Danelectro stock 59 opinions

[sansa]

Hey all! it's been a while I'm thinking of buying a danelectro 59. my main question is: is the stock 59 model reliable enough? I expect an answer mainly from who thinks this is a "no buy"...

I try to explain my point of view. I'm attracted by the aesthetics of this guitar as well as by its sound. since in Italy is really difficult to find this brand, I analyzed the nowadays reissues very carefully on the web. I understood that it's necessary to find a compromise. the nos+ model is the most reliable one and has good aesthetics but its sound is really neutral and similar to the rest of the guitars of the market (due to the metal bridge and high output pickups). on the contrary, the stock 59 has a closer sound to the original but the aesthetics and overall quality of the product are lower.
I tend to prefer the stock 59 because, although I can change the pickups, it's impossible to change the bridge of a nos+ due to its slot... so, I think the best choice will be to modify the stock 59 in order to get better aesthetics and playability.

Is it worth it?

 

[Paul G.]

I have owned a stock 59, and presently own a 12-string version of it. Both guitars have easy light action, play in tune and I have had no issues with them at all. The 12-string actually replaced a Rickenbacker which cost 5 times as much.

 

[dkmw]

I bought one a couple of years ago. It sounds awesome, but the neck is a little thin for my taste. But my taste is for big fat necks.

 

[sansa]

I bought one a couple of years ago. It sounds awesome, but the neck is a little thin for my taste. But my taste is for big fat necks.

ook so only positive comments. that confuses me because I read many threads where people complained about the toyish feeling and the wooden bridge that doesn't maintain the strings in their place. I hope it will be a good deal

 

[Timbresmith1]

ook so only positive comments. that confuses me because I read many threads where people complained about the toyish feeling and the wooden bridge that doesn't maintain the strings in their place. I hope it will be a good deal

The originals felt like toys and the wooden bridge could be dicey.
Great sound and fun to play.

 

[dkmw]

They’re really light, and not fancy - maybe that makes people complain about toy feel?

The bridge is weird, but that’s the way they made them in 59. There are drop-in replacements available.

 

[sansa]

I have owned a stock 59, and presently own a 12-string version of it. Both guitars have easy light action, play in tune and I have had no issues with them at all. The 12-string actually replaced a Rickenbacker which cost 5 times as much.

thanks for your contributions

 

[sansa]

The originals felt like toys and the wooden bridge could be dicey.
Great sound and fun to play.

you mean the original is worse thsn the reissue? which one: the stock 59 or the nos+?

 

[sansa]

They’re really light, and not fancy - maybe that makes people complain about toy feel?

The bridge is weird, but that’s the way they made them in 59. There are drop-in replacements available.

the wooden bridge is one of the things that give that sound. so it's absolutely mandatory

 

[bendercaster]

I've owned two Danelectros, and while I love the look and sound of them, I don't have either of them anymore. Granted, the 59 I had was used, but the wooden bridge collapsed on it, the metal nut was too high so the intonation was off on the first few frets, and the pickups sank into the body.

 

[sansa]

I've owned two Danelectros, and while I love the look and sound of them, I don't have either of them anymore. Granted, the 59 I had was used, but the wooden bridge collapsed on it, the metal nut was too high so the intonation was off on the first few frets, and the pickups sank into the body.

that's what I was talking about... which model was that?

and now I understand it's an issue that started from the 90s reissues...

 

[Timbresmith1]

you mean the original is worse thsn the reissue? which one: the stock 59 or the nos+?

I’m saying that the original original, although legendary, is limited. If I was buying, the Jerry Jones would be on my list.

 

[bendercaster]

that's what I was talking about... which model was that?

It was the double cut, jimmy page looking model--I think that's the 59. It was one of the 90s models I believe.

 

[Gaz_]

I got the NOS 59, I couldn't see any downsides if I'm honest. It doesn't sound like anything else we have in the bands arsenal (American Standard Tele, Gibson SG, Strats, ES335) it's totally unique. And I blinking love it. I would say the pickups are far from "hot", but I haven't played the Stock.

I just love the thing, I love that it looks like a toy but plays as well as the standard. Great guitar.

I would argue that a Danelectro is the epitome of the "tone woods don't matter" debate, and would follow that through to a wooden bridge. It was broke, so they fixed it...

