Danelectro Convertible Model 5015 Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 2034, formica with vinyl siding finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard.
A nice example of this classic 1960's Danelectro Convertible, the company's least expensive model with a fully hollow body, single lipstick tube pickup in a round soundhole, Formica top and back finish and vinyl siding. The neck is the standard Danelectro style with a vertical logo and the Waverly strip tuners used up through 1964. This model was offered for sale both with or without a pickup (hence the name) and the electronics package was actually available as a separate kit. The Convertible guitars do not have a solid center block like the Danelectro standard models and thus have more body response than any other Nathan Daniel design, and actually are a fairly functional acoustic guitar. The original list price with the pickup was all of $65.00 but they have proved enduringly popular with a unique tone all their own, both plugged and unplugged. A few years back renowned singer/songwriter J.J. Cale was seen using a Convertible extensively, inspiring continuing interest in this unusual Danelectro creation.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 in. (5.1 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 guitar is in all original condition withsome light average cosmetic wear, mostly a few dings and chips chips to the body and headstock edges. There have been no alterations; there is an old repair of a lateral stress crack under the fingerboard back from the nut on both sides, solid but visible-more so on the treble side. This does not extend past the first fret, and does not affect play at all-in fact it is fairly inconspicuous. The top has some of the typical dipping under the bridge (it is unsupported Masonite, after all) but the guitar still plays and sounds extremely well. This old Danno has a surprising acoustic sound, really much more than it technically ought to! A nice playing example of original New Jersey goodness!. Excellent - Condition.
