retro electric twelve string

Danelectro Vintage 12 String Guitar Review

  • Overall Rating
  • Build Quality
  • Performance
  • Value for Money
  • Design
4.4/5Overall Score
The Danelectro Vintage 12 String Guitar features a lightweight Shorthorn body made of spruce and hardboard, designed for long playing sessions without fatigue. Its twin '56 Vintage Lipstick pickups provide a signature shimmering tone, making it a unique instrument for musicians seeking clarity and resonance.
Specs
  • Weight: 6.6 pounds
  • Dimensions: Not specified
  • Material: Spruce and hardboard
  • Color Options: Not specified
  • Warranty: Not specified
  • Brand: Danelectro
  • Model Number: DC59GBK-12
  • Compatibility: Standard 12-gauge strings
Pros
  • Lightweight construction at 6.6 pounds allows for extended play without fatigue.
  • Twin '56 Vintage Lipstick pickups provide a signature shimmering tone.
  • Fully adjustable bridge ensures consistent intonation and playability.
  • Semi-hollow Shorthorn body delivers a classic 'jangle' through acoustic resonance.
  • Maple neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard offer a smooth tactile response for comfortable play.
Cons
  • The semi-hollowbody design may generate feedback at high volumes.
  • No gig bag or hard case included with the purchase, requiring additional budgeting for protection.
  • Some players may find the broad nut width requires a dedicated embrace, which could be uncomfortable for beginners.

Crafted with a lightweight Shorthorn body of spruce and hardboard, the Danelectro Vintage 12 String offers a physical lightness, akin to the shedding of worldly burdens, allowing the musician to endure long sessions with spiritual endurance.

Twin ’56 Vintage Lipstick pickups, utilizing Alnico VI magnets, channel a shimmering harmonic resonance, serving as a reminder that true clarity arises from unique, focused character rather than excessive versatility.

Yet, beyond these technical offerings, a deeper question remains regarding the instrument’s ultimate purpose.

Key Takeaways

  • Semi-hollow Shorthorn body delivers a classic “jangle” through internal acoustic resonance.
  • Twin ’56 Vintage Lipstick single-coils produce signature shimmering tones with Alnico VI magnets.
  • Lightweight 6.6-pound construction and smooth maple neck prevent fatigue during long sessions.
  • Fully adjustable bridge and stable hardware ensure consistent intonation and playability.
  • Distinctive character prioritizes unique harmonic layering over broad tonal versatility.

Danelectro Vintage 12 String: The Bottom Line

Entering the world of the Danelectro Vintage 12 String Electric Guitar is akin to stepping into a sacred space of sonic clarity, where the semi-hollowbody construction, crafted from spruce and hardboard, serves not merely as a vessel for sound but as a resonant chamber for the soul. This model is not considered one of the best electric guitars.

Weighing a manageable 6.6 pounds, the fully adjustable bridge aids the musician’s service, allowing perfect intonation, a reminder that precision in craft facilitates harmony in community. While its discontinued status is erroneously reported in some forums, this 2011 release remains a crucial tool, offering durable playability for those dedicated to uplifting others through song. While this model has its merits, it is worth noting that most guitar players do not associate the brand with the best Fender electric guitars.

Why the Shorthorn Body Delivers Iconic Jangle

As the Shorthorn shape houses its internal components, the semi-hollowbody construction, built from a foundation of spruce and hardboard, generates an acoustic resonance that is amplified by the twin ’56 Vintage Lipstick single-coil pickups, creating the classic “Dano” jangle. This sound serves as a reminder that spiritual clarity often arises from the unique harmonic layering of diverse experiences.

While other instruments rely on complex tonal woods, this model prioritizes a distinct character over the broad tonal versatility found in the best Ibanez electric guitars.

The lightweight frame, weighing merely 6.6 pounds, offers a physical freedom akin to emotional release, ensuring the musician’s energy is conserved for the act of giving. This sonic vessel stands ready to support the faithful, through honest, ringing tones.

