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. Underneath those plastic pickup covers lurk single-coil pickups that are similar to Stratocaster pickups of the era, but with flush pole pieces.ĭespite its diminutive status, the Duo-Sonic racked up quite a roster of pro players over the years. In addition, the model’s toggle-style pickup selector was swapped for two slider switches, one above each pickup, as found on the Mustang. 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. 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 BrothersĪs a result, many such models from the mid ’60s and after are even heavier than their larger-bodied, 25.5-inch-scale siblings. 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. Like Fender’s other notable guitars of the period, early Duo-Sonics had bodies made of ash and alder. 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. 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.įender offered the Duo-Sonic only in Desert Sand finish for its first few years of production. A few dings here and there but nothing remarkable.1957 Fender Duo-Sonic in Desert Sand finish (Image credit: GUITAR AND PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM DUMONT)Įarly examples, like the ’57 displayed here, carry the features collectors and many players most like to see in these guitars. The paint shows some signs of wear which is typical for a guitar that is nearly 60 years old. The guitar is all original, with no modifications/repairs. Many Collectors view The Duo-Sonic II as a more desirable instrument to the iconic Mustang because the tremolo bridge adversely affects intonation.įor 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. 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. These guitars featured larger and slightly offset bodies, necks with larger headstocks with the volume and tone controls mounted on a separate metal plate. 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. 1964 Fender Duo-Sonic ll, Pre-CBS L Plate # 52366Ĭontrols: Master Volume and Tone, plus separate on/off tone switch for each pickup
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