Danelectro Standard Model 3022 Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Neptune, NJ, serial # 1030, bronze lacquer with vinyl edging finish, Masonite and poplar body; basswood neck with rosewood fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
This is an all-original and very good-playing example of one of the classic vintage Danelectro guitars, the early double-cutaway "Standard" Model 3022. While these original "Shorthorn guitar" and bass are fairly common as old Dannos go, examples as original as this one are a more difficult find. This early example of this model was made in spring 1960 and has the defining 1959-60 Dan-o features: semi-hollow Masonite and pine body with rear "trap hatch" control access, white pebble vinyl side covering, and a small clear celluloid pickguard with vinyl backing.
The twin lipstick tube pickups are wired in series like most Dannos and controlled with concentric volume and tone knobs, mated to a 3-way pickup selector switch. As usual this guitar sounds best in the center switch position, with the pickups blendable by the volume controls. The poplar neck has a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and is topped with the trademark "coke bottle" headstock marked with the silver stencil Danelectro logo, mounting the earlier style Waverly strip tuners. This is a great-sounding guitar with the classic Danno twang factor; it is the direct precursor to the celebrated "Jimmy Page" model, with the only differences being the bronze finish instead of black and the type of pickguard.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 12 7/8 in. (32.7 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Overall this is a nice example of this classic Nathan Daniel creation, showing some general play wear but remaining all original with no notable damage or repair. There are some small scrapes and dings to the finish, with a spot of armwear along the upper edge and light greening to the metallic paint along the edges. Somebody played with their hand tight over the bridge and actually wore a small hole through the finish slightly into the Masonite top just below the lower edge of the bridgeplate. The back of the neck has typical heavier wear to the bronze lacquer with "greened" and worn-away areas down to the clearcoat; inexplicably the metallic copper color coat on these Dannos was sprayed OVER the clearcoat, so it wears very quickly on contact with the hand. Some of the vinyl is lightly discolored, but it is all intact.
All hardware on the guitar is original and quite clean including the pickups and wiring rig; the pots appear dated to the first week of 1960. The original frets have been re-crowned a bit and this is an excellent player. Currently it is set up in all-original style but the previous owner had a hand-made compensated brass saddle fabricated that brightens the sound noticeably, which can be fitted if desired. Even considering the play wear this is one of the nicer 6-string Shorthorns we have had in some time and includes the rare original trapezoidal grey Masonite case in solid shape. Overall Excellent - Condition.
