Danelectro Standard Shorthorn Model 3612 Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1958)
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Item # 9884
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Danelectro Standard Shorthorn Model 3612 Model Electric 6-String Bass Guitar (1958), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 2088, bronze lacquer finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a really fine original example of a fairly uncommon Danelectro, the "Standard" Model 3612. While the original Shorthorn 6-string guitar and 4-string bass are fairly common as old Dan-o's go, this 6-string bass version was made in far smaller numbers than either and is a much more difficult find. This copper-top beauty is a very early example; dated to the 20th week of 1958 it would have been one of the VERY first made in the new double-cutaway format introduced that year.
This instrument sports a host of the "classic" 1958 Dan-o features: a copper-lacquered semi-hollow Masonite and pine body with rear "trap hatch" control access, white pebble vinyl side covering and a clear celluloid pickguard with more white vinyl beneath. The single lipstick tube pickup is controlled with a volume and tone knob, the latter mated to a 3-way tone modifier switch.
The short 15-fret neck has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and is topped with the trademark "coke bottle" headstock with vertical silver Danelectro logo. The tuners are Waverly openback guitar strips with plastic buttons. The three Shorthorn models were all built very economically from the same set of standard parts, so the bridge is way down at the base of the body allowing for a 29 1/2" scale bass fingerboard to be fitted on a guitar-length neck.
This example is currently set up in B-B Baritone tuning and is a great sounding 6-string bass/Baritone guitar, even with just the single pickup. It could be returned to the original E-E 6-string bass setup with minimal effort. This particular Danelectro model has become a very fashionable instrument of late, as new generations have discovered and embraced the classic Danno twang in this simplest of packages.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 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 29 1/2 in. (749 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nicely clean and original example, one of the nicest we have seen with just some general light wear. There are some small chips, scuffs and dings to the finish and the dirt of the ages in spots, but that's about it. The back of the neck is the only really worn and dirty looking zone, due to Danelectro's somewhat inexplicable habit of spraying the metallic color coat OVER the sealer. Even light use wears the paint rapidly there, so this is almost unavoidable. All external hardware is original.
The tone capacitors were replaced in the wiring rig long ago with 70s style orange drops, while all else inside appears to be original components. The pot dates are soldered over but they appear correct to the instrument. Other than that this is simply about of the nicest of these little deep-toned twangers we have had, a very early example and a fine instrument, especially considering it's mostly made of Masonite! It currently set up in Baritone (B-B) tuning but easily converted to A-A or its original 6-string Bass (E-E) configuration as desired. A more recent HSC is included. Excellent Condition.
This is a really fine original example of a fairly uncommon Danelectro, the "Standard" Model 3612. While the original Shorthorn 6-string guitar and 4-string bass are fairly common as old Dan-o's go, this 6-string bass version was made in far smaller numbers than either and is a much more difficult find. This copper-top beauty is a very early example; dated to the 20th week of 1958 it would have been one of the VERY first made in the new double-cutaway format introduced that year.
This instrument sports a host of the "classic" 1958 Dan-o features: a copper-lacquered semi-hollow Masonite and pine body with rear "trap hatch" control access, white pebble vinyl side covering and a clear celluloid pickguard with more white vinyl beneath. The single lipstick tube pickup is controlled with a volume and tone knob, the latter mated to a 3-way tone modifier switch.
The short 15-fret neck has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and is topped with the trademark "coke bottle" headstock with vertical silver Danelectro logo. The tuners are Waverly openback guitar strips with plastic buttons. The three Shorthorn models were all built very economically from the same set of standard parts, so the bridge is way down at the base of the body allowing for a 29 1/2" scale bass fingerboard to be fitted on a guitar-length neck.
This example is currently set up in B-B Baritone tuning and is a great sounding 6-string bass/Baritone guitar, even with just the single pickup. It could be returned to the original E-E 6-string bass setup with minimal effort. This particular Danelectro model has become a very fashionable instrument of late, as new generations have discovered and embraced the classic Danno twang in this simplest of packages.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 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 29 1/2 in. (749 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nicely clean and original example, one of the nicest we have seen with just some general light wear. There are some small chips, scuffs and dings to the finish and the dirt of the ages in spots, but that's about it. The back of the neck is the only really worn and dirty looking zone, due to Danelectro's somewhat inexplicable habit of spraying the metallic color coat OVER the sealer. Even light use wears the paint rapidly there, so this is almost unavoidable. All external hardware is original.
The tone capacitors were replaced in the wiring rig long ago with 70s style orange drops, while all else inside appears to be original components. The pot dates are soldered over but they appear correct to the instrument. Other than that this is simply about of the nicest of these little deep-toned twangers we have had, a very early example and a fine instrument, especially considering it's mostly made of Masonite! It currently set up in Baritone (B-B) tuning but easily converted to A-A or its original 6-string Bass (E-E) configuration as desired. A more recent HSC is included. Excellent Condition.