 

[Gaz_]

"Bridge

The original Danelectro bridge was a simple affair comprising a metal plate mounted onto three screws with a Rosewood saddle that was adjustable for overall intonation. These saddles tend to wear over the years and ours has recently been re-profiled remove grooves caused by years of strings dragging across it. However, the biggest problem with the Rosewood saddle is that it offers no individual control over intonation so originals don’t intonate properly, and many owners swapped the bridges for alternative devices.

Amongst those who swapped out their Rosewood bridges was Mr Page who had his guitar modified with a Badass bridge unit, and the reissue goes for a replica of the Badass as its bridge of choice. It’s a decent piece of hardware and certainly allows for correct intonation, but unfortunately it’s countersunk into the top which makes string changes a bit fiddly – this isn’t a guitar you’d want to change a string mid set. The other Danelectros in the range use a bridge modelled on the original but with Fender style saddles to allow them to be intonated properly."

If even Jimmy Page got rid of the bridge... surely, surely, it's not that important?!

Workshop Diary: Danelectro Reissues And How They Compare To The Originals

Workshop Diary: Danelectro Reissues And How They Compare To The Originals

www.forsyths.co.uk

 

[jdgladw]

I have a couple of these. Out of the box, I had issues with the nuts on both. They were cut horribly- some slots were too wide, some too deep and both had variable spacings between the strings. It was easy enough to get a 1/8 inch thick bar of aluminum from the hardware store and make a new nut though. Once I cut a new nut for these and notched the wood bridge to keep the strings from sliding, these guitars became a instant favorite- really easy to play and they have a distinct and useful sound, especially with distortion or fuzz. Do they feel like toys? Kinda, but so what. In an odd way, that toy-like feel makes them more user friendly. I really don't worry about how I treat 'em in the way I do worry about my Gretches or Teles. If I were to recommend a couple other adjustments, I'd recommend spending some time dialing in the pickup heights to suit your taste and to stuff a little filler in the shaft of the cupcake knobs so that they ride just above the pickguard.

 

[sansa]

I have a couple of these. Out of the box, I had issues with the nuts on both. They were cut horribly- some slots were too wide, some too deep and both had variable spacings between the strings. It was easy enough to get a 1/8 inch thick bar of aluminum from the hardware store and make a new nut though. Once I cut a new nut for these and notched the wood bridge to keep the strings from sliding, these guitars became a instant favorite- really easy to play and they have a distinct and useful sound, especially with distortion or fuzz. Do they feel like toys? Kinda, but so what. In an odd way, that toy-like feel makes them more user friendly. I really don't worry about how I treat 'em in the way I do worry about my Gretches or Teles. If I were to recommend a couple other adjustments, I'd recommend spending some time dialing in the pickup heights to suit your taste and to stuff a little filler in the shaft of the cupcake knobs so that they ride just above the pickguard.

which model are you talking about? 90s reissue, stock 59 or nos+?

 

[jdgladw]

which model are you talking about? 90s reissue, stock 59 or nos+?

Stock 59. I picked up the vintage aqua and turquoise ones last year.

 

[sansa]

Stock 59. I picked up the vintage aqua and turquoise ones last year.

nice example here. what a sound...

 

[sansa]

"Bridge

The original Danelectro bridge was a simple affair comprising a metal plate mounted onto three screws with a Rosewood saddle that was adjustable for overall intonation. These saddles tend to wear over the years and ours has recently been re-profiled remove grooves caused by years of strings dragging across it. However, the biggest problem with the Rosewood saddle is that it offers no individual control over intonation so originals don’t intonate properly, and many owners swapped the bridges for alternative devices.

Amongst those who swapped out their Rosewood bridges was Mr Page who had his guitar modified with a Badass bridge unit, and the reissue goes for a replica of the Badass as its bridge of choice. It’s a decent piece of hardware and certainly allows for correct intonation, but unfortunately it’s countersunk into the top which makes string changes a bit fiddly – this isn’t a guitar you’d want to change a string mid set. The other Danelectros in the range use a bridge modelled on the original but with Fender style saddles to allow them to be intonated properly."

If even Jimmy Page got rid of the bridge... surely, surely, it's not that important?!

Workshop Diary: Danelectro Reissues And How They Compare To The Originals

Workshop Diary: Danelectro Reissues And How They Compare To The Originals

www.forsyths.co.uk

very interesting. but what does he mean the string changes are a bit fiddly? does the rosewood bridge moves when you change the whole set of strings? or there are other issues?