www.shortscale.org

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Awhile back I bought a few Dano necks from the GFS "Factory Buyout Clearance Section" as well as a few other style necks.
Some were fretted some hadn't made it that far along in the process. But the price was right and I'm learning how to build necks
anyway so this would be good way to hone some skills.

Here's the Dano necks.

Covered in dust after they were sanded down. (Yeah, I've got plans for a Vox Teardrop build someday.)

Printed out some scale drawings and started making the templates.

Once the templates were sorted out I started rough cutting and gluing up a couple of bodies.
I had some scrap finished plywood that I used for the frame.
Added a Masonite top and back to the frame.
From what I've read the early Danelectros used pine frames and later switched to poplar frames.

The highly complex gluing and clamping process.

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Neck pockets routed.

Necks mounted. This is where I'm at until this cold snap moves out.

Oh yeah. GFS had these 30" scale necks listed for a short time and I couldn't resist a Longhorn 6 string bass build.
I bought a Jerry Jones steel dano bridge for this one.

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

paul_ · . Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 9726

You crazy son of a bitch.

Awesome build thread is awesome.
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Fakir Mustache · . Joined: 25 Sep 2013 Posts: 4078

that's awesome

Thomas · . Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 3285 Location: Glasgow, UK

These look great. I'll be keeping a close eye on these builds!!

Zack · . Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 700 Location: Chicago

Dude, this thread is great and it's only gonna get better. I really like seeing those danos in progress, something about that masonite makes 'em look rustic. That longhorn is gonna be so sick!

sunshiner · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:06 am Post subject:

Great thread indeed.
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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

Thanks guys. I'll try and keep the progress updated. Here's the look I'm shooting for with the U1 build.

http://www.vintagesilvertones.com/gallery_gtr-dano-u1-copper.html

I've been so obsessed with these vintage Silvertones/Danelectros for the last few months that my daughter (with a little help from my wife)
bought me this book at Christmas. It's a great resource.

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Smells like Rock n' Roll

benecol · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:23 pm Post subject:

Love these! Wish I still had that Dano-style body of yours I had...

cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

cur · . Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 7295

Did you add extra bracing for the 12 string? Or is that how they were built? Been thinking of a convertible with the 12 string neck I picked up, but not sure if it would implode.

Looking good !
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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

benecol · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 12:44 pm Post subject:

ekwatts · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:55 am Post subject:

This is ridiculous. Fucking nice one.

This year I'm going to try and finish my teardrop (spraying the body and the massive botch I made of the neck put a halt to it a few years ago), but I might look into bagging a twelve string neck (they have some with no frets on GFS) and making a body to match, as a longer-term project.
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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

cur · . Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 7295

That was sort my idea to beef up the side walls a bit and then run some 3/8 square aluminum tubing just wide of the sound hole but attached to the bridge block and glued to the top as well. probably notched and screwed to side walls and bridge pad. That way it will still be hollow chambered.

something like this;

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ekwatts · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:58 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, ideas are hatching... If I get the twelve string neck for the sake of speed I'd probably just convert the U2 I have first off, then maybe build a convertible body for the U2 neck. But if I were to make a convertible, it'd probably end up with f-holes. Loving the new 12 string with an f-hole they released recently. That way I could have a proper centre-block running the length of the guitar. I know it's not really a "proper" dano then, or even close to a proper semi acoustic, but.. whatever.

Looking for masonite.. can't find any other than as artists canvas. Is it not too common in the UK? What else might it be called?
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ekwatts · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:02 pm Post subject:

Also, what thickness wood did you use for the body? I'm looking at regular 45mm body blanks, but are they slightly too thick once the masonite top and bottoms go on? How thick are they? 5mm or slightly thicker? Would I be better off grabbing some 40mm wood from a local store or something?
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cooter · . Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1182 Location: Blue Ridge, GA

db · . Joined: 25 Nov 2011 Posts: 17