1966 Fender Duo Sonic II Vintage Short Scale Offset Electric Guitar Dakota Red w/ Case, Mustang

Up for sale, a 1966 Fender Duo Sonic II in excellent condition with the original Dakota Red nitro lacquer finish. Essentially a hardtail version of the Mustang, this short scale Duo Sonic II has a prominent acoustic voice that translates well through the original pickups with great jangle and clarity. Since the pickups are in essence flat pole Stratocaster pickups with covers concealing the pole pieces, the tones are surprisingly similar, although the Duo Sonic II has the added benefit of a pair of phase switches for a very cool hollow tone when both pickups are engaged and out of phase. Featherweight at 7lbs 1oz, the poplar body balances well on a strap too. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with a fresh set of 11-48 strings and low action, this Duo Sonic II is an absolutely killer vintage Fender.The maple neck has a deep, chunky C shape, unique in its carve for 1965-66, with ample shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges at the nut, staying uniform in overall depth as you travel up the fingerboard. The profile measures .875" deep at the 1st fret and .880" at the 12th. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard features pearloid dot inlay, and the original frets are remarkably clean, leveled and crowned in the guitar’s lifetime, showing just a touch of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3. The truss rod is responsive and ideally adjusted, and the guitar plays cleanly in all registers up the straight neck. The scale length is 24", and the nut measures a full 1 5/8" in width. On the headstock, the original Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines are intact, and the headstock face retains the original nigh flawless "Fender Duo Sonic II" decal. The March, 1966 date stamp is very bold and clean on the neck heel, and the neck pocket reveals the "paint stick" markings of the original nitro lacquer finish.The electronics all work as intended with untouched solder joints, Stackpole pots which date to the 18th week of '66, and hand-dated gray bobbin pickups dating to 6-14-66. The original bridge is present, along with the stock chrome control plate. Plastics include the stock white pearloid pickguard with great dimension and virtually no shrinkage, along with a pair of modern pickup covers and knobs.The guitar retains its original nitro lacquer Dakota Red finish which exhibits some touched-up small finish chips on the body parameter, and a larger spot of buckle rash touchup on the treble side upper bout on the back, just south of the F neck plate. Wear is otherwise limited to vertical lacquer checking, and a few minor scuffs and marks on top and similar wear on the back.The original hardshell case is included with its gray speckled exterior, faux black leather ends, original latches (two of which function well), and the stock handle.