon]

Could you please elaborate on the Faraday cage? I gig my Longhorn, and better shielding would be great!

Sure! There's a blog out there where an enterprising Dano guitar owner shielded his electricals by getting some cardboard and shaping it snugly around the components (after copper taping the pickguard under the pots), then taping the box thoroughly.

It's important to make it snug, as you could end up doing what I did and having to cram the cardboard in due to making the cage too big. Haha...but it works like a charm.

THIS is the tape I bought from fleabay, and it seems to be an uncommonly good deal. I just used scissors to cut strips and place wherever needed.

 

[Marcocolo]

Hi, my names Mark and I'm a lefty Danoholic.
Actually fell in fascination w/ the longhorn in high school when my classmate Mario Cipollina ( later bassest for Huey Lewis and brother of John Cipollina of Quicksilver fame) was about to play a gig at my high school on a Friday after school thing. He had a longhorn he was showing me along w/ one of the first op amp amps (1972 I think). I thought the Dano looked so cool and it sounded big and badass. This was reinforced when I realized Jesse Colin Young used one on "Elephant Mountain" ,one of my all time fav albums.
But Dano never made a lefty and I just gave up (never thought to modify one!). Besides, I was way into surfing in those days. But the Dano would fester in my subconscious for many years......
I eventually got a late 90's Korean reissue. It sounded good, played well but didn't feel or look right. I loved the real copper look of the originals. Plus I had to play it upside down. I next got my current "orangesicle" Jerry Jones which I reversed. Jerry sold me a lefty bridge he had laying around. It has the best neck I've ever played on a fretted bass. I call it my Joey Spampinato's evil twin. Jerry told me he made a couple extra when Joey commissioned his bass (in early 90's I think) and mine was the orange burst to Joey's all orange. I also (blasphemy) got rid of the single lipstick- hummed like mad. Great sounding live but otherwise a pain. Put in a Bill Lawence humbucker but it just didn't look right so recently switched out to the humbucker lipstick. Better.
I then finely, after asking multiple times, convinced Jerry Jones to make me a lefty longhorn. It looked right, felt right but I ultimately sold it because I just didn't like the feel or the spacing on the "updated" non-rosewood bridge and thus, the wider neck. It literally ruined the experience for me. Fortunately when Jerry went out of business I sold it for gobs more than I paid.
I then ran into an ad for a Coral Dano bass and contacted the guy in Oakland , CA. He used to work at Subway Guitars in Berkeley, that crazy shop known for Dano-ness. He said he had one more Coral 1968 body left and he made me the bass you see below in the pic- all 90's reissue parts except the bridge and the body. Sounds very old school hollow body- a cross between a Hofner, a Dano and an old Guild hollow body. Think Byrds, Small Faces, etc.
Then I found a brand new DC black guitar loaded lefty body on Stratoshere for under $200! I snagged it and put a Korean longhorn neck that I had on it and it sounds fantastic. I later read that's exactly what Dan Armstrong did for Jesse Colin Young for one of his Basses. Here's a link:

Then I found out that Danelectro's newest reissues from Korea (2015) were doing a lefty Longhorn. Finally!! I was so excited I bought a "copper burst" one right away. Believe it or not, I like it MUCH more than the Jerry Jones I had. It feels right, the finish is perfect , the action and frets all perfect and it sounds killer w/ the hotter pups. My only complaint is nobody but Jerry seems to know how to do the copper paint thing. Maybe it's too expensive or toxic or ????? Recently I got the matching black one to put a different set of strings on -put on some of those Deep Talking White Tapes that I love- so slinky and fast.
Lastly is the U2 lefty guitar that was that ugly maroon color I had lying around. Finally found another 90's reissue neck and painted the body Copper and got some awesome body binding tape from the guy on Ebay and a bridge from Zamm on Ebay. Put on a set of the La Bella Longhorn flats and it's a treat to play. Sounds so amazingly fat yet like a Dano.
All my basses have almost, if not perfect, intonation with the rosewood bridge. All weight under 6 1/2 lbs, 3 under 6. I love my collection and thanks for letting me share.....

