What's happening to Danelectro?

jculpjr · Post by **jculpjr** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 4:42 pm

Played a baritone at a pawn shop the other day. Pretty interesting guitar- baseball bat neck- decent feel all around. I hadn't picked up a Danelectro in years. Wood bridge just doesn't do it for me even though I could switch it out I suppose.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 4:53 pm

Rox-I'm cool with you not getting it, but telling me more reasons why you don't get it isn't helping your case for getting it.

I've owned several Danos, all from the Korean 90's reissue series. I gigged my DC-12 and recorded with it. At one point I had the cash for a rickenbacker 12 string and took my dc12 to the shop to compare. Other than added weight of the Ric and feeling/looking a bit more substantial, the sound was comparible. I preferred the wide neck and lighter weight of the dano over spending another $1200 on the ric so it won out.

Danos are cheap at twice the price. The utilitarian construction leads to an inexpensive, lightweight, but entirely functional and characteristically unique instrument. Not just because some "celebrities in the '60's and '70's" played them. You're either showing your ignorance, or just trolling now.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:00 pm

My case is that they're simply not good now. Back in the 50s when they were made in Neptune from surplus kitchen supplies and old Avon lipstick containers they were what they were. Functional , simple, practical and unique. They got big with the surf guys because they were cheap, cool looking and sounded good . I get it ( not I gotta throw on my serious britches. Fuck. ) .
The the likes of John Paul Jones , Eric Clapton, etc got hold of them and made them popular. Ok, cool. I get it.
Then the 80s and 90s roll in and they ship them to the Far East . Still made of cheaper components and the prices rise as they buff the nam Danelectro to the point when the name becomes synonymous with " hey we can make em shittier and people will still buy them because we're Danelectro. " then in the 2000s you have a cheaply made guitar with glitter that can barely hold a tune and could warp in humid weather that sells for $300. Because it's a Dano. If it said Stagg or First Act on the headstock and did that people wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. But it's a Dano. And it's ok.
I've tried many many times to love these things. They look cool. I just find them unplayable. I've walked in into shops numerous times with cash in my wallet looking to but a Hodad, A U-3 one other where the name slips my mind and finally the Dead On 67 which I really liked the look of but after playing it with a wood bridge, warped frets, sticker end knobs and slipping tuners I confirmed to myself they were mere eye candy . A Jerry Jones on the other hand is a whole other story.
So when I think Dano now I automatically picture plywood glittery guitars that buzz and hum, plastic effects pedals and a price comparable to a high end Squier, Epiphone or even a Mexi Fender in some cases. So in my opinion a photo of a pile of poo with a fork in it to me fits the analogy. Sorry if you don't value it , get offended or frankly label me as ignorant and a troll. I've been around the block enough times to come up with a valuable opinion. They had their hey day and now not remotely what they used to be. At all. Maybe it's that I'm a Fender guy. Who knows. If you're happy paying $450-$500 for a new crappy playing Dano more power to ya.

cur · Post by **cur** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:20 pm

I have not played a very new Danos. The newest version I played was the Dead On 67. But of all the Dano's I have picked up in shops over the years, and I tend to strum any Dano I can get my hands on, I have never picked one up and thought this one is a turd. They are usually just what I expect them to be. I have picked up other brands where that is not the case.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:41 pm

Just counting, I've had four in total, all reissues. Two DC-3s (still got one) a DC-12 and a newer DC '59. I got on with the last least well, but none of these had a single quality control issue. No sharp fret ends, decent tuners (Gotoh on the DC-3), metal bridges. On the '59 some of the binding tape was a bit stretched by the neck pocket, but that's it. I'm not a Danelectro fanboy - I've owned lots of other guitars - but you can't complain about Danelectro build quality.

I mean, you can... but you'd be wrong.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:08 pm

i've only played a couple of reissues (90s U-2 and a reissue 63 baritone) but they were absolutely fine. i've owned a dano-made silvertone 1448 (only guitar i deeply regret selling) and the build quality seemed comparable on that and the reissues.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:29 pm

Had a dano 63 great guitar just looked stupidly small, the in series option was a thing of lovelyness... Wish i had bought the more normal sized 59.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:08 pm

stewart wrote:i've owned a dano-made silvertone 1448 (only guitar i deeply regret selling).

And which I, in turn, deeply regret not buying.

Had a load of Dano's and loved them (especially my longhorn baritone); think the Dano sound is the quintessential baritone sound. The construction isn't a million miles away from a 335 - central block with hollow wings. Also thought the effects line was amazing value.

