Danocaster Jag-Hammer (Pic/Demo/Review Pg.2)

[HNB]

I am really happy with how the finish and the relic turned out. White blonde is just so nice. I am so happy to have a Dano Jag in that finish. This is my first one. If I like it as much as I think I will, it probably won't be my last.

[Despot]

Bloody hell ... how did I miss this!?

That looks fantastic HNB ... or dare I say it, great.

[HNB]

It is on its way to me. Should arrive by Friday. I will do a demo with some of my amps and pedals to get some sound examples. Dan said he thought it was pretty cool. Didn't sound like a Jaguar of course because of the humbuckers, but he said the pickups had some great meat to them. Clear and clean. Add some drive and you get growl.

[mordecainyc]

Wow. This looks bloody amazing. Let us know how you like it!

[mld530]

That's awesome. Looking forward to hearing what it sounds like!

[funktank]

It looks incredible. The word that always comes to my mind with Dan's guitars is texture. They're so three-dimensional.

I swore off this forum a good number of years ago because it was fuelling my gear-lust ... now I remember why

[HNB]

Watch out then because it should arrive today which means a lot of pictures will be coming soon.... and even some sound samples.

[garyfanclub]

Damn! Saw this on Instagram and my jaw dropped - so gorgeous. I've actually thought about building a Jag clone with Mini HB's at some point, so this is inspirational.

Really stoked to hear how it sounds. Congrats dude!

[HNB]

Thanks! I hope it arrives soon.

[HNB]

IT ARRIVED! As promised, I have a TON of pictures. (More than most would want to see, but I can't help it.) I will do a sound demo when kids are in bed. They talk and make too much background noise.

Dramatic lighting first. LOL

20170526_192702_HDR by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192735_HDR by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192746_HDR by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192800_HDR by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193610 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193237_HDR by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

More normal lighting and closeup detail shots.

20170526_192844 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192925 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192852 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192902 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192939 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_192951 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193013 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193005 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193017 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193035 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193100 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193121 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193110 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

20170526_193132 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

[HNB]

Here is my review so far.

Pickups: The Arcane custom pickups are great! The neck is very similar to a good Jazzy neck should but with no hum. It has good bass, but not muddy which is why I like Jazz neck humbuckers and this is what the Arcane neck humbucker was based off of. The bridge is modeled after a JB and it is great and jangly with the one meg pots. Gives me that bright "House of the rising sun." sound that I dig from a bridge pickup. Middle is like the neck but a bit more treble. A good solid middle sound. I am really happy with them and it is cool that Arcane went to the work to create something custom and cool for this Jag.

Neck: What people have said about Dano's necks is true. They are super comfortable and feel like the vintage Fender necks I have owned. The wear feels very natural. Fret finish is great and I like the rolled fretboard. Tuners are solid Klusons. Action is low with no fret buzz. Dan set it up with 11's like I asked. Intonation is of course set. I asked him for a thinner C neck like Japanese Fenders because I like the way they feel. This neck is so great. Even though I have big hands, I always love the feel of Japanese necks. I have asked this from many of my custom made guitars. Dan delivered a great neck. (I know people rave about his neck work, but it is worth saying they are so right. SUPER NICE NECK.)

Hardware: The no brand tremolo plate has a Staytrem arm and the bridge is Staytrem and both work fantastic. The arm sits pretty low which I like. Some of my Jazzy's and Jag's arms sit much higher up and kind of get in the way. Knobs and pots work smooth and can clean up distortion nicely with my pedals. The three way tele pickup selector works great and I really enjoy it with the Jag. It is easy to use and really hard to knock out of place no matter how hard you play. The chrome hat on the switch looks great to me also. It fits the Jag chrome.

Finish: His aging methods are so good. Like really good. It reminds me a bunch of the vintage Bronco I had that was well loved. It has stained areas, checking, chips, dings, scratches, cracks on the pickguard, weathered screws and such.... Tremendous job. Looks so great to me. I know many people are not fans of relic work, but this is just so well done and makes the guitar feel comfortable. It kind of makes you want to play it because it has personality. Other expensive guitars with pristine finish make me afraid of putting that first ding or scratch on it and wrecking it. With this Jag, I can be comfortable and just have fun playing it. The white blonde looks great and the two piece ash body has pretty lines.

Other thoughts: This guitar is under 7.5 lbs. It is pretty light and that is nice. Most of my offsets are slightly or much heavier. I think it is cool that his gig bag has his logo on it. Little details that add up. I would say many good guitars have good parts. Dano guitars do also, but also have lots of tiny things that just make it so nice. Sometimes the extra little stuff can push a guitar over the top in greatness. I am really happy with it. I totally get why there is a waiting list. I would recommend you get on it if you are on the lookout for a guitar to rival any you have tried before. (You all know I have had and have a good number of guitars, so I wouldn't just say that.....) This is my house is burning down guitar. Kids, wife, and dog first of course, but if I am grabbing a guitar, this is the one I am running out with.

2017-05-26_07-40-52 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

[HNB]

Cruddy demo I did of an awesome guitar. This was through my Fender Princeton amp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJT8RBQ85cg

Demo 2 was through my Silvertone head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIKDwE-a ... e=youtu.be

Demo 3 was through my Orange Rocker 30 head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSkD1tpMDVM

[windmill]

Wow

That looks good !

It sounds good too !

Glad you are happy with it.

[jakeisjake]

^ +1

thanks for the review and congratulations!

[garyfanclub]

Cruddy demo I did of an awesome guitar. This was through my Fender Princeton amp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJT8RBQ85cg

Demo 2 was through my Silvertone head.

http://youtu.be/aIKDwE-aN5Y

Demo 3 was through my Orange Rocker 30 head.

(Still uploading will link tomorrow.)

Sounds great - those humbuckers are crystal clear and definitely maintain the "jagginess" of the guitar. How's it sound for single note/lead stuff? Assuming those pickups help a smidge with sustain? I feel like humbucker + rhythm circuit would be great for some Robert Fripp type ambient loopy stuff.

Thanks for the demos!