Duo Sonics are so rad. I got one in Sonic Blue a couple years ago. Best damn couch guitar ever. The short scale length gives them bounce and loads of character. So much fun to play!
When I started playing or learning to play my dad bought me a new duo sonic in 1964. I loved that guitar. Someone else loved it also. In 1971 it was stolen from me. I now have a 2018 duo sonic hs. I think it's a better guitar with the humbucker at the bridge. The irony of the theft is it was sitting underneath my Martin d-18 and they left it.
I have a 64 Duo-Sonic II , and could not love it more. It’s a super unique axe that always turns heads, and the scale allows for some super fast playing
Awesome. I got a pre-CBS, 60 or 61 (I forget) for my birthday when I was about 15. It was plain wood. I think it may have been plastic covered but got smashed. It had plastic knobs and the pick guard, but I put Telecaster knobs on it just like that one, because I liked them. Think I replaced the pickups, too, and the nut. Left it at my moms in San Diego when I moved to Phoenix to go to school. Didn't have room in my van. Man I wish I still had it.
They are great instruments, you're absolutely right with how they compare, in so many ways from a time when integrity was maybe more important, as daft as that may sound. Often, an instrument you feature will fire memories, this, Duo Sound does, 'something that's been on my mind for a while.. 'Great Guitar, 'always knew they were,
My cousin had a 57 that was originally blue, with an aluminum pickguard. He stripped it in the mid 70’s and tried to paint it candy apple red, then stripped it again and left it bare until he passed away a few years ago. He bought it at a garage sale around 1973 when we were in high school. We spotted the brown Fender case in a pile of junk, and the old guy said “that was my son’s guitar, he left it here after he moved out - give me 20 buck and it’s yours”. My cousin whipped out his wallet before me and got it, we got in the VW and floored it! Don’t know what happened to it after he died.
I still have my '65 Duo Sonic II. My parents bought it for me in early 1970. A car hit me and I broke my leg, and was laid up the whole summer. My parents thought guitar lessons would help me though that...and it did. I played it all through High School till I got myself an Ibanez (Lawsuit Era) Les Paul copy. I'll never get rid of the axe, or that DeLuxe Reverb amp that I got with it. The date 1-11-65 is penciled in on the back of the pickups.
Years and years ago, I got ahold of a 1965 Duo-Sonic, and I loved nearly everything about it, but the intonation was a bit off because of worn frets. Instead of re-fretting it, I passed it on, and that was one of those I regret letting go of. Underrated guitar. Unbelievable feel. This one sounds incredible.
Nice! My parents bought me a blond Duo in 1960 and some kind of a small Gibson tweed amp. I joined the Navy a year later, and when our ship was in Boston I traded it for a Gibson ES-335 Custom, cherry red, Bigsby tailpiece and HS case. Oh yeah, I traded the amp for a blonde Fender Bandmaster. Like everyone else, I wish I still had them in my kit. It should bring somebody a lot of happiness. Shout out to Norm's John Tucci
Is the best guitar i've heard in a while. And mike you nailed it. Is really sounds awesome. Something you bring out of guitar though. And that's the Michael effect. You know, if he likes it. It snarls
Fender didn't offer that sunburst finish until '61 - I have a feeling it's a '59 neck on a '61 body and not all original. Anyone at Norm's do a deep dive into this guitar?
@davidkastin4240 Thanks! 'Been collecting Pre CBS Duos forever and have some crazy custom colors - Sparkles, solid colors over sunburst, Fender employee guitars ... To me this looks like earlier neck/later body. I hope Norm's investigates further. 😊
they were student models, lots of them were trashed by kids. basically a musicmaster with a bridge pickup and selector switch. the last ones wee actually called musicmaster II's.
@@lz4005 You are correct but back then things didn`t happen as quick as now. They weren`t everywhere. Most young folk had to wait for a used guitar to afford. That`s what I saw in New England.
Duo Sonics are fantastic! Might be the most underrated in Fender’s line. I got a used Mexican made one a couple years ago and love that it sounds like a hardtail Strat but in a more compact package. The Duo Sonic body shape and headstock are unique as well. Contrary to popular belief, the Duo Sonic in its original and current guises do not share the same body shape with the Mustang. The Duo Sonic is not as offset on the lower waist as the Mustang and the headstock is small like a 50’s Strat. The pickups are also different in tone from the Mustang with more Strat quack and airiness and less of the out-of-phase wirey-ness that manz Mustangs have.
