SOLD - Fender Duo Sonic 1958 Desert Sand

SOLD!

Who buys vintage guitars?  We do! 

Call 530-570-1525 or email sales@maharsvintageguitars.com to sell your vintage guitar, bass, amplifier, etc - one piece or a collection!  We are always ready to buy instruments, amps and effects from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Marshall, Vox and just about anything else related to musical instruments.   You can also click here for more info on selling us vintage instruments, amps, parts, etc.  

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1958 Fender Duo Sonic came to us a couple months ago.  It needed a little work prior to listing, but here it is at last.

On arrival, the pickup selector switch was not fully functional.  Only the neck and middle positions worked, and it was clear that it was about to completely fail.  The switches Fender used on these guitars are funky at best.  Once they start to go, that is it. The switch housing can be opened, so I tried to resurrect it but the internal workings were trashed.

Finding a switch that will work properly and fit in the original body route is a challenge, but I eventually found a good replacement. and wired it in.  The original switch is included with the guitar.

Also on arrival, the bridge pickup showed very weak output, the result of a short within the original coil.  Out favorite pickup rewinder, Tom Brantley, tried to save the original winding but the short was too deep within the coil to save it.  He rewound it to spec and re-used the original lead wires, keeping the vintage look.  Most people would not notice that the pickup has been rewound.  There is no perceptible difference in sound between the two pickups.

The pots, cap, output jack - the rest of the guitar in fact - are all original.  Pots date to the 25th week of 1958.

The neck date is partly concealed by desert sand paint it picked up in the neck cavity, but it does read 4 58 - April of 1958.

The guitar plays well and sounds very good. Overall, it is in better than average condition for a 50s Duo Sonic, which was a student instrument - most are pretty well thrashed.

Original case included.

• Color: Desert Sand
• Weight: 6lbs 2.9ozs
• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple refinished
• Neck Date/Code: 4-58
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black dots
• Frets: Original
• Fret count: 21
• Nut: Bone
• Nut width: 1 5/8" 
• Scale: 22.5"
• Radius: 7.25"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.86"
• Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.0"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 1.75mm
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 1.5mm
• Total length: 37 1/4"
• Lower bout: 12"
• Waist: 8 1/8"
• Upper bout: 10 1/4"
• Body depth/thickness: 1 9/16"
• String gauge: .010-.046"
• Hardware Color: Chrome and nickel
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Fender, rewound by Tom Brantley  using original lead wires
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 5.18k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Fender
• Neck Pickup Reading: 5.25k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Original???
• Tuners: Original
• Switch: Original
• Pots/Codes: 137 826
• Case: OHSC
• Notes: Switch changed and bridge pickup rewound

Shipping policy:

Three day UPS air shipments will be automatic for buyers including these states and those to the east of them: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.