1960 Danelectro Longhorn Bass (Double Cutaway)

Very few electric bass guitars have a silhouette as immediately recognizable as the Danelectro Longhorn. The exaggerated double-cutaway design, with horns sweeping dramatically outward and upward, looks like nothing else from the late 1950s or early 1960s. It was outlandish when Nathan Daniel introduced it in 1958, and it reads as pure visual genius from a contemporary perspective. A 1960 example is early in the production run, before any significant design revisions, and represents the Longhorn at its most original.

The Company Behind It

Nathan Daniel founded Danelectro in 1947 and built a reputation supplying guitars to Sears, Roebuck under the Silvertone brand. His instruments were explicitly budget-oriented: designed to put an electric guitar or bass in the hands of working-class American families who could not afford a Gibson or Fender. Daniel's construction methods reflected that goal, using materials that serious instrument makers would have found unorthodox.

The bodies were masonite (a pressed hardboard material) over a poplar or pine frame, with a vinyl covering in place of traditional lacquer finish. The necks were aluminum-reinforced. The pickups were single-coils housed in lipstick tubes, literally metal tubes originally manufactured for lipstick cases, which gave them their characteristic warm, slightly hollow tone.

None of this was prestigious at the time. Today, collectors and players understand that those unusual construction choices gave Danelectro instruments a genuinely unique voice that cannot be reproduced by conventional materials.

The Longhorn Design

The Longhorn bass (model number 4423 for the two-pickup version) debuted in 1958 alongside a matching 6-string baritone and a short-scale 4-string bass. The design credit goes to Nathan Daniel himself, who pushed the cutaways as far as physically practical to create maximum upper-fret access. The result is a bass that looks almost more like a sculpture than an instrument.

By 1960, the Longhorn had settled into its production form. The model featured:

• Masonite top over pine side rails

• Vinyl covering (copperburst or other period-appropriate colors)

• Short 30-inch scale length

• Bolt-on neck with rosewood fingerboard

• Dot position markers

• Two lipstick tube single-coil pickups

• Volume and tone controls with a three-way pickup selector

• The distinctive "Coke bottle" headstock

• Chrome hardware throughout

The 30-inch scale made the Longhorn easier to play than a standard Fender-scale bass and gave it a particular feel that suited the recording studios and surf-rock bands that adopted it enthusiastically.

Sound and Players

The Danelectro lipstick pickup sound is genuinely distinctive. It has a mid-forward character with a clear fundamental, a slightly compressed attack, and a warmth that comes partly from the resonant masonite body construction. On a recording, a Longhorn bass cuts through mix differently than a Precision or Jazz Bass.

Notable players who used Danelectro instruments (including Longhorn models or their short-scale variants) include Jimmy Page, who used Danelectro basses and guitars in Led Zeppelin recordings; John Entwistle of The Who; and numerous studio session musicians of the 1960s who valued the quick action and distinctive tone. Beck has used Danelectro instruments throughout his career.

For surf music, rockabilly, and early pop productions, the Danelectro sound was everywhere even when uncredited.

What to Expect From a 1960 Example

Fifty years of playing and storage leave marks. Most 1960 Longhorns in circulation show:

• Wear to the vinyl covering (cracks, separations, fading)

• Oxidation on the chrome hardware

• Fret wear depending on how much the instrument was played

• Possible neck repairs or replacements

• Tuning machine issues (original tuners are somewhat fragile)

The masonite body is susceptible to damage from moisture and impact. Delamination of the top from the frame is a known issue. Original lipstick pickups can develop grounding issues or output problems over time.

Condition grades and approximate values for a 1960 4423:

Condition	Description	Value Range
Excellent (9/10)	Original vinyl near perfect, hardware bright, fully functional	$1,800 - $3,000
Very Good (8/10)	Light vinyl wear, good hardware, plays well	$1,200 - $1,800
Good (7/10)	Noticeable wear, minor repairs, functional	$700 - $1,200
Fair (5-6/10)	Significant wear, possible replaced parts, playable	$400 - $700
Project (Below 5)	Needs work, parts missing, structural issues	$150 - $400

Copperburst finish examples tend to attract the strongest interest. Color variations outside the standard issue can go either way depending on buyer preference.

Originality and Parts

For a vintage Danelectro, originality matters. Key original components:

Pickups: Original lipstick pickups have a characteristic output and tone. Replacements are detectable by visual inspection and output measurement. Original pickups intact and functional add meaningful value.

Tuning machines: Original Kluson-style tuners are correct. Many have been replaced with modern alternatives over the decades.

Nut: Original plastic nuts are often replaced. A period-correct replacement is acceptable; a modern compensated nut is technically correct but reduces collector appeal.

Vinyl covering: Re-covering with modern vinyl is relatively common and immediately detectable. Original covering in any honest condition is preferred by collectors over fresh re-cover work.

Electronics: The control pots and capacitors are simple and often still functional. Original wiring is preferred.

Buying Advice

The Longhorn is popular enough that prices on platforms like Reverb have been consistent, with clean examples selling in the $1,500-$2,500 range for authentic 1960 specimens with original components. Examples advertised as 1960 but showing later-production hardware or construction details should be scrutinized. Danelectro dating is based primarily on construction details and color options rather than serial numbers, which were not consistently applied.

The Longhorn has been reissued multiple times since the 1990s under the Danelectro name. Reissues are completely legitimate instruments and play well, but they are worth $200-$400 new, not $1,500. Confirm vintage authenticity before paying vintage prices.

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