 

[portaflexer]

It might be time to re-post the member list. PM me if I missed you. BTW, love that group shot Marcocolo.

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
110 - Rikster

 

[kodiakblair]

After @Marcocolo posting mine feels a bit lightweight. 7 Danos is pretty cool but 7 left hand Danos takes it to another level

Had this Wild Thing a couple of years now. Nice enough wee bass but I find it quite a challenge to play,I favour quite heavy basses. My T40's balance perfectly whereas I find the Wild Thing moves about a fair bit. The short scale is a challenge too,having my left arm so close to my body doesn't feel right.

Came strung with flats but I stuck the bottom 4 from a Fender VI roundwound set on it. Sounds great but strictly a house bass due to my trouble adapting to it.

 

[hulaguy]

Greetings from Massachusetts!

Add me to the group please! I stumbled upon a very nice blue burst Korean version, and scored a great deal. And then day later found a longhorn pro on the guitar center website - so of course I snagged it too!

Cant wait until they get here next week!

 

[portaflexer]

Welcome hula guy. We're going to backfill you at #107, since that number was open. BTW, I really like both those Longhorns. The Pros are really nice and I've always been partial to the blue burst. Heckuva way to start man.

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 - hulaguy
108 - Marcocolo
109 - Gringo Basso
110 - Rikster

 

[SJLee]

Greetings from Massachusetts!

Add me to the group please! I stumbled upon a very nice blue burst Korean version, and scored a great deal. And then day later found a longhorn pro on the guitar center website - so of course I snagged it too!

Cant wait until they get here next week!
View attachment 3000022View attachment 3000024 View attachment 3000021 View attachment 3000023

Nice score(s). I would be interested in knowing how each sound and if you notice any difference between the wood and metal bridges.

 

[hulaguy]

Thanks!

I had a baritone, convertible and dc59 back when they first came out (and of course stupidly sold ‘em years later) but as a bass player, I always wanted a longhorn (or two!) looking forward to seeing how they stack up against each other. The pro was listed at GC as a “regular” model at 299. Even though I had the blue burst on the way, I couldn’t pass up the pro for that price.

It will be funny if they show up the same day! I had them sent to the high school I teach at, so I may have to hide in the faculty lounge and give them a going over!!

 

[SJLee]

Thanks!

I had a baritone, convertible and dc59 back when they first came out (and of course stupidly sold ‘em years later) but as a bass player, I always wanted a longhorn (or two!) looking forward to seeing how they stack up against each other. The pro was listed at GC as a “regular” model at 299. Even though I had the blue burst on the way, I couldn’t pass up the pro for that price.

It will be funny if they show up the same day! I had them sent to the high school I teach at, so I may have to hide in the faculty lounge and give them a going over!!

Maybe give them a try out during the "prep period".

 

[hulaguy]

Maybe give them a try out during the "prep period".

 

[R&B]

Hmmm...just loaned out my blue sparkle Korean DanoBlaster to a friend. And lately have been thinking of parting with my all-original circa 1967 Silvertone 1443, which just hangs out in her hard case. Somebody please talk me off the ledge. Or sell me a 34" scale Dano with lipsticks to keep me in the fold!

 

[ATLbassist]

Or sell me a 34" scale Dano with lipsticks to keep me in the fold!

The DC bass was re-introduced in the past couple of years - it's still on the Danelectro site. The Copperburst version kind of looks like a Rickenbacker 4003.

 

[mcgreivey]

The DC bass was re-introduced in the past couple of years - it's still on the Danelectro site. The Copperburst version kind of looks like a Rickenbacker 4003.

I'm holding out for a short-scale DC!

(I'm repeating it here whenever I can, in hopes that someone from Danelectro is reading.)

 

[JEBassman]

Danelectro players,
I have a '58 Longhorn reissue. There are two problems with the bass:
1) The tuners don't hold intonation well.
2) Neck dive.

Any suggestions for replacement tuners, of a higher quality?
Do you adjust for neck dive on your Danos, or just live with it since it's a lightweight bass?

Thanks for your help.