If you like the Danelectro, there isn't really anything else that sounds like that. You should probably try to fix the hardware problem. The nail-polish idea is a good one, but be careful not to get any (or the acetone solvent) on the guitar itself. I think Loctite is really good, and I wouldn't be afraid of it.

You can also use a nylon-body jack and use a dab of hot-glue or rubber cement inside of the top. if you ever need to remove it, it'll pop off with a nudge from a screwdriver. Don't use the really cheap ones from radio shack. New Sensor sells pretty good ones.

What I'm getting at is that if you like your guitar, you should use it, and there's probably a way to solve the jack problem.

Steve wrote:You can also use a nylon-body jack and use a dab of hot-glue or rubber cement inside of the top. if you ever need to remove it, it'll pop off with a nudge from a screwdriver. Don't use the really cheap ones from radio shack. New Sensor sells pretty good ones.

this is something i have not tried. what is it, exactly? how does it work?

and yes, you're right, there isn't anything anywhere that sounds like this thing. i was just concerned about, say, going to a gig, plugging in my guitar, and finding out that one of the wires is broken on the inside because it's not putting out any sound. if the nylon-body jack would be a pretty permanent fix, i'd be willing to give that a shot.

I think you can do better as far a reliability and hassle goes. An input jack problem is no reason to buy a new guitar, but reliability issues are.

Replace jack with one of these.

http://www.neutrik.com/content/Products ... 204_168271

Cheers!
Ben Adrian

Beat me to it! I was going to suggest the big chunky Neutrik locking jack too.. If you really love the guitar screw one of those beasts in, and the problem is permanently solved. I use those dimarzio 'cliplok' straps for the same reason.

i don't understand why you would not use threadlock. it will do the job. you are concerned that it is "too permanent"? i don't get that. if you use the blue threadlock, it will come apart with the proper tools, and likely won't come apart otherwise. the red threadlock will never come apart. (i may have my red and blue mixed up - there is medium and heavy duty, distinguished by color.) Check the autoparts store. Then there's the two-ton epoxy, better than welding.

you should probably have a backup guitar anyway. if you don't want another danelectro, i would reccomend a telecaster as well. probably the toughest guitar I have ever played. i would stay away from hollow bodies - tele thinline, or gibson 335, since they are not going to be as durable as the proverbial 2x4 with strings.

but steve is right. your jack issue is really quite fixable, and it sounds like you want the danelectro above all else. So fix it.

What you describe immediately creams Telecaster to me. The mexican ones are pretty inexpensive, but usually seem to need pickup upgrades. I've never seen a fender break at the neck/body joint. I have seen them whached against amps, used as surfboards, and the things SRV used to do to his strats. I'd try a bunch of them, until you find one that has the right weight for you. I do the same thing, but I usually prefer heavier guitars.

If you really want a new one, I'd have to say a Jazzmaster/Jaguar matches the sturdy + lightweight (gaps in the body for the electronics) + handles .011s (mine handles .013s no problem) criteria, unfortunately for under $500 you'd have to look in a lot of pawn shops (let's be honest: the longest of long shots); and from the kind of abuse you describe this guitar potentially suffering it sounds like you get pretty wild on stage, the stock bridge would be nothing but a pain in the ass.
On 2nd thought, maybe a Duo-Sonic? Those are only @$250 and are pretty fucking tough as well as light weight (they're only 3/4 scale) and mine has handled .013s with no problem. Again, though, the bridge probably isn't what you're looking for.

as far as cheap interesting guitars go, these Gretsch guitars play awesome for the price and have a fairly unique tone.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/GRETSCH-ELECTROMATIC-G5235T-PRO-JET-BIGSBY-NEW-2005_W0QQitemZ7364949073QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

telecaster. i have never seen, or heard of a broken telecaster.


but yes - there must be some way to fix this problem. i use two nuts on all my guitars. that way, if the top one works loose, then there's still the bottom one to come off as well.

another thing to consider - you could solder a longer length of wire to the jack. that way, if the worst comes to the worst, the jack could turn once or twice and not snap off the wiring.

best bet in my opinion - two nuts, locktite, longer wire.