1960 Fender Duo-Sonic + OHSC
- Unit price
- / per
Summary
Model: Duo-Sonic
Year: 1960
Finish: Original Tan
Modifications: None
Repairs: Changed pots & switch, refret
Weight: 2.74
Case: Original Hardshell Case
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Body Wood: Alder
Neck Wood: Maple
Tuners: Correct single line Kluson
Pickups: 2 x correct single coil
Hardware: Correct Chrome
Neck Profile: Small C
Pots: Non original CTS
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1960 Fender Duo-Sonic + OHSC
- Unit price
- / per
Ask a Question:
1960 Fender Duo-Sonic + OHSCDescription
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…
Adding product to your cart
Summary
Model: Duo-Sonic
Year: 1960
Finish: Original Tan
Modifications: None
Repairs: Changed pots & switch, refret
Weight: 2.74
Case: Original Hardshell Case
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Body Wood: Alder
Neck Wood: Maple
Tuners: Correct single line Kluson
Pickups: 2 x correct single coil
Hardware: Correct Chrome
Neck Profile: Small C
Pots: Non original CTS
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
Recommended products
Recently viewed
Why Buy from ATB Guitars?
ATB Guitars has been trading since the '90s and we've sold thousands of guitars to date. We pride ourselves on our in-depth descriptions, detailed photography, honesty and transparency. We also accept no questions returns within 14 days so you can buy with confidence! Read more about our history below...
ATB Guitars Cheltenham
Visit our Showroom
Two Floors and over 250 guitars in stock!