Danelectro Owners Club

[mcgreivey]

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.

Which tuners do you have now? My two Danos with their original stock machines hold their tune fine. One has Kluson-style tuners; the other has Gotoh-style ones.

Another has generic Kluson-style tuners I bought for $20-30 on eBay. They work just fine. These replaced the stock Kluson-style tuners it came with, when I converted it from 4 to 6 strings. The originals we also Kluson-style, and also worked fine. (Come to think of it, do you want them? But they might be just like the ones you have.)

My Jerry Jones Longhorn balances great with the strap button on the upper horn. You might want to move it there. Yes, it's solid enough to drill into. The one I converted from 4 to 6 still has the button at the heel, and it balances that way, but maybe yours has a heavier neck and a lighter body, by chance? This one is Chinese, probably about 2008/9 (wherever they were doing them with matte-finish hardware).

 

[JEBassman]

Hello and thank you for writing.
I have the original, stock tuners on my '58 Reissue Dano Longhorn. They don't seem to be labelled. I can manage with them, but would like something that holds intonation more consistently.

I hadn't thought about moving the strap button. How does your bass balance with the button moved to the horn? Does it change your playing position, or the way the bass hangs on your body?

Here are a couple of snaps of my tuners:

 

[mcgreivey]

Hello and thank you for writing.
I have the original, stock tuners on my '58 Reissue Dano Longhorn. They don't seem to be labelled. I can manage with them, but would like something that holds intonation more consistently.

I hadn't thought about moving the strap button. How does your bass balance with the button moved to the horn? Does it change your playing position, or the way the bass hangs on your body?

Here are a couple of snaps of my tuners:

View attachment 3002074 View attachment 3002075

If you want to replace those, get similar Kluson or Kluson-style 3+3 guitar tuners, and use 4. The screw holes should be the same.

The ones I have that I took off are matte-finish, but you probably want glossy to match the other hardware on it?

I like the way my Jerry Jones longhorn feels, with its strap button on the horn. I actually haven't played my Chinese longhorn standing up very much, so I can't compare, they feel pretty different anyway. But maybe you could experiment with a simulated strap "button" using something like gaffer's tape?

 

[ATLbassist]

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?

I used to have a Longhorn Pro whose tuners had been replaced with Hipshot Ultralites. These are great lightweight tuners for any bass. However, the posts stuck out a long way from the headstock and looked odd. That said, I ended up finding a regular MIK Longhorn and the stock tuners have done just fine.

Have you tried using a strap that is wider and/or has suede underneath? You'd have a wider surface area for the strap to grab onto your shirt and counteract the neck dive.

 

[JEBassman]

Thanks for the tip about straps. I've tried different straps but not a leather one. I'll give that a try for sure.
Thanks

 

[EdO.]

A grippy strap definitely helps, but really the bass is so light that what little neck dive there is really isn't (or shouldn't be) an issue. Unless you're really sensitive to that I suppose...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I used to have a Longhorn Pro whose tuners had been replaced with Hipshot Ultralites. These are great lightweight tuners for any bass. However, the posts stuck out a long way from the headstock and looked odd. That said, I ended up finding a regular MIK Longhorn and the stock tuners have done just fine.

Have you tried using a strap that is wider and/or has suede underneath? You'd have a wider surface area for the strap to grab onto your shirt and counteract the neck dive.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Hello and thank you for writing.
I have the original, stock tuners on my '58 Reissue Dano Longhorn. They don't seem to be labelled. I can manage with them, but would like something that holds intonation more consistently.

I hadn't thought about moving the strap button. How does your bass balance with the button moved to the horn? Does it change your playing position, or the way the bass hangs on your body?

Here are a couple of snaps of my tuners:

View attachment 3002074 View attachment 3002075

I have buttons both at the horn and the neckplate on mine. It hangs more "normally" with the strap at the horn. I play with strings at or slightly above my beltline. When it was attached at the plate, it felt like it was pushed away from my body and to the left.
I prefer it on the horn.

 

[JEBassman]

Thanks all for your advice about tuners and neck dive remedies.

I am trying different straps to counter neck dive. A new strap is next on my shopping list. Possibly leather, or something with a non-skid backing.
Leather strap owners: How much flexibility do you have adjusting the length?

My primary issue is replacing my stock tuners, with ultralights such as HipShot. I'll ask my tech for his advice as well.

I appreciate your suggestions.

 

[Skillet]

I got a freaking amazing deal on the new '64 bass.... There's a whole thread about how bad it looks, but I think they're nuts and it looks wonderful and I love this thing. Great tone! Fast neck! Chicks dig it! What else do you need?

 

[Skillet]

I'll take a number if there are any left, thanks.

 

[mojomike001]

My Jerry Jones Longhorn balances great with the strap button on the upper horn. You might want to move it there. Yes, it's solid enough to drill into. The one I converted from 4 to 6 still has the button at the heel, and it balances that way, but maybe yours has a heavier neck and a lighter body, by chance? This one is Chinese, probably about 2008/9 (wherever they were doing them with matte-finish hardware).

This works great for me. It's the first thing I did when I got this bass. It hangs well.

 

[portaflexer]

Membership list update...