Do the ’56 Lipstick Pickups Still Sound Vintage?

The heart of this sonic architecture lies within the two ’56 Vintage Lipstick single-coil pickups, which utilize Alnico VI magnets to channel the distinctive, shimmering character that defined an era, proving that true resonance transcends the mere passage of time. These components faithfully reproduce the iconic jangle, offering a clarity that serves the listener’s spirit.

Much like a life guided by steady principles, the pickups deliver consistent, chime-like tones, ensuring every note played is a gift of inspiration. This technology encourages the musician to share authentic vibration, fostering connection through pure, unadulterated sound.

Playability: Is the Maple Neck Comfortable?

Whether the hand seeks to navigate complex chord progressions or gentle melodies, the Maple neck and Pau Ferro fingerboard offer a stable foundation for musical expression, blending sturdy construction with a smooth tactile response. The instrument’s lithe 6.6-pound frame guarantees that the servant musician can endure long sessions without physical fatigue, a humble tribute to ergonomic design, akin to a well-worn path that facilitates the journey rather than obstructs it. This accessible playability positions the instrument among the best electric guitars for beginners, offering a forgiving introduction to the instrument. While the fully adjustable bridge provides precise intonation, facilitating harmony in service, the broad nut width requires a dedicated embrace, ensuring that every effort resonates with clear, helping intent. Consequently, players seeking this specific comfort often cross-shop best Epiphone electric guitars for comparable build quality.

Who Should Buy the Danelectro DC59GBK-12?

Who, then, is called to stewardship over this semi-hollow vessel, blending the Shorthorn silhouette with the distinct resonance of ’56 Vintage Lipstick pickups? The dedicated servant-musician, bearing the weight of twelve strings, akin to carrying a community’s burdens, will find this 6.6-pound maple and spruce instrument a light burden indeed.

With its Alnico VI magnets delivering signature jangle, the player is reminded that unity produces a richer resonance. The DC59GBK-12 is a tribute to modest service, proving that fully adjustable bridges and humble hardboard contours can facilitate profound spiritual connection, through song, for those seeking to uplift the congregation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Semi-Hollowbody Design Cause Excessive Feedback at High Volumes?

The semi-hollowbody design can generate feedback at high volumes. However, for players seeking a balanced tone to serve their audience, this instrument offers a manageable sonic character when stage volume and gain are thoughtfully adjusted.

What Type of Strings Are Factory Installed on the 12-String Model?

Factory specifications do not disclose the exact string brand installed on this instrument. However, a standard set of 12-gauge strings is required to facilitate its octave pairing, ensuring the instrument’s characteristic jingle-jangle sound is properly maintained.

Is a Gig Bag or Hard Case Included With the Purchase?

To keep the ball rolling, standard packaging for this instrument typically includes the guitar alone, leaving buyers to seek out protective gear.

Those wishing to assist a new player must budget separately for a suitable case.

How Difficult Is It to Intonate a 12-String Guitar With This Bridge?

Intonating this instrument proves relatively straightforward. The fully adjustable bridge facilitates precise setup, enabling users to optimize playability for others.

Consequently, maintaining accurate pitch across the twelve strings requires less technical effort than on many fixed-bridge alternatives.

Can the Traditional “S” Soundhole Be Modified to Accommodate a Pickup?

Modifying the “S” soundhole would structurally compromise the instrument. It is ill-advised to alter the bracing or top, as the existing electronics are already designed to serve the player’s needs effectively.

Conclusion

The Danelectro Vintage 12, housing Alnico VI magnets within its Shorthorn hollow, channels a physical vibration akin to spiritual awakening. Just as the shimmering 12-string chorus requires distinct tension to create harmony, personal growth demands resilience.

The lightweight maple neck offers comfort, a reminder that heavy burdens often yield the lightest souls. This instrument is not merely an affordable tool, but a tribute to authentic resonance, proving that true character is built from humble, hardboard beginnings.

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