1990s Danelectro U2 (Korean) Semihollow Electric Guitar

These old '90s reissue Danelectros made in Korea are all over the place but not always available. I remember when they came out and people were flipped-out about them despite the fact that there was a healthy supply of actual old Danelectros at the time as well. Fortunately, these reissues played better "out of the box" than the old Danos when they left the factory! The oldies always need a bit more TLC to get them bang-on if they've been sitting a long time... but both breeds offer a retro, chimey, balanced tone that suits crossover acoustic-into-electric players quite well.

Just like the originals, these are made with "wood frames" and a centerblock inside but masonite for the top and back. They're lightweight, hold-up very well through rugged use, and look downmarket killer. The pickups are low-output and, fortunately for these '90s reissues, the wiring is the same as the originals. That means that while the neck and bridge positions sound quieter, the middle position on the pickup switch actually gives you a bit of a boost because it adds the pickups in series -- thus turning them into a humbucker with a bit more output.

That's my favorite position on old Danelectro U2s and it sounds great on this one, too. I usually hang on the neck pickup for backing chords and 3-note chop chords, move to the middle for lead or fills, and hang on the bridge pickup if I'm full-on strumming chimey chords like a cowboy or surf aficionado.

Post-mild-repairs it's playing spot-on and ready to go.

Repairs included: fret level/dress, partial fretboard reglue (it was a little loose at the nut), compensation added to the rosewood saddle for 3-plain, 3-wound (modern) stringing, new Switchcraft output jack, setup.

Body wood: pine/poplar framing and centerblock, masonite top/back

Bridge: steel plate with rosewood saddle

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: unknown -- maple?

Pickups: 2x reissue lipstick single coils

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast)
String gauges: 46w-10 lights

Neck shape: medium C

Board radius: ~12"

Truss rod: adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium

Scale length: 25"

Nut width: 1 5/8"

Body width: 13 1/4"

Body depth: 1 5/8"

Condition notes: there are a few nicks and dings along the edges and the original pickguard is missing. The jack has been upgraded to a Switchcraft unit. Otherwise it's all-original and in good order.