I've never personally played either or even seen one in person but I know a lot of great musicans play them both. I'd like to know more info or opinions on these guitars so please share your thoughts.

-trj 1393

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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!

i played a danelectro reissue, they are great guitars, reminds me of teisco's of the 60's surf era style.

very cool looking, and plays great. you can get them on ebay for a good price, vintage are a lil more, but not high enough.

you can get a lot of info off the Ric site. Not to mention googling. Don't know about the Danelectro site.

I bought this ref book a while back. Best $13 I've spent in a long time.

http://www.amazon.com/Electric-Guitar-E ... 07&sr=1-10

My very first guitar was a brand new, 1967 Danelectro Convertible.

The fingerboard was perfectly flat, the guitar was made from the cheapest materials possible and the pickup fed back so much, it made the guitar vibrate to the point of where you'd think it was going to literally explode. It had no adjustable truss rod and the bridge was a fret on top of a piece of wood. Even the tailpiece wasn't grounded. After a while, the formica coated chipboard body would begin to cave in from the pressure the strings exerted onto the bridge.

I think all the pros who play them, play them more for a lark or nostalgia (because this was the typical starter's guitar back in the 60s) more so than because of any kind of quality. Granted though, they, just like the Rics had/have a unique sound.

I've owned some Rics too. The fingerboards are kind of small and heavily coated with lacquer which obscured the tiny frets even more. All I really can say about them is you'll either love them or hate them. I loved the body and the sound but despised the fingerboard and the neck (which was rather tubular). FWIW, they are made EXTREMELY well.

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You dig?

I waited over a year for custom made left handed Ric 370/12. After I got it I hated it. The fretboard is extremely thin and I could not get my fat sausage fingers accustomed to it. The workmanship on the Ric was fabulous!!!!

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

My Ric 360.

Like mentioned, Rics are made extreemely well. I've got an American Deluxe Strat and two Pro Line Gretschs and the Rics quality is not exceeded by any of them.

This one is equiped with Hi-Gains and is an awesome all around guitar. (reallly not a high output, only when compared to the vintage pups) Not the Ric jangle you might expect. That is achieved mainly with the vintage 'Toaster' pickups, expecially when coupled with a 12 string.

The fretboard is a bit narrow, and anyone interested in Rics should be aware of this and try before you buy. There are models with wider boards. I'm interested in a Ric 12 string with Toasters, but in the 360 the width is the same and I don't think I'd get along well at first. I've large hands, but I don't have sausages for fingers. However the 660/12 does have a wider fretboard so I'll try both first.

And there is as mentioned a heavy coat of poly on the board. Reminds me of the feel of the maple Fender boards.

And like mentioned, the Danelectros are...not Rickenbackers.

One other rather unique feature of Rics. Ric-O-Sound. There is a second output jack that is stereo. The signal from each pickup is isolated from the other. Ric used to make and sell a box, but not any more. Used ones are pricey because of this. No worries. For $60 I bought a 12' Monster Stereo 1/4" cable and a Monster single stereo female in to 2 mono female out splitter Y cable, plug each to different amp (or a single amp with stereo cmannels if you like but 2 are way better) on either side of the room/stage via a standard 1/4" and there you go. Neck pup to one amp, bridge to the other. Switch from one to the other with the 3 way on the guitar or play through both in the mid position. Pretty cool.

Gretsch and Gibson have done stereo as well, (probably some others too) but they don't split out the pups, they split, I believe, the 3 bass strings from the 3 treble)

In fact it's so cool I now play through 2 amps in parallel or switch between them all the time with all my guitars via a Lehle Little Dual amp switcher pedal....really awesome.



But if anyone interested wants to try the two amp deal via an A/B/Y switch box I've found the simple switchboxes (ie Whirlwind) will allow a terrible hum called 'ground loop' that's unacceptable to me and it's caused/precipitated by the amps being connected through their signal path. Had to shell out a fair hunk for the Lehle, but it's worth it to me. Has a small isolation xfmr in the signal path preventing this. Still have the Whirlwind, just sitting in a box.

The Lehle is the red one. (whit one's a Lehle too, but a bypass switch for that JamMan Looper).

I have an original 1957 Dano U1 that my friend found in the trash. It's pretty beat up but plays and sounds great. They're fun, inexpensive guitars especially if you find them in the trash. The serial and pots codes all point to 1957. The action is great and has a Lipstick Tube pup that sounds killer. Mines a single pup with a three way switch, tone and volume control.

I use a 360-12 Tom Petty as it is the only 12 string guitar from Ricky that has a wide enough neck to play.
I also have a Glenn Frey Black Ricky. Very simple but with a great sound even for Lead. Just watch Joe Walsh in Crossroads Festival. Still you need to get used to a laquered neck and fretboard.

I worked for the revived Dano in the late 90s. I came to really love those guitars. I should have bought more. I have a limo black Baritone from which I shall never be parted.

[quote="Martian"]My very first guitar was a brand new, 1967 Danelectro Convertible.

My first serious electric was a '58 Danelectro shorthorn double pickup in black. They came in black and copper. I had hangups about that guitar because my band mate owned a '58 Strat. Kind of like a '57 Chevy 2-door sedan against a Corvette of the same year. I eventually purchased that Strat from him when Fender issued the Jaguar.

We were using Danelectron Centurion amps in those days which for fine for the moment. We were not in the pursuit of tone to the extent we seem to be today, but Link Wray and Duane Eddy certainly piqued our curiosity.

Gary upgraded to a '61 Concert, and the to a Dual Showman with the Jag. I held the Concert for about 35 years and then swapped it out for a Line 6 Axis which I upgraded to an AX2 by changing the chip and face panel.

No commentary on that one, please. I hope whoever purchased a vintage '61 Concert Amp from Sam Ash on Long Island about 13 years ago is taking loving care of it.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I got a Dalectro DC '59 last year and I really enjoy the sound of it. However, it does not play like a Fender, but how could it for that price!

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Fender DG8
Fender MIM Sunburst Telecaster.
Fender American Vintage'52 Reissue Telecaster
Fender Frontman 212R
Fender Mini Twin
Fender Super Champ XD
Fender Champion 600

the new danelectro's arent bad at all, for the price they are they sound good. Ricky's i cant play because the fret board imo seems very small and narrow for my huge hands lol...i do praise ricks for their awesome sound and the fcat that they are still hand made in the usa.

ZZdoc wrote

"No commentary on that one, please. I hope whoever purchased a vintage '61 Concert Amp from Sam Ash on Long Island about 13 years ago is taking loving care of it. "

Sorry couldn't help myself...

Is there a dealer in your area selling Eastwood guitars? They are for the most part inspired by the Danelectro-Airline etc. look, but made of real wood rather than plastic. Might be worth a look.

How's the partscaster coming?
John.E