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
111 - Skillet

 

[danosix]

I got a freaking amazing deal on the new '64 bass.... There's a whole thread about how bad it looks, but I think they're nuts and it looks wonderful and I love this thing. Great tone! Fast neck! Chicks dig it! What else do you need?View attachment 3051340

Someone said they're UGLY??? Really? Acquired taste, okay... unusual, you bet... but ugly? Do these people have eyes or do they just use the "it don't look like a Fender, Gibson or Soundgear, it ain't guud" (yes they would spell good with two "u"s).

I mean, if nothing else, the Mosrite body is nothing but an upside-down Fender (literally, ol' Semi Mosley traced a Strat upside-down to get the shape and then just refined a little).

Anyway, congrats to you, the whole concept of "Good deal" on new Danos up here in Canada is a farce. Last year my buddy/favourite dealer offered me the "CLEARANCE" price on a Hodad, I kid you not - it was the in-store price down your way BEFORE converting the dollar - so 25% of "street price" in the US was the clearout price. I honestly don't know what they're doing (or how many they manage to sell... you don't see many up here neither).
P.S. How does the P90 looking neck pickup sound?
P.P.S. Nice little group... I love the colour of that Mustang - are they that "surf-y" in real life? I've only seen the white and sonic blue (which are both WAY too white).

 

[Skillet]

Someone said they're UGLY??? Really? Acquired taste, okay... unusual, you bet... but ugly? Do these people have eyes or do they just use the "it don't look like a Fender, Gibson or Soundgear, it ain't guud" (yes they would spell good with two "u"s).

I mean, if nothing else, the Mosrite body is nothing but an upside-down Fender (literally, ol' Semi Mosley traced a Strat upside-down to get the shape and then just refined a little).

Anyway, congrats to you, the whole concept of "Good deal" on new Danos up here in Canada is a farce. Last year my buddy/favourite dealer offered me the "CLEARANCE" price on a Hodad, I kid you not - it was the in-store price down your way BEFORE converting the dollar - so 25% of "street price" in the US was the clearout price. I honestly don't know what they're doing (or how many they manage to sell... you don't see many up here neither).
P.S. How does the P90 looking neck pickup sound?
P.P.S. Nice little group... I love the colour of that Mustang - are they that "surf-y" in real life? I've only seen the white and sonic blue (which are both WAY too white).

The mustang is "surf-pearl", and the photo is pretty spot on for the color. I believe that it's a limited color to certain retailers, Adorama being one.

The neck pickup on the '64 gets close to a P bass. Very rounded and full, while the lipsticks give you that J bass snarl with less scoopage in the mids perhaps. Together, I like it a Lot. I still have to dampen the treble through my ampeg rig, but I have to do that with my Lakland P bass too.

The bass sits differently on the body than most, and the left hand in first position seems kind of far away, but the upper fret access is unparalleled in my experience. It's really radically different than the 'stang of course, and I enjoy the difference, perhaps my shoulder likes the variance. Having that high E note is a blast too. I couldn't be happier with it. I look forward to crafting some different pickguards for it, as I like to tinker.

 

[danosix]

The mustang is "surf-pearl", and the photo is pretty spot on for the color. I believe that it's a limited color to certain retailers, Adorama being one.

The neck pickup on the '64 gets close to a P bass. Very rounded and full, while the lipsticks give you that J bass snarl with less scoopage in the mids perhaps. Together, I like it a Lot. I still have to dampen the treble through my ampeg rig, but I have to do that with my Lakland P bass too.

The bass sits differently on the body than most, and the left hand in first position seems kind of far away, but the upper fret access is unparalleled in my experience. It's really radically different than the 'stang of course, and I enjoy the difference, perhaps my shoulder likes the variance. Having that high E note is a blast too. I couldn't be happier with it. I look forward to crafting some different pickguards for it, as I like to tinker.

Oh yeah! I actually DO think I've seen that now that you remind me of the pearl, very nice.
Re: reach - yeah, I wouldn't be able to play a longscale with that layout anymore (tendonitis - had to get rid of my '63 for that reason). But how often are you THAT low (and fretting) right? For most of us (especially those who play vintage inspired instruments) the default position is somewhere around g-a.
As for high-fret access, it looks pretty good, but you ARE in a forum dominated by the upper access heavy-weight champion of them all... the longhorn (24 frets ALL clear of the body) - which could only be better if it was neck though (which would defeat the whole point of a longhorn. You're just used to Fender type instruments.

 

[AngelDeVille]

Can I play?

Here is my RI Longhorn with some other Masonite beauties...

I have a Wild Thing/Swept Wing on the way, I’ll post my own pictures when I get it in my hot little hands.

 

[AngelDeVille]

The nut was cut with a hacksaw, so once I find my stash of brass stock I’ll whip up a new nut for her.

Then a new pick guard.

 

[kodiakblair]

Then a new pick guard.
View attachment 3074371

What colour do you have in mind ? The heavy handed previous owner of my Wild Thing snapped the PG yanking the cable out. Got it repaired by a black film front/back. I found it way too much black and it masked the curves so went back to original white.

 

[danosix]

What colour do you have in mind ? The heavy handed previous owner of my Wild Thing snapped the PG yanking the cable out. Got it repaired by a black film front/back. I found it way too much black and it masked the curves so went back to original white.

Going out on a limb here.... checkered.