Fender offered the Duo-Sonic only in Desert Sand finish for its first few years of production. Thank you for signing up to The Pick. Expert architecture and design solutions for private carriers, next-generation metro and long-haul optical networks, ultra low-latency networks, and Internet backbones. "Michael Jackson Was the Most Driven Individual Ive Ever Seen": Erick Walls Reflects on His Five Favorite Sessions, "Its the Basis for Everything I Do Because it Tells the Truth": How Joan Jett Combined Punk Toughness and Ear-Candy Pop Smarts on Bad Reputation, Best Guitar Amps Under $500 in 2022: Earth-Shattering Tones That Wont Break The Bank. The lower string tension lends a certain thickness to the overall voice while it loosens up the low-end response somewhat, lending a slightly rubbery aspect to the entire package. The new model differed from the original version of the Duo-Sonic in a number of ways: basswood was used for the body, the neck differed in being C-shaped and a 24" scale length, and was fitted with more modern 'medium jumbo' frets; finally, the treble pickup was located 3/4" further from the bridge. It was dropped from the Fender line in 1997 but was then launched again as a Chinese made Squier Affinity model in 1998 only to be dropped in 1999. In addition, the models toggle-style pickup selector was swapped for two slider switches, one above each pickup, as found on the Mustang. The wear indicates that the finish is original and genuine, whereas many examples have been refinished over the years. It was intended to be closely modeled on the original guitar released in the 1950s and looked very similar, with a maple fretboard, gold anodized pickguard and 'Desert Sand' finish. There was a problem. The pickups were also reverse-wound/reverse-polarity, which made them into a functional humbucker when both pickups were used simultaneously. [3], LITTLE BROTHERS TURN 50 by Terry Foster and Tim Pershing, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fender_Duo-Sonic&oldid=1049192008, Musical instruments invented in the 1950s, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 19561969, 19931999, 20082011, 2016-Present, Desert Sand, Sunburst (sometimes called maroonburst), Sonic Blue, Dakota Red, Black, Torino Red, Arctic White, Capri Orange, "Fender's 3/4 Scale Guitars," a two-part article by Tim Pershing in, "Little Brothers Turn 50," an article by Terry Foster and Tim Pershing in, This page was last edited on 10 October 2021, at 11:57. A contributing essayist to the United States Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Boards Permanent Archive, he lives in Kittery, ME, with his wife and their two children and fronts the bands A Different Engine and The Stereo Field. The student guitars now all featured larger and slightly offset bodies, necks with larger headstocks and rosewood fingerboards and plastic pickguards with the volume and tone controls mounted on a separate metal plate. Dave Hunteris a writer and consulting editor forGuitar Playermagazine. Despite the discolouration to the finish, it has a a fantastic livedin vibe that comes from being used for what it was intended to be used for playing music. This re-designed model was renamed Duo-Sonic II although decals with and without the II designation were used occasionally. The shorter scale makes it a very easy instrument to pick up and play and the reduced string tension makes string bends a doddle. The original student Fender Duo-Sonic featuring dual single coil pickups and fixed bridge was introduced in 1956 alongside the single pickup Musicmaster. This example is not pristine, with plenty of the original white undercoat visible (Fender never used grey undercoat) but is alloriginal and that is what matters. Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to CRAVE Guitars' Musings and receive notifications of new posts by email. In 1993 Fender released a Mexican-made reissue Duo-Sonic in a 22.7" scale. This one has a couple scars, as mentioned below, but is in entirely original condition. Established 2007. NY 10036. The Duo-Sonic I and II are both considered rare and have displayed growing collector value. What makes this guitar special: There are so many things to love about this one! Case shows wear consistent with age, along with some water damage at the head and foot of the case. GuitarPlayer is supported by its audience. The Duo-Sonic was re-released by Fender's Squier brand in the 'Classic Vibe' series of guitars from 2008 to 2011. Pick up, plug in and play away. The model was also played by Mike Bloomfield with the Group in 1964, and both original and longer Duo-Sonic II models were hoisted by Rory Gallagher, Walter Becker, David Byrne, Liz Phair and Dweezil Zappa. Case: Original hard shell case included. Cream City Music will buy a single piece or an entire The Duo-Sonic II also gained the option of a somewhat longer 24-inch scale length, although 22.5-inch versions remained available for a few years. Supercharge your procurement process, with industry leading expertise in sourcing of network backbone, colocation, and packet/optical network infrastructure. Cosmetic condition: This one appears to have taken some water damage on the edges of the case at some point in its life, but the damage was thankfully very limited. The student range was built to same standards in the same factory by the same people and using