Marc S

Shipbuilding - Robert Wyatt

It wasn't my cup of tea either @crazycloud - but honestly, I have never before changed my opinion quite so much. I took the bass to rehearsal with my African / fusion band last night. I usually play electro-acoustic upright in that band. Everyone was surprised to see me pull the Dano out of the gigbag, and they all loved it - especially the sound. That "woody" tone really sat beautifully with the acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, flute and the Kora. I sometimes double-up with this band, mostly playing upright with a couple on Bass Guitar -Something tells me I'm going to be playing a few more on BG, now I have the Dano. Our Kora player absolutely loved the tone of it, particularly on some of the long slides I was doing. Tonight, I'm jamming with my 5 piece rock covers band - but honestly, I think this bass will be my mainstay EDIT: I won't be surprised if this bass sits perfectly in this band too. If you do get chance to try one out crazycloud - go for it PS. @Grahambythesea I enjoyed that Surfrajettes video, and I can assure you, I haven't got the legs for surf music

Wow! Wish I'd bought that from you for £100. 😱 Take consolation in the fact that we've all done such things at some point....

Just spotted this one on eBay - I suppose this is one of the Korean made models, with those Volume & tone controls? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266643183755?hash=item3e152c188b:g:nI8AAOSw88BlSiC-&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0IC5KLnLATE5uhyqWatL4dkH3pL5NPAasLj9VcD%2BXRksQuekYHNyH1vHQjb4tJ94og19QO7kH5uxPCgDtlE4iIAeHoM4NwzizJi%2FxadXtAPku9%2Fz5uUzJkhKRB2%2F%2F5DpPTOBxATHD5FdXz%2FRSDWLR6FEt%2FVtpRq9s6CkxfdDSa5ZV04%2BVCKm0Qjg4nALsVC63T2ygV%2FrqUjuzZ6n9%2BJR%2Fl93pfceUkmIkIhzry%2BZx8zzrckfyk74EKeWLeV3DX%2BUrWHt4DpiS%2FcmlKtLJBOEZ8o%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR9DP3_mrYw I have just bought a bass which I am really really pleased with...... why the heck am I still checking out what's on eBay? ha ha ha

Well - it all comes full circle @Paul S - it was talking to you that helped encourage me to go for this one good sir 15 all - your serve

As they didn't ever seem to come up for sale, and as I'd never seen one in a local shop, and partly because I wasn't initially keen on the shape / design - I didn't know whether they were entry-level, or top level either. Never thought I'd become a "Dano Guy" either, but this one has got me smitten with them. Same here. I had probably read about them being made of Masonite, but would have considered that too flimsy to make a guitar that could stand up to gigging / touring. It's worth me repeating here (I think) that Richard Hawley uses a Dano guitar at gigs, among his Gretsch, Ricks, Gibsons and Fenders. So they're obviously up to the job, even at pro level. I'm taking mine to a few full band rehearsals this week. I just know it's going to get comments and raise a few eyebrows (especially from my rock covers band) but I can't wait to hear it in a full band situation. I've plugged it into 3 different amps so far, and my practice headphones, and it just sounds so awesome. As I've said, I don't think I have ever been so taken aback about a bass guitar before. Thanks for all your thoughts and comments guys Although I'm at full capacity, plus one on my collection of basses - I'd grab one of those models with the f-hole if one came up nearby! lol EDIT: I'll hopefully be jamming with full band on Sunday, and using my recently acquired Acoustic Image "Double Shot" cab with the Dano. I really can't wait to hear that, as I'm sure the Double Shot will help the Dano sound even better

Aren't the 90's considered vintage now? 😀

No sparkle on my Copper Burst Dano - but it does look banana coloured, has added to its' quirkiness IMO

Thanks for your thoughts @msb I know what you mean when you say you can't decide whether they are funky or dog ugly - I feel exactly the same way! lol However, I'm starting to think they may be the funkiest looking basses ever made, alongside Bootsy Collins' Star-shaped purple sparkly bass. Perhaps I just need to dig out my old platform shoes and flares? Others have mentioned that the factory fitted bridge helps it produce that woody tone - so I may leave that alone. I tweaked the truss rod to straighten the neck and bring the action down a little, so I was just wanting to adjust the bridge - but in fact, it seems fine just as it is now. I definitely want to try flats on it though. Are those LaBella's higher tension than T.I. flats btw? I'm at work currently - but as soon as I get home, the first thing I'll do is pick up that Danelectro. I have never been so surprised at just how good a bass can be. Still smiling every time I look at it.

Jammed this bass with one of my singer / guitarist pals last night - chap from one of the bands I play with. He was mightily impressed with the sound. We both felt it sat nicely with both his acoustic guitar and Tenor guitar, in terms of its' tone. It definitely has a sort of "woody" tone, perhaps helped by the chambered body? Turning both tone controls up there's a little bit of Rick-type "clank" in the mix. The bottom end has some real "thump" too. And those Lipstick pickups do have quite a high level output. I'll be taking this bass along to a full band rehearsal this week - or more likely two band rehearsals (both of whom are loud) so I'm looking forward to hearing it in both those situations. Along with the absolutely amazing AI DoubleShot cab I also bought recently, I am a very happy boy indeed EDIT: Here's the link to the Doubleshot cab. Upright players are well aware if Acoustic Image amps & cabs - but BG players might not be..... I recommend you check them out

Ooh! I like the look of that..... lots. Oh no @Clarky - I can feel the GAS rising again!

