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Danelectro Stock 59 opinions

Cliff Gress

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Aug 26, 2004
Messages
3,301
I'm looking at these and wonder, do I bother? It is plywood, etc and very inexpensive, but has some fun features.

Any thoughts?
 

somebodyelseuk

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Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
I got a used 'Jimmy Page' model a couple of years ago for peanuts - that's another story. Serial number records are non existent, but I estimate it's a circa 2000 model.

It's a fabulous instrument. I wouldn't have paid what they ask for new ones and I wouldn't use it as a main instrument. It's a great 'different flavour' guitar.
One thing, the pickups are wired in series. The switch type used does not tolerate being stored in damp conditions and quickly becomes troublesome. It's NOT because of where they are made, or who makes them. The ONLY aftermarket switches and pots available are exactly the same as what is fitted to the guitar. If you replace the switch for anything else, you'll lose what makes the Dano special.
If the switch starts playing up, best fix is either strip it and clean it, or live with it and use the volume controls to switch pickups off.
As for being "plywood", so are 335s.
My advice would be buy a used one, rather than new.
 

thin sissy

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Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
Played one in a music store a couple of years ago. It was cheap and I thought it looked cool, was surprised by how awesome it sounded. Really cool deep, clucky clear sound. Perfect for cowboy picking and slide. The guitar felt "soft" though, like it was made of masonite. The neck bent extremely easy when touched.

All in all, a really cool "toy:ish" guitar. I didn't buy one that time, but some day I probably will, as long as it's priced as cheaply as it feels.
 

Cliff Gress

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Aug 26, 2004
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3,301
Thanks for the replies gents. Hearing the words toyish and not a main instrument, I will probably pass as it doesn't sound like it will get much playing time.
 

thin sissy

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Jan 2, 2006
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2,691
Thanks for the replies gents. Hearing the words toyish and not a main instrument, I will probably pass as it doesn't sound like it will get much playing time.
Haha, it is a cool guitar though. And I only played one, that particular guitar might have had a softer neck than most. But I get what you're saying!
 

somebodyelseuk

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Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
If you're a recording guitarist, it's definitely worth having one.
The body frame is laminate, the top and back are masonite, the neck is maple. Necks on new ones are that generic thinnish Fenderish profile, that all Asian guitars have. Mine has a profile thats like an R7, like early 90s Korean guitars tended to have.
The poly finish probably makes them more robust than Les Paul!
I wouldn't say it feels like a toy, but with a garish colour and the binding tape, I can see why people think they look like toys.
 

thunderbyrd

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
5
i've got two, a U2 and a doublecut 59 NOS. they are pure fun to play and sound better than you'd think. the selector switch on the u2 is crap.
 

FanoFan

New member
Joined
Apr 9, 2021
Messages
5
Just bought a 60th anniversary '59 VOS+. It was an impulse buy. The blue sparkle was just calling my name. The reviews on the guitar had been great so I pulled the trigger. It is a super light guitar, plays really, really good. The tone is cool, but not a versatile guitar in my opinion. It does sit in a different place in a mix. So like someone else mentioned, it's a good tool for recording. You can add that extra track and know it will stand out in the mix. I use the middle position almost all the time and it is fatter than you would expect. It's a fun guitar.
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
I've got a circa '00 reish U2, in salmon pink. It's in the so ugly it's cool catagory.
I grabbed it for a hundred bucks, I think. I had to do some finagling to get the pickups to sit right, and the pots have never worked well - they're either off or on, and the tone doesn't do anything at all. Whatever. It still sounds good. I currently have it tuned in open-G and it works well on that.
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Like mentioned above, find a good one, buy it used, and have fun with it. They are great sounding little guitars. Not main giggers, and at the cost you can buy them used, who cares! They are great for different sounds.
 

TomGuitars

New member
Joined
May 2, 2022
Messages
4
The '59 definitely gives a unique sound, despite the "cheap" construction. I always loved this color. Really gives off a vintage vibe, even on the newer models.
 

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