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Danelectro 56-U2

The Danelectro U2 is a dual-pickup hollow bodied guitar made of Masonite and shaped similar to a Les Paul model guitar. It was originally made from the years 1956 to 1958 but was re-issued in the late 90s, in 2006 in a slightly modified form as the '56 Pro, and again in 2010-11 as the '56 Single Cutaway.

The sound of a U2 is distinctive of the Danelectro guitar, coming from its lipstick pickup which when both selected are wired in series rather than the more standard parallel used today by most big brands.

Construction materials used by Danelectro in this period are quite unusual for guitar making.
The U2's body is made of a poplar wood frame with Masonite used for both the top and back,
with the side of the body being bound with creme colored vinyl.

56-U2 - 1st re-issue
circa 1998-2001

It's no wonder that players who can own every variation of
Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster or Gibson Les Paul
own at least one Danelectro.


There is simply no other guitar like a Dano!...

If there is a sound you have been struggling to attain,
play a Danelectro 56-U2 and you might discover that
the sweet tone that has been eluding you is just two
lipstick pickups and a semi-hollow body away.

When Nat Daniel made the first Danelectro back in the mid Fifties,
could he have had any clue that his guitar would sound so great and
play so majestically? Known for its amazing tone and "signature sound,"
the U2 guitar was a instant hit when it first appeared in 1956. Thousands
of recordings from the 50's and 60's feature its signature sound.
Forty-something years later, the U2's sonic magic is superbly
replicated in its new reissue incarnation, the 56-U2.
Impressively, it's a near-perfect recreation of the original
with "Coke bottle" headstock and exact replicas of the original's tuners.

Just about everything here is identical to the original!
 
This includes those beloved "lipstick tube" (so-named because the
originals actually used surplus lipstick tubes), single-coil pickups,
the stacked, concentric knobs (combining volume and tone onto
one pot); the heavy-duty, industrial-strength toggle switch,
and an alloy bridge with a rosewood saddle.

The 56-U2's hollowness provides a buxom acoustic voice;
amplified, it's a bright, trebly guitar with ample harmonic
overtones that cut through a mix.
 
It's simply a great-sounding guitar that delivers jangle (using both pickups)
and fatness (the typical front-pickup tone). The pickups kick out a
Strat-like output, but with more midrange.
 
The 56-U2 offers great playability and cool vintage looks!

Specifications Average weight = 6.0 lbs. Body Hardboard top and bottom with plywood frame. Neck Hard maple with rosewood fingerboard. Scale 25” Frets 21 Body Width 42mm Headstock Width 15.5mm Nut Width 40mm Action 1.6mm high 'E'
18mm low 'E' Pickups Original style brass tube w/chrome plating
Magnet – Original formula 50’s style Alnico magnet.
Cheap Gigbag included.  I can offer a better gigbag with lots of padding for an additional cost.

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Listed9 years ago
ConditionVery Good (Used)
Very Good items may show a few slight marks or scratches but are fully functional and in overall great shape.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • 56-U2 - 1st re-issue
Finish
  • Copper Burst
Categories
Year
  • 1998-2001
Body Type
  • Solid Body

RH Factor Guitars and Pickups

Newark, OH, United States
Sales:1,325
Joined Reverb:2014

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