Danelectro 1956 U1 Reissue

Late 90s? Early 00s? Commie Red with beige tape around the body. One lipstick pick-up in a middle position, standard Danelectro bridge with rosewood saddle, stacked knob for tone and volume. Korean made reissue of 1956 U-1 with peanut shaped single cutaway body and coke bottle headstock. Stock tuners (not so hot) and plastic strap pegs, aluminum nut. Feels fantastic if you're looking for a stripped down model like this which puts it in the league of the Les Paul Junior with a P-90. If you don't want stripped down you need to look elsewhere. Minuses for the tuners.

Play mostly punk, 70s glam, emo, heavy, this baby crosses the spectrum there if you're looking for something suitable for tube amp sounds. Use with Laney Hardcore 30R amp, Digitech RP-50, Danelectro Daddy-O and Fab Tone. The tone knob on this baby gives you all sorts of room to explore.

Bought this one used from a used instrument store but it had already been restrung and set up well. Strings hadn't been stretched and thought I had some real tuning problems but they're starting to get into shape now. Plays like a charm, nice thin neck. Minor fret buzz when I got it but you can raise and lower the action.

If you don't go nuts on stage, maybe replace the strap buttons, I'd play with this and another one or two for back-up.

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I love this guitar. The biggest rips I've read on it here are regarding the tuning heads, bridge, and strap pegs. Here's some great news if you don't mind spending the money on a fantastic guitar (I don't) - the AllParts.com website has a special Danelectro section where you can get a bridge with adjustable saddles, good tuners, replacement body binding tape, pickguards, etc. A little pricey but try finding them somewhere else. I'm gonna buy about 10 of these if I can find them after I get the Convertible Pro in seafoam green I saw hanging next to it for $120.

Mine is not the reisue, is a true 1960 Danelectro U1, and is the simplest and functional electric guitar ever made. Neck (Maple) + Body (masonite and poplar) + pickup = Electric guitar. May be the tuners are not as good as the guitar deserves, but who wants to change anything in a jewel like this? The structure is very special: The body is semi hollow, but the neck is deeply inserted into it, so the pickup is placed over the neck. Semi semi hollow, semi solid, semi set neck, semi one piece. This baby is unique. I give 9, just because of the tuners, but the guitar itself is the main feature.

This guitar has a completely special sound. The body gives you a little amount of reverb, and the lipstick pickup is so sweet, even sweeter than a tele. Undoubtedly is not a versatile guitar, but the quality of the sound surpass the most demanding criterion. However I can cover all my music with the U1, and I play almost everything, but I use it mainly for The Cure, Radiohead, The Smiths, Yo la Tengo, Velvet Underground and Blues. I drive it into a Vox Valvetone a Behringer Gx 210 and the amp effects -very good amp-.

I bougth the guitar used -I'm not half old the guitar is-, and it has been in a box for decades, so I had to adjusted. Everything is in its rigth place: no buzz, comfortable, great.

Looks a little weak -has a wooden bridge!!! and works!!!!!-, feels ligth as a feather, but guitars are guitars, not assault weapons. If you treat it as what it is, won't have any problem. Everybody talk about the strap buttons, but personaly I haven't had any accident. And yes, I use it for live playing... the tunners stay on tune, to put it on tune is a little more difficult. (No matter what guitar you use, you need a backup)

Once I asked the Danelectro's guys for the constrrucion date. They answered me really quick.

I've been playing for 15 year and owned all sort of guitars you can imagine. Now my guitars are, the U1 and a moded Washburn WI-64 (two humbuckers). The U1 is a great guitar that I'll play till the last day of my life; is an unique piece of exquisite personality. If you can buy one: BUY IT or you'll lose a great chance to explore the seriuos side of the guitar universe.

This is a U2 reissue and is single cutaway with 2 lipstick pickups. It's body has a masonite top and bottom glued to a wood shell. So you would consider it a semi hollow which is why it gets those airy hollow tones. My guitar is a dark burgundy sparkle with white textured sides. The neck is also painted and the headstock is a coke bottle shape. The tuners are lowend but enclosed. They work well enough and give no problems. The fingerbrd is rosewood and has really nice stripes on it. The bridge is dano-designed and can be adjusted for lower or high action. It does not have the tunematic features but is adequate. The 2 knobs are conscentric with the tone and volume on 1 knob. There is also a 3 way toggle switch, strap buttons and also adequate. I received a gig bag from the pawnshop. This is not supposed to be a overpriced Gibson or Paul Reed Smith. I only paid $125 out the door. It's a retro style and reminds me of the 50's. It plays good, the action is low and seems to have a wider neck with a flat radius. I love it for what it is. It is very lightweight.

The sound is amazing to me. It can go to a very mellow jazz to high biting trebles. You just have to be careful cause just a little turn of the knob can change it. It suits the hwn, folk style jazz that I do. It's a very good rhythm guitar with lots of jangle. I've used it straight into the mixer and with Evans and Polytone amps. I use no effects other than a coiled guitar cord. The sound is versatile. Pickups are not as strong as you expect but the range of tones is amazing.

