Fender "Duo Tone" Relics

[Philly Q]

Just encountered this