Which makes it even more annoying that I can't in good conscience put money Steve Ridinger's way. Fuck that guy.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:01 pm

Rox wrote:My case is that they're simply not good now. Back in the 50s when they were made in Neptune from surplus kitchen supplies and old Avon lipstick containers they were what they were. Functional , simple, practical and unique. They got big with the surf guys because they were cheap, cool looking and sounded good . I get it ( not I gotta throw on my serious britches. Fuck. ) .
The the likes of John Paul Jones , Eric Clapton, etc got hold of them and made them popular. Ok, cool. I get it.
Then the 80s and 90s roll in and they ship them to the Far East . Still made of cheaper components and the prices rise as they buff the nam Danelectro to the point when the name becomes synonymous with " hey we can make em shittier and people will still buy them because we're Danelectro. " then in the 2000s you have a cheaply made guitar with glitter that can barely hold a tune and could warp in humid weather that sells for $300. Because it's a Dano. If it said Stagg or First Act on the headstock and did that people wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. But it's a Dano. And it's ok.
I've tried many many times to love these things. They look cool. I just find them unplayable. I've walked in into shops numerous times with cash in my wallet looking to but a Hodad, A U-3 one other where the name slips my mind and finally the Dead On 67 which I really liked the look of but after playing it with a wood bridge, warped frets, sticker end knobs and slipping tuners I confirmed to myself they were mere eye candy . A Jerry Jones on the other hand is a whole other story.
So when I think Dano now I automatically picture plywood glittery guitars that buzz and hum, plastic effects pedals and a price comparable to a high end Squier, Epiphone or even a Mexi Fender in some cases. So in my opinion a photo of a pile of poo with a fork in it to me fits the analogy. Sorry if you don't value it , get offended or frankly label me as ignorant and a troll. I've been around the block enough times to come up with a valuable opinion. They had their hey day and now not remotely what they used to be. At all. Maybe it's that I'm a Fender guy. Who knows. If you're happy paying $450-$500 for a new crappy playing Dano more power to ya.

You're saying the 90s reissues and the current bunch aren't as good as the 60s ones? I don't quite understand how you could say that unless you didn't know what the fuck you were talking about.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:38 pm

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:53 pm

I've owned and played Danelectros from all over their timeline and, though I never gelled with any of their newer models, I've never encountered one with any kind of reliability or construction issue that shouldn't be expected of a sub $500 instrument. Some of the old ones were wrecks and in poor aesthetic quality but all of them played like they should have.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Mon Jun 09, 2014 2:42 pm

stewart wrote:i've only played a couple of reissues (90s U-2 and a reissue 63 baritone) but they were absolutely fine. i've owned a dano-made silvertone 1448 (only guitar i deeply regret selling) and the build quality seemed comparable on that and the reissues.

definitely on the hunt for a 1448 with amp in the case. they're pretty reasonable on reverb.com. I'm prolly gonna snap one up from there next month. been drooling over them for years.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 12:46 am

ekwatts wrote:
Rox wrote:My case is that they're simply not good now. Back in the 50s when they were made in Neptune from surplus kitchen supplies and old Avon lipstick containers they were what they were. Functional , simple, practical and unique. They got big with the surf guys because they were cheap, cool looking and sounded good . I get it ( not I gotta throw on my serious britches. Fuck. ) .
The the likes of John Paul Jones , Eric Clapton, etc got hold of them and made them popular. Ok, cool. I get it.
Then the 80s and 90s roll in and they ship them to the Far East . Still made of cheaper components and the prices rise as they buff the nam Danelectro to the point when the name becomes synonymous with " hey we can make em shittier and people will still buy them because we're Danelectro. " then in the 2000s you have a cheaply made guitar with glitter that can barely hold a tune and could warp in humid weather that sells for $300. Because it's a Dano. If it said Stagg or First Act on the headstock and did that people wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. But it's a Dano. And it's ok.
I've tried many many times to love these things. They look cool. I just find them unplayable. I've walked in into shops numerous times with cash in my wallet looking to but a Hodad, A U-3 one other where the name slips my mind and finally the Dead On 67 which I really liked the look of but after playing it with a wood bridge, warped frets, sticker end knobs and slipping tuners I confirmed to myself they were mere eye candy . A Jerry Jones on the other hand is a whole other story.
So when I think Dano now I automatically picture plywood glittery guitars that buzz and hum, plastic effects pedals and a price comparable to a high end Squier, Epiphone or even a Mexi Fender in some cases. So in my opinion a photo of a pile of poo with a fork in it to me fits the analogy. Sorry if you don't value it , get offended or frankly label me as ignorant and a troll. I've been around the block enough times to come up with a valuable opinion. They had their hey day and now not remotely what they used to be. At all. Maybe it's that I'm a Fender guy. Who knows. If you're happy paying $450-$500 for a new crappy playing Dano more power to ya.
You're saying the 90s reissues and the current bunch aren't as good as the 60s ones? I don't quite understand how you could say that unless you didn't know what the fuck you were talking about.

