Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Got a new guitar!

I've known about Danelectro since at least the mid 90's when they had the first run of reissues----but I never bought one for some reason, until now.

They reissued the 1959 DC model in all original specs, so I picked one up in the "copper" finish for $350 (free shipping brand new). They are a limited edition model just for this year (with only a few hundred produced). They have reissued the DC model before, but not in completely original specs yet.

I gotta say---I am floored by the quality in build, feel, and sound. They are probably the best value-for-money guitar in the market. It played with near perfect action and tune right out of the box. Twin lipstick pickups have that unmistakable (and unique!) tone. Stacked volume/tone knobs are cool, and it just plays itself.

Really---i'm not a huge fan of cheap guitars. I'd rather have one really good guitar than 10 cheap ones, because the cheap ones usually need modding and work done to them, and they are usually copies of more expensive models. The Danos seem different. I think they are actually better than the originals, and because masonite and plastic don't really age the same way that old wood does, the vintage examples don't really have an "edge" on a fresh new one.

Here's some pics:

I HIGHLY suggest picking one up. They are astonishingly good guitars for the money. Nat Daniel, who founded Danelectro guitars, stated that his proudest achievement was to be "able to make instruments a beginner could afford that were of a quality that wouldn't discourage them from progressing on the instrument," which still holds true with the reissues today. It plays well enough that any beginning guitarist would find themselves attracted to playing, not discouraged by the horrible setups and cheap builds that many "budget" guitars have these days (Epiphone and Squier included...).

I think I'll even gig with it----i'd rather take a $350 Dano out than a $3500 Ric!

Congrats Collin enjoy it.

I have to agree Collin. Danelectro's are great value for the money and they do all the little things right.

Nice! I love these guitars.

I have a little shortneck Dano Longhorn reissue that is just sooo sweet to look at and to play. You won't believe how those pickups sound with flatwound strings! I've also got one of their Stratalikes with built in effects, just for fun...gnarly.

The modern Danelectro re-issues definitely carry the torch of the old Danelectro credo...simple, well designed, great sounding and playing guitars for a fraction
of the price of a more highly regarded name brand. Great for beginners and pros
like 'em too.

jingle_jangle wrote:You won't believe how those pickups sound with flatwound strings!

Ah, I didn't even think of it! I'll give that a try.

The pickups sound outstanding, which is amazing for small magnet shoved inside a lipstick tube.

That's kind of the anomaly of these guitars---they were originally made of almost dispensible "leftovers" and yet produced a very unique, functional instrument with it's own voice and style.

The fact that the company purposely never built any "higher end" guitars proved their devotion to the beginners end of the market. Nowadays, when a company wants to appeal the begginers, they simply copy a more expensive design/brand, and mass produce it until the LCD can afford it, with no effort paid to style or originality. I guess that's an issue for another day.


Plus---the other cool thing about these guitars is that they're basically the "Lego" of guitars. All the bodies have the same neck pocket and scale...SO, if I wanted to turn it into a bass or baritone guitar---NO problem. $150 neck, and it's on. Same with the bridges, they have a few different style bridges that all pop into place, no permanent mods required. Gototh even makes a neat "electric sitar" drone bridge that drops right onto these.

I've been feeling the craving lately. ...Danelectro...Danelectro...Danelectro...

It's only a matter of time once that inner voice starts chanting like that.

For those who DO enjoy cheap guitars, I keep hearing raves about anything Rondo.

Amen Collin. I LOVE my Dano!

Mandoguitar and Longhorn bass owner here.

Been thinking about a combination of Danelectro and slide playing.
JimK

Yeah, the new ones are great, much better than the originals. I'd love to get one.

collin wrote:Really---i'm not a huge fan of cheap guitars. I'd rather have one really good guitar than 10 cheap ones, because the cheap ones usually need modding and work done to them, and they are usually copies of more expensive models. The Danos seem different. I think they are actually better than the originals, and because masonite and plastic don't really age the same way that old wood does, the vintage examples don't really have an "edge" on a fresh new one.

I agree with that statement 100%. People here in the Big Easy ask me, "Why do you have only three guitars?" I say the exact thing, "I'd rather have three nice ones than 30 cheap ones".

Very nice Dano, Collin! Danos and MIM Fenders (vintage reissues, of course) are the only cheap guitars I'd ever consider buying.

collin wrote:I think I'll even gig with it----i'd rather take a $350 Dano out than a $3500 Ric!

Amen to that! No harm in bringing a cheap guitar. That way, if it gets stolen, you don't take THAT big a loss.

By the way, Collin, if your Dano were black, it would look just like Mike Campbell's that he had in drop "D" tuning in the Heartbreakers' '91 tour.

opticnerve wrote:The modern Danelectro re-issues definitely carry the torch of the old Danelectro credo...simple, well designed, great sounding and playing guitars for a fraction
of the price of a more highly regarded name brand. Great for beginners and pros
like 'em too.

There was a great write up in Vintage Guitar Magazine last year, I probably sitll have it. They went over most if not all of the models and gave each and every one a rave review.

The do look very cool!

The model you got is issued in "original specs?"

So what is the neck wood? Maple like the bulk of the Dano reissues, or poplar like the originals? Also, how about the body construction? The originals used poplar with the masonite shell, while all the reissues have used plywood with the masonite shell. The other thing is that the originals used brazilion rosewood fingerboards, which are not done on any new guitars these days due to the restricted sale and use of that wood, so the old ones will have a much nicer fingerboard in many cases.

I've got one of the late 90's DC3 Dano reissues. Those were great but the pickups weren't as good as what is being done now, so I went with Seymour Duncan custom shop scatterwound lipsticks, with vintage correct alnico 6 magnets. I also modified the control arrangement a little bit. It is very cool now.

Glad you've joined the Dano users and hope you enjoy your guitar!

Greg