Fender Duo-Sonic Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957)
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Fender Duo-Sonic Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Fullerton, California, serial # -18038, off-white lacquer re- finish, alder body, maple neck, original brown hard shell case.
This is a fairly early example of Fender's first two pickup student guitar: the unjustly obscure Duo-Sonic. This one was made in the first half of 1957 and has some "real relic" wear and mojo to spare!
Christened with one of Fenders coolest names ever, this little package of electric goodness was designed to expand the company's position the in teaching studio/young student market. By the late '50s interest in the Hawaiian steel guitar was on the wane, and the kids coming in for guitar lessons wanted to rock'n'roll. A two-pickup version of the very basic Musicmaster seemed like an easy solution, so The Duo-Sonic was duly introduced in the second half of 1956. This is a first-generation examples.
The Duo-sonic is built from all the same components as the Musicmaster with a second pickup at the bridge, an attendant selector switch and single volume and tone controls. It features a short 22 1/2" scale maple neck and smaller alder body, originally finished in a shade Fender called "Desert Sand". The three-saddle bridge uses the same components as the Telecaster with a smaller baseplate stringing from the back edge. The pickups are the same basic forms as Stratocaster units, in white plastic covers without exposed polepieces.
This guitar has the original electronics featuring pots from the 4th week of 1957. The original anodized metal pickguard has some wear but still looks sharp! The guitar has survived intact without being stripped of its more valuable parts (knobs, neckplate, pots, and wiring) as so many have. The neat, comfortable little neck is dated 4-57 in pencil on the heel and has the classic '57 Fender "V" profile.
These guitars were many 1950s and '60s players' first electric, far more playable than most other options and stylish in an understated way. They were designed to be good enough to get kids hooked on playing electric, but not so flashy as to stop them still lusting after a new Stratocaster down the road! The short scale is not what many modern players are used to but nonetheless this is a very cool genuine 1950s Fender guitar that plays and sounds great. As the prices of other Fender guitars have risen the Duo-Sonic has remained the best relative bargain in a genuine Fender guitar from the first Fullerton epoch.
Overall length is 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This first-generation Duo Sonic remains in largely original condition, fairly well played in with some typical wear. The body finish is the original Desert Sand lacquer with some fairly heavy lengthwise checking but not too much in the way of dings, dents and chips, with some wear though on the bottom edge. The neck finish remains original on the back; it was refretted long ago with a fairly obvious shellac overfinish to the fingerboard, which has darkened spots and been lightly worn through since. The decal is very well preserved.
The guitar retains the original parts and hardware except the Kluson tuners are correct modern repros. The early smooth-saddle bridge pieces are fairly well rusted and are in the case with later saddles now fitted. Both pickups, the knobs and all electronics are original; there is some general moisture wear and corrosion to the strap buttons and knobs. The plastic pickup covers have strumwear to the tops and a few small cracks on the edges but are still solid. The original snap-on bridge cover is still present.
The pickguard shows fairly heavy moisture wear with many small corrosion spots and a larger through worn area to the metal from strumming. The frets show minimal wear and play fine. The pickups are loud and strong, and this is a far better sounding guitar than many give these credit for. This Duo-Sonic is a cool piece of Fender history and a fun guitar to play, still in its worn-but-functional original tan '50s case. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a fairly early example of Fender's first two pickup student guitar: the unjustly obscure Duo-Sonic. This one was made in the first half of 1957 and has some "real relic" wear and mojo to spare!
Christened with one of Fenders coolest names ever, this little package of electric goodness was designed to expand the company's position the in teaching studio/young student market. By the late '50s interest in the Hawaiian steel guitar was on the wane, and the kids coming in for guitar lessons wanted to rock'n'roll. A two-pickup version of the very basic Musicmaster seemed like an easy solution, so The Duo-Sonic was duly introduced in the second half of 1956. This is a first-generation examples.
The Duo-sonic is built from all the same components as the Musicmaster with a second pickup at the bridge, an attendant selector switch and single volume and tone controls. It features a short 22 1/2" scale maple neck and smaller alder body, originally finished in a shade Fender called "Desert Sand". The three-saddle bridge uses the same components as the Telecaster with a smaller baseplate stringing from the back edge. The pickups are the same basic forms as Stratocaster units, in white plastic covers without exposed polepieces.
This guitar has the original electronics featuring pots from the 4th week of 1957. The original anodized metal pickguard has some wear but still looks sharp! The guitar has survived intact without being stripped of its more valuable parts (knobs, neckplate, pots, and wiring) as so many have. The neat, comfortable little neck is dated 4-57 in pencil on the heel and has the classic '57 Fender "V" profile.
These guitars were many 1950s and '60s players' first electric, far more playable than most other options and stylish in an understated way. They were designed to be good enough to get kids hooked on playing electric, but not so flashy as to stop them still lusting after a new Stratocaster down the road! The short scale is not what many modern players are used to but nonetheless this is a very cool genuine 1950s Fender guitar that plays and sounds great. As the prices of other Fender guitars have risen the Duo-Sonic has remained the best relative bargain in a genuine Fender guitar from the first Fullerton epoch.
Overall length is 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This first-generation Duo Sonic remains in largely original condition, fairly well played in with some typical wear. The body finish is the original Desert Sand lacquer with some fairly heavy lengthwise checking but not too much in the way of dings, dents and chips, with some wear though on the bottom edge. The neck finish remains original on the back; it was refretted long ago with a fairly obvious shellac overfinish to the fingerboard, which has darkened spots and been lightly worn through since. The decal is very well preserved.
The guitar retains the original parts and hardware except the Kluson tuners are correct modern repros. The early smooth-saddle bridge pieces are fairly well rusted and are in the case with later saddles now fitted. Both pickups, the knobs and all electronics are original; there is some general moisture wear and corrosion to the strap buttons and knobs. The plastic pickup covers have strumwear to the tops and a few small cracks on the edges but are still solid. The original snap-on bridge cover is still present.
The pickguard shows fairly heavy moisture wear with many small corrosion spots and a larger through worn area to the metal from strumming. The frets show minimal wear and play fine. The pickups are loud and strong, and this is a far better sounding guitar than many give these credit for. This Duo-Sonic is a cool piece of Fender history and a fun guitar to play, still in its worn-but-functional original tan '50s case. Overall Very Good + Condition.