Danelectro '63 Long Scale Bass guitar review

Sounds

Plugging in the Dano with the standard treble roll-off control on full and both pickups on is far more rewarding than you’d think. The tone is not at all cheap or boxy; there’s a bright, bell-like edge and a pleasing growl at the bottom end. Fretted notes on thinner strings have a metallic edge with a sprinkling of high-mid honk, but there’s plenty of body and this clear, chiming tone will sit well in a modern rock context. The bridge pickup sound is a little quieter with a nasal, high-mid edge, but the sound isn’t too choked and the natural low-end growl survives.
The neck pickup is a touch juicier and emits a pleasing growl with plenty of earthy qualities. Notes are fat and rounded across the fretboard and this sound will work fine in retro soul, blues or funk settings. Winding back the tone control dulls the notes in much the same way that a new set of strings ages and loses that brand-new edge, so you don’t get a heavier note, just one with a well-defined thud. There are few subtle variations as you roll the tone further back, and full cut is the standard unusable woolly drone. Taking a similar route in bridge mode slowly decreases the metallic edge without removing too much of the burping high-mid vibe, with the maximum practical cut you get being just short of totally backed-off. This leaves you with a polite tone which will integrate into an instrumental mix very comfortably. When you chop back the tone control in twin pickup mode the aggressive edge slowly recedes and the chiming quality diminishes, leaving you with a much smoother, silkier tone. There’s still a hint of a growl, but the warmer feel makes it a versatile option for more polite company.