Oh , they were shit too. But at least they were hand made . The Chinese ones are straight shit ..

And Bingo my ((teabag))

I just went on a straight rant on how shitty they were and still somehow I still don't know what I'm talking about .. But at least I wasn't stupid enough to actually buy one ....

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:17 am

I've played the new ones and have been fortunate to try an original one. and I don't think they're shitty at all, they have a kindve charm that no other guitars have. I'd prefer a vintage dano or silvertone over 90% of the shit that's out now. they also look cool and sound cool, there are 3000 dollar guitars that are ugly as hell or boring looking and you could score a dano or silvertone secondhand for less than that.

definitely pro dano and silvertone, except for the new shit cause fuck that guy.

cur · Post by **cur** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:23 am

markleton wrote:I've just snagged myself a U2 pro reissue off eBay. Never played one before but I've wanted one for years after seeing Jason Molina use them live. Only Â£100 with a hard case. I'll report back on how shitty and useless they are.

I have the blue 56 pro. It's great and I love the neck.

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 8:47 am

I think the 90s ones are the worse. The tuners suck, the jack plate is crap, the tape is of poor quality and placed on poorly, the bridge bows in the middle (but I kind of like it) and the nut is too low (and you can't lower the action more because then it's too hard to play on frets 1-5). The actual jack sucks too and is of the lowest quality, the pickup is good though. And it's ridiculously light to the point of being uncomfortable. Neck is o.k., pretty thin back to front but quite playable. If it was just a bit thinner I probably wouldn't like it. I'm keeping mine because I heavily modded it and sentimental value and it sounds good.

I played a 1960s Silvertone, certainly better made, except the one I tried had neck problems and the truss rods are not adjustable.

The Chinese ones have a bit thicker neck than the Korean versions and overall built better. I'm not sure about the pickups because I never plugged in a Chinese one, but they feel much better built in every way.

Although I'm not sure I would buy another (but maybe) and they are overpriced.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:49 am

Rox wrote:
ekwatts wrote:
Rox wrote:My case is that they're simply not good now. Back in the 50s when they were made in Neptune from surplus kitchen supplies and old Avon lipstick containers they were what they were. Functional , simple, practical and unique. They got big with the surf guys because they were cheap, cool looking and sounded good . I get it ( not I gotta throw on my serious britches. Fuck. ) .
The the likes of John Paul Jones , Eric Clapton, etc got hold of them and made them popular. Ok, cool. I get it.
Then the 80s and 90s roll in and they ship them to the Far East . Still made of cheaper components and the prices rise as they buff the nam Danelectro to the point when the name becomes synonymous with " hey we can make em shittier and people will still buy them because we're Danelectro. " then in the 2000s you have a cheaply made guitar with glitter that can barely hold a tune and could warp in humid weather that sells for $300. Because it's a Dano. If it said Stagg or First Act on the headstock and did that people wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole. But it's a Dano. And it's ok.
I've tried many many times to love these things. They look cool. I just find them unplayable. I've walked in into shops numerous times with cash in my wallet looking to but a Hodad, A U-3 one other where the name slips my mind and finally the Dead On 67 which I really liked the look of but after playing it with a wood bridge, warped frets, sticker end knobs and slipping tuners I confirmed to myself they were mere eye candy . A Jerry Jones on the other hand is a whole other story.
So when I think Dano now I automatically picture plywood glittery guitars that buzz and hum, plastic effects pedals and a price comparable to a high end Squier, Epiphone or even a Mexi Fender in some cases. So in my opinion a photo of a pile of poo with a fork in it to me fits the analogy. Sorry if you don't value it , get offended or frankly label me as ignorant and a troll. I've been around the block enough times to come up with a valuable opinion. They had their hey day and now not remotely what they used to be. At all. Maybe it's that I'm a Fender guy. Who knows. If you're happy paying $450-$500 for a new crappy playing Dano more power to ya.
You're saying the 90s reissues and the current bunch aren't as good as the 60s ones? I don't quite understand how you could say that unless you didn't know what the fuck you were talking about.

