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Re-creations of classic lipstick tube pickups grace this twang gem

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• Review

With their lightweight bodies and distinctive lipstick-tube pickups, the original Danelectros of the early to mid-'60s created a sensation amongst budget rockers and pros alike. Now the the popular semi-hollow 1449 model has been brought back to life as the Dano '63.

Danelectro. The very name conjures up images of Sears catalogs and "all-in-one" amp-case and guitar sets; of black-with-silver-sparkle, 45 rpm how-to-play records and endless surf parties.

But it wasn't just twang kings like Dick Dale and his ilk that celebrated the wonders of the Danelectro; players as disparate as Jimmy Page and Elvis Costello revered the 3/4-sized guitars and coaxed unearthly sounds, both impeccably clean and gloriously gritty, from their chambered little bodies. The Dano '63 is a deliriously fun ride back in time that feels strangely current.

Design and construction

The Dano's body is mostly faithful to that of the original. Constructed on the front and back from a Masonite 'sandwich', it features an inner plywood core (the original had a core made of poplar) that runs from the neck pocket to behind the bridge. This core is chambered around the sides and behind the bridge, giving the guitar a resonant and very "alive" sound (rather like that of hollow-bodied, f-hole models), even while being played unplugged.

While much is made out of some electrics that have pronounced unamped abilities, it is especially noteworthy in a guitar this compact and lightweight. Usually the temptation with any electric is to plug it in as soon as possible, but we found ourselves happily picking the Dano unplugged for over half an hour before giving thought to an amp. That's a biggie.

Our model arrived with a decidedly retro "Keen Green" finish -- seven other finish options are available. There is a large, wavy pick guard, constructed of wood and painted white, that encircles the neck pickup and takes up roughly half of the guitar's body. The instrument's famous, exaggerated contours are vaguely reminiscent of a Fender Stratocaster, and its rounded double-cutaways allow easy access to top frets.

Running along the edge of the body is a vinyl tape that is tinted convincingly to appear aged. In playing position, the guitar looks small and thin (that's because it is), and in this case that's a compliment. Because of its flat body shape, the maximum depth is the same all around: 1-3/4 inches.

The C-shaped neck is maple, with an unbound headstock. With a scale length of 25 inches and 19 frets, the Dano, again, at first felt somewhat tiny, but we got used to the size very quickly. The neck is securely joined to the body at the 14th fret by two large screws behind the back. (The original 1449 was connected with three bolts.)