1959 Danelectro U3 Silvertone 1305 Triple Pickup Creamburst, Fantastic Crazing, Killer Tones, Stunning, w/Case

This guitar in a collection in England for decades, bought in London decades ago and put away. Out of circulation for a long time. I took a chance on the CITES stuff because of course it has a Brazilian   Rosewood board, and had it imported, brought back home to the US after all this time.

Has extreme and really beautiful checking.

Was already checked like this at time of original purchase before going into collection.
Very unusually beautiful checking of the Creamburst finish sets this one apart from the pack, except that there isn't a pack, there's hardly any of these around.

This was the the top of the line Silvertone model, consequently not many sold at the price of $89.50.

The guitars have aged much better than the dollar.
Has added strap buttons, very old installation/parts, part of the guitars character now. The old plastic button at the bottom is broken out in the guitar.

The white pickup on/off knobs are period USA bakelite, but not the goofy sometimes pointy originals. They work like this; all three pickups can be turned on/off independently of each other via the white knobs by turning clockwise = off, counter clockwise = on, for a number of delicious Dano tones. The black knobs are tone and they work. All three pickups/switching work well.

The neck pickup is quite muted by some jazzy bassy cap so it sounds a bit weak by itself, but as a complement to the uber sharp sounding bridge pickup - because of placement - the two of them together sound fantastic, nailing some EVH tone through a good dirtbox, and you can add/delete the middle pickup for some some funky extra mids.

Or do bridge middle only for a really punchy gutsy sound, and add the neck in and out for extra bass when you want it.

Go neck and middle, add the bridge when you want it.

The possibilities are near endless, a lot more versatile that a Strat.

Also to note the pickups are in series, so more pickups engaged, the more output you have.

At full output it might be even with a humbucker.

Original case, as came with the guitar.

Frets are in great shape, this guitar is never been been played much, too precious. Top quality Kluson tuners in great shape, no bent shafts.

All pickup screws are original, rare. The pickups are easily very close to the strings, good adjustability, unlike some older Danos that have the pickups far away from the strings and can't be adjusted up any higher. Bridge is also very low, low action. Very nice. The pickups look nearly like new, very low mile guitar.

The bridge screws are tilting ever so slightly after 62 years, better than most others because these screws are very low, apparently has always had very low action.

Dreamy tones, but if you want to overdrive an amp like you would with a humbucker, use a clean boost.

Has some eccentricities typical of vintage Danos, the tone and playability and cool factor make it more than worth it.

Lightweight for a triple pickup guitar.

The coolest Dano/Silvertone in existence.



Smoke free home studio use only, ships USPS Priority with full Reverb coverage within 24hrs.