Danojag review

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
blackbox
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Danojag review

Post by blackbox » Mon Apr 24, 2017 6:47 pm

Image

I've now spent quite a bit of time with this Danojag now, so thought I'd post some thoughts for anyone interested in going for one.

Playability and setup
If you haven't tried a Danocaster, believe the hype on the neck. It's the best neck I've played, including the vintage Jags I've owned (a '62 slab, '63, and a '65). It's smooth, fast, bouncy and comfortable. The fretwork is flawless. The setup is just a work of art. I actually found myself thinking that the setup is aesthetically beautiful. It's so symmetrical and perfect. My only complaint on this front is that I ordered a staytrem (and reiterated this several times in email), but received a mastery bridge. An innocent mistake, I'm sure, and I'm also sure that Dan would have been willing to switch it out, but I figured I'd let Dan's work stand on its own and so didn't say anything. I've never liked what mastery bridges do to the sound of my Jaguars (I think the increased sustain makes it not really sound like a Jag anymore), and I suspect I would prefer the sound of this guitar also with a staytrem, but I'm unwilling to mess with the setup. Dan offered to send me an aged staytrem to replace the mastery, but I decided not to take him up on it. Still, it shows how dedicated Dan is to customer satisfaction.

Sound
The guitar is very warm for a Jaguar, warmer than my '62 slab which was previously the warmest Jaguar I've owned. The breakup is very squishy, woody, and organic. Comparing it to my AV65 Jaguar, the Danocaster is more lo-fi, compressed, and smooth; the AV65 jangly, airy, and articulate. My guess is that 99% of people will prefer the Danocaster. I'm in the 1% who prefers the cleaner, brighter, less compressed sounds of the AV65. Comparing either to the '62 slab sound-wise just isn't fair, so I'm doing an apple to apple comparison between two newer guitars.

Ultimately, I think this guitar is a rock machine. More punk and grunge than surf and rockabilly. Since I prefer the latter sounds, it wasn't really a perfect fit. I'm still going back and forth on keeping it, because there are certain applications for which it's amazing (it might really be my best guitar with fuzz and OD, and the sound with natural amp breakup is extremely smooth and pleasing, even if it's not really my typical sound).
Last edited by blackbox on Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:11 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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BoringPostcards
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Re: Danojag review

Post by BoringPostcards » Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:30 am

No offense, but posts like this are very confusing.
You had it made only to sell it?
It's perfect, but you're selling it?
What am I missing here?

It is beautiful. I'd say good score, but you're selling it.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by Bert Camenbert » Tue Apr 25, 2017 4:55 am

BoringPostcards wrote:No offense, but posts like this are very confusing.
You had it made only to sell it?
It's perfect, but you're selling it?
What am I missing here?

It is beautiful. I'd say good score, but you're selling it.
It's not confusing at all: he's posting a "review" of his guitar here thinking more people will notice that the guitar's for sale. Good salesmanship!

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Re: Danojag review

Post by Embenny » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:05 am

Bert Camenbert wrote:
BoringPostcards wrote:No offense, but posts like this are very confusing.
You had it made only to sell it?
It's perfect, but you're selling it?
What am I missing here?

It is beautiful. I'd say good score, but you're selling it.
It's not confusing at all: he's posting a "review" of his guitar here thinking more people will notice that the guitar's for sale. Good salesmanship!
Not that I want to speak for the OP, but he mentioned in his sale ad that he had a baby. Danocaster has a waitlist, and I presume that his life has changed with the arrival of the baby in the meantime. Nothing wrong with having one's priorities in life change, and I wouldn't judge someone for something like this.
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by blackbox » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:10 am

I'm confused also. Did you guys read my post? I clearly stated what my problems are with the guitar. For example:
Ultimately, I think this guitar is a rock machine. More punk and grunge than surf and rockabilly. Since I prefer the latter sounds, it wasn't really a perfect fit.
My guess is that 99% of people will prefer the Danocaster. I'm in the 1% who prefers the cleaner, brighter, less compressed sounds of the AV65.
I don't get the problem. A guitar can be A) really fucking good, but still B) not completely for me, and C) something I want to sell.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by Bert Camenbert » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:43 am

Don't worry, Blackbox! By bitching about it, we're bumping you up. You should thank us! 8)

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Re: Danojag review

Post by blackbox » Tue Apr 25, 2017 5:47 am

This is an honest review of a Danocaster Jaguar, mang. The playability is amazing, the sound wasn't ideal for me. If I was just trying to sell a guitar, I wouldn't state in the review that I prefer the sound of an AV65 Jaguar that I paid $1100 for used.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by OV7 » Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:07 am

blackbox wrote:Image
.
The aging job on that is really "natural" looking!