Very good construction but cheap. It works and I paid for it in the first 2 hrs I used it.

I've done 3 gigs and it has worked fine. I just have to be careful when adjusting the tone or volume while playing. It is a very light guitar and can even be heard unplugged around the house. Go try that with a Les Paul or PRS. The frets and fingerbrd are good and it plays very nice. I don't expect much from this guitar but it works and is making me money.

No contact with the factory. I bought this in a pawnshop.

I've been playing for 40 yrs. I have 2 other expensive Gibsons that can never sound like this cheapy. I like the lightweight of the Dano and the 50's vibe. After playing for 40 yrs, people don't really care if use a 10K Gibson or a $100 Dano. I could live with this guitar on a deserted island and I wouldn't feel bad. Buy a guitar like this and just enjoy playing music.

the features on this guitar well... no really simple guitar. its good though ould be better like the U3-56.

it sort-of suits my music style INDY/EMO. gosh my amp sucks its a Radio Shack im probly gonna get a crate or pignose. it is really noisy on distortion at highest level. it probly the amp. the sound is really rich like a les paul. the guitar has the widest varity without all the tune-o-matics and stuff. i would rather have it that a les paul. (unless gibson)

the knobs are plastic. the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.the knobs are plastic.

i dunno as soon as i got it, it broke within an hour. then i fixed and it broke again but now its fine.

no i need to though

good not another hoice besides a telecaster or something cool

Features?..........Features?......We don't need no stinking features! OK, actually, its quite simple. Single lipstick pickup, concentric volume and tone knobs, 21 frets, single cutaway body, blah, blah, blah........... What do you expect for this kinda money?

This thing sounds great considering the limitations on its electronics. I play blues, and classic rock, and you can't ask for a better sound than what it offers. Chunky lows, and singing highs. Fits my style nicely. I run it through Marshall Bluesbreaker IIs, (yep, two of 'em), a Dano Black Licorice, and a Dan-Echo delay into a Pignose G40v. Sound is amazing.

I bought this used, so I can't comment on how it was setup from the factory. I always put my new acquisitions through a complete setup after I get them. New strings, truss rod, pickup, neck, and bridge adjustments. I prefer to start from scratch. No damage to it. A+

This guitar could withstand live playing, however, I have other guitars for that. This was more or less bought to be used as a practice guitar around the house. Besides, with the features that this has, you'd have to invest some money to get more durable hardware on it so that you could take it gigging.(strap buttons, tuners, etc) I'd prefer to leave it at home.

And anyone who knows anything about playing out, you never, ever, go to a gig without a backup.

I've been in contact with the customer service folks through the e-mail. They got me answers fairly quickly regarding my questions.

I've been at the guitar for over 11 years, and I've had better and worse guitars go through my possession. This one is an inexpensive, simple, beginner level guitar. Don't let that fool you. This guitar can provide experts with what they're looking for. Just don't expect this to come off like a pricey Ibanez or Fender, though. Not going to happen. I knew that before I bought it, so my hopes were in the right place. I'll especially hold onto it since they aren't made anymore.

new model good sound from pickup. like the hollow body sound good pickup response. lipstick style. dont like the new strat style. yellow in color good eye catcher. good neck reaction. dont care for the tuners. or strap pegs. all in all , it is a trouble free good sounding guitar. if i knew for sure about discontinuing this model. there would be no price on this guitar.

i play gospel and country. it suits me fine. using a fender backstage amp and always add reverb. bright sound. love it

every thing form the factory was fine.

good

Simplicity itself. One pickup, one stacked knob.

Way more variety of sounds than you'd think. It can do a nice tele-twang, but more open and hollow body sounding. The low output, glassy sounding pickup works beautifully with effects of all kinds. No guitar anywhere near this price sounds this good.

Well, for the price, excellent. The main thing is the intonation are good out of the box.

Better put some epoxy on them strap buttons...they fall out!! Tuners a little feeble too.

A great little guitar.

I don't really know why I bought this guitar. I have always thought they would be an interesting piece to add to my collection, and when I heard Danelectro had discontinued the U1 I just had to have one. The U1 has a single lipstick pickup. Mine is Commie Red with the normal white binding that looks similar to athletic tape. It has a stacked knob for tone and volume. The bridge is non-adjustable unless you consider moving the wooden portion to set the intonation. It is a semi-hollowbody with a clear plastic pickguard. The tuners are a bit touchy and took some getting used to but are not a major problem. The neck is one of the best features of this guitar. It is very thin and plays smoothly. The one drawback I see is the strap pegs. They are plastic and are inserted into holes in the body without the aid of screws. I am rolling over ideas to fix this. This is a no frills guitar that is made to play. It may not have the bells and whistles of other guitars, but it makes up for that in tone.

