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Description
The Fender Duo Sonic II is a vibrant nod to the past with a modern twist, perfect for musicians seeking a unique voice in their guitar arsenal. Originally born in the 1950s, the Duo Sonic II has evolved while maintaining its charm, now equipped with features that cater to today's discerning player. It boasts a shorter 24" scale length, which makes it exceptionally playable, especially for those with a penchant for fast, nimble fretwork. Its solid body design is crafted to deliver crisp, articulate tones, ideal for multiple genres from indie rock to jazz.
Fender's Duo Sonic II is fitted with two single-coil pickups, offering a rich palette of sounds that can effortlessly switch from mellow and smooth to bright and cutting. The classic bridge and control layout provide intuitive handling, making this guitar a reliable companion on stage or in the studio. Its vintage styling is complemented by modern enhancements, ensuring it not only looks the part but performs it too.
Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, the Duo Sonic II's combination of legacy and innovation ensures it fits seamlessly into any collection.
Key Features:
- Short 24" scale length for enhanced playability
- Solid body construction for crisp tone
- Dual single-coil pickups for versatile sound options
- Classic bridge and control layout for intuitive use
- Vintage styling with modern enhancements
Videos
GuitarPoint
1965 Fender Duo Sonic II Blue / GuitarPoint Maintal / Vintage Guitars
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Duo Sonic II.
Features and functionality
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The Duo-Sonic II is well-regarded for its short 24-inch scale, ideal for players with smaller hands or those preferring a compact instrument.
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The Duo-Sonic II's bridge pickup is straight, unlike the tilted pickups on Mustangs, influencing tonal response and string alignment.
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The Duo-Sonic II originally featured a hardtail bridge with three saddles, differentiating it from the Mustang's 'Dynamic Vibrato' system.
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Value and pricing
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The stripped or refinished models significantly drop in value, often bringing them under $1500, contrasting with original models that can approach $2400 but may sit unsold for long periods.
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The market value for refinished or modified models often ranges from $1,000 to $1,500, with original electronics being a key factor in valuation.
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User experience
Comparisons
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Compared to similar models like the Fender Jaguar, the Duo-Sonic II is seen as less desirable, impacting demand and resale value.
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Duo-Sonics have a simplified pickup switch system compared to the Mustang, which tends to have more complex switching systems akin to Jazzmasters and Jaguars.
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Setup and maintenance
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Based on 0 Reviews and 1 Rating
Artist usage
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Damon Albarn's main electric guitar, a 60's Olympic White Duo Sonic II. Bought sometime around 1997-1998, This guitar was used on the first three Gorillaz albums, Blur's Think Tank, Mali Music, Africa Express, The Good, The Bad, & The Queen, etc. He played this guitar for over 14 years until 2011, when he replaced it with Graham Coxon's signature Telecaster. The whereabouts of this guitar are unknown, but he still likely owns it and plays it.
Lee Ranaldo is confirmed to have used a Fender Duo Sonic II during Sonic Youth's performance of "Mildred Pierce" in August 1990. For this performance, Lee borrowed the Duo Sonic II from the opening band, STP, as the song required standard tuning. This is supported by footage from the music video shoot, where he used this specific guitar on one of the two nights.
Jeff Wooton played Damon Albarn's Duo Sonic II during the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour, the guitar was mostly used as his backup to his Fender Jaguar. However, this was his main guitar very early in the tour. This guitar was later used in the tour by Simon Tong.
Per this photo courtesy of Getty Images: "Liz Phair Live at Aquafina On the Bricks at Centennial - Atlanta - August 8, 2003"
Also, per this article on Fender's own website:
https://www.fender.com/articles/gear/offset-originals-explore-the-musicmaster-and-the-duo-sonic
Liz Phair, who even featured her 1969 white Duo-Sonic on the cover of her self-titled 2003 album
I know some see the chrome scratch plate on the knobs and assume "Mustang", but this is a Duo Sonic II, as evidenced by hardtail bridge and per interviews like this one, straight from Liz Phair herself:
https://pitchfork.com/features/podcast/in-sight-out-liz-phair/
"The DuoSonic was the real guitar. The DuoSonic was the main one, and that’s somewhere in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame right now. I feel bad about that, but not too bad. It got played, it went underwater. It’s done some things"
This image posted to Underworld's Instagram account shows Hyde's recently-acquired Duo Sonic II.
In this YouTube video, Chris Spencer can be seen using a Fender Duo-Sonic II toward the end of a set at CBGB Record Canteen on February 9th, 1989. It can most clearly been seen starting at 34:35. https://youtu.be/489DBAzStlE?feature=shared&t=2075
Simon Tong frequently played Damon Albarn's 1960's Fender Duo Sonic II. He played this guitar throughout the entire The Good, The Bad & The Queen's first album, and was last seen with it playing with Gorillaz in 2010 as an additional guitarist. The way you can tell this is Damon's is because its age and wear pattern is identical, and also the placement of the decal.
Album Usage
The Fender Duo Sonic II has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
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