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Re: Danojag review

Post by Bert Camenbert » Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:14 am

blackbox wrote:This is an honest review of a Danocaster Jaguar, mang. The playability is amazing, the sound wasn't ideal for me. If I was just trying to sell a guitar, I wouldn't state in the review that I prefer the sound of an AV65 Jaguar that I paid $1100 for used.
Oh, yeah, mang! But you do know that a lot of people will like to have a jag that sounds like that, you say so yourself in the OP. What a coinkydink! ;)

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Re: Danojag review

Post by adamrobertt » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:57 am

blackbox wrote:I'm confused also. Did you guys read my post? I clearly stated what my problems are with the guitar. For example:

I don't get the problem. A guitar can be A) really fucking good, but still B) not completely for me, and C) something I want to sell.
It's just that most people don't commission a $2500 waitlisted guitar if they aren't absolutely sure they are going to love it and keep it. It's a little weird IMO. These are "dream guitars" for most people.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by mediocreplayer » Tue Apr 25, 2017 10:31 am

adamrobertt wrote:
blackbox wrote:I'm confused also. Did you guys read my post? I clearly stated what my problems are with the guitar. For example:

I don't get the problem. A guitar can be A) really fucking good, but still B) not completely for me, and C) something I want to sell.
It's just that most people don't commission a $2500 waitlisted guitar if they aren't absolutely sure they are going to love it and keep it. It's a little weird IMO. These are "dream guitars" for most people.
But that is impossible to predict, since they cannot play the guitar before putting down the money. Maybe they get the guitar and they hate it for whatever reason.

However, I agree that this is really a 'for sale' ad not a review. Not a crime but I think this is what is confusing people, me included.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by blackbox » Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:08 am

Now I'm getting kind of interested in the difference between a "for sale" ad and a "review." I think there are certain things each must have. For example:

For sale ads must at least have:
1. a price
2. information about how to purchase
3. a statement that the item is for sale

My post has none of those things.

A review must at least have:
1. A discussion of the item, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
2. Comparisons with other similar items, etc.

My post has those things.

I'm still confused about what makes my review a "for sale" ad. I happen to have a for sale ad up in the BST section. My review does not mention this. I think the complaints would be more justified if I stated that the item was for sale, or pointed towards my for sale ad in the BST. Since I don't, I think these complaints are unfair and incorrect. I noticed that there aren't a lot of reviews about Danocaster Jaguars. I tried to write an honest review, describing the item well and accurately. TBH, I'm not even sure I want to sell it, and don't really care if anyone buys it or not; I'm fine holding onto it, even though it's not replacing my primary guitars, as I had hoped.

Bottomline: when I was considering a Danocaster Jaguar, I would have liked to read a review like this. That's why I made this post. I just went ahead and deleted my FS ad in BST. I seriously don't give a shit if someone buys it or not.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by zip73 » Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:18 pm

blackbox wrote:Bottomline: when I was considering a Danocaster Jaguar, I would have liked to read a review like this. That's why I made this post.
Remember, no good deed goes unpunished. C'mon people, don't hate the good for being the good.

Btw, count me in the 1% that prefer AV65 pups too.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by blackbox » Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:26 pm

I just realized that I actually did mention that I'm selling the guitar. So, fair enough. I really wasn't doing this to try to sell the guitar faster, however.

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Re: Danojag review

Post by MechaBulletBill » Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:06 pm

blackbox wrote:I just realized that I actually did mention that I'm selling the guitar. So, fair enough. I really wasn't doing this to try to sell the guitar faster, however.
Yeah dude, that changed the whole tone of the thread from 'innocent guitar porn' to 'generating hype ahead of imminent flip'. Take that out and you're pretty much golden.

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