Danelectro

Danelectro is a brand of musical instruments and accessories, founded in New Jersey in 1947. The company is known primarily for its string instruments that employed unique designs and manufacturing processes. The Danelectro company was sold to the "Music Corporation of America" (MCA) in 1966, moving to a much larger plant in Neptune City, New Jersey, employing more than 500 people. Nevertheless, three years later Danelectro closed its plant.[1]

Danelectro
Private (1947–69)
Brand (1969–present)
IndustryMusical instruments
FateCompany defunct in 1969; brand acquired by MCA Inc.
Founded1947 (1947) in Red Bank, New Jersey
FounderNathan Daniel [1]
Headquarters,
ProductsElectric and resonator guitars, basses, electric sitars, amplifiers, pickups, effects units
OwnerEvets Corporation
Websitedanelectro.com

In the late 1990s, the Evets Corporation started selling instruments and accessories under the Danelectro name. In 2016, Danelectro introduced new models, including a resonator guitar.[1]

Some of the products manufactured by Danelectro include electric and resonator guitars, basses, electric sitars, amplifiers, pickups, effects units[2]

History

Twin Twelve amplifier, c. 1953

Danelectro was founded by Nathan "Nat" Daniel in 1947. Throughout the late 1940s, the company produced amplifiers for Sears, Roebuck and Company and Montgomery Ward, branded Silvertone and Airline respectively.

Later, Danelectro added hollow-bodied guitars, constructed of Masonite and poplar to save costs and increase production speed, intending to produce no-frills guitars of reasonably good tone at low cost. These instruments were branded either as Danelectro or for Sears as Silvertone, distinguished by the Silvertone maroon vinyl covering, and the Danelectro light-colored tweed covering. The guitars used concentric stacked tone/volume knobs on the two-pickup models of both series and "lipstick-tube" pickups, which contained the pickup components inside metal tubes.

In 1956, Danelectro introduced the six-string bass guitar. Though the model never became popular, it found an enduring niche in Nashville for "tic-tac" bass lines.

In 1966, Danelectro was sold to the "Music Corporation of America" (MCA). A year later, in 1967, they introduced the Coral line, known for its hollow-bodies and electric sitars.[vd 1][vg 1]

In 1969, Danelectro closed down, burdened by MCA's attempt to market Danelectros to small guitar shops rather than large department stores.

In the late 1990s, importer The Evets Corporation purchased the Danelectro brand name, marketing recreations of old Silvertone and Danelectro guitars, and newly designed effects pedals and small amplifiers made in China.[vg 2] After initially selling well, guitar sales slowed and Danelectro stopped selling guitars after 2001 (2004 on official site[3]) to concentrate on effects pedals. In 2006 (2005 on official site[4]), new owners of Evets decided on a new marketing model for guitars, selling a limited number each year.[vg 3]

Guitars

1954–1969

4623 Longhorn six-string bass guitar (1958);[vg 4] Coral Electric Sitar 3S19 [vd 1][vg 1] (a clone by Star's)[5]
'56-U1, '56-U2, Danoblaster Innuendo (2001–2003), Hodad (1999–2003)
'58 Longhorn Bass [reissue], Guitar/Mandolin (Guitarlin), '56-U2 Lefty, Baritone [reissue]
59-DC (1998–1999), DC-3 (1998–2003), DC-12 / 12-String (1999–2003)[F 1]or Double Cutaway 1959 Reissue 12-String (2010)[F 2] and Doubleneck baritone / 4-string bass [reissue]
U1 (1959), U2 (1956), Silvertone #1419L (1960), Dane A [F 3] or Hawk[F 4] 12-string guitar (played by Arto Lindsay)
Shorthorn 3021 (1959), 3022 (1962), Convertible [reissue], and Shorthorn Bass [reissue].
(Note: 3021 was also played by Jimmy Page)
Guitarlin (31-frets guitar a copy by Hondo), Long Horn #4623(6 stringbass/baritone), and Long Horn Four-String Bass [reissue], Long Horn Acoustic (21–frets, Danelectro version of "Coral Long Horn L2N6"

