Famous Danelectro Shorthorn Guitar Players

The Danelectro Shorthorn guitars, introduced in 1959, feature a dual cutaway, hollow-bodied design made from Masonite and poplar. They replaced the earlier U model guitars and were produced until Danelectro’s closure in 1969. The line includes models with one, two, or three pickups, and is known for its distinctive “Coke Bottle Style” headstock, hollow body cavity, and seal-shaped pickguard with stacked tone and volume knobs.

The Shorthorn was reissued several times, with notable models including the 59DC and DC-3 (1998-2001), followed by the 59 Dano (2007) and 59-DC (2009). The 2007-2009 reissues were made in China with an asymmetric headstock and standard knobs. In 2014, the ’59M NOS reissue brought production back to Korea, reinstated the original headstock design, and featured NOS “Lipstick” pickups from 1999. The body construction remains a combination of Masonite and plywood with a bolt-on neck and rosewood fretboard.