Danelectro Silvertone U1

I have a 1960 (verified by stamps on neck end and interior block by the pots) 'Christmas Special', short-scale brown-with-tiny-gold-flakes, Silver-Dan U1 variation. Neptune NJ-made, apparently. Mine had very little use, with a few buckle scratches but little neck-paint wear. All original: only the strings have been replaced, only defects aside from the few back scratches and headstock scuffs is that the lipstick tube covers have cracks. Fortunately, the added height of the pickup assembly is still below strings when played all the way up, and sound is not affected. Bare-bones in features, perhaps, but simplicity is an asset on an old instrument, and the old pots work flawlessly: with functionally very 'speed'-oriented knobs.

It's all about the sound, the tone, ultimately. This short-scale model has the one pickup in a 'sweet spot' as per the review of the conventional scale U1, especially for blues. I keep it in open tuning and use a glass slide, running it through a baby Marshall 15W, manual/spring- reverb amp for coffee house performances of Elmore James-inspired numbers. A fine combo I bought together from a colleague in St. Louis, a year ago. He gave high regards to this setup and he was right: net investment, with shipping: $325 for the Silver Dan with the baby Marshall, which really puts out for its size and accentuates the Silver Dan tone.

As noted, this guitar was surprisingly little used/abused, not mint but better than could be expected. Surprisingly well made and finished: I was especially impressed when I took the neck off to see if it had a date code on the neck end: which it did and which matched the other date code by the pots. The neck, which appeared to not have been removed since its construction, was really finely fitted, within a few thousanths. And even though it only has two screws to anchor it on. I did find I couldn't lower the action too low without fret buzz when played furthest up, but for my slide work, with light strings, this is no problem at all. Fret placement at the far end of the neck is a little less than precise, so intonation up there is not perfect. But, balanced by the Brazilian rosewood fretboard. And, considering how inexpensive these vintage pieces are, one could spend a few hundred for a really good refretting. Tuners are OK if you give them a little gear grease: made a huge improvement, but they're still not the best. On the other hand, I'd hate to replace them, with their genuinely-yellowed plastic knobs. As much as I like Grovers and Schallers, etc., it just wouldn't seem right on this rig. Neck has a very slight bow when viewed from the bridge, again, not an issue for my playing. Overall, a great complement to my other electric: my '64 Guild Starfire. (and OK, I have to add this: from what I've seen of Gretsch quality, considering their market value, they have nothing on the quality of this Silver Dan. When I think of the next level of quality and finish on instruments of this age, I'd defer to Gibson, Martin, Guild, and Fender).

Yes, it's a live music staple for me, just don't capo the soft poplar neck. Original strap buttons are among the best I've seen, three-on-a-side tuners are a little crude but seem tough, smaller scale length means less unanticipated collisions with other things, bridge is so simple but effective it hurts, aluminum nut is just...nutz, a metal nut. Only thing that seems a problem on these pre-'61s is the single screw holding the round masonite pot cover on the back: the cover is a little less than flat, so it can catch a little, and it's all dependent on that one short screw. Maybe a little glue, I don't know, but I'm resisting putting in a longer, non-original screw when everything but the strings appears to be original. Future issue if becomes an issue. Cracked lipstick tube pickup covers should be an easy replacement with the repro Dans out there, but this isn't affecting the playability, only visible up close.

Really none, of course, but the internet has a wealth of information. I think the repro Dans was a supercool thing to do, but the problem has been too many of the real, old ones available for cheap. Best value around, the oldies. Some vendors try to sell them 'for what they're worth', such as $1000+ for a relatively common model, but check out eBay for the actual market value, which is very undervalued. Shop around for a good one. Neat thing about Silvertone Dans is that if you catch a glimpse of a Danelectro-logo'd Dan, it could be either a repro or original, but a Silvertone-logo'd Dan is most likely a real oldie. Many Silver Dan enthusiasts say the pre-'62/pre-amp-in-case models are better quality, but there's Beck playing a black and white, amp-in-case 1448 on Letterman two months back. Dans and Silver Dans are always cool in my opinion, repro or oldie originals.

Began playing in '81, hiatus from about '94-'04 (grad school), now playing again. Have a '64 Guild Starfire that I bought in '87 as my 'upper-end' electric-acoustic, two beat-up Gibson Kalamazoo dreadnaughts, a '96 Martin 12-string, a Yairi classical, an old Euro parlour guitar c. 1840s, a small acoustic project c. 1940s, and an Iila banjo. In the past I had a couple Fenders, a Framus 12-string and a Gibson L50. Amps: '58 Guild J100 35W, '60s Japanese 3-tube ~5W, recent Marshall 15W spring-reverb. Nothing but pleasure from this Silver Dan purchase: the sound, the playability, the look. Has me interested in more Silver Dan stuff, but I have to hold myself back. Had wanted one from a long time back, finally got it. If stolen or lost, I'd shop for the best example of this very same model.

This review is about late '50s-early '60s dolphin head Silvertone U1s.Cool 3 position switch like an early Fender Esquire.Dolphin headstock[6 on a side tuners].Typical dano masonite etc.Rates a ten for 1 pu guitar lovers. Features a great feeling neck and light wieght.

Very vintage; not like the repros at all. Sounds too good to put down. The U1 is way better than the U2 because the PU is in the sweet spot; with the U2 both PUs are in the wrong place. Can't over stress this point. As good as a good tele through a good Fender amp....thats saying a lot given that a good tele is hard to find under 3 grand.