Coral original models (1967–1969)

  • Coral Combo (1968–1969. round soundhole, hollow body single cutaway guitar with ASP (adjustable sound post). Single Pickup: V1N6, Dual Pickups: V2N6)[F 10] titled "New Vincent Bell "Combo" Featuring ASP" on the catalog page[D 44][D 39]
  • Coral Electric Sitar 3S19 (1967–1969. regular 6-string + drone 13-string, Sitarmatic bridge, triple pickups)[F 10][D 33][vd 1][vg 1] featured Vincent Bell on the catalog page[D 38][D 41]
  • Coral Fiddle Bass FB2B4 (1968–1969. 4-string bass guitar, Höfner violin bass-style semi-hollow, two f-holes, bolt-on neck)[F 7][D 35][D 39][vg 4]
  • Coral Firefly (1967–1969. ES-335-style semi-hollow body guitar with two f-holes. F2N6: dual pickups, F2V6: dual pickups with vibrato bridge (1967) / Bigsby vibrato tailpiece (1968–1969))[F 10][D 43][D 31][D 45]
  • Coral Teardrop Guitar[D 35]

Effects pedals

Dan-O-Matic tuner
Chicken Salad Vibrato
Tuna Melt Tremolo
Pastrami Overdrive
French Toast Octave Distortion
PB&J Delay
Dan-O-Wah pedal, Sitar Swami, and Back Talk Reverse Delay.
Cool Cat Tremolo, Vibe (phaser), and Transparent Overdrive

Today, Danelectro primarily designs and imports effect pedals. They market eight pedals lines: original effects, FAB effects, mini effects, vintage effects, Wasabi effects, Paisley effects, Cool Cat effects and other miscellaneous effects. All run on 9 volt batteries or power adapters. The original effects featured metal enclosures and FET switching. Cool Cat models are the most recent pedals, designed with metal enclosures and true-bypass switching. Danelectro has begun rolling out Cool Cat V2 pedals, featuring extra 'under the hood' features. Mini effects pedals are smaller,[vg 6] compact pedals with effects resembling those of the original effects and the FAB effects. Vintage effects include the large, rectangular Spring King and Reel Echo effect pedals.[D 46] The discontinued Paisley series featured paisley-patterned drive effects in original style enclosures. The Wasabi series features large, futuristic-looking metal enclosures. FAB effects are the cheapest of the bunch, and feature plastic enclosures somewhat larger than the Mini effects series.

In 2006, Danelectro began selling a carrying case that holds up to five mini effects. When the player is ready to play, the top may be removed and the bottom acts as a pedals board. It has since been discontinued.[14] Not long after, another carrying case was developed to fit five FAB or Cool Cat pedals, as well as serve in the pedal board function as well.[D 47]

Despite the advantages of the mini effects, FAB effects are more common. The Mini effects are less expensive, but the plastic construction makes them fragile.

FAB effects

The FAB series of guitar effect pedals is a budget range of pedals made by the Danelectro company that are manufactured in China. The series was launched in 2005 with the release of the FAB Distortion, FAB Overdrive and the FAB Metal pedals.

Currently, eight pedals share the same distinctive injection moulded plastic casing and blue LED light. Each has a mains power DC9 socket, or can be powered by a 9 volt battery.

  • FAB Chorus
  • FAB Delay
  • FAB Distortion
  • FAB Echo
  • FAB Flanger
  • FAB Fuzz
  • FAB Metal
  • FAB Overdrive

See also

Bibliography

  • Tulloch, Paul; Bechtoldt, Douglas (1995). Guitars From Neptune: A Definitive Journey Into DANELECTRO-MANIA. Backporch Publications. ASIN B000MT7OZ8.
  • Tulloch, Doug (2008). Neptune Bound: The Ultimate Danelectro Guitar Guide. Centerstream. ISBN 978-1-57424-239-3.
  • Fjestad, Zachary R. "Electric Guitar Values". BlueBookOfGuitarValues.com. Blue Book Publications, Inc.
Catalog & Ads.

