A 1960 Fender Duo-Sonic anyone?

A rare opportunity to own a staff owned guitar, this was bought by David who does the photography stuff here at ATB a little over two years ago.

There exists a grainy black and white picture of a fresh faced Jimmy James stood next to a group called The Turkoids from around 1964. In his hand is a Fender Duo-Sonic gifted to him by O’Kelly Isley when he joined the Isley Brothers. He would later be referred to as Jimi Hendrix, who unfortunately didn’t make the Duo Sonic as famous. From the beginnings of the company, Leo had seen that student models were a way to keep his instruments in players’ hands as they progressed. Released in June of 1956, the Duo Sonic went through a few changes alongside its stable mates and found favour with players as diverse as John McLaughlin, David Byrne, Walter Becker and Patti Smith.

This guitar is in good, honest condition. The Tan (not desert sand, desert sand was the lighter shade featured on guitars from the previous year with the anodised metal pickguard) finish has really lovely checking all over, and the usual scratches and dings you’d expect with a guitar of this age that's been regularly played. The neck is also in great shape, the slab fretboard looks gorgeous and it benefits from a refret from a previous owner that was reportedly undertaken by Chandlers Guitars, who ran it through their plek machine too. There is no neck date as Fender had stopped the practice of writing dates with a pencil following a (as yet still unsubstantiated) claim that an employee had written something rude…

Interestingly there's a small indent in the body, underneath the pickguard and in-between the two pickup cavities, that looks as if there may have been a knot in the wood. This must have popped out at the factory and been filled in with putty and painted over. This all correlates with the grain and the way the finish has checked over time.

The plastics and hardware hardly show the passing of time, the brown pickup covers adding to the look of the guitar and continuing the brown theme.

As you’d expect, the pickups are all correct, but the pots and selector switch have been changed, although the original capacitor for the tone control has been retained.

The guitar comes with its correct hardshell case.

Even though this is a short scale guitar (22.5”) and aimed at students, there is no doubt that these are well made instruments . The neck feels comfortable and easy to play, the no-frills nature of the electronics yields a classy tone. This guitar certainly punches above its weight.

These guitars certainly have a unique appeal all of their own and all guitar players should try one at least once. This is the first one in this spec that we’ve seen for nearly 4 years, don’t let it get away…