Danelectro Shorthorn Standard Model 3412 Electric Bass Guitar (1960)
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Item # 9844
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Danelectro Shorthorn Standard Model 3412 Model Electric Bass Guitar (1960), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 2010-0, copper lacquer with white vinyl edging finish, Masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator chipboard case.
This is a superb original example of the classic late '50s/early 1960s Danelectro "Shorthorn" 4-string bass, just about as nice as they come. These compact creations are not the rarest of old Dan-o's, but usually turn up more heavily worn and/or modified than this one. Introduced in 1958, this model was one of the first small, light, and easy to play electric basses available and many young first-time bassists started out on one before moving on to a Fender or Gibson. At $85 (plus case), the Shorthorn was extremely affordable even to teenagers and before even cheaper instruments from Japan started to appear in the early '60s was the best bargain in a 4-string available.
This copper-top beauty was made in mid-1960 and appears to have been not used much since. It has all the "classic" period Dan-O features: semi-hollow Masonite and pine body with white pebble vinyl side covering, the 3-way adjustable bridge with a rosewood saddle, and a single lipstick tube pickup with tone and volume controls and 3-way tone modifier switch. Specific features for this period include a 3-screw neck attachment with no neck tilt device, no "Totally Shielded" sticker, the earlier plastic strap buttons and a small kidney-shaped pickguard. This is a clear plastic piece with a vinyl underlay, replaced later in the year with a larger Masonite unit holding the controls and covering the lower half of the body.
The short 15-fret neck has a thick Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and is topped with the trademark Danelectro "coke bottle" headstock with vertical logo and aluminum nut. It mounts the older-style openback Waverly tuners, replaced with the inferior in-house "Skate Key" tuners a few years later.
It also includes an original tan leather strap (which was attached at the headstock) and a nice heavy-duty alligator grain chipboard case with red plush lining. This easy-playing and great-sounding bass is as nice an example as we have had, a real time capsule back to just about 60 years ago. They are not often seen with period pros, but the early Johnny & the Hurricanes featured Lionel "Butch" Mattice on an early Shorthorn Bass much like this one. The film "That Thing You Do" got it exactly right equipping the bass player with one of these before he trades up to a shiny new Fender Jazz Bass when the band has a hit.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 29 1/2 in. (749 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This bass appears to have not seen much use over the last 60 years, showing only some very light play wear and handling/storage marks. The finish has some tiny dings and dents and a spot of what looks vaguely burned-in discoloration on the back, likely from a vinyl-covered cord or strap.
The clear pickguard overlay has some scuffs and one long scratch in the middle. The headstock has discoloration around the throat from 50+ years contact with a leather strap that was clipped around it. There are a few small dirty spots to the vinyl siding.
The bass is fitted with recent flatwound strings for a traditional vintage tone. It is otherwise unaltered from the way it shipped out from Neptune (New Jersey, that is) in far off 1960. The original jobber strap and alligator grain chipboard case are fully intact and surprisingly functional. Over 6 decades on this is still a super handy and comfortable bass to play, and sounds great! Excellent Condition.
This is a superb original example of the classic late '50s/early 1960s Danelectro "Shorthorn" 4-string bass, just about as nice as they come. These compact creations are not the rarest of old Dan-o's, but usually turn up more heavily worn and/or modified than this one. Introduced in 1958, this model was one of the first small, light, and easy to play electric basses available and many young first-time bassists started out on one before moving on to a Fender or Gibson. At $85 (plus case), the Shorthorn was extremely affordable even to teenagers and before even cheaper instruments from Japan started to appear in the early '60s was the best bargain in a 4-string available.
This copper-top beauty was made in mid-1960 and appears to have been not used much since. It has all the "classic" period Dan-O features: semi-hollow Masonite and pine body with white pebble vinyl side covering, the 3-way adjustable bridge with a rosewood saddle, and a single lipstick tube pickup with tone and volume controls and 3-way tone modifier switch. Specific features for this period include a 3-screw neck attachment with no neck tilt device, no "Totally Shielded" sticker, the earlier plastic strap buttons and a small kidney-shaped pickguard. This is a clear plastic piece with a vinyl underlay, replaced later in the year with a larger Masonite unit holding the controls and covering the lower half of the body.
The short 15-fret neck has a thick Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and is topped with the trademark Danelectro "coke bottle" headstock with vertical logo and aluminum nut. It mounts the older-style openback Waverly tuners, replaced with the inferior in-house "Skate Key" tuners a few years later.
It also includes an original tan leather strap (which was attached at the headstock) and a nice heavy-duty alligator grain chipboard case with red plush lining. This easy-playing and great-sounding bass is as nice an example as we have had, a real time capsule back to just about 60 years ago. They are not often seen with period pros, but the early Johnny & the Hurricanes featured Lionel "Butch" Mattice on an early Shorthorn Bass much like this one. The film "That Thing You Do" got it exactly right equipping the bass player with one of these before he trades up to a shiny new Fender Jazz Bass when the band has a hit.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 29 1/2 in. (749 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This bass appears to have not seen much use over the last 60 years, showing only some very light play wear and handling/storage marks. The finish has some tiny dings and dents and a spot of what looks vaguely burned-in discoloration on the back, likely from a vinyl-covered cord or strap.
The clear pickguard overlay has some scuffs and one long scratch in the middle. The headstock has discoloration around the throat from 50+ years contact with a leather strap that was clipped around it. There are a few small dirty spots to the vinyl siding.
The bass is fitted with recent flatwound strings for a traditional vintage tone. It is otherwise unaltered from the way it shipped out from Neptune (New Jersey, that is) in far off 1960. The original jobber strap and alligator grain chipboard case are fully intact and surprisingly functional. Over 6 decades on this is still a super handy and comfortable bass to play, and sounds great! Excellent Condition.