See also the catalog archives on: DanGuitars.com, VintAxe.com, MusicManSteve.com and VintageDanelectro.com. (Note: VinAxe.com needs authentication, and MusicManSteve.com needs donation via PayPal)

  • Amplifiers by Danelectro (catalog). 1953.
    [p.1] "Challenger Giant 15-inch speaker 30 watts Vibravox'$189.95 ...", [p.2] "Twin-Twelve ... Fifty (50) watts ... two heavy duty 12 inch speakers, ... Vibravox ... $219.95 / Maestro ... Vibravox ... 25 watts to 12 inch heavy duty speaker ... $164.95", [p.3] "Special / Envoy AC-DC / Leader", [p.4] "Echo Box / Accordion Microphones / Triple Microphone Piano Pickup / Voice Microphone with Tone and Volume Controls".
    (See also Reverb.com)
  • Danelectro Solid Center Electric Guitars (catalog). 1955. p. 1, 2. (possibly a color printing flyer)
  • Danelectro Slim-Neck Electric Guitars (feature catalog). 1956. p. cover, 1, 2, 3. Model and detailed specifications inside (cover featuring an abstract drawing of U series)
  • Danelectro Slim-Neck Electric Guitars (catalog). 1958. p. cover, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. (cover featuring U3 in copper burst)
Danelectro.com
CoolCatTone.com
BillionaireTone.com

