The firemist gold all mahogany Duo Sonic II - PICS PAGE 2

[Mitchell?]

That neck looks fantabulous.

[elektrovac]

New pictures added to original post. It ships from the painter today!

[knathan]

wow- seriously cool

[AWSchmit]

What awesome color combos you have going. Super nice project.

[nicklas]

This looks great! lov it!

[elektrovac]

Finally completed. This has been a long term project. Wood parts was ordered from Guitar Mill in early december and shipped in march. Nitro finishing took a couple of months - and then customs wouldn't release it... But it was definately worth the waiting. It turned out everything I imagined. Cool looks and a killer rock sound. Great feel and playability. It's quite heavy for such a small guitar. I am happy I choose the Mustang-style body for my mahogany project. It makes perfect sense... Well here she is (colour is impossible to photograph)...

[Stereordinary]

Best. Mustang. Evar.

[scriffraff]

That is pure sexy. Great looking guitar.

[Stratelejazzuar]

Best. Duo-sonic. Evar.

fixed!

that looks EXCELLENT!

[mijmog]

Wow, those colours! Such a well considered project, its perfect.

Really intrigued to hear how it sounds with the pickup choice and wood combination.

[clavin]

wow, that is a really really good looking guitar. you win

[knathan]

Seriously hawt. How do you switch the pickups? I don't see any sort of switching mechanism.

[staytuned]

Absolutely gorgeous! You know, I ordered a neck very similar to yours from guitar mill in late december and haven't recieved it yet at least I know it'll look awesome when I get it!

[dug]

HOLY Jimmy!

I've never seen a duo that hot before!

[elektrovac]

Wow, those colours! Such a well considered project, its perfect.

Really intrigued to hear how it sounds with the pickup choice and wood combination.

Well, it's not really road tested yet. Only played it for an hour or two. But it sounds great. Obviously it does not sound like your typical Fender. It's more dense and solid sounding and not so airy and sparkly. Which is just what I wanted. It loves my Keeley RAT pedal and just sounds great when played into a cranked tube amp.
My initial idea was for it to replace my Tokai P90's Gold Top (I just can't get into playing Gibson style guitars) and get a Fender with the sound of a P90's punk rock guitar. Like Johnny Thunders. Or even AC/DC. And I am definately very satisfied in that field. The concept works in real life too.
The pickups are Lindy Fralin Steel Poled 43 for bridge which is almost identical to a P90 in contruction and specifications, measuring a mighty 10 K ohms. The neck pickup is the more moderate Steel Poled 42 which in construction and sound is a more like a mix between a strat and a P90 pickup. Still with a bar magnet and adjustable pole pieces, but not as beefy as the 43. It measures a relatively humble 6 K.
The bridge pickup sound is what this project was really about. At first I wanted to do it like a Bronco with no neck pickup, but the extra cost for getting a neck pickup was tiny and I think it balances the design. And the both-pickups-on sound is actually very very useful. The difference in DC resistance giving no problems.

The guitar has a great and lively tone and repsonse. It's really easy and fun to play. The tone is there and the sustain is very good, but not as extreme as it can be on a good Les Paul - which suits me just fine. Overall I didn't exactly get a Gibson sound. There's obviously still too much Fender DNA in it for that (probably the bridge plays a big part), and in spite of my choice of wood and pickups it still sound somewhat Fender-ish. It's a succesful hybrid I would say.