I played a vintage vibe squier duo sonic today

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:18 pm

Is that bridge pup off-harmonic or fit to a different note? If it was done properly, at least, it would give it some uniqueness. Why RI if it's not a trew RI?

MMPicker · Post by **MMPicker** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:17 pm

bulstrode777 wrote: ..I went on the hunt for a vintage duosonic, since I though I might be able to actually afford one, should one appear. There aren't that many around, as far as I can tell. Maybe on this site we will learn where they are all hiding.
I did find a 1959 in collectible condition. desert sand, slab neck, all original. It is not the same thing AT ALL. This is a great little guitar....plays like butter, chords lock in and give a nice classic sound. It sounds different than a strat, of course, but it's equally groovy. On ebay there have been a couple of battered 63's and 64's. one red, and one a spurious "sienna sunburst" which is not listed in Gruhn's as one of the colors. Would anybody order a custom color on a kiddie guitar in 1963? Seems doubtful....there's a lot of fakery on ebay....

Some things you should look out for..
Pre '64 the Duosonics and Musicmasters had a 22.5" scale length. Commencing 1964 the model was designated "Duosonic II", and had a different pickup selection scheme, same as the "new" Mustangs. Some of these had the 22.5" scale (the "A" width) but a lot of them had 24" (the "B" width). Of the two, the "B" neck specs are more similar to the neck of the vintage Vibe model you played. Though they would have rosewood fingerboards, 7.25" radius and vintage fret sizes.

I don't know how the models would compare tonally, I have a 1965 Musicmaster II and it sounds incredible; not like most of what I hear on the shops these days. Mid- 60s strats are going for some huge bucks, and I don't think mine sounds much different than those do.

I don't really care for the color scheme of the vintage vibe model, and the neck seems too blonde to me somehow. But I don't have the same strong negative reaction to the bridge pickup placement that some of you seem to have. For me, it would depend on what it sounds like.

I'd love to try one out, but they are not stocked around here.

As for the old ones, you are correct they did not come in infinite color schemes. Since they were cheap guitars, owned by kids, many people didn't think twice about modding or refinishing them. My first one was tan, but I had a friend refinish it to natural wood. At the time, that was not thought to be a crime, or a big deal.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:30 pm

the sienna burst was the standard colour after they stopped using desert sand, it wasn't a custom colour as far as i know.

and not all 'A' width necks were 22.5", the one on my duo-sonic II is 24".

MMPicker · Post by **MMPicker** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:55 pm

stewart wrote:
not all 'A' width necks were 22.5", the one on my duo-sonic II is 24".

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that. But that means there are 2 variable neck features he has to watch out for, when considering one of the old ones as an alternative to the new model, instead of just one: scale length, and nut width.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:02 pm

scale length is easy. if it has a dot on the last fret it's 22.5", if not it's 24".

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:46 pm

bubbles_horwitz wrote:scale length is easy. if it has a dot on the last fret it's 22.5", if not it's 24".

i declare that reasoning fubar...

no dot on last fret, there for it MUST be a 24" scale. RIGHT???
.....

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:09 pm

i was talking about vintage fender shortscales. if you're just looking at a photo in an ebay auction and you aren't sure, it's a quick way to tell.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:59 pm

1st post

Sorry if my english is bad.

This is my Squier Classic Vibe Duo Sonic

It doesn't feel as much as a quality guitar as my MIJ Jazzmaster, but it's a decent guitar for the price, and I think it looks great.

I gigged it two times, and it's definitely my favorite guitar for rhythm play at the moment. I have a pimped Bullet Strat CY07 with steel riders and handwound pickups in it (spots through on the pics) and a '93 Jazzmaster MIJ that have to stay at home at the moment, though the Jazzy delivers the better lead tone. The CV Duo ist extremly light, has a good neck and a powerful rough sound, or an elegant lead tone on mid renges of the fretboard. Above 12th fret, she is a little weak compared to the Jazzmaster or a Telecaster.

Heard you discussed the Bridge PU position. I don't judge the optics, but it makes the bridge PU a little fatter sounding, and less twangy too. Actually, the neck PU sounds nearly the same, just a little less treble. That is one thing I don't like that much on this guitar, and that is why I still must get a Mustang

The other thing I don't like that much are the frets. They are way too high if you are used to "vintage" frets.With the original 9' strings, I didn't get a clean chord out of it because the tone changed too much when pressing the string to the fretboard. But with some 11' to 49', it's ok.

