You are correct, Six. 3 out of 4 strings on mine intonate perfectly and one is off by just a hair.
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NBD: 58 Danelectro Longhorn reissue
- Thread starter JEBassman
- Start date
UPDATE:
Danelectro is discontinuing the 1958 Longhorn reissue.
I spoke with my sales rep at Sweetwater, and he told me that Danelectro will not be making any more of these 1958 reissue Longhorn basses. They've been discontinued.
I originally tried to purchase mine from Sweetwater, but they were out of stock, with no known delivery date for more. Fortunately I was able to buy mine from Musicians' Friend, while they had the Longhorns in stock. I was lucky to get mine on sale, too, as an added bonus.
Anyhow, I'm not in the business of selling basses, but this information might be of interest to TB readers. There are some new reissues around still, so it might be possible to scoop one up. I've had mine just a few days but I'm happy I bought this bass.
Danelectro is discontinuing the 1958 Longhorn reissue.
I spoke with my sales rep at Sweetwater, and he told me that Danelectro will not be making any more of these 1958 reissue Longhorn basses. They've been discontinued.
I originally tried to purchase mine from Sweetwater, but they were out of stock, with no known delivery date for more. Fortunately I was able to buy mine from Musicians' Friend, while they had the Longhorns in stock. I was lucky to get mine on sale, too, as an added bonus.
Anyhow, I'm not in the business of selling basses, but this information might be of interest to TB readers. There are some new reissues around still, so it might be possible to scoop one up. I've had mine just a few days but I'm happy I bought this bass.
That's what modern day Dano does. Puts out a run, discontinues it, brings out some other stuff for a while, brings it back a few years later.
I was really lucky then. I almost missed out; I saw that Musiciansfriend had the basses, but was waiting for a phone call to see if Sweetwater would get more in. I stopped waiting around and just ordered from MF, thinking I didn't want to risk the supply running out before I made my move. Two days later MF posted a sale, so I called in and asked to have the sale price. It was a good feeling when my order got discounted.
Now I'm a happy, Longhorn playing convert
I was really lucky then. I almost missed out; I saw that Musiciansfriend had the basses, but was waiting for a phone call to see if Sweetwater would get more in. I stopped waiting around and just ordered from MF, thinking I didn't want to risk the supply running out before I made my move. Two days later MF posted a sale, so I called in and asked to have the sale price. It was a good feeling when my order got discounted.
Now I'm a happy, Longhorn playing convert
Looking at the headstock, it says my bass was made in Korea. Is that the latest batch of Dano Longhorns, or did MF have a slightly older Longhorn in stock? I'm just curious, as I've read about Danos manufactured in different locations over the years.
Do any of you loyal, long time Dano players know?
Be interesting to see the next generation Longhorn . Each batch they've done has had just enough differences for the aficionados to tell them apart . Also interesting that the very first batch that were made are usually considered the most desirable .
They might wait for a year or so before they commission another batch ...
They might wait for a year or so before they commission another batch ...
The current longhorns are Korean.
In the last few years Evetts has actually discontinued the Longhorn every year. A couple times they were Chinese the last couple times Korean. But that's sortof a technicality - what Evetts (the people who own the Danelectro name) essentially does each year is they book production of a fixed number of guitars each year and sell 'em till they're gone - which is a feasible business model for a "minority" instrument brand.
That DOESN'T mean there'll be a longhorn next year - as Jimmy says they like to discontinue products a lot over there - you couldn't get a new longhorn for about a decade - at least part of why it took me until now to get one again. Buut they haven't done a Hodad bass in a couple of years and they seem really committed to the design so it might be next year's bass - or who knows? Maybe they'll finally re-issue the DC bass (I'm starting unfounded rumours here, but maybe someone at Evetts is reading
).Hey - yes the Korean longhorns have guitar tuners - even the "pro" models have upgraded guitar tuners.I have 3 of them; 2 long scale DC Pros (with the adjustable, individual saddle bridge), and a new Longhorn. They're all leftys, and all are the Korean versions.
As far as the tuners go; yes, some Danos - particularly the originals - use guitar tuners that are probably not quite up to handling "real" bass strings; and yes, the holes are not quite big enough for some sizes. Which is why traditional Dano bass strings are so skinny. My DCs came with normal bass tuners (slots and a center hole), and will handle regular bass strings with no problem. IIRC, the Chinese Danos - especially the Longhorns - also use the small hole, guitar-style tuners. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't looked at the ones on my Korean Longhorn, so I can't say for sure (been busy with other "put out the fire" things - so sue me).
