Danelectro U-2 Frankenstein Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959/1964), black gig bag case.

Danelectro U-2 Frankenstein Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959/1964), made in Neptune, NJ, black lacquer with vinyl edging finish, masonite and pine body, poplar neck with rosewood fingerboard, black gig bag case.

This '50s style U-2 is a good player, although assembled like Frankenstein's monster from parts found in a Danelectro graveyard as the good doctor himself would say "IT'S ALIVE!!". The neck is from a 1959 U-style guitar, the dating code is there but barely legible. This had a long-ago repaired headstock crack (hard to see what happened there) and was refinished in black. There is also a small repaired split to the back of the neck in the first fret area, sealed and lightly touched up. The "Coke bottle" headstock has a correct-style but later decal logo (the original was silkscreened) and retains the original Waverly openback strip tuners. The original aluminum nut has been replaced with a larger bone version.

The body appears to be a early/mid '60s Silvertone Model 1444 Bass; there is no legible body date but a smeared ink stamp on masking tape under the original metal control cavity cover suggests 1963. Danelectro parts were specifically designed to be modular, and can be assembled in different configurations so this bass/guitar hybrid is fully functional. This formerly single pickup body was routed for a second, wired to an original concentric pot rig with date codes from the 40th week of 1964, likely from a Silvertone amp-in-case model based on the knob color. The pickguard is original to the body and the bridge is an original Danelectro guitar unit. The lower strap button is original, the upper is not and was once mounted lower on the rim and the metal jackplate is a crude hand-made replica.

Although assembled from parts this is a fully serviceable guitar, bargain priced compared to an all-original 1950s U-2. It plays well and sounds great, a "Back from the Grave" garage band classic.

Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

We don't know how long ago this "Franken-Danno" was assembled (it looks like decades back) but is had seen some use since. The finish on the body shows dings, scratches, chips and scuffs overall, with a few spots discreetly touched up. The neck re-finish is decently well done although not exactly to vintage Danno specs (It covers the entire back of the neck, not just the center) and shows dings, dents and chips, some under the finish that were not filled before the respray. The vinyl edging is original with no tears, only some dirt and staining. The original frets have been crowned down a bit and are in good playing shape. While a bit scruffy overall this hybrid Danno plays as well as many '50s examples and sounds just as good, a decent approximation of the classic U-2 at a relative bargain price. Very Good + Condition.