Vintage 1956 Danelectro U-2 Refinished White With Varitone Mod With Gig Bag

We've had a lot of nice vintage guitars here, including some super cool Danelectros - and now we have a very interesting one.

This Danelectro U2 is from 1956.  This is the year that the now legendary model debuted.  Danelectro came out with its dual-pickup hollow bodied guitar, made of poplar and Masonite, as a distinctive offering that differentiated it from what other companies were doing.  Not only was it lightweight, but the tone was totally different, thanks to the lipstick pickups, wired in series, instead of parallel.  The model was only made for a few years, but became well known amongst guitar players that wanted something "different".  It regained popularity in the 2000's once being reissued, but for many, a vintage one is the only way to go.

here we have a great example of one that has been modified to be more versatile.  Ever wanted a Gibson-style varitone switch on a Danelectro U2?  Now you have it!  Check this out....

The pickups, pots and tuners are original.  What's not original would be the bridge, output jack, strap buttons, and the finish.  Most significantly, a master volume control and a 5-way rotary switch has been added. 

The Varitone circuit operates simply, providing the player with easily accessible tone options.  It's done by using a series of capacitors and inductors to create different frequency filters, controlled by a rotary switch.  Each setting has a distinct effect on the sound.  Here's what you get:

• Position 1: This setting is known as “bypass” and offers the cleanest and most unfiltered sound. The signal passes through without any tonal modification.
• Position 2: This setting boosts the midrange frequencies, resulting in a thicker, more pronounced tone. It adds warmth and depth to the sound.
• Position 3: This setting emphasizes the treble frequencies, providing a brighter, more cutting tone. It is often used for solos or when a more aggressive sound is desired.
• Position 4: This setting applies a low-pass filter, cutting out high frequencies and producing a darker, smoother tone. It is commonly used for jazz or blues playing.
• Position 5: This setting applies a high-pass filter, cutting out low frequencies and producing a thin, focused tone. It is often used for rhythm guitar parts or when a more defined sound is desired.

As you can see, you can get a LOT out of this guitar.  It's perfect for the studio, or live use where you need a variety of tones.  And of course it's just fun to play with it.

The guitar is in good shape, especially considering it's turning 70 this year.  Setup to play perfectly by the techs in our shop, it's ready to go.  A gig bag is included.  You won't see another like this one out there, that's for sure!