1958 Danelectro-made Silvertone U2 semihollow electric guitar

Photos and details: https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/202...

Old, ‘50s, semihollow Danelectro U2s are where it’s at, friends! This one’s a ‘58 and has black paint and the Silvertone (Sears) brand at the (coke-bottle!) headstock.

I did work on this guitar a few years ago and set it up as a “Nashville-strung” instrument for its owner. He’s bought too much fancy new gear so this one’s back for sale.

This time around it’s setup “as-normal” and got a new jack, too. It’s righteous! There’s nothing quite like a nice old Dano. The pickups are more “acoustic” in response than almost anything else magnetic-electric I’ve heard. In addition, the 3-way’s middle position on old U2s is in series so it acts like an on-board “boost” and provides, of course, the thickest, most-delicious, perfectly-sizzly, Dano tone. That mid-position is the Dano tone as far as I’m concerned.

I modified the original bridge with a new saddle setup that’s completely reversible. I made a “backplate” that’s installed on it that allows me to use a set of 6 Tele-style saddles so action and intonation is adjustable like on a Fender. And, frankly, it gives the instrument a bit more sustain and clean jangly/chime. It’s still Danelectro… but more toasty in a good way.