Up for sale, a 1962 Fender Duo Sonic in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, bridge cover, and hangtag. This Pre-CBS short scale Fender model is 100% original save for one replaced potentiometer, featuring a slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard and figured birdseye maple neck.
The guitar offers a clear, chiming acoustic voice that’s surprisingly resonant and authoritative, with plenty of sparkle and twang on tap via the pair of original black bobbin alnico magnet single coil pickups. These pickups are essentially wound identically to a '62 Strat pickup, with the only difference being the flat pole piece design. Both pickups have strong output and exceptional tone, with a bouncy, sparkling sound that's sweet and lively, offering a smooth midrange character and focused bass register cut. Featherweight at just 6lbs 4oz, this Duo Sonic has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
The one-piece maple neck has a slender and fast-feeling C-shaped profile carve at the nut, with rolled fretboard edges and additional heft further the fingerboard, measuring .800” deep at the 1st fret and .985” at the 12th. The thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard is notably dark and tight-grained, sporting clay dot inlay and retaining the stock slender fretwire. The frets are in great shape, with light wear beneath the strings on frets 1-4. 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 exceptionally clean, and the original "Fender - Duo Sonic" waterslide decal is intact.
All of the electronics function as intended; the original black bobbin pickups have been professionally rewound using vintage spec wire, faithful to the original wind. Controls include a three-way pickup selector switch and Master Volume and Tone knobs. The original Volume pot is manufactured by Stackpole, dating to the 9th week of ‘62, and the Tone pot is a modern CTS replacement (original Tone pot also included). All of the original hardware is accounted for including the knurled flat-top chrome knobs, bridge with threaded saddles, serialized neck plate, and even the original chrome-plated bridge cover. There is light pick scuffing across the stock single-ply white pickguard, with pick wear extending faintly to the bass-side waist of the body. The original brown pickup covers round out the plastics.
The nitro lacquer Sunburst finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, showing vertical checking on the top and back. Cosmetic wear includes a number of small chips and dings on the body as a whole, primarily concentrated along the perimeter and on the back, as well as an area of light buckle worming central to the lower bout. There is a light finish reaction on the back of the bass-side body horn from prolonged contact with a strap. The lightly ambered nitro gloss finish on the neck profile highlights dynamic birdseye and broad flame figuring along the entire profile length.
The original hangtag is included, with matching hand-written model and serial details. The original tan hardshell case with brown leather ends is also present and structurally sound, although there is a split at the headstock end. The original latches and molded handle are present; all three latches function and close securely.