Finkdaddy
Joined: Oct 04, 2013
Posts: 115
Waterford, WI
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 12:51 PM
First, I just want to thank everyone who has given me advice on this project and been so cool and helpful, especially CrazyAces. I've learned so much from this project and definately from reading as much as I can from this website. 
I do realize that the B5 I added is not a name brand Bigsby. That is the first lesson I learned on this. You get what you pay for. Eventually I will be replacing this one with a real Bigsby. At that time I will also replace the tunners and maybe the nut as well.
Here is the Dano all finished up. I did have to add a small block of wood on the inside to support the tremolo. I only had to add one to support the front two screws because there was enough wood on the back side to cover those screws.
As you can see, I decided to attach a tune-o-matic bridge. This solved some problems, but created others. The first one I used, which was taken of a Jazzmaster guitar, was built pretty poorly and would rock back and forth. So, I switched it out with a locking roller bridge from Stew Mac. It works much better.
I had to relocate the bottom knob because it was too close to the bar and wouldn't fit. This wasn't too tricky. I just drilled a new hole and pulled the knob over. I had to use and extra washer on the inside, but it worked out well. The location it's in now is really the only place it could have gone because of the available space on the inside of the guitar.
The other problem that I had was the new bridge was entirely to tall for the Dano neck. So, after much crying and cursing, I finally solved the problem buy putting a small shim in the neck and routing out the top of the guitar for the height adjusters so that the bottom of the bridge lay flat on the top of the guitar. I didn't want to do this, but if I shimmed the neck high enough for the bridge the other way then I couldn't adjust the pickups high enough for the strings.
Over all I'm very happy with it. I did tighten up the truss rod and put on flat wound 12's. I has a really nice tone. It sounds very 50's/British invasion to me which is exactly what I wanted.
I also think I will leave the old holes unfilled in the top. I kind of think they look cool.
Thanks again everyone!!!
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Bill_Ashton
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 124
Massachusetts
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 02:11 PM
Very nice job. It does sound like you learned a lot in the process.
Two questions: 1, What amp are you playing this through and 2, What is your next project?
— Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most...
Last edited: Nov 10, 2013 14:12:09
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 02:27 PM
I think that's very cool looking. I've seen a few Dan's on stage lately and they sounded pretty good.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Finkdaddy
Joined: Oct 04, 2013
Posts: 115
Waterford, WI
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 02:45 PM
Thank you, Noel! I'm very proud of it.
Bill, don't laugh, but I have no amp right now. I had been out of the music scene for nearly 15 years, so I had sold my amps years ago; not long after I got married, in fact.
So, now that I'm getting back into things, I'm playing through my Boss BR900CD studio into a home stereo I have set up in my practice room.
I'm actually playing bass in our band, so I'm saving up for a nice bass amp. A guitar amp is a bit off in the future, I'm afraid.
As far as my next project, I don't really know! One of my other big hobbies is making custom ukuleles, so that takes a lot of my time. I'm working on a koa wood uke right now for a store in San Diego. Something I'd like to do is make a tricked out steel string electric surf uke. Maybe something that looks like a Jag, or perhaps something new altogether. I'll have to see what happens!
Thanks everyone.
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 03:17 PM
Looks like it worked. However, that bridge looks like a Wilkinson roller bridge to me. Def not a Tune-o-matic.
— SSIV
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Finkdaddy
Joined: Oct 04, 2013
Posts: 115
Waterford, WI
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 03:21 PM
LHR wrote:
Looks like it worked. However, that bridge looks like a Wilkinson roller bridge to me. Def not a Tune-o-matic.
Oh, I know! The tune-o-matic was the first one I tried. It came off a Jazzmaster. The roller bridge was something I ordered from StewMac to replace that one. Sorry if I was confusing. I didn't like the way the saddles moved back and forth with the tremolo. It messed with the tuning quite a bit.
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 05:35 PM
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 07:44 PM
Cool build. It's always worth the trouble to find solutions for technical problems because of all the learning you get with the trouble. To certain extent.
You should buy a cool bass amp that can double as a guitar amp without sacrifice. An Ampeg or Bassman would be just the ticket.
— Squink Out!
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Finkdaddy
Joined: Oct 04, 2013
Posts: 115
Waterford, WI
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Posted on Nov 10 2013 08:04 PM
JObeast wrote:
Cool build. It's always worth the trouble to find solutions for technical problems because of all the learning you get with the trouble. To certain extent.
You should buy a cool bass amp that can double as a guitar amp without sacrifice. An Ampeg or Bassman would be just the ticket.
Thank you, JObeast. And thank you for the advice. That's a great idea!
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LeeVanCleef
Joined: Oct 05, 2011
Posts: 744
France
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Posted on Nov 11 2013 02:04 PM
Neat job! Nice to see the result and to hear your thoughts on the mod. I'm thinking of getting a Dano sometime soon and may consider doing the same mod if the model I get can accommodate it.
I agree with JObeast, if you mainly play bass then you should concentrate on getting a good bass amp. Then maybe you could use a SansAmp Blonde pedal (or its much cheaper clone the Joyo American Sound) as a preamp through your bass amp with a guitar.
— Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.
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Jimicito
Joined: Nov 12, 2013
Posts: 1
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Posted on Nov 12 2013 11:06 PM
Hi there,
Nice job.
I too have just finished modding my Danelectro, a 56 Pro Reissue that I bought in Ireland in 2006. Didn't want to change the knob positions so I opted for the vintage Hofner style Trem from Guitar fetish ( cheap and not particularly well finished I'm afraid). Used a woodblock too which is glued in place and held by the trem screws.
I also added a few other mods while I was at it. Perloid Scratchplate, metal knobs and Sperzel locking machineheads.
Only just finished it this afternoon and so far it seems to work reasonably well. Have to give the arm a slight upward tug to get it back to rest position. I'll see how it behaves over the next week or two and will try adjusting it some more.
I'm playing this for home recording mostly and I'm using a 1960's EKO 10 Watt Valve amp that I was luck enough to get on a secondhand item website here in Lima. Kinda like a Vox AC15.
I'm a newbie to this site but love what I'm seeing. Not many surf type bands here in Peru so maybe its time to start one!
Best regards,
Jim
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Nov 13 2013 04:46 AM
Welcome to the forum, Jim! Looks like a very nice build and I love that amp!
Drats, I have a Longhorn that could use a whammy as well...hmmmm
— The Hicadoolas
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Finkdaddy
Joined: Oct 04, 2013
Posts: 115
Waterford, WI
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Posted on Nov 13 2013 05:29 AM
Welcome to the forum. That looks really nice! I saw that same bridge after I modded mine. I wish I had seen it earlier because that would have worked much better than what I did. Great job!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Nov 13 2013 08:49 AM
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June Birthdays 