@@bradc32That’s the one thing about the Duo Sonic and really any short-scale guitar. I don’t think that the intonation is ever going to be as spot on as a full-scale instrument because there is less string tension inertia to keep it in place, especially if you like to bend. I think that you either just need to live with it or look for some other combination of bridge, saddles, and tuning machine. At least that’s my theory. But I’m not an authority on this stuff.
@@TylerJohnstonGuitar nobody wanted the Melody Maker Explorers when they first came out because they had the Flying V shape headstocks and not a Explorer style headstock I wanted the SG but bought the V because its a one pickup model and was the very first year Gibson ever made a Melody Maker V They have Seymour Duncan pickups and are rare Good luck !
It’ a Duo-Sonic with a Strat hardware and Jaguar switches, although the old Fender model had Jaguar Pickups, while the Squier one just uses Strat pickups.
Bitchin' guitar and some beautiful playin' there Michael. What else can one say?, except that you are currently under-rated and have a wonderful future ahead of you man! Good luck!
I was amazed how cheap i can buy one for in the UK for example a 1961 Duo Sonic only £4495 at Guitar Andy Baxters guitar store , cant believe its so cheap as if it was a Strat from that era it would be worth 10 times more
Fender makes tons of “Mustangs” with a hardtail bridge and one switch down there… just various pickups like 2 P-90s or 2 humbuckers. Why they won’t just call them “Duo-Sonics” is beyond me since a “Mustang” should have the big tremolo tailpiece and floating bridge, even if it’s set up to be blocked like Ben Gibbard’s signature.
Different body shape and headstock size on the Duo Sonics. The Duo Sonic is actually only very slightly offset if at all and the headstock is of the small 50’s Strat style. It’s hard to tell the difference in the body shape without having them side-by-side but when you do, you will notice the difference by looking at the treble side waist profile. I like Mustanga but prefer the overall look of Duo Sonics more as they are bit more proportionally balanced. Also Duo Sonic pickups have a sharper Strat-like sound.
The new camera person is so much better! Jen, the previous camera girl was super annoying, always 'wooing' that it made watching these videos so unbearable I stopped watching. Now I can watch these again.
Micheal Lemmo could take a piece of bailing twine and tie it to his shoe and make it sound glorious. What a talented musician..!
Absolutely, this man can play ANY genre, ANY style !!! Really appreciate him 🙏🏼
He’s ridiculously talented ❤.
Thanks for sharing! I love Duo Sonic!
Duo Sonics are so rad. I got one in Sonic Blue a couple years ago. Best damn couch guitar ever. The short scale length gives them bounce and loads of character. So much fun to play!
This is the guitar Walter Becker used in Steely Dan! Cool!
Lemmo, I’m never disappointed! Awesome set! Great video!
When I started playing or learning to play my dad bought me a new duo sonic in 1964. I loved that guitar. Someone else loved it also. In 1971 it was stolen from me. I now have a 2018 duo sonic hs. I think it's a better guitar with the humbucker at the bridge. The irony of the theft is it was sitting underneath my Martin d-18 and they left it.
I watch every one of these videos. Cant get enough of them! Lemmo is the maestro!
I have a 64 Duo-Sonic II , and could not love it more. It’s a super unique axe that always turns heads, and the scale allows for some super fast playing
I could listen to this fella play all f'n day. Always look forward to hearing the guitar of the day.
Awesome. I got a pre-CBS, 60 or 61 (I forget) for my birthday when I was about 15. It was plain wood. I think it may have been plastic covered but got smashed. It had plastic knobs and the pick guard, but I put Telecaster knobs on it just like that one, because I liked them. Think I replaced the pickups, too, and the nut. Left it at my moms in San Diego when I moved to Phoenix to go to school. Didn't have room in my van. Man I wish I still had it.
They are great instruments, you're absolutely right with how they compare, in so many ways from a time when integrity was maybe more important, as daft as that may sound. Often, an instrument you feature will fire memories, this, Duo Sound does, 'something that's been on my mind for a while..
'Great Guitar, 'always knew they were,
Little guitar and big sound, thanks Lemmo.
