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1960 Fender Duo Sonic Vintage Pre-CBS Electric Guitar Desert Sand Slab Board w/ Bulwin Case

$4,599.99

+ shipping

Up for sale, a 1960 Fender Duo Sonic in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original red Bulwin hardshell case, bridge cover, and cable. This Pre-CBS short scale Fender model is 100% original save for the three-way pickup selector (original switch also included), featuring a slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard and flame maple neck.

The guitar offers tons of natural acoustic volume and authoritative bark, qualities which translate well via the original pair of black bobbin alnico magnet single coil pickups. These pickups are essentially wound identically to a '60 Strat pickup, with the only difference being the flat pole piece design. Both pickups have healthy output, with a bouncy, sparkling sound and chewy twang, delivering a smooth midrange character and focused bass register cut. Featherweight at just 6lbs 9oz, this Duo Sonic has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-54 roundwound strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

The maple neck has broad, dimensional flame figuring extending the length of the profile, and the U-shaped carve is more slender at the nut, quickly gaining appreciable additional shoulder and heft in the higher registers. It’s one of the most substantial necks we’ve ever encountered on a Duo Sonic, infinitely playable with rolled fretboard edges, measuring .805” deep at the 1st fret and .980” at the 12th. The thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard is lighter in coloration on the bass side and has a deeper, richer brown on the treble side. The fretboard has clay dot inlay, a 7 1/4" radius, and original slender frets which have their full factory height and well-rounded crowns, exhibiting light, uniform wear on the crowns of frets 1-5, and light wear into the rosewood on the treble side of the fretboard as well in the first position. With a scale length of 22 1/2", this is a true short scale instrument, perfect for players with smaller hands or those looking to comfortably execute chord extensions that might otherwise be out of reach. The original nut measures 1 1/2" in width. On the headstock, the original single line Kluson Deluxe tuning machines are present, and the original "Fender - Duo Sonic" waterslide decal is intact.

All of the electronics function as intended; the original black bobbin pickups have their stock windings, and controls include a modern three-way pickup selector switch and original CTS pots that date to the 19th week of '60. All of the original hardware is accounted for with bright chrome plating, including the knurled flat-top chrome knobs, bridge with threaded saddles, serialized neck plate, and even the original chrome-plated bridge cover. Plastics include the single-ply white pickguard and dark brown pickup covers.

The nitro lacquer Desert Sand finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, showing tight, faint horizontal lacquer checking and various small dings and scuffs, largely across the back and on the body perimeter. The deeply ambered gloss on the neck profile highlights the deep and broad flame figuring that extends the profile length, particularly on the treble side. There is also natural palm wear through the gloss on the profile shoulders predominantly from frets 1-7.

The original and rare red Bulwin hardshell case is included, retaining its original central latch (outer two latches are non-functional) and molded handle. The original gray 1/4" instrument cable is also included.