NGD: Danelectro 59xt

[slinkp]

For 20-odd years my one functioning electric guitar has been a Danelectro U2 that I bought when it was relatively young, probably built circa '99. I always liked the way it played, but after a while found the lipstick pickups didn't really suit me... quirky interesting sound, kind of low output and nasal.  I'd been meaning to get something with a little more oomph for ages and so of course I bought...

Another Danelectro!



This one sounds quite different though. The bridge pickup, while still ostensibly lipstick-style, is a humbucker. It's also splittable via pulling the tone knob. Even in single-coil mode it sounds louder than the old dano bridge pickup.  Bright as heck though.
The neck pickup, while it's humbucker-sized, looks something like a P90 and to my ears sounds something like one too.

Lots of great sounds here. I'm having a blast with it.

Also - I've never had one before, but the Wilkinson tremolo feels great to me and stays in tune pretty well! Maybe not as well as a locking trem, but certainly good enough for me.

I might replace the tone knob at some point, because it's quite difficult to pull up to engage the coil split.

[Dave W]

Just say no to locking trems.

Nice looking guitar.

[Pilgrim]

Gotta love the look of Danos.  Enjoy! 

[morrow]

I’m a Dano aficionado . Longtime Longhorn user , and have a Dolphin Nose bass , and am waiting for a DC short scale to arrive .
They’re quirky little things , made of Masonite , and despite the light weight are tough as nails .
Those lipstick pickups really respond differently to different strings . Some have called them chameleons .
They’re serious fun !

[Dave W]

I’m a Dano aficionado . Longtime Longhorn user , and have a Dolphin Nose bass , and am waiting for a DC short scale to arrive .
They’re quirky little things , made of Masonite , and despite the light weight are tough as nails .
Those lipstick pickups really respond differently to different strings . Some have called them chameleons .
They’re serious fun !

The late Billy Bacon played a Dano Longhorn with flatwounds. Seeing him in person, it had an amazing tone.

[morrow]

I’ve still managed to keep the factory strings on mine , it was made around 98 . I have a set of LaBella flats on standby in case I break a string or lose a winding .
Harp players love the way it slides under the mix , serious old school thump .
I thought it just kept sounding better as the strings got older . But the day will come when I have to change them . My favourite Longhorn guy was probably Joey Spampinato from NRBQ . He also used a Dolphin Nose .