Oh , they were shit too. But at least they were hand made . The Chinese ones are straight shit ..

And Bingo my

I just went on a straight rant on how shitty they were and still somehow I still don't know what I'm talking about .. But at least I wasn't stupid enough to actually buy one ....

What difference does being handmade really make? Being able to express an opinion in lots of words doesn't make it any more valid than one expressed in less. Danelectros are fine guitars.

Martin once came out with a series of guitars that were constructed out of compressed MDF. If they were also made in China using *SHOCK* machines?!?!?!?! would you hate them too? They're Martins, after all.

You just sound like a snob.

I have a Chinese Fender. It's a fucking great guitar. Oh, wait, no, it's shit because it wasn't handmade by an American.

fetusrobot · Post by **fetusrobot** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:34 pm

didn't people in the 60s play danelectros because they were the only guitars with d'addario strings? im pretty sure john entwistle from the who bought like 3 danelectro basses and put the strings on his other basses.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:22 am

ekwatts wrote:
Rox wrote:
ekwatts wrote: You're saying the 90s reissues and the current bunch aren't as good as the 60s ones? I don't quite understand how you could say that unless you didn't know what the fuck you were talking about.

Oh , they were shit too. But at least they were hand made . The Chinese ones are straight shit ..

And Bingo my

I just went on a straight rant on how shitty they were and still somehow I still don't know what I'm talking about .. But at least I wasn't stupid enough to actually buy one ....
What difference does being handmade really make? Being able to express an opinion in lots of words doesn't make it any more valid than one expressed in less. Danelectros are fine guitars.

Martin once came out with a series of guitars that were constructed out of compressed MDF. If they were also made in China using *SHOCK* machines?!?!?!?! would you hate them too? They're Martins, after all.

You just sound like a snob.

I have a Chinese Fender. It's a fucking great guitar. Oh, wait, no, it's shit because it wasn't handmade by an American.

No, newer Danos are not good guitars .. You don't get it . And after telling your spat about a guitar that Martin made on the cheap to get themselves out of a financial bind . As for your Chinese Fender ?

I have a Chinese Fender. It's a fucking great guitar. Oh, wait, no, it's shit because it wasn't handmade by an American.

This shows maybe you don't get it . You're talking shit rigs now . Maybe if you've played a decent decent guitar perhaps you'd maybe " get it " . You know I actually tried playing one of those Chinese Jizzmasters . Yeah , maybe I'm a snob for saying this but yeah, they're turds . Straight up fucking poo.. I think one of the blocks on the fret board scratched when I divebombed it . I bet you're plugging it into some cheap solid state like a Champ or some other Chinese cheapie .But hey, more power to ya..

Tread lightly on your trollness, son...

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:21 am

Plugging it into a choice of either a handmade, point-to-point wired Mesa Boogie clone from England, an American-made Peavey Classic 30 or a (OHNO!) Chinese-made Ampeg GVT, actually, but it's not like any of that is really going to convince you that you don't really know what the fuck you're talking about.

I've had American-made guitars (Fender Stratocaster, Fender Custom Shop 12-string Telecaster), Japanese guitars (Fender Jaguar, 2 Westones), Indonesian (a bunch of Squiers), Korean ('99 reissue Danelectro U2, Burns Batwing) and Chinese (Burns Nu-Sonic, Fender Jazzmaster, Alden Chicago, Gretsch Baritone, probably a few more I can't remember) pass through my hands throughout the years, some borrowed, most owned, and I can quite honestly say that the country of origin makes less difference than almost any other factor I can think of. Comparing my Korean Danelectro to my Chinese Jazzmaster, for instance, would be stupid; they're completely different guitars, different necks, different hardware... And that has nothing to do with the country they were assembled in. In fact, one of the most disappointing guitars I've ever played was the Custom Shop 12 string. It was made to order for a friend of my brothers but they'd used the weakest pickups imaginable, probably for vintage m@j@ or something, and it sounded like shit. Otherwise it was alright, but you don't really expect Â£2000 worth of guitar to sound shittier than... well, your Korean Â£99 Danelectro.

Guitars are guitars are guitars. It's about what you make them, not how they were made. If you can't pull off a Danelectro then fine. But don't trash them because you're inadequate.