References

  1. Danelectro history on ChasingGuitars website
  2. All Guitars on Danelectro website, 22 Oct 2019
  3. Although several sources seem to say that it was stopped after 2001, the guitar pages on the official site (Danelectro.com) seem to had disappeared between 2003-12-13 and 2004-01-26 as for the menu item on the top page, or between and 2004-06-03 as for the guitar page itself, according to the archives on archive.com.
  4. Although several sources seem to say that the decision was in 2006, the guitar pages on the official site (Danelectro.com) seem to have resurrected between 2005-02-09 and 2005-02-19, according to the archives on archive.com.
  5. "Star's [Electric Sitar]". Quest International Ltd.
  6. "DanElectro, Silvertone, Coral - Models Available". Vintage Guitar Info. (GuitarHQ.com).
    ""1954" Model. 1954-1955: First Dano models have tweed covering, bell shaped peghead, 1 or 2 pickups under the baked melomine pickguard, solid Poplar wood single cutaway body that is 11.25" wide ("peanut" body), 2 volume and tone knobs (regardless of the number of pickups).", "Model "C". 1955-1956: has small single cutaway solid Poplar peanut body (11.25" wide) and 1 or 2 exposed pickups in lipstick tubes. Most are painted ginger color.", ""U1" (1 pickup), "U2" (2 pickup) Models. 1956-1958: 1 or 2 pickups, single cutaway. ...Starting in 1956, all Dano bodies were made of the famed 3/8" thick Masonite with a poplar frame comprising the sides, neck and bridge blocks, 13.25" wide. ...", ""U3" Model, 3 pickups. 1957-1958: 3 pickup version of the 1956 "U" models, ..."
  7. "1956 Silvertone 1357 Danelectro Model C" (photo album). Other Electrics, NationwideGuitars.com. (See also Reverb.com)
  8. Bacon, Tony; Moorhouse, Barry (1995). The Bass Book. Backbeat Books. p. 15, 150. ISBN 978-1-4768-5097-9.
  9. Stan & Dan (1963). Introducing (LP Album, Vinyl, Mono). Warner Bros. Records. W1498. (See album jacket)
  10. Grace, Steven. "Danelectro Guitars". GuitarBoutique611.com.
    "Rare Dano Longhorn Acoustic [front], [rear]. RARE Danelectro Coral Longhorn Acoustic- Here's a super cool short scale Dano Longhorn. Looking at this guitar brings a picture of the Brian Jones. Not that we found a pic of him with one, just this baby suggests that scene. ..."
  11. "1969 CORAL Long Horn Guitar L2N6". Vintage Guitar Photo Gallery vol.48, www.j-guitar.com/gakkisommelier/ (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Player Corporation. 2017-12-04.
    [In English: "[In addition to L2N6, Coral Long Horn] Series consisted of total 4 models including: L2N12 12-string guitar model, L2B4 & L2LB4 bass guitar models."]
  12. "Danelectro (used) Electric Sitar -" (photograph). New York City: Mandolin Brothers, Ltd.
  13. "MusicRadar item on the Bellzouki". Musicradar.com. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  14. "Danelectro Mini Case | Musician's Friend". Musiciansfriend.com. 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
[F] Fjested's "Electric Guitar Values"
  1. Fjestad. Danelectro: 1990s-2003 mfg. "12-STRING - 12-string variation of the 59-DC, ...mfg. 1999-2003. "
  2. Fjestad. Danelectro: 2005-Present mfg.
  3. Fjestad. Danelectro: Dane A, B, C, & D series
    "DANE "A"SERIES guitar, bass, and twelve-string versions. ... standard textured finish is Brown, textured custom colors were Red, Black, and Blue, mfg. 1967–69. / "B" SERIES guitar and twelve-string versions, ... / "C" SERIES guitar, bass (four- and six-string), twelve-string, ... / "D" SERIES guitar, bass (four- and six-string), twelve-string, ..."
  4. Fjestad. Danelectro: Pro, Sitar, Hawaiian, Hawk, & Slimline series
    "HAWK guitar, bass, and twelve-string versions, offset solid wood body w textured finish, ... available in Brilliant Red, Baby Blue, or Panther Black textured finish, mfg. 1967-68."
  5. Fjestad. Danelectro: First Model, C, U, & Double Neck series
  6. Fjestad. Danelectro: Shorthorn series
  7. Fjestad. Coral Electric Bass
  8. Fjestad. Danelectro: Hand Vibrato, Convertible, Bellzouki series
  9. Fjestad. Danelectro: Pro, Sitar, Hawaiian, Hawk, & Slimline series
