Staying Short

[Oster]

I've picked up a backup for my Gibson EB-0. The 30" scale coupled with GHS flats is my sound of preference and I wanted something somewhat similar without forking over for another Gibson.

The newcomer is an old '60s Danelectro shorthorn. I had a longhorn reissue awhile back but this is an original. It's a good thing I don't normally play past the 12th fret since the neck only has 15!

It maintains a 30" scale by extending the bridge right to the bottom edge. Fret spacing for the 15 is nice and wide.

I have now used up my last excuse for acquiring something new! I will literally have to break or lose some gear (accidently of course) to justify the purchase.

Time to play...

UPDATE: (couple of days & a gig later)

If anyone's wondering if there's any big difference between the orig. Danos and the reissues in terms of tone and playability in my experience the answer is a resounding yes.

The Shorthorn not only has a way better neck - 15 frets only but wider fret placement & better intonation (and it's just that little rosewood wedge design too - not compensated), the pickup is quieter in terms of hum and more dynamic all around - There's really no comparing here between old and new and I'm not the sort who obsesses over pickups. The pebbled vinyl tape 'binding' is certainly more durable than the plumber's tape they used on the reissues and even the old strip open-backed tuners keep things together very nicely.

With the bridge where it is, right at the far end, there's a huge expanse of string and for a single pickup bass, it's extremely versatile and responsive. Like a tiny little stand-up bass.

There's even a primitive, yet quite effective, adjustable neck-tilt mechanism in place to keep an optimum neck angle.

What a gem. Hats off to Nathan Daniel!

[Dave W]

Nice score, but I don't understand your comments on fret placement. All 30" scale basses have the same fret placement, regardless of how many frets. It's always 15" from the nut to the 12th fret, and the spacing is based on a specific formula.

[Oster]

Oops! Yeah, that makes total sense. I think it must be an illusion because the frets seem larger relative to the short neck.

The neck is so comfortable and I can't get over how good this bass sounds. I'm totally smitten.

[Harvey]

If you want a quality Dano, but can't afford the vintage price tag try a Jerry Jones. He use to make copies of the Danos (they are public domain), but stopped after the Korean copies started coming out. His cost more, but are better made. So people would not confuse his product with the new Korean ones Jones has changed his guitars and basses from the classic Dano design to a slightly different shape (more square than curvy). I just picked up a baritone Jerry Jones for $589. You can adjust the bridge height on a Jerry Jones which you can't do on the Danos.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by Harvey

If you want a quality Dano, but can't afford the vintage price tag try a Jerry Jones. He use to make copies of the Danos (they are public domain), but stopped after the Korean copies started coming out. His cost more, but are better made. So people would not confuse his product with the new Korean ones Jones has changed his guitars and basses from the classic Dano design to a slightly different shape (more square than curvy). I just picked up a baritone Jerry Jones for $589. You can adjust the bridge height on a Jerry Jones which you can't do on the Danos.

Jerry Jones' basses are very nice but they cost more than the typical going prices for vintage Danos.

The Evets-made Korean Dano reissues haven't been made for a couple of years.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Dave W

The Evets-made Korean Dano reissues haven't been made for a couple of years.

Yeah, and I still wonder why that is. They were excellent instruments for the price! I'm pretty sure they sold well, too. It really bummed me out when they discontinued their guitar/bass lines...

Cheers, Tim

[Harvey]

The Evets guitars may have been stopped because they weren't moving. When they first came out everyone wanted one because they were a cheap way to own a Dano. However, nostalgia will only take you so far. I think seeing them sit around stores scared off any buyers for newer stuff. However, I know they have three new stomp pedals out. Evets makes alot of stuff like sunglasses, etc. so I guess they found more lucrative avenues to pursue.

The Jerry Jones are around a $1,000 new, but you can find them for about half price used. Don't know how much original Danos go for in your neck of the woods.

[4mal]

JJ's seem to be held in high regard. I was offerred one in trade for my V4B. I turned that offer down as I just can't fathom a short scale bass* in the house, not to mention that I need to thin the herd, not beef it up ... Anyway I did a little research on the JJ basses and from what I could tell about all they really share with the Dano was inspiration. the users I chatted with basically raved about the tone, fell and general construction. I still can't fathom a short scale bass but if I were in the market I'd have to check one of those guys out.

* different strokes, I'm a 34" guy ...

[Oster]

Jerry Jones knew what he was doing by copying the old Danelectro designs. Danelectros simply weren't being made anymore and lots of players missed their old shorthorns and longhorns (etc. etc.). Jones had been particularly impressed with an old Danelectro Silvertone brought in for repairs, which is why he eventually began to build full replicas. He took away much more than inspiration: Build materials, pickup specs, scale lengths - entire designs. What he offered as new additions were adjustable truss rods and compensated bridges. As far as I know, Jerry Jones had Nat Daniel's blessing (the two men are photographed together in 'American Basses'). Here was someone (JJ) who appreciated vintage way before it went mainstream, after all. What I love most about the orig. Danelectro concept is that it is a completely unorthodox approach that works very effectively. It's like what scientists say about Bumblebees shouldn't being able to fly.

I completely understand the scale preferences for different players. My choice of bass has pretty much been dictated by the band I'm in and the type of drummer I play with (light folk/rock). When I've played with a heavier hitter, I've preferred a P bass for its clearer definition.

[4mal]

Certainly the guys at Reverend took something away as well. My Rumblefish is just an amazing bass and the construction methods there are pretty 'Dano-like'. At least on the body.