LIPSTICK PICKUPS · LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION · RETRO ELECTRIC · BARITONE / 12-STRING
Danelectro
Danelectro is one of the few guitar brands that can be recognized from across the room. Vintage examples became famous for inexpensive but inventive construction, including hardboard/Masonite-style body shells on many classic models, lipstick-tube pickups and simple hardware. The modern company keeps those visual and sonic cues alive across 59-style guitars, Longhorns, baritones, 12-strings, sitars and reissues. Cheap construction was part of the original engineering idea—not proof that an old Danelectro is unimportant.
MODEL SEARCH
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OVERVIEW
What to know quickly
Do not judge a Danelectro by conventional “premium construction” rules. The quirky materials, simple bridges and lipstick pickups are often the point; condition and originality matter more than whether the recipe looks expensive.
IDENTIFY YOUR GUITAR
Which Danelectro do you have?
Start with body outline, pickup count, headstock, bridge and whether the guitar is a 6-string, 12-string, baritone or bass. Original-era instruments and later reissues can look intentionally similar.
- Identify original vs. reissue era. Modern reissues deliberately echo 1950s and 1960s styling, so age should be supported by construction, markings and hardware.
- Count and identify pickups. Lipstick pickups are a major clue, but output, switching and number of pickups vary by model.
- Check the body construction. Many classic Danelectros used a lightweight frame with hardboard/Masonite-style faces rather than conventional solid wood.
- Look closely at the bridge. Original saddle systems, later adjustable bridges and replacement hardware can change both playability and originality.
- Do not forget specialty instruments. Baritone, 12-string, Longhorn, sitar, resonator and doubleneck models all appear in the market.
SERIES & CURRENT RETAIL GUIDE
Modern Danelectro keeps the old vocabulary but expands the catalog
Official Danelectro pages currently show examples such as the 59M NOS at about $399 estimated street and the 59 Divine at about $699. Specialty models vary by dealer and availability.
USED VALUE GUIDE
Reissues are common; vintage originality is a different conversation
Guitar Center recently showed roughly 75 used Danelectro guitars, mostly modern-era instruments. Typical reissues often sit in the $300–$600 neighborhood, while rare vintage and specialty models can move much higher.
- Confirm era. A 1990s/2000s reissue should not be priced from a 1960s original.
- Check bridge and intonation. Some vintage-style bridge systems are part of the charm but may limit adjustment.
- Inspect body edges and binding tape. Lightweight construction can show separation, dents or edge damage.
- Test every lipstick pickup and switch. Replacement pickups can alter both sound and originality.
- Treat specialty models separately. A 12-string, baritone, sitar or doubleneck needs its own comparison set.
CURRENT USED MARKET
See what the market is doing now
Danelectro has enough used supply for model-specific research. Include the exact body family and string format in the search instead of relying on the brand name alone.
COMPARE
What else lives in this neighborhood?
Danelectro does not have a perfect direct competitor; compare by purpose—retro electric, baritone, 12-string or inexpensive character guitar.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Before you buy—or price—one
- Reissue mistaken for vintage. The company intentionally revives old designs, so visual similarity is not dating evidence.
- Body-edge damage. Hardboard/light-frame construction can show separation or crushing unlike a solidbody.
- Bridge limitations. Vintage-style simplicity can affect setup expectations.
- Pickup originality. Lipstick replacements are common and may not match original output.
- Nostalgia pricing. Quirkiness is real value to some buyers, but asking price still needs model-specific evidence.
HISTORY & COMMENTARY
A budget-guitar idea that became its own sound
Danelectro built its identity by solving the guitar problem differently: inexpensive materials, simple construction and distinctive pickups rather than copying premium solidbody recipes.
That is why the brand survived culturally. The original instruments could be affordable catalog guitars and still produce sounds players wanted decades later. The modern revival, launched in 1998, leaned directly into that identity instead of sanding off the weirdness—59 bodies, Longhorns, lipstick pickups, baritones and sitars remain central to the catalog.
WHAT PLAYERS LIKE
Why a Danelectro can be worth picking up
- Lipstick pickup character. The clear, jangly attack is the first reason many players seek the brand.
- Light weight. Many Danelectros feel unusually easy on the shoulder.
- Baritone and 12-string depth. The catalog gives extended-range formats more attention than many mainstream brands.
- Visual personality. The designs are recognizable without needing a headstock close-up.
- Useful oddness. Danelectro instruments can add a different texture without requiring boutique-guitar money.
CURRENT RETAIL & REFERENCE
Current catalog and used-market observations checked September 29, 2026.