I should have started this thread a week ago - but I thought I'd take the cab out to a few rehearsals, and try it with Upright and bass guitar first. I bought the cab from Richard Jinman on this very forum. I wanted something that suited my BSX Allegro upright, and I'd wondered previously about the Acoustic Image Upshot - which appeared to be a different approach to amps & cabs. Though I didn't get around to trying the Upshot - this cab came up and I decided to go for it. As soon as I plugged my bass into my amp head, and connected it to this cab, i was utterly blown away. It's THE sound I was after for my upright - it just seems to have captured that natural, acoustic tone perfectly. I was a really happy man indeed, especially as its so compact & lightweight. For bass guitar players who may not be familiar with Acoustic Image - these amps & cabs are held in very high regard among upright players indeed. I wondered how it would sound with a bass guitar, and in a very different genre, so I took it to rehearsals with a loud, 5 piece rock covers band, plus a rather punkier band with guitars, drums and brass section. I'd heard good reports of AI amps in any settings and again, I wasn't disappointed. It's a 4 ohm 600w cab, and being so small, I wondered if it would be loud enough to cope with the different bands. I needn't have been concerned at all. It was indeed plenty loud in the rehearsal studios, using my Peavey MiniMax 600w head. Moreover, everyone in both bands said the bass sounded great and cut through really well. Both drummers said they could hear me better too. So that unusual design, with a 10" driver firing each way, plus a forward facing tweeter really works well. Of course, this isn't a "gig situation' so I'm not sure if it'll cope with the 5 piece, in a larger venue - but I'll be taking my usual rig to the next big gig, plus this cab, to at least try it out.... The only slight snag, is the cylindrical cab has 2 rubber feet for the AI Clarus head to sit on, and my Peavey head is small, but not small enough to sit on those feet. So I'll have to do a minor cosmetic mod - maybe attach a wooden block, or some velcro? In the last week, I've got this, and got a Danelectro longhorn bass that I'm really pleased with - I am a very happy BC member indeed 😀

Thanks for your comments and thoughts folks. Yes, I agree with those whose sentiment is, that if I like it, nothing else matters.... these are my own thoughts too. As I said, initially I wasn't fussed on the design. In some ways the quirkiness and different look to this bass adds to it. I haven't taken it to rehearsal yet, and I'm looking forward to hearing it through a big amp, and hearing how it sits I'm the mix. It sounds lovely through my practice headphones, and is a joy to play. I have moved the strap button to the upper horn- rather than its odd position at the neck heel. I think I might tweak the bridge next, or possibly replace it with that upgrade bridge which offers more adjustment.

Got myself a Danelectro longhorn bass from Noirbass. Good comms throughout, and he waited patiently as I wanted to avoid the Christmas rush period. Really liking the bass, and he obviously looked after it well. He also arranged a mate to get it safely to Cardiff for me - much preferable than posting it. Buy / trade / deal in confidence. Thanks again Chris

I'm certainly glad i scratched this partucular "bass itch". I cant put this thing down.

Hi Len. I got it on this very forum. It had been up for sale a little while, and I thought it might have sold - but luckily it hadn't 😀 I also meant to add to my post above, that unlike YouTube videos I'd seen, this one has the truss rod at the top end of the neck. With earlier models you had to take the neck off the body to adjust it. Its a 2 way truss rod as well.

Well I never thought I'd get one of these - However, I had a noodle on one recently, and was rather taken by it. I was never fussed on the shape / design of these, but one of my bands supported the brilliant Wigan folk band "Merry Hell" at Acapela Studios in Cardiff in December. Their bassist had one of these and it sounded great. Chatting afterwards (he spoke very generously of my upright playing, which was really nice of him) anyhow, he was an interesting guy, and he handed me his bass, for a noodle. I was absolutely amazed at how little it weighed, and how nice it felt to play. Now I know some BC folk will wonder why so many of us on here obsess about the weight of an instrument - but trust me, it can become an issue as you get older and / or injure a joint / muscle / ligament. Also, I often double-up, playing upright for half a gig and Bass guitar the other half - and anything that helps reduce the weight of "stuff" I need to lug about is a blessing. Given how good Merry Hell's bassist sounded - I thought I'd get one and give it a whirl. So far, so good - in fact, I'm pretty blown away by how comfortable it is to play. Balances nicely, the neck is slim, but doesn't feel as slim as a Hofner. The fret ends are all nicely finished. Due to the body shape, it's easy to reach the high end of the neck. 24 frets too btw - if you're inclined to reach that far! Lol. I really like the sound too. BTW - anyone got any tips for short scale, low tension flatwounds that will wrap around the tiny guitar tuners?

Yes, some basses cost a lot these days...... As someone who is on his 2nd bass journey (the first of which started in 1980) what is now considered a "budget" bass or guitar is a hell of a lot better than some of the 70's / early 80's cr@p that was available to me back then. I started with a really really awful Kay's catalogue piece of firewood. Back then the leap to something half decent was a heck of a lot more than I could afford, without getting a bank loan. I know this because, well..... I had to go out and get said loan to get my first decent bass. Re vintage guitars and basses, yes, I agree there seem to be an awful lot going for too much money, and I'd never take a £2k plus bass to the Frog & Firkin. As it happens, I'm not really one for keeping instruments I never gig, but if I wanted a vintage Fender / Gibson, I'd play it lovingly at home and in the studio. Then I'd get a 2nd hand Squier / Epiphone to take to gigs. Collecting vintage instruments is like anything else. My Dad had an old Mk1 Ford Cortina in the 70's. He paid £150 quid for it. When it was getting ever less reliable and looking even tattier, he scrapped it and got the princely sum of £15. Nowadays, they wouldn't scrap it because in good / restored condition it would fetch £12 - 15k. EDIT: I recall seeing Richard Hawley a few years back. He changed guitars many times. Some of his guitars were vintage Fenders, Ricks, Gibsons, Gretsch - but among them he also played a couple of Danelectro guitars.