So, it's a nice, small and affordable guitar that has his niche, but it's no allrounder. But which Fender is? And if there was one, would I want it?

kim · Post by **kim** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:08 pm

ok that's it, i'm in love with this guitar.

but it's an impossible love because i'm lefty and it's righty, oooh the tragedy !

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:10 pm

FLIP REVERSE IT

Post by **Mike** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:21 pm

kypdurron wrote:1st post :D Sorry if my english is bad.

This is my Squier Classic Vibe Duo Sonic :D It doesn't feel as much as a quality guitar as my MIJ Jazzmaster, but it's a decent guitar for the price, and I think it looks great.

I gigged it two times, and it's definitely my favorite guitar for rhythm play at the moment. I have a pimped Bullet Strat CY07 with steel riders and handwound pickups in it (spots through on the pics) and a '93 Jazzmaster MIJ that have to stay at home at the moment, though the Jazzy delivers the better lead tone. The CV Duo ist extremly light, has a good neck and a powerful rough sound, or an elegant lead tone on mid renges of the fretboard. Above 12th fret, she is a little weak compared to the Jazzmaster or a Telecaster.

Heard you discussed the Bridge PU position. I don't judge the optics, but it makes the bridge PU a little fatter sounding, and less twangy too. Actually, the neck PU sounds nearly the same, just a little less treble. That is one thing I don't like that much on this guitar, and that is why I still must get a Mustang 8) The other thing I don't like that much are the frets. They are way too high if you are used to "vintage" frets.With the original 9' strings, I didn't get a clean chord out of it because the tone changed too much when pressing the string to the fretboard. But with some 11' to 49', it's ok.

So, it's a nice, small and affordable guitar that has his niche, but it's no allrounder. But which Fender is? And if there was one, would I want it?

Great first post, and welcome to the forum.

I think I would probably be upset by the bridge pickup sound, I like my bridge pickups nice and spanky, a similar sound to the neck doesn't sound like it would be to my taste to be honest.

kim · Post by **kim** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:23 pm

totally possible but

it looooks soo niiice ! if i would flip it it would be ruined, a bit. i could put it down somewhere and stare at it though, haha. it's also not symmetrical, my hondo is, and i really have to be able to go up on the neck way far etc

i think flipping a mustang/duo type body is a bit of a crime.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:24 pm

MMPicker wrote:Pre '64 the Duosonics and Musicmasters had a 22.5" scale length. Commencing 1964 the model was designated "Duosonic II", and had a different pickup selection scheme, same as the "new" Mustangs. Some of these had the 22.5" scale (the "A" width) but a lot of them had 24" (the "B" width).

The A and B widths have nothing to do with the scale length. It's probably more common for 22.5" necks to be A width, but they aren't related.

The A or B refers to the nut width and nothing else. 'A' being thinner, and 'B' being standard (1 1/2" and 1 5/8" respectively).

Here's a picture of the date stamp from my 63 Musicmaster neck. The 3/4 part refers to the scale and means 22.5". For a 24" neck it will have a model number code. Dec 63 is the month and year, and A is the nut width.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:25 pm

as I said, I'm not totally convinced of this too. But the bridge position sounds really good, and the middle one if fine for clean. Acutally, the neck PU is a bit useless to me, as it sounds very similar, but weaker. Maybe it 's a good option if you play with some distortion, but I only use a bit of overdrive, so it doesn't help here.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:26 pm

heavium wrote:totally possible but

it looooks soo niiice ! if i would flip it it would be ruined, a bit. i could put it down somewhere and stare at it though, haha. it's also not symmetrical, my hondo is, and i really have to be able to go up on the neck way far etc

i think flipping a mustang/duo type body is a bit of a crime.

Turn it over, Fill the original front and route the back. Neck pocket might need Gaffa Tape. Since it.. won't exist.

NOHO STYLE

aen · Post by **aen** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:47 pm

NOHOWNED!

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:57 am

can someone photoshop another bridge pickup behind the stock one, like a humbucker but with a small gap between the pickups (a couple mm's)?

Post by **Mike** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:23 am

You can see here where it should be

Post by **Mike** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:25 am

You can see here where it should be

Post by **Mike** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:30 am

You can see here where it should be