I play mostly blues and old rock. Where this guitar really shines is 50's and 60's type rock. I play through a Kics USA 60w amp with a Snarling Dogs Blue Doo out in front. I usually play fairly clean or with only a little bit of bite. When playing clean I can dial in almost acoustic guitar tones. Very rich and sweet. With a little overdrive it still holds it's own but I usually roll back on the tone knob just a bit. I can even manage to get a twang sound out of it almost like a Tele on the neck pickup. It does have a little hum when I crank the overdrive. It hums even more through my Snarling Dogs Tweed-E-Dog, but I hardly play through it. This guitar would be good for jazz, blues, or what I use it for mainly, rhythm. It is also a good guitar for surf. I love this guitar for it's sound.

The action is low and very smooth. Although it is not a shreader by any means, not is not what it is intended to be. The guitar is flawless in terms of finish. Everything is in place and stable. It is no Cadillac, but in it's own right it is a beautiful guitar.

I worry about the strap pegs. Other than that I would have no problem gigging with the U1.

I have been playing for several years. I also own a Fender Strat and a Peavey Nitro. This guitar really has it's own niche in my arsenal. If it were stolen or lost I would be heartbroken as they are now out of production. I like this guitar so much that I have purchase a U2 and a U3 and hope to receive them soon. If you are looking for a guitar with a unique sound for not much money, then this may be the guitar for you.

It's a 1998, Dano. 21 or 22 frets. It is a Typical reissue Danelectro. Two knobs, the tone is on top of the volume. Knobs feel, cheap, like the strap buttons. Lipstick pickup, slanted, in the middle, if it was a Strat. The neck is rosewood, feels nice, and a sweet action. Burgundy metallic finish. Plastic tuners. I paid 199 dollars, its going to be plastic

I play, Country, Rockabilly, and Blues. The sound is perfect for Rockabilly, and Blues. Country, would'nt fit the Nashville assembly line of guitar music, but it works. Very quiet, nice rich sound. It sounds like a classic rock and roll guitar, The nifty fifty amp I use, makes the sounds. The guitar, plays very well, unplugged.

everything was set-up nice.

I don't play live, so i can't answer that question. I think it will last, the input jack on this guitar is cheap, that and the strap buttons, I think will go first. I can depend on it. Much like a boy scout, always be prepared.

never delt with them. One year warrenty card, never sent in.

Been playing on and off for 10 years. If it was stolen, I'd get a Dearmond M-65. Or i'd buy another, this guitar plays better and feels better than my Peavey Pred. Love the sound, love the feel. For the first time I actually got callous's on my fingers from playing this thing.

Single lipstick P/U, single cutaway semi-hollow body. Real nice playing unfinished neck. Bridge and tuners suck, but can be replaced. (Hey, for this price) I give it a 10 for the neck, 2 for the tuners and 3 for the bridge. Paint is excellent on body. remaining hardware is cheesy, but can be replaced or upgraded as needed.

Killer semi-hollow relic sound. Sweet, warm blues tone. Great hollow surf tone. Funky...in a good way. Not bad solo sound, but intonation needs to be addressed via new bridge. Decidedly single coil. I'm playing it through a little VOX Pathfinder amp (Which I would also HIGHLY recommend to anyone, even if you play through a boutique amp.) Obviously I am talking about low-price equipment here, but that makes it even better. I can only imagine what this guitar would sound like through an AC-30 or Fender Twin. I put all my $$$ into Bass gear. I didn't expect this guitar setup to sound so good, but it does...really good, especially for the $$$.

Excellent setup when I got off the rack...still playing the same strings. Intonation and tuning are a major issue because of the wood-slat bridge and (non)tuning keys. It plays exceptionally well...better than any mainland-asian or mexican Fender I've tried.(I'm not dissing Fender, but their cheap guitars honestly suck. Their cheap Basses are much better, relatively speaking.) I am pretty picky about the feel of a guitar...this one feels better to me than many 4 times it's price...god I love the neck. (These necks do have a trussrod, but you need to remove the neck to get to it...mine is straight and silky smooth...I can't begin to describe how good it feels and plays.)

It would smash easily without loosing a bunch of dough, if you're a showman. But, it has held up well, and I play hard. My girlfriend threw it accross the living room in a fit of rage on Thanksgiving (saying that I love it more than her) and it didn't do a damn thing to it. Strap Buttons are plastic...don't trust them outside of the living room. It's a low-acqusition-cost instrument...expect hardware upgrades to make it more useable. But the neck, pickup and sound offset the shortcomings by far.

I know they DON'T sell any hardware besides pickups. I checked out their web site thoroughly. I wanted to buy a bridge from one of the better models, but no dice. This bothers me, so I am giving this a bad rating.

I'm more of a bass player, but have played guitar on the side for 18 years. It's not a do everything guitar by any stretch, but it should not be dissed because of it's price or construction. THIS THING PLAYS AND SOUNDS EXCELLENT. Sweet vintage tone, and the lipstick oozes and cries and squeaks beautifully. I would highly recommend this to anyone. I got a killer deal on it..they are usually about $50 more. It needs a better bridge and tuners, but for the $$$ these can be justified.