At first look, Danelectro’s Crimson Sizzling Longhorn appears to be like pleasingly acquainted – its form is tried, true, and beloved in Vintageville. However as soon as previous its eye-catching end and prime binding, you’ll discover one thing very totally different – a soundhole.

Following custom with a masonite (“Hardboard”) prime and again, spruce sides, and maple neck, it checks packing containers we equate with “basic.” Whereas at all times entertaining and appreciated for his or her mild weight, snug necks, and pleasant tones, stalwart semi-hollow Danos just like the Silvertone 1444 (with its “dolphin-nose” headstock) have been by no means champions of maintain. Right here, although, that bass-bout soundhole groups with the chamber beneath it to create a brand new expertise.

Whereas the famously shiny/barely sizzling lipstick-tube pickups helped classic Danos evade inherent short-scale muddiness, the brand new Lipstick single-coils are wound for high-impedance/high-output. For those who typically want aggressive tones, they’ll give you the results you want, manipulated via grasp Quantity and Tone knobs (which differ from the stacked pots of earlier Longhorn reissues) and a three-way selector that features historically. The die-cast knobs are completed in black to enrich the physique’s again and sides.

Plugged right into a 200-watt solidstate amp with flat EQ working via a 2×10 cab, the Crimson Sizzling delivered on its design guarantees – with Quantity dimed and Tone set center, the neck pickup was heat and properly spherical. Rolling the Tone knob sharpened or softened to swimsuit the tune/fashion. The bridge pickup noticeably brightened issues, shading to Jazz Bass-growl, the Tone knob eradicating treble edge when desired. Very noticeable no matter pickup selection is that nice, spherical “piano tone” that bassists love, highlighted once more by the semi-hollow physique. On solidbodies, that’s the short-lived pleasure of contemporary strings, however perhaps the Crimson Sizzling will make it final.

The Longhorn’s brief scale has been a part of its attract since 1958. At 29.75″ and with 24 frets on rosewood, it does its half in creating the Crimson Sizzling’s heat, rounded tone. Talking of, the neck’s C form, 14″ fretboard radius, and 1.65″ width on the aluminum nut are middle-of-the-road snug, very similar to a classic 1444 and corresponding to many non-Fender basses. And whereas the wraparound bridge and rosewood saddle are usually not adjustable, motion ought to stay true due to a dual-action truss rod.

This text initially appeared in VG’s August 2024 situation. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.