The Bridge? Yes, it's pretty simple (but it is adjustable - a little), and the Chinese bridges do have a reputation for being "bendy". They are easily straightened, though; and, some people put a "support" screw under them, in the middle, to help prevent that. I can't recall many people having that problem with the Korean ones. The bridges are easily replaced, though, and after market ones are available. Some folks replace them with the "Pro" adjustable bridge, but Dano purists say that it ruins "that Dano sound". Whatever...in any case, I've had no problems with mine, and the DCs are 20+ years old now.
Anyway, glad you like it. Join us in the Dano club, and enjoy, enjoy...
As far as the Korean bridges bending - absolutely - all three of mine are or have been bent - I'm pretty sure I got my U2 for so cheap becaseu the store thought it was unsalvageable - I just wrapped it in masking tape and put it between two bricks and stepped on it (coins on the corners help a lot). I haven't fixed the two bass bridges because they have the big sold bar at the back - that makes it more touchy to do and I think I'll have to do it in a proper vice and I frankly don't want to take them apart since they're playable so far.
But the Chinese one is MUCH softer - it's much newer than the others two basses and it's downward curve is worse - I'll have todo something about it soon. But I think I'll commit blasphemy and put some fenderish bridge on (maybe even a heavy one) - it already has the adjustable metal bridge pieces anyway - and now that I have my longhorn back I was thinking of making this my "super-Dano" with GFS hot Dano pickups (not super hot, just a bit hotter), a better bridge and American electronics with a no-load tone control or decade switch style tone (ala varitone without the inductors). Hey Jimmy? What's the name of the one you use?
Link Removed
This guy makes a more robust version of the Dano bridge, but only shows guitars on his site. I've emailed to find out whether he is willing & able to make a bass version. Does anyone know of any other alternatives?
This guy makes a more robust version of the Dano bridge, but only shows guitars on his site. I've emailed to find out whether he is willing & able to make a bass version. Does anyone know of any other alternatives?
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I've seen a few in good shape, but I am not going to pay silly money for a memory.
I don't know what they go for now. I saw one in a vintage shop in Portland, OR, in the mid 90s for $450, but couldn't do that.
I paid $65.00 for mine new, but in today's dollars that would be $502.06.
I gigged for 4 years with that bass. It was quite the workhorse. Never gave me any problems at all.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Prices are all over the place depending on condition, but I've seen 4 figures easily.
Hi,
I have a Dano Longhorn re-issue I bought used (Korean made) not sure what year it is. I am looking to get that old-school, thumpy sound out of it. It has round wounds on it now and I don't like the tone ("chunky metallic twang" for lack of better term...).
I am looking to get this guys sound....
Currently it sounds like this guy...
Will just putting flat wounds on it will give me that old school sound...?
I've tried playing around with the tone controls and put foam under the strings next to the bridge but that hasn't solved the issue.
Can the pups be the issue?....was there a year they put "hotter" pups in the longhorn or have they mostly used the same pups?
Any help would be much appreciated!
I have a Dano Longhorn re-issue I bought used (Korean made) not sure what year it is. I am looking to get that old-school, thumpy sound out of it. It has round wounds on it now and I don't like the tone ("chunky metallic twang" for lack of better term...).
I am looking to get this guys sound....
Currently it sounds like this guy...
Will just putting flat wounds on it will give me that old school sound...?
I've tried playing around with the tone controls and put foam under the strings next to the bridge but that hasn't solved the issue.
Can the pups be the issue?....was there a year they put "hotter" pups in the longhorn or have they mostly used the same pups?
Any help would be much appreciated!
I was drooling over one of those copper ones just yesterday - managed to resist the "buy it now" button - this time....
I had a Korean Blackburst from the late 90's that was great. My Granddaughter in Michigan decided she wanted to learn bass a couple years back, so I shipped mine to her. Before I shipped it I put some Chromes flatwounds on it. Didn't like the sound two years ago, but I was visiting a couple months ago and was playing around with it and setting it up for her, and the strings sounded great! Plenty of bottom and thump with enough high end to cut through. They do get better with age! The bridges are horrible on these, they are soft like a piece of zinc with chrome plating or something. I did a fix on the one I gave to her, but it required drilling a hole in the bridge and into the body and inserting a screw. It adds support to the middle of the bridge so it won't bend. I posted the info with pictures somewhere on a Dano thread a few years back, but have since deleted the pictures. Not sure where to look for it now.
UPDATE: Months later I ended up not buying the Dano. Decided I'd hold out for a Squier Vista Musicmaster, which I've been hard for since forever. Then last month I found a Kala spruce UBass at a MusicGoRound and gave myself an early Xmas gift.
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