United States · Est. 1947
Danelectro
Quirky, creative, and historically significant, Danelectro guitars defined 1950s American pop and continue to attract players seeking unique tones.
About the brand
Danelectro was founded in 1947 by Nathan Daniel in Red Bank, New Jersey. The company built amplifiers for Sears and Montgomery Ward before launching its own guitar brand in 1954. Danelectro guitars were deliberately designed to be affordable — using Masonite bodies, lipstick tube pickups, and simple construction — yet produced genuinely distinctive tones.
The lipstick pickup sound became a defining characteristic: bright, glassy, and slightly hollow, ideal for the surf and pop recordings of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Artists from Jimmy Page to Elvis Costello to Jack White have used Danelectros in both studio and live settings.
After going out of business in 1969, Danelectro was revived multiple times and continues producing today. The brand's enduring appeal lies in its quirky aesthetics, unique pickup character, and the sense that these guitars exist entirely outside the Fender-Gibson mainstream.
Key facts
- Founded in 1947 — one of the earliest American electric guitar manufacturers
- Lipstick tube pickups remain a uniquely identifiable tonal character
- Used by Jimmy Page, Jimmy Page's sitar-style Dano was key to 'Kashmir'
- Affordable, creative instruments with genuine vintage and artistic appeal
Iconic models
Danelectro U2
Danelectro's most recognized double-cutaway model, with lipstick-tube pickups and a Masonite body that produces a bright, unmistakable tone.
Danelectro 59
The original Danelectro guitar that defines the brand's characteristic tone, revived in the 90s and beloved by surf, country, and rock musicians.
Danelectro Sitar
Danelectro's legendary electric sitar imitation, used on countless psychedelic recordings of the 60s and 70s to achieve that Eastern sound.
Danelectro DC
Danelectro's single-cutaway model, with its light and economical construction that became a symbol of accessibility and innovation.