Danelectro U-2 Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Item # 9120
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Danelectro U-2 Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 1017, black lacquer with vinyl edging finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case.
This is a 1957 example of the classic 1950s Danelectro U-2, the company's earliest signature instrument, in a striking black lacquer finish. With the original single-cutaway Masonite-and-pine body loaded with two celebrated "lipstick" pickups, concentric tone-and-volume control rig and the metal plate bridge, this is a great-sounding guitar that set the standard for the many thousands of Danelectros to follow. The neck is slimmer than later examples and more comfortable to play; in fact, the entire guitar feels more carefully made than the far more common later examples.
With its gleaming black-and-chrome livery it is also a very sharp-looking guitar, the epitome of '50s Populuxe culture in a 6-string mode. Danelectro offered the initial "U" line in a variety of striking colors, but within less than two years had pared back to only black or copper for most models. This example carries pots dated to the end of 1956 and the batch number indicates production in the 10th week of 1957, when the company was still producing fairly limited numbers of guitars.
This U-2 was the instrument that put Danelectro guitars on the map in the 1950s; despite this, they were only in production for a few years before being superseded by newer designs in the late 1950s. Examples of these early model Danelectros are comparatively rare today; this two-pickup U-2 is one of the nicer ones we have had.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). This is a nice all-original example, with some typical play wear but no repairs or major alterations. The finish has small dings, dents and scrapes but no heavy wear and still gleams with ebony delight. The front strap button was moved to a more functional position on the upper bout from its original more quizzical location under the neck heel; all else is as it left Neptune (New Jersey, that is) in 1957. This guitar has a near-perfectly straight neck and only minor fretwear and plays very well, with the typical great Danno twang. Includes the (probably original) black alligator chipboard case that has lost its handle but is otherwise relatively intact. Excellent - Condition.
This is a 1957 example of the classic 1950s Danelectro U-2, the company's earliest signature instrument, in a striking black lacquer finish. With the original single-cutaway Masonite-and-pine body loaded with two celebrated "lipstick" pickups, concentric tone-and-volume control rig and the metal plate bridge, this is a great-sounding guitar that set the standard for the many thousands of Danelectros to follow. The neck is slimmer than later examples and more comfortable to play; in fact, the entire guitar feels more carefully made than the far more common later examples.
With its gleaming black-and-chrome livery it is also a very sharp-looking guitar, the epitome of '50s Populuxe culture in a 6-string mode. Danelectro offered the initial "U" line in a variety of striking colors, but within less than two years had pared back to only black or copper for most models. This example carries pots dated to the end of 1956 and the batch number indicates production in the 10th week of 1957, when the company was still producing fairly limited numbers of guitars.
This U-2 was the instrument that put Danelectro guitars on the map in the 1950s; despite this, they were only in production for a few years before being superseded by newer designs in the late 1950s. Examples of these early model Danelectros are comparatively rare today; this two-pickup U-2 is one of the nicer ones we have had.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). This is a nice all-original example, with some typical play wear but no repairs or major alterations. The finish has small dings, dents and scrapes but no heavy wear and still gleams with ebony delight. The front strap button was moved to a more functional position on the upper bout from its original more quizzical location under the neck heel; all else is as it left Neptune (New Jersey, that is) in 1957. This guitar has a near-perfectly straight neck and only minor fretwear and plays very well, with the typical great Danno twang. Includes the (probably original) black alligator chipboard case that has lost its handle but is otherwise relatively intact. Excellent - Condition.