    "SLIMLINE - six- and twelve-string guitar, offset masonite semi-solid body with vinyl edging, ... available in White with Black trim, Midnite Green with White trim, Black and Yellow Sunburst with White trim, mfg. 1967-69."
  10. Fjestad. Coral Electric
  11. Fjestad. Danelectro: Pro, Sitar, Hawaiian, Hawk, & Slimline series
[D] Danelectro catalogs & Danelectro.com
  1. Danelectro Catalog 1955, p. 12
  2. Danelectro Catalog 1956, p. 23
  3. Danelectro Catalog 1958, p. 1
  4. Danelectro Catalog 1958, p. 2
  5. Danelectro Catalog 1961, p. 2
  6. Danelectro Catalog 1962, pp. 1–2
  7. Danelectro Catalog 1963, p. 2
  8. Danelectro Catalog 1964, p. 2
  9. Danelectro Catalog 1965, p. 3
  10. Danelectro Catalog 1961, p. 1
  11. Danelectro Catalog 1963, p. 1
  12. Danelectro Catalog 1964, p. 1
  13. Danelectro Catalog 1965, p. 3
  14. Danelectro Catalog 1961, p. 4
  15. Danelectro Catalog 1962, pp. 3–4
  16. Danelectro Catalog 1963, p. 4
  17. Danelectro Catalog 1964, pp. 3–4
  18. Danelectro Catalog 1965, p. 6
  19. Danelectro Catalog 1961, p. 3
  20. Danelectro Catalog 1963, p. 3
  21. Danelectro Catalog 1967, p.7
  22. Danelectro Catalog 1965, p. 5
  23. Danelectro Catalog 1968, p. 3
  24. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1969, p. 13
  25. Danelectro Catalog 1958, p. 2, 6 String Bass "6 String Bass Combines the best of Spanish guitar and big string bass. Tuning is the same as on a regular guitar, but one octave lower. Bottom four strings are tuned exactly the same as a big bass. ... UB-2 Black ... UB-2 Bronze ... UB-2 Ivory ..."
  26. Danelectro Catalog 1967, p.1-2
  27. Danelectro Catalog 1967, p.3-4
  28. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1967, pp. 9–10
  29. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1967, pp. 7–8
  30. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1967, pp. 1–2
  31. Coral Catalog 1968, pp. 5–6
  32. Danelectro Coral Catalog, p. 11
  33. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1967, pp. 3–4
  34. Danelectro Catalog 1967, p.5-6
  35. Coral Catalog 1968, pp. 7–8
  36. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1969, p. 12
  37. Danelectro Catalog 1958, p. 7
  38. Coral Catalog 1968, pp. 1–2
  39. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1969, p. 9
  40. Danelectro Catalog 1968, p. cover
  41. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1969, p. 15
  42. "New Danelectro electric sitar" (advertisement). unknown magazine. Coral/Danelectro, A subsidiary of MCA Inc. 1968. p. 3.
    Archived on: "Danelectro Baby Sitar". New York: Andy Babiuk's Fab Gear.
  43. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1967, pp. 5–6
  44. Coral Catalog 1968, pp. 3–4
  45. Danelectro Coral Catalog 1969, p. 10
  46. Danelectro.com 2007, Other Danelectro Products
  47. CoolCatTone.com, "Products". Retrieved 2014-07-15.
[vg] Vintage Guitar magazine
  1. Gruhn, George; Jones, Sarah Rose (June 2015). "Coral Electric Sitar". Classic Instruments. Vintage Guitar.
  2. Moseley, Willie G. (January 1999). "Danelectro Guitars - The Return of Danelectro". Classic Instruments. Vintage Guitar.
    "The introduction of effects pedals at the January '97 NAMM show ... The new 56-U2 made its debut at the January '98 NAMM show in Los Angeles. ... the first week of October '98, when the company announced four new instruments ... The 59-DC is a reissue of the double-cutaway "shorthorn" guitar ... The 56-Ul ... is a single-pickup version of the 56-U2 ... the new 56-U2 Lefty is exactly what its name implies; ... the 58 Longhorn, a four-string reissue of the unusual-looking shortscale bass ..."
  3. Feser, Phil (June 2005). "Danelectro 56 Pro - More Solid Vibe" (review). VG Approved Gear. Vintage Guitar.; Previously published as:
  4. Moseley, Willie G. (January 2014). "Danelectro's Four-String Basses". Classic Instruments. Vintage Guitar.
