Danelectro Dan O. Cool Black

Technical review of the Danelectro Dan O. Cool Black

The Danelectro Dan O. Cool Black is a double-cut electric guitar inspired by Danelectro models from 1954, with the maker describing it as a vintage-based design with modern improvements. Its listed price is 635. The available information gives a useful outline of the construction and electronics, but it also contains conflicting details about the scale length and fingerboard wood. Those discrepancies matter, so they should be checked with the seller or Danelectro before purchase.

Body and construction

The body is listed as Masonite, and the top is also specified as Masonite. The instrument is described as semi-hollow with a center block. That combination identifies the broad construction, but the provided specifications do not say how the internal cavity is arranged or provide a weight. There is not enough information here to make a reliable claim about resonance, sustain, or playing comfort.

The body style is named Dan O. Cool Double Cut. The finish is black high gloss, paired with chrome hardware and a U3 pickguard. The headstock is identified as a 1954 "Full Bell" design, while the tuning machines are described as "Skate Key" machines from 1958. These details give the guitar a clear period reference without establishing that every component follows the original construction.

Neck, fingerboard, and scale discrepancies

The neck wood is listed as maple. The fingerboard information is inconsistent: one specification says rosewood, while the detailed list names both maple and rosewood. White dot fingerboard inlays are specified, but the supplied details do not clarify which wood is used for the finished instrument. Buyers should treat the fingerboard material as unconfirmed until Danelectro or the retailer verifies it.

The scale length is also reported in two incompatible ways. The general specifications state 635 mm, while the detailed description gives 533 mm and identifies that figure as 21 inches. Those measurements are not equivalent. The listing also states 21 frets, a detail repeated in both parts of the specification set. Since scale length affects string length and setup, this is a key point to resolve rather than assume one figure is correct.

An aluminum nut is specified. The available data does not list the neck profile, neck joint, fret size, or fingerboard radius, so those aspects of feel and setup cannot be assessed from this information alone.

Pickups and controls

The pickup system is labeled "SS," and the detailed description identifies two Lipstick Dano 50s single-coil pickups. The guitar has a three-way pickup switch, plus separate volume and tone controls. This is a straightforward control layout on paper, but the listing does not provide pickup output, magnet type, wiring details, or independent control behavior for each pickup position. No specific tonal result can be established from the specifications alone.

The name and description point to a design rooted in Danelectro's earlier instruments. The two single-coil pickups and simple switching arrangement are consistent with that stated concept. Still, there are no customer reviews available for this product, and no listening tests or measurements have been supplied. Any assessment of noise, output balance, or performance through an amplifier would require direct testing.

Bridge, hardware, and included items

The bridge is described as traditional, with a rosewood saddle. The guitar does not have a tremolo. Chrome hardware completes the listed hardware specification. D'Addario EXL 110 strings are named as the included string set, though the listing does not state whether the instrument ships with a particular setup or whether the strings are fitted at the factory.

No case or gig bag is included according to the product details. That should be included in the ownership cost if the guitar will need protection for storage or transport. The sales unit is one piece, and the product has been listed as available since June 2026. Its item number is 638689.

Buying assessment

The Dan O. Cool Black has a clearly described visual identity, a Masonite semi-hollow body with a center block, two Lipstick Dano 50s single-coil pickups, and a traditional bridge. The published feature set is enough to understand its general design and control layout. It is not enough to confirm several practical details, particularly the scale length and fingerboard material.

Before ordering, ask the seller to confirm those two specifications for the exact instrument being sold. It is also sensible to verify the supplied setup and whether any protective bag or case can be purchased separately. With no customer reviews available, this assessment is limited to the stated specifications; it does not claim firsthand playability, sound quality, or reliability.