Yeah the top is nicely bookmatched.......but really for such a cheap guitar I have seen some of the most striking Brasilian rosewood fret boards and of the 6-7 I have owned all set up as good as it gets i.e. low action, no buzzing, comfortable necks....amazing when you think about it. Intonation is more than acceptable[probably because of the neck radius being much flatter than a vintage fender].

It doesn't seem like it would last but they did. Who would have bet on that?? [how many Gibsons with repaired headstock breaks have YOU owned?]......like a Zippo.

I have had a lot of these and curently have 4. They are really great guitars and I have had/have almost all the cool vintage stuff from Broadcasters on over the last 40 years. If I said I had a '53 tele and a '56 Les Paul Junior in vgc for $300 each....... you get the idea......like the template says "Fantastic value". Not "great for the price" but rather an intrinsicly great guitar voice; right up there with the other all time greats. Sure the machine heads are a bother but I have only changed them on 1 guitar; once in tune they hold......but it would be nice to have modern effortless tuners; someone should issue a good retro fit; there must be thousands of owners that would buy them. If someone has a good retrofit please post it here[I used Fender Mustang f heads; ok as far as it goes but they are not great machines].Thats all that I would like to "improve" from a players perspective.Last word; much better design than the amp in case models[superior straight pull head stock design and body shape and maybe better quality control...but usually more beat up because these got played more than the amp in case models.....you are either a vintage collector or a player; this review is for the latter].

Can someone please tell me why people buy those oriental reissue Danelectros when you can still get the REAL THING for less than a new reissue? There is simply no comparing them in terms of TONE.

This guitar was made in 1960, masonite body, poplar neck, rosewood fingerboard, lipstick pickup, black finish, very questionable tuning pegs, pretty bare bones. Low rating does not reflect a negative opinion. It's just a bare bones guitar which is fine by me.

This guitar sounds absolutely incredible. For a single-pickup guitar it can get a LOT of different sounds. Twangy or raunchy, depending on your amp settings. Covers a lot of ground stylistically.

It's made by Danelectro...what do you expect?
Not exactly a D'Angelico, know what I mean?

To be fair, it plays very, very nicely. Much better than a new offshore Fender, for that matter. The only problem I have with this guitar are the tuning pegs. The guitar stays in tune great, but GETTING it in tune is a whole other matter. Will replace them soon.
Intonates very accurately with the non-compensated wooden saddle.

This guitar looks like it should fall apart but here it is, 42 years later, stageworthy and reliable.

Forget it, the new Danelectro company has no clue about these.

Been playing longer than I care to admit. I love this guitar - it has replaced my two 60's Telecasters as my "Number One" stage guitar.
I had a reissue Danelectro U-2 before I bought this thing, I thought it was a nifty little cheapo for beating on at home. Now I realise it was just an inferior imitation of this masonite monster.

1958 Silvertone by Danelectro U1 (one pickup) guitar. Les Paul shape. "Peanut" or "coke bottle" shaped headstock. Semi-hollow but no F holes and flat top. Bolt-on maple/ash neck with rosewood fretboard (25" scale). Masonite (really) body. Volume, tone, and toggle controls. One single coil pickup in a lipstick tube (again, really). Open tuners - three on a side. Rating of 8/10 because A) I like the simplicity of the guitar, B) the masonite makes the guitar lightweight and durable, C) The pickup has a crisp, loud, and unique sound. D) I like the 25" scale - not too short/long.

Draw backs - tuners are ok (but I didn't have to replace them), and the variety of sounds you can get is limited.

Excellent rol&roll sound! The one single coil has punch and a crisp voice. Haven't had too many problems with feedback. I use Fender Champ and Deluxe type amps. Because the pickup has such a strong and clear sound, with some pedals you can achieve all sorts of sounds. But it's NOT a strat. No wide variety of tones.

As for how the guitar looks, if you like kitch, if you like camp, if you like vintage, if you like Fred Flintstone, ... you gotta get one. Everyone says that it's a cool guitar. If you want a shiny, ultra perfect, fastidiously built guitar, this is not for you. I really like the dulled coppertone finish and the vinyl wrap on the sides. It's cool vintage.

IMPORTANT - Danelectro made some very good guitars and some poor guitars too. They did not have good quality control. SO play and inspect before you buy one. I went through a few before I found this one, which has EXCELLENT intonation and action. I had to have a a bit of work on the nut done (common flaw in these U1's) and I had a someone compensate the rosewood slab bridge by mounting a saddle of fretwires - really made a huge difference.

This guitar is in excellent playing condition after 43 years! The finish has dulled. Neck is straight as can be - though some Dano's I've played have bowed necks (especially the shorter scale brown U1 and the amp-in-case guitars). The truss rod is non-adjustable.

Company out of business. The reissues have no relation at all except in the body styles to the originals by Daneletro of Neptune, NJ.

The reissues and the poor quality black amp-in-case guitars are giving the Silvertone by Danelectro guitars a bad name. But my U1 is a joy to play, it plays loud and clear and true, and it's so cool - I like that vintage look!

If you're to buy one, look closely because not all U1's were built as well as mine or maintained well. If you find a good one, put a few bucks into it (nut work, maybe new tuners, and a conpensated bridge) and it'll be a cool player.