Danelectro Longhorn Guitar

This is a 2005 model Dano longhorn guitar in the "too blue" color. I first saw a review of it in Guitar player magazine. Never saw one until I was travelling in Nashville and visited Gruhn's Guitars. PLayed it and had to have it- just a blast. Masonite body, apparently hollow, three lipstick tube single coils, five way switch, one volume, one tone. Tone control whack off the highs pretty fast.

I use it through an old Acoustic Control Corp. GT60 with a single 12 speaker. Very good twangy sound for rockabilly, rootsy stuff. I add a bit of delay and maybe some tremolo. Not a great variety of sounds. I tend to like the neck alone, and the bridge alone settings

No flaws in manufacturing. Hardware is solid and works well. I've read that earlier Danos were pretty cheap. This thing holds up very well. PLays well. Kind of fat neck that I actually like very well.
I think it may be tough to adjust if I ever have to, because the six bolt neck is set in a unique way. I'm honestly not even sure if it has a truss rod.

It's sort of small, because of the way it's laid out. Almost feels short scale. It fits in an airplane overhead compartment in the gig bag Gruhn's included. I like to take it when I travel. I've been very happy with the way it's help up for the last year.

No idea how the manufacturer might be. I'd never take it back to Gruhn's - who by the way, strike me as rather snooty in general. I mean, this is a $500 guitar, and they got miffed when I took it off the wall without a salesperson's help.

I've been playing for 25+ years, own two G&L guitars, a PRS, an Eastman archtop, a Blueridge acoustic, a RIC 12 string. The Dano is excellent for the price. Would be a terrific garage band/rockabilly/roots rock axe. For me, it's a rootsy blues machine. If stolen, I'd consider another, but since it's not a main go-to guitar for me, I might buy something else.

2005/2006 Danelectro Longhorn Guitar. Similar in look to the 2000 Guitarlin reissue and Longhorn Bass. 25 1/2" scale neck, wide, but fairly flat. Typical Dano "coke bottle" head stock. Medium frets. 21 frets. Bolt on to body.

Body is soild unknown wood and fairly light. Black burst finish is very consitant and well done. No bindings and all smooth edges. The overall body is fairly short like the bass version. Just long enough for the bridge (on the guitarlin version the body extends maybe 6" more beyond the bridge location). Small, half round, clear platic pickguard screwed directly to body

Three 'lipstick' style single coil pick-up, five way switch similar to stratocaster. One volume and one tone. Pickups attached with screws through the back of the guitar. The coverplate for the knobs and switches on the back is rectangular and chrome finished.

Single piece trapezodial shaped bridge.

All metal parts are chrome.

The pickups all have a fairly weak single coil sound. The neck and middle pickup sound like they are probably voiced the same, the bridge is a little brighter. They are quiet, though. The slight hum disappears when switch to out-of-phase 2nd and 4th positions. Positions 1, 3 and 5 are for each individual pickup. Played through a Traynor YCV20 (15 watt tube amp). Played clean sound very jangley and smooth, when using the bridge pickup can get some brightness.

Dirty sounds similar to a strat, though I don't think the pickup are as powerful, but since they are quiet you can just turn it up a little more. I wish they had a little more power.

The volume control jumps too quicly to near-full volume. Would prefer a a gradual consitent rise. If I use it more regularly I might change out the pot.

Bought used. Everything fits. Good setup. Whether because of the store or the previous owner, I don't know. Feels solid. Neck doesn't bend. Stays in tune. Frets feel good. Had to adjust middle pickup to to a lower position because it's right in the "sweet spot" for comfortable strumming (for me)and I kept hitting it.

One thing I particularly appreciate is the neck end strap button faces parrallel to the bridge end. (Alot of odd shaped or hollow guitars have the neck end button at 90-degrees and this causes the guitar to swing forward and away - I hate that.)

Have not used live. When I get back to it though, this will be one of the first I bring out with me.

Excellent guitar for $179. I think these sold new for $399 in the US a couple years ago. Looking forwad to playing out with it.

I don't know how I feel about the black burst finish, but I got it so cheap I have no problem marking or painting on it and having some fun.