Danelectro UB-2 Composite Model Electric 6-String Bass Guitar, c. 1960, made in Neptune, NJ, black finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
OK, looking for that classic 1950-60s vintage Danno 6-string bass crunch and twang on a budget? This specimen of a 1950s style Danelectro "UB-2" is far from an original instrument, but it plays well and has that heavy heavy monster sound in spades! This is a composite instrument made up of parts from a couple of vintage sources, at least. The 29 1/2" scale poplar neck was originally part of an original 1960s 6-string Longhorn bass, identified by the old copper-and-cream logo still visible on the headstock. It has been painted black, fitted with old "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatic tuners and had a string tree added, as the shafts of the Grovers sit too high. The aluminum nut remains original; we'll get to the zero fret in a minute.
The body appears to be originally from a late-1950s single-pickup Silvertone #1419 guitar, based on a filled pickup rout in the top. It has been refinished in black (although it was black originally) and is now fitted with twin Danelectro pickups in the correct layout for a UB-2 six-string bass. As everything has been repainted, there are no coded dates visible. The vinyl on the sides is replaced, a pretty close approximation of what it would have had originally. The bridge is an original Danelectro component, there is no pickguard and both strap buttons are later.
The wiring rig is cobbled together from various vintage components in the correct approximation of the original stacked tone/volume single switch layout; the switch is vintage Danno-correct although it sits pretty high, the pots are of unknown origin. The soldering is messy at best, but everything works as intended. The knobs are in a vaguely correct style; they look handmade.
In a rather fetishistic attempt at perfect intonation (something original Danelectros rarely are known for) a zero fret was added below the nut with an additional mini-zero fret for the low E and A strings below it while the bridge saddle was notched back for those same 2 strings. Although it looks somewhat demented the instrument actually plays pretty well in tune, so we have left this eccentric work in place. All-in-all this is a good playing and great sounding approximation of an original 1950s Danelectro U-2 at a fraction of the price those now command when one can even be found.
Overall length is 43 5/16 in. (110 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.).
We don't know how long ago this "Franken-Danno" bass was assembled (it looks like decades back) but is had seen some use since. The finish on the body is a very good approximation of the original Danelectro lacquer and shows dings, dents, chips and scuffs overall. The neck finish is less well polished out, there is checking to the headstock and scattered dings, dents and chips to the neck including some that are under the finish. The vinyl edging is fairly dirty. The frets are in very good shape and this somewhat quizzical hybrid instrument plays very nicely and sounds great, perfect for recording studio use. It lives in a somewhat battered older Fender-style HSC. Overall Very Good Condition.
