The first time I ever encountered a Jazzmaster in person, it was in the hands of a great guitarist by the name of Stan Gadziola, who was one of two guitarists slinging their axes in the service of an amazing R&B band called Sounder. They played around the Georgian Bay area in the 1980s, and I managed to misspend a fair chunk of my misspent youth at their gigs. I thought the Jazzmaster was just about the coolest looking thing on the planet, especially in an era that was overpopulated by Kramer and Charvel wannabes.
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Since its introduction in 2007, the Vintage Hot Rod series has been one of Fender’s most popular lines. Today we are featuring a pair of Hot Rod ’57 Stratocasters. Fender has done a great job of blending a classic design with a few modernized features. The result is an instrument that feels instantly familiar, yet keeps up with the demands of modern music.
MORE →The Doublecat echoes the detailing of a British Invasion classic with better playability, more versatility, stable tuning and better construction. Let’s not even get into the flawless fretwork and intonation. Okay, I admit…Dusenberg guitars had me after writing the first sentence. This lovely specimen has a cat’s-eye sound hole very much like a Rickenbaker guitar yet excels with the updated electronics. The Doublecat 12 sports a PAF style humbucker in the bridge and a P90 in the neck and makes for a wide array of tonal options. The body consists of a two-piece alder body with a maple top. The bridge assembly configuration also echoes the long discontinued Charvel Surfcaster guitar (I’ve always been a sucker for those!!!). The Doublecat 12 really created quite a stir with customers when it graced the wall of our store. All you need to invoke those classic Brit invasion sounds is the DoubleCat 12 going through our loveable Janglebox and presto…Instant twang!!!
MORE →The 49’er is marriage of classic styling and bold rugged yet handsome Rock’N Roll attitude. Taking its cue from a Les Paul-style design, the 49’er incorporates a humbucker and a P90 into its electronic palette and a string through body and tune-o-matic style bridge configuration. Between these two specs alone, the tones are plentiful, rich, varied and well thought out. The bottom end coming off of this guitar is PHAT and chunky, while still retaining definition and character. The body construction consists of a carved maple top and a mahogany back. The fretwork is absolutely flawless and is courtesy of a PLEK machine. Add meticulous assembly and detailing, some way cool Z tuners and 50’s Chevy style Chrome appointments and you’ve got a killer rock guitar built like a Panzer tank with the looks of a Porsche Panamera sedan.
MORE →I just don’t think this guitar could possibly look any better. When it comes to design and a sense of style, Duesenberg is right up there with the best! Beyond the visual appeal, the SR-52 is a very well put together machine, with excellent hardware, construction, and appointments across the board. The controls are simple and elegant. A single “Little Toaster” humbucker is connected to a 3-position selector switch, giving a great tonal variety. Moving through the pickup settings will take you from classic twang to thich, chunky bark…. all from a single pickup and some series/parrallel switching. Master volume and tone controls round out the electronic setup, giving you all the versatility you need.
MORE →If ever there was a guitar designed for Darth Vader and Clint Eastwood, this is THE guitar. I just could not help myself with this one. I’ve always had a “secret” love affair with Gretsch guitars but have always been weary of taking the plunge on a guitar that I wouldn’t use that often, never mind carving up the top to fit a PAF style humbucker. Enter the Starplayer TV Outlaw. Our Dusenberg rep Mike Gregory had me at the faux Alligator hide finish. (Insert long sigh here_____________). What can I say that hasn’t been thought or said? Stunning looks aside; the guitar truly is a marvel of tone with its humbucker/ P90 configuration. Sporting a hollow body construction with a sustain block, this guitar is right at home with Rockabilly and Hard Rock. The fretwork, courtesy of PLEK, makes this guitar a dream to play. The addition of a Bigsby style tremolo unit adds even more mojo to this beauty. The fact that it works flawlessly makes it even more of a marvel. I’m asked on a daily basis…”Mike, which guitar is your favorite guitar in the store right now”. Without one shred of doubt, it would have to unequivocally be this guitar.
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