It was originally made from the years 1956 to 1958 but was re-issued in the late 1990s, in 2006 in a slightly modified form as the '56 Pro, and again in 2010 as the '56 Single Cutaway.

The construction materials used by Danelectro in this period are also quite unusual for guitar making.

Although a re-issue, the Danelectro 56 Pro had many distinctive changes from the original models, these changes include: master tone & volume, rather than the Danelectro trademark concentric "Stacked" pots, an upgraded bridge with adjustments for intonation, higher output lipstick pickups than the originals and the first reissues, metal strap buttons to replace the plastic ones of previous models, reshaped pickguard, a different headstock shape and a black headstock rather than the matched-to-body colour of the originals and first reissues.

It has a slight cut out on the 56 Pro, no vinyl which bound the sides of the guitar on the originals.

Vintage Guitar Magazine reviewed the 56 Pro in their June 2005 issue, saying "In all, the 56 Pro is a very cool retro axe with a quality fit and finish, easy playability and that unmistakable Danelectro tone and vibe.