For years, the dream of owning a Fender guitar, one bearing that iconic logo, lingered in my mind. As a dedicated Squier player, content with their excellent quality and budget-friendly nature for my bedroom playing, the romantic notion of a genuine Fender always remained.
Initially, my Fender aspirations leaned towards the classic Stratocaster, the sleek Jazzmaster, or the edgy Jaguar. However, fate had a different model in store. Just last week, a casual visit to a Music & Arts store led me to an unexpected discovery. From across the room, a daphne blue beauty with a mint green pickguard caught my eye. The large cardboard price tag boldly declared: $299 USD. At that price point, I naturally assumed it was another excellent Squier model. But as I drew closer, the Fender logo revealed itself, and beneath it, the name: Duo-Sonic.
The Fender Duo-Sonic was a guitar I knew of, but hadn’t deeply explored. I understood it was an offset design, a relative of the Mustang, often categorized as a “student” guitar, and possessed a comfortable 24-inch scale length, similar to the Jaguar. Curiosity piqued, I asked the store clerk about its history, wondering if it was a used or consignment piece. He assured me it was brand new, having arrived only a couple of weeks prior.
A brand new Fender at a Squier price? The proposition was incredibly enticing. My mind immediately raced, evaluating its potential as a surf guitar. On the one hand, the absence of a tremolo was a drawback for traditional surf sounds. It was a hardtail, but the string-through-body design was a feature I appreciated for sustain and stability. I envisioned it potentially replacing my trusty Squier Affinity Telecaster, my go-to guitar for spontaneous playing sessions and travel. Another potential hurdle for surf was the bridge humbucker. Not typically associated with classic surf tones, but it promised a broader sonic palette compared to the Tele’s dual single-coils. Then, a hopeful thought: what if it had a coil-split, similar to the Player series Jaguar? A gentle tug on the tone control confirmed my hopes with a satisfying click as the knob popped upwards. Yes! A bridge single-coil option was indeed available.
The neck felt instantly comfortable in my hand. The Pau Ferro fretboard, while not as historically traditional as rosewood, looked strikingly beautiful against the daphne blue finish. Moreover, my very first electric guitar, a Japanese-made Squier, also had a 24-inch scale neck, a feature I had always cherished and missed since passing that guitar on to my son when he started his guitar journey. The prospect of revisiting that comfortable 24-inch scale was exciting, and it presented an opportunity to assess if a Jaguar, with its similar scale length, might be a future acquisition.
Despite the compelling allure of the Duo-Sonic, I managed to resist the immediate urge to purchase and left the store to gather more information and sleep on the decision. My online research quickly led me to a YouTube video review of the Duo-Sonic by Ryan from 60 Cycle Hum, a trusted voice within the online guitar community. Immersing myself in Ryan’s insights, alongside several other reviews, a strong conviction grew – this daphne blue guitar needed to find its way home with me. Work commitments kept me occupied for a few days, but the following Saturday, I called the store, my fingers crossed, to inquire if the Duo-Sonic was still available. To my relief, it was. I returned to the store and spent the next three hours thoroughly exploring its capabilities through various amplifiers they had on display. My initial positive impressions only solidified, leading me to the inevitable conclusion: this Fender Duo-Sonic, while likely not my last, would undoubtedly be my first.
Daphne Blue Fender Duo-Sonic Guitar Full Body
The versatile single-coil mode engaged, showcasing a brighter tonal option.
