Fender Duo-Sonic 1963 - Blue

This guitar got a DIY refinish back in the 80s. Not a great job but also not awful either, but certainly a home job. It’s had decades to build some character and wear though, so the refinish feels at home on this guitar and is charming.

Refinish aside, this guitar is all original except for a small hole near the string tree which has been dowel plugged, and the very bottom pickguard screw near the output jack is not original.

All electronics are original. The volume and tone pot are scratchy, but rather than replace them I have left them as is because they are original to the guitar. When I first got the guitar, I sprayed them out with some contact cleaner which alleviated the scratchiness, but I think it is due for another round, so I will spray them out again with contact cleaner for whoever buys this guitar.

The pick ups are really interesting! They are wound extremely hot but appear to be totally original. They measure ~10k ohms each, which seems crazy hot for an early 60s Fender. It made me think they had been replaced or rewound but they pickups and wiring looks totally original and untouched. My only conclusion is that whoever was winding pickups in the factory that day just decided to really really juice this set. They genuinely sound amazing! And when you take into account the middle position on early 60s Duo Sonics runs the pickups in series, this guitar has some serious output!

The next is worn in really well. Very slim and dainty. When I first got it I didn’t think I’d like it, but my hands totally got used to the little neck, and I am not a small player. It’s an amazing instrument for just noodling around.

Granted, this guitar over 60 years old and the frets are quite worn, but it is still super playable. Will it need to be re-fretted at some point? Sure. But they aren’t pitted, the action is incredibly low and yet there is no fret buzz anywhere. It’s just a super easy guitar to play.

Let me know if you have questions! I’ll try and get a photo of the inside of the pick guard soon as well as the weight.