Wow, I never seen, let alone heard of that guitar before. You play very well Michael.
superb playing, amazing guitar. glad you found your calling.
Man has a rhythm❤all his own 🔥👑
Wow that thing sounds amazing !! Well done Lemmo !!!
Loopin' Lemmo killing it as always.
Bit of Clapton Nowhere Man riff style going on 🎸🎸🎸. Great video Michael 👏
Mikey killing it. 🤘🏽
My cousin had a 57 that was originally blue, with an aluminum pickguard. He stripped it in the mid 70’s and tried to paint it candy apple red, then stripped it again and left it bare until he passed away a few years ago. He bought it at a garage sale around 1973 when we were in high school. We spotted the brown Fender case in a pile of junk, and the old guy said “that was my son’s guitar, he left it here after he moved out - give me 20 buck and it’s yours”. My cousin whipped out his wallet before me and got it, we got in the VW and floored it! Don’t know what happened to it after he died.
I still have my '65 Duo Sonic II. My parents bought it for me in early 1970. A car hit me and I broke my leg, and was laid up the whole summer. My parents thought guitar lessons would help me though that...and it did. I played it all through High School till I got myself an Ibanez (Lawsuit Era) Les Paul copy. I'll never get rid of the axe, or that DeLuxe Reverb amp that I got with it. The date 1-11-65 is penciled in on the back of the pickups.
Years and years ago, I got ahold of a 1965 Duo-Sonic, and I loved nearly everything about it, but the intonation was a bit off because of worn frets. Instead of re-fretting it, I passed it on, and that was one of those I regret letting go of. Underrated guitar. Unbelievable feel. This one sounds incredible.
Another killer review Micheal! Unique guitar with inspirational tone.
Go Lemmo! You always make my day
How is it 'switch added'? They had a switch there from the factory.
Nice! My parents bought me a blond Duo in 1960 and some kind of a small Gibson tweed amp. I joined the Navy a year later, and when our ship was in Boston I traded it for a Gibson ES-335 Custom, cherry red, Bigsby tailpiece and HS case. Oh yeah, I traded the amp for a blonde Fender Bandmaster. Like everyone else, I wish I still had them in my kit. It should bring somebody a lot of happiness.
Shout out to Norm's John Tucci
Is the best guitar i've heard in a while. And mike you nailed it. Is really sounds awesome. Something you bring out of guitar though. And that's the Michael effect. You know, if he likes it. It snarls
OMG!! They need to start making these again.
They have
Wow what a sound!
gorgeous tone. those special-design pickups are very articulate
Had a 2011 Squer re-issue of this. Great pickups but I hated the full gloss board so I sold it.
Sweet sounding, great playing.
My father haves one of those, and sounds amazing
Fender didn't offer that sunburst finish until '61 - I have a feeling it's a '59 neck on a '61 body and not all original. Anyone at Norm's do a deep dive into this guitar?
Good observation ✌️
@davidkastin4240 Thanks! 'Been collecting Pre CBS Duos forever and have some crazy custom colors - Sparkles, solid colors over sunburst, Fender employee guitars ... To me this looks like earlier neck/later body. I hope Norm's investigates further. 😊
What a cool chord progression!
FINE playing ML!
Nice work tonight Lemmo!
1959. Fender & Gibson perfect the “student guitar” a matching ‘59 Les Paul jr. would be the ticket.
Built to last
Those must be rare. I remember seeing lots of Mustangs back the but not those.
they were student models, lots of them were trashed by kids. basically a musicmaster with a bridge pickup and selector switch. the last ones wee actually called musicmaster II's.
Mustangs weren't made til 62
@@lz4005 You are correct but back then things didn`t happen as quick as now. They weren`t everywhere. Most young folk had to wait for a used guitar to afford. That`s what I saw in New England.
