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Up for sale, a 1966 Fender Duo Sonic II in perfect working order with a soulfully aged original Daphne Blue nitro lacquer finish and rare slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard. A slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard was a feature typically reserved for Pre-CBS Fender instruments produced from 1959-mid 1962, but was also implemented on the Mustang and Duo Sonic II models exclusively from 1965-66 for a couple short production runs, as on the example seen here.
Essentially a hardtail version of the Mustang, this Duo Sonic II has a bold natural sound that translates well through the stock gray bobbin pickups with great jangle and clarity. Since the pickups are essentially flat pole Stratocaster pickups with covers over the magnets, the tones are surprisingly similar, although the Duo Sonic has the added benefit of a pair of three-way on/off/on pickup switches for an out-of-phase hollow twang and quack when the switches are engaged in their innermost or outermost positions. Weighing 6lbs 14oz, we’ve had this Duo Sonic II professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action and accurate intonation.
The maple neck has a substantial, chunky C-shaped profile carve with very full shoulders and rolled fretboard edges, measuring .870” deep at the 1st fret and .925” at the 12th. The fretboard is particularly rare in that it’s a Brazilian rosewood slab, something only seen on a select few Mustangs and Duo Sonic IIs produced in 1965-66, eschewing the much more common veneer boards otherwise seen throughout this model's original production run. The guitar has been professionally refretted with flawless slender vintage-spec 6230 size fretwire, and the fretboard retains its original 7 1/4" radius. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The upgraded nut is a hand-carved piece of bone measuring 1 5/8” in width. The headstock retains the original waterslide decal and Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines which work smoothly and hold pitch well. The neck heel retains its bold January, 1966 date stamp, and the neck pocket has the correct paint stick markings indicative of an original finish.
The electronics all function as intended, with the original gray bobbin pickups wired to the harness with untouched solder and original Stackpole pots that date to the 18th week of '66. Plastics include the original pair of knobs, uniformly aged pickup covers, and the wide bevel white pearloid pickguard. Hardware comprises the original control plate and top-loader bridge with threaded saddles.
The Daphne Blue nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, with notable greening of the clear coat and finish wear down to the white primer coat and bare wood along much of the perimeter of the slab body. There is buckle wear central to the back, and various additional marks of honest use on the body as a whole. The maple neck exhibits palm wear down to the smooth, bare wood along the profile length.
A modern black tolex hardshell case is included.
Essentially a hardtail version of the Mustang, this Duo Sonic II has a bold natural sound that translates well through the stock gray bobbin pickups with great jangle and clarity. Since the pickups are essentially flat pole Stratocaster pickups with covers over the magnets, the tones are surprisingly similar, although the Duo Sonic has the added benefit of a pair of three-way on/off/on pickup switches for an out-of-phase hollow twang and quack when the switches are engaged in their innermost or outermost positions. Weighing 6lbs 14oz, we’ve had this Duo Sonic II professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action and accurate intonation.
The maple neck has a substantial, chunky C-shaped profile carve with very full shoulders and rolled fretboard edges, measuring .870” deep at the 1st fret and .925” at the 12th. The fretboard is particularly rare in that it’s a Brazilian rosewood slab, something only seen on a select few Mustangs and Duo Sonic IIs produced in 1965-66, eschewing the much more common veneer boards otherwise seen throughout this model's original production run. The guitar has been professionally refretted with flawless slender vintage-spec 6230 size fretwire, and the fretboard retains its original 7 1/4" radius. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The upgraded nut is a hand-carved piece of bone measuring 1 5/8” in width. The headstock retains the original waterslide decal and Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines which work smoothly and hold pitch well. The neck heel retains its bold January, 1966 date stamp, and the neck pocket has the correct paint stick markings indicative of an original finish.
The electronics all function as intended, with the original gray bobbin pickups wired to the harness with untouched solder and original Stackpole pots that date to the 18th week of '66. Plastics include the original pair of knobs, uniformly aged pickup covers, and the wide bevel white pearloid pickguard. Hardware comprises the original control plate and top-loader bridge with threaded saddles.
The Daphne Blue nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, with notable greening of the clear coat and finish wear down to the white primer coat and bare wood along much of the perimeter of the slab body. There is buckle wear central to the back, and various additional marks of honest use on the body as a whole. The maple neck exhibits palm wear down to the smooth, bare wood along the profile length.
A modern black tolex hardshell case is included.