the same materials as other Fenders of the time. Now recognized by many guitarists as a petite powerhouse, its also relatively collectible for those who want a taste of authentic pre-CBS Fender without a five-figure price tag. The Fender Duo-Sonic is an electric guitar launched by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation as a student model guitar, an inexpensive model aimed at amateur musicians. It sounds just as it should with the models unique and underrated singlecoil pickups sounding funky, clear and crisp, whether switched in or out of phase. Hearing Yourself Too Well Is Almost as Bad as Not Hearing Yourself Well Enough: Gretchen Menn Talks Stage Volume. Body: Double cutaway solid body in sunburst finish with single-ply white plastic pickguard and threaded steel-barrel saddle bridge. The bodies are alder and the necks maple, with maple or rosewood fretboards. Too easily dismissed as a toy or three-quarter-sized kids guitar, Fenders mid-1950s Duo-Sonic was something of a stealth model, taken up by scads of groundbreaking artists for decades as a best buy among pricier vintage Fenders. Also added in this redesign was the option of a 24-inch scale neck in addition to the 22.5inch scale. Your message has not been sent. The pickups were also reverse-wound/reverse-polarity, which made them into a functional humbucker when both pickups were used simultaneously. Pickup selection was moved above the pickups on both the Duo-Sonic and the Mustang and utilized two 3-position on-off-on switches that allowed for in and out-of-phase sounds. While the Musicmaster had a single pickup, the Duo-Sonic had, as its name implies, two, along with a Gibson-like three-way toggle to select between them. Share the passion The bridge is fixed and the line has a shorter scale neck than standard models as a concession to younger, beginner guitarists and other players with smaller hands. Hunter is a former editor ofThe Guitar Magazine(UK), and a contributor toVintage Guitar, Premier Guitar, The Connoisseurand other publications. Fender has reissued the Duo-Sonic in various nonAmerican incarnations since 1993. A few dings here and there but nothing remarkable. Here we have a very neat preCBS Fender DuoSonic II in faded blue, which has turned almost green in places. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. From 1964, the Musicmaster and DuoSonic were redesigned to match the aesthetics of the newly introduced topoftherange vibratoequipped offset Fender Mustang. The discolouration is common and is caused by a yellowing of the clear nitrocellulose top coat giving the underlying colour a greenish tinge over the years (NB. Vintage 1963 Fender Duo-Sonic in Rare Sunburst Finish. Overall, this one carries an awesome vibe and exhibits a gorgeous vintage patina. Subtracting three inches from the Telecaster and Stratocaster scale length considerably changes both the playing feel and the guitars inherent sound. Whether it was actually finished and shipped before Fender was sold to CBS doesnt really matter, as it has all the hallmarks of the Leo Fender regime. The flexible pickup switching system of two 3way slide switches was introduced to provide outofphase options and the volume and tone controls were moved to a separate chrome plate. Thank you everyone and stay safe. In my view these guitars have much to commend them. Sign up and subscribe our newsletter to get news update about us. The Duo-Sonic was redesigned in 1964 as an almost identical model to the Fender Mustang without the Vibrato tail-piece which has a legacy of intonation challenges. A genuine relic. However, they dont command the stratospheric vintage prices of the workhorse Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters (or Jazzmasters and Jaguars), which makes them much more accessible to enthusiasts. All right reserved. Error, please try again. The Duo-Sonic II in particular is often seen as a desirable alternative to the more popular Mustang, since it lacks the difficult-to-maintain tremolo bridge. If theyd given it the full traditional Fender scale length of 25.5 inches rather than a shorter 22.5 inches, it likely would have become a major classic like the Telecaster and Stratocaster. You will receive a verification email shortly. Welcome to the world of CRAVE (Cool & Rare American Vintage Electric) Guitars. Early examples, like the 57 displayed here, carry the features collectors and many players most like to see in these guitars. In 1964 the Duo-Sonic was redesigned based on the Fender Mustang that had recently been added to the student model line but without the vibrato tail-piece. The other significant change was a switch from anodized aluminum to plastic pickguards. The bodies were still slab bodied but larger, with new colours (red, white and blue often erroneously described as Dakota Red, Olympic White and Daphne Blue). The Duo-Sonic features typical Fender construction techniques with a bolt-on maple neck, attached to a solid body. Play. All latches work, and a vintage patch cable and strap are included. The budget DuoSonic has become increasingly collectable, particularly preCBS examples (up to 1965). Heres why you can trust us. The guitar is all original, with no modifications/repairs. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The original "Duo-Sonic" features two single-coil pickups and a vertical switch on the lower horn of the body to select bridge, neck or both pickups in a humbucking style configuration (as opposed to the blade switch more common on Fender guitars). bass, or amplifier? Our expertly trained sales team is ready to help! These fretboards were originally in the slab-style but switched to the veneer style after approximately a year. Gracefully, the important portions of this one were spared from any water exposure. The original model Duo-Sonics also sport a gold-colored, anodized pickguard that helps in screening the single-coil pickups and electronics from interference.[1]. The previous owner informed us that he had the neck pickup rewound, so the original masking tape connecting the cloth wiring has been replaced. There is a single crack at the back of the body which could easily be repaired, but for now doesnt look to be going anywhere. The model went through a minor facelift from 1959, to include rosewood fingerboards, a (garish) sunburst finish and a plastic scratchplate. The paint shows some signs of wear which is typical for a guitar that is nearly 60 years old. New York, very difficult to fake). 1 1/2" nut width, 22 1/2" scale length. All Orders Placed Before 3PM EST Qualify For Free Same Day Shipping. This guitar has the desirable preCBSL serial number, although it makes no practical difference. Music Matters As a result, many such models from the mid 60s and after are even heavier than their larger-bodied, 25.5-inch-scale siblings. Original Klusons function perfectly. Neck: C-shaped maple neck with white side dots and aged white dot inlays. These guitars featured larger and slightly offset bodies, necks with larger headstocks with the volume and tone controls mounted on a separate metal plate. Please refresh the page and try again. Thanks, your message has been sent successfully. The headstock was also redesigned with a distinctive larger profile and now carried a II after the model name. , Made in Fullerton, California, U.S.A. in 1965, Blue finish with clear coat faded to a blueish/greenish colour, Maple bolton neck with stamped L serial number, Unbound lam rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets and dot markers, Original white pearloid scratchplate and chrome control plate, Original twin covered singlecoil pickups, dual pickup selector slideswitches, pots and jack socket, Original chrome hardtail bridge with 3 steel saddles. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Watch Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cottons New Does It Work for You? Music Video. In later years, particularly when the Duo-Sonic II arrived in late 64, Fender switched to poplar for most of these, including the Mustangs that would join them. Create. Get the latest news, reviews and product advice straight to your inbox. This Fender Duo-Sonic II is an honest and very cool example from the classic Leo Fender years. Deploy network infrastructure faster and easier than ever before, with pre-packaged yet massively scalable infrastructure components for top packet and optical systems. Early models had sized offset bodies in a single colour (Desert Sand), an anodized aluminium scratchplate and a 3way toggle pickup selector switch. Headstock sports original Fender decal (with some chipping between the F and E). OHSC. Change lives for good. This variant of the DuoSonic may even be regarded as a hardtail Mustang. Like the Musicmaster introduced a few months earlier, it featured basic but effective construction and a 22.5inch scale length (standard Fender guitars feature a 25.5inch scale) and cost $149.50. Despite its diminutive status, the Duo-Sonic racked up quite a roster of pro players over the years. The tip of the headstock shows some damage, and the back 2 inches or so of the body shows some as well, as seen in the photos. The neck is rock solid, and the frets show surprisingly little wear. These guitars, and a re-introduced 'Mustang' range, form the 'Offset Series' and are made in Mexico. Guitars with 24 scale necks with 22 frets became the most popular option. Be inspired! collection with up to $500,000 paid same-day for your gear. Underneath those plastic pickup covers lurk single-coil pickups that are similar to Stratocaster pickups of the era, but with flush pole pieces. The 50s maple neck with an integral maple fretboard is an unusual thing on any student-model Fender, and the white plastic pickup covers and anodized aluminum pickguard present some tastefully contrasting styling. CRAVE Guitars 2007-2022 - Love Vintage Guitars, CRAVE Guitars is taking a break. All in all, the Duo-Sonic is quite a different Fender, and in a fun way. Copyright 2022 Cream City Music. Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard is in marvelous condition, and frets show very little wear. This can take some getting used to for those more accustomed to the 25.5-inch-scale feel and sound, but notable players who have invested time and effort into working with the Duo-Sonic have come to dig what this model offers. Snap up a piece of Fender history today, and rest assuredits professionally setup by our in-house luthier, and itll arrive ready to play right out of the case. In 1959 the Duo-Sonic went through a face lift. In-depth strategy and insight into critical interconnection ecosystems, datacenter connectivity, product optimization, fiber route development, and more. Like Fenders other notable guitars of the period, early Duo-Sonics had bodies made of ash and alder. Neck is straight and plays beautifully up and down the length of the fingerboard. Original pots date to 63. Designed for students, the Fender Duo-Sonic nevertheless attracted the likes of Hendrix, Bloomfield and Gallagher. The final axe to join the lineup was the Fender Bronco introduced in 1967. & vintage gear archive, a history of every Pickup selection was moved above the pickups on both the Duo-Sonic and the Mustang and utilized two 3-position on-off-on switches that allowed for in and out-of-phase sounds. It was referred to as a "3/4 size" Fender guitar. In 2016 Fender re-introduced the Duo-Sonic in two forms: the Duo-Sonic MN (two single coil pickups - in Arctic White, Torino Red and Capri Orange) and the Duo-Sonic HS (a single coil neck and a tappable humbucker bridge pickup - in Daphne Blue, Black and Surf Green), both equipped with a 24 scale length C-shaped neck. Fender phased out the DuoSonic in 1969 while the Mustang, Musicmaster and Bronco continued in production until c.1982. Although the Duo-Sonic, like the Musicmaster, is actually a little over 7/8ths scale, the shorter length limited its appeal. Fender debuted its student models in 1956, starting with the Musicmaster, which was followed by the more deluxe Duo-Sonic a few months later. pre-owned guitar, bass or amplifier we have had for sale. 1964 Fender Duo-Sonic ll, Pre-CBS L Plate # 52366, Controls: Master Volume and Tone, plus separate on/off tone switch for each pickup. The original model was only available in a light tan color called Desert Sand and had a maple fingerboard with 21 frets and a neck with a soft-V profile. Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing two different late-50s or early 60s Duo Sonics, in Desert Sand and sunburst, respectively, while backing both Curtis Knight and the Isley Brothers. Next, youve got the raritya jaw-dropping sunburst finish exclusive to 1963 for this model. PreCBS DuoSonics like this one are now becoming increasingly sought after vintage instruments. Jimi Hendrix was photographed playing two different late-50s or early 60s Duo Sonics, in Desert Sand and sunburst, respectively, while backing both Curtis Knight and the Isley Brothers. . CRAVE (Cool & Rare American Vintage Electric) Guitars, Thumbs up: Very cool aesthetic, alloriginal, light weight, flexible pickup wiring, invogue offset, affordable vintage, OHSC, Thumbs down: Finish condition, the shorter scale, pickups and switching may put some off, hardtail, student reputation, Decree: Maybe the least wellknown of Fenders 1960s student models, it provides a fantastic and offbeat introduction to cool vintage guitars. There are various small scratches, dents, dings, nicks, and chips in the finish throughout the body, and visible weather checking throughout the instrument. GuitarPlayer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The bolton maple necks were 22 shortscale with maple fingerboards. First, theres the obvious- its a Pre-CBS student model, with a S-M-O-O-T-H Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, and original frets with a ton of meat left on them. 63 also marked the last year before these essentially turned into a hardtail version of the Mustang. Love Guitars. All electronics have been tested and are in great working condition. Do you want to sell your used or vintage guitar, Electronics: Original single-coil pickups with 3-way pickup selector switch and knurled chrome knobs, 1x volume, 1x tone. They have a string-through-body hardtail 'Strat' bridge, with vintage-like bent-steel saddles. Although only called blue on student models, the original colour is very close to Fenders Daphne Blue. A sunburst finish was available around 1960, by which time a rosewood fretboard had been added and the aluminum pickguard switched out for white plastic. His prolific output as author includesFender 75 Years (opens in new tab), The Guitar Amp Handbook (opens in new tab), The British Amp Invasion (opens in new tab), Ultimate Star Guitars (opens in new tab), Guitar Effects Pedals (opens in new tab), The Guitar Pickup Handbook (opens in new tab), The Fender Telecaster (opens in new tab)and several other titles. It was available in Black, Torino Red and Arctic White. The Fender Duo-Sonic was introduced in 1956. The neck is the less common shallow A profile, which makes it supremely easy to play the action is low and none of the high notes choke out. For those who want a taste of the authentic pre-CBS Fender without a five-figure price tag of the Jazzmaster/Jaguar/Strat/Tele; this is an amazing value, and entry way to the historic Fender era of the early 1960s. Many Collectors view The Duo-Sonic II as a more desirable instrument to the iconic Mustang because the tremolo bridge adversely affects intonation. 2018 Petabit Scale, All Rights Reserved. The Duo-Sonic lasted until 1969 when it was dropped most likely because the Mustang with its tremolo tail piece was far more popular. In addition to white, Daphne Blue and Dakota Red colors were added.[2]. The most significant change was a switch from a maple fingerboard to a rosewood one in keeping with changes to other Fender models at this time. This Instrument is part of the Cream City Music used The Duo-Sonic is quite a different Fender, and in a fun way.
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