    "[Image of #3412, #4423 & UB-2] Danelectro's first bass [UB-2] (VG, January '09), debuted in 1956, and it was a true bass guitar, supporting six strings but with a short bass scale, tuned down an octave. The instrument was the first of its kind, preceding the Gibson EB-6 (first listed in '59) and Fender's Bass VI (late '61). ... The company's first four-string electric bass was the model 3412 Short Horn, introduced in late 1958. ... the instrument's neck had only 15 frets (joining the body at the 13 fret), and a short scale, ... [Image of #3923] the 3923 Double-Neck debuted in '59. ... the 4423 Long Horn, also introduced in '59. ... it was also available in a six-string version dubbed the model 4623. ... [Image of Coral Fiddle Bass, (Combo guitar), Long Horn, Deluxe, (Hornet guitar), Firefly basses] a four-string bass in the Dane E series ... Coral brand included Deluxe and Wasp solidbodies, the Firefly thinline double-cutaway hollowbody bass, the hollowbody violin-shaped Fiddle bass, and a hollowbody Long Horn. ..."
  5. Meeker, Ward (April 2016). "Silvertone 1444L". 5 Basses That Shook the World - Rattle and Roll. Special Features. Vintage Guitar.
  6. Patt, Setphen (September 2001). "Danelectro dano Minis - More Tasty Treats". VG Approved Gear. Vintage Guitar. Also published as "Danelectro Minis - More Tasty Treats".
[pg] Premier Guitar magazine
  1. Kies, Chris (2012-05-11). "Gear of the Month: 1959 Danelectro Doubleneck #3923". Premier Guitar. No. June 2012.
  2. Rogers, Dave; Braithwaite, Laun; Mullally, Tim (2013-08-16). "Vintage Vault: 1958 Danelectro Guitarlin". Premier Guitar (published October 2013).
  3. Saufley, Charles (2015-12-07). "Danelectro Baby Sitar Review". Premier Guitar.
[vd] VintageDanelectro.com
  1. "The Worlds First Electric Sitar". Danelectro Bellzouki, Hawaiian Lapsteel, and The Electric Sitar. VintageDanelectro.com. Late 1960s Coral Sitar 3S19 Images: 1 (... with Original Gig Bag), 2, 3, 4 (... with Original Hard Case)
  2. Danelectro Solid Core Guitars (article or advertisement) (early-1950s)
    "Model M Single Pickup $90.00 / Double Pickup 110.00 / Blande Maple / Model C Single Pickup $69.50 / Dual Pickup 89.50 / Cloth Covered / These DANELECTRO Guitars have been under development for years. ... / NON-WARP NECK. ... / SOLID CORE BODY. ... / FULLY ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE. ... / ELECTRICAL. ..."
  3. 1954 1 and 2 Pickup danelectro "M" Models (photographs), "Gallery". VintageDanelectro.com. pp. 1, 2 (headstock), 3 (output jack).
  4. "Hawaiian Lapsteel". Danelectro Bellzouki, Hawaiian Lapsteel, and The Electric Sitar. VintageDanelectro.com. Late 1950s Danelectro Hawaiian Lapsteel Guitar Images: 1, 2 (... with Original Case)
  5. Welcome to the Prototypes Gallery. VintageDanelectro.com. Mid 1960s [Danelectro] Prototype Bellzouki Model #7010", "Late 1960s [Coral] Prototype Bellzouki Model #7020
  6. "Bellzouki". Danelectro Bellzouki, Hawaiian Lapsteel, and The Electric Sitar. VintageDanelectro.com.
[sw] SilvertoneWorld.net
  1. "Silvertone Electric Guitar Model 57 G 01375 / 77L". SilvertoneWorld.net. Dano 'peanut' shaped body series. ... Introduced: Fall/Winter 1954. Retired: Late 1955.
  2. "Silvertone Electric Guitar Model 57 1417/19 & 1415/16L". SilvertoneWorld.net.(See also "catalog listings" on the page)
    "The 'Dolphon Nose' 14xx series was the end of the 6-string 'U' series of guitars offered by Sears. ... Introduced: Fall/Winter 1959. [Renumbered: Fall/Winter 1961.] Retired: Spring/Summer 1962."
    Note: Those model numbers were handed over to the Kay-made successor models 1417 (1964–1965), 1415, 1416 (1966–1966)
  3. "Silvertone Electric Bass Model 57 1444L". SilvertoneWorld.net. (See also "catalog listings" on the page)
  4. "Silvertone Electric Guitar & Tube Amp-In-Case Model 57 1451L". SilvertoneWorld.net. (See also "catalog listings" on the page)
  5. "Silvertone Electric Guitar & Tube Amp-In-Case Model 57 1452L". SilvertoneWorld.net. (See also "catalog listings" on the page)
[vs] VintageSilvertones.com
  1. "SILVERTONE 1357/U1 1955". VintageSilvertones.com.
    This is a very rare Silvertone 1357 of the C-Series (Danelectro model: U1), "peanut" (smaller body), single cutaway electric guitar. ...
  2. "Danelectro Shorthorn Bass 3412 1959". VintageSilvertone.com.
  3. "Danelectro: Lap Steel S61 circa 1958". VintageSilvertones.com.
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