Duo Sonics are fantastic! Might be the most underrated in Fender’s line. I got a used Mexican made one a couple years ago and love that it sounds like a hardtail Strat but in a more compact package. The Duo Sonic body shape and headstock are unique as well. Contrary to popular belief, the Duo Sonic in its original and current guises do not share the same body shape with the Mustang. The Duo Sonic is not as offset on the lower waist as the Mustang and the headstock is small like a 50’s Strat. The pickups are also different in tone from the Mustang with more Strat quack and airiness and less of the out-of-phase wirey-ness that manz Mustangs have.
how'd you find the intonation? my duo drives me nuts sometimes with tuning issues.after lots of messing with the nut it's close
@@bradc32That’s the one thing about the Duo Sonic and really any short-scale guitar. I don’t think that the intonation is ever going to be as spot on as a full-scale instrument because there is less string tension inertia to keep it in place, especially if you like to bend. I think that you either just need to live with it or look for some other combination of bridge, saddles, and tuning machine. At least that’s my theory. But I’m not an authority on this stuff.
Fun fact: The Duo Sonic of this era cost $149.50
Not-so-fun fact: With inflation, that’s over 1600 bucks now.
I’ll just read that first number, shake my fist, and ignore that second one thanks
I bought a Gibson Melody Maker V in 2011 with gig bag for $399 new !
@@TerroristicNightmares Those early 2010s Melody Makers were fantastic deals. Been searching for one of the Explorers.
@@TylerJohnstonGuitar nobody wanted the Melody Maker Explorers when they first came out because they had the Flying V shape headstocks and not a Explorer style headstock I wanted the SG but bought the V because its a one pickup model and was the very first year Gibson ever made a Melody Maker V They have Seymour Duncan pickups and are rare Good luck !
Lemmo could make a broomstick sound good
sounds fantastic!
SA-WEEEEEEET!!!!
It's rainy days here in Java Island, Indonesia too.
Oya, just my thoughts, is it Fender Cyclon's series model is inspired by this guitar series?
Yup. Same body and scale length. The Cyclone has the third single coil, with all three pickups slanted. They are so rad.
It’ a Duo-Sonic with a Strat hardware and Jaguar switches, although the old Fender model had Jaguar Pickups, while the Squier one just uses Strat pickups.
Dam good sounding guitar especially that neck pickup
Cool guitar 🎸 🇲🇾🇺🇸💪
Does anyone know the name of the second song?? I feel that i`ve heard that, but can`t remember where and what is it
It had a "tears in heaven" vibe.
@@ELWOOD.. Exactly!! I thought of it too, but thought it was another song with that vibe that i didn't know 😂😂
Great player
What on earth are you trundling around with Jen? Sounds like a herd of elephants in the room! 😂😂😂😅
Bitchin' guitar and some beautiful playin' there Michael. What else can one say?, except that you are currently under-rated and have a wonderful future ahead of you man! Good luck!
I was amazed how cheap i can buy one for in the UK for example a 1961 Duo Sonic only £4495 at Guitar Andy Baxters guitar store , cant believe its so cheap as if it was a Strat from that era it would be worth 10 times more
Has tomo seen this yet? 👀
I want to see Greg Koch demo one of these.
What’s the name of that first song? Is it one of Lemmo’s originals?
Hurry up and buy before Bonamassa gets it 😂 Michael Blinky Lemmo 😂
2:44 lol
Third song ?? 🤔🧐
Is it me, or does it look like they upgraded the camera? Looks more film like.
More depth of focus by the looks.
Is it a TG neck?
How much youl want for that guitar??.
So. How much?
Fender makes tons of “Mustangs” with a hardtail bridge and one switch down there… just various pickups like 2 P-90s or 2 humbuckers. Why they won’t just call them “Duo-Sonics” is beyond me since a “Mustang” should have the big tremolo tailpiece and floating bridge, even if it’s set up to be blocked like Ben Gibbard’s signature.
Different body shape and headstock size on the Duo Sonics. The Duo Sonic is actually only very slightly offset if at all and the headstock is of the small 50’s Strat style. It’s hard to tell the difference in the body shape without having them side-by-side but when you do, you will notice the difference by looking at the treble side waist profile. I like Mustanga but prefer the overall look of Duo Sonics more as they are bit more proportionally balanced. Also Duo Sonic pickups have a sharper Strat-like sound.
👍✌❤😎
I think that guitar has seen some stuff
Yes, Lemmo is certainly becoming as creepy as Agnesi was. What was that intro?
1st comment
2nd comment dork
Beautiful playing guitar!
The new camera person is so much better! Jen, the previous camera girl was super annoying, always 'wooing' that it made watching these videos so unbearable I stopped watching. Now I can watch these again.
Tuners and neck not original to that body.