Up for sale, a 1967 Fender Duo Sonic II in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Essentially a hardtail version of the Mustang, this Duo Sonic II has a clear, smooth acoustic voice that translates well through the original black bobbin pickups with great presence and treble-centric sparkle. These flat pole alnico magnet single coils have a bold, bell-like cut in the neck position, and more upper midrange authority and snappy twang at the bridge. The Duo Sonic also 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. Featherweight at 6lbs 7oz, this Duo Sonic has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with a fresh set of 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
The maple neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve with notably round shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .840" deep at the 1st fret and .905" at the 12th. The rosewood fretboard has a 7 1/4" radius with pearloid dot inlay, refretted with flawless slender fretwire. The truss rod is responsive and optimally adjusted, and the guitar plays cleanly in all registers up the straight neck. The scale length is 24" (the longer of the two scale lengths offered on the Duo Sonic II), and the modern nut measures 1 5/8" in width. On the headstock, a vintage set of Fender F tuners with hexagonal white buttons function as intended, fitted with a pair of modern bushings, as a different tuner set was installed at one point in the instrument's lifetime. The headstock face retains the original "Fender Duo Sonic II" decal, and the neck heel has a bold July, 1967 stamp, along with "paint stick" markings in the neck pocket indicative of an original nitro lacquer finish.
The electronics all work as intended, and the original Stackpole pots date to '66. Both black bobbin pickups are original, and the leads on the bridge coil have been spliced and resoldered. The original bridge is present, fitted with a modern trio of threaded saddles, and the chrome hardware is bright and clean with very light surface pitting. Stock plastics include the white pearloid pickguard and original pair of knobs and pickup covers.
The original nitro lacquer Daphne Blue finish exhibits some small small nicks, largely on the back and body perimeter, faint buckle rash at the bass-side waist, and also a couple lines of cable worming on the back. The neck retains its extremely smooth and clean gloss nitro lacquer.
The original hardshell case is included with its gray speckled exterior, faux black leather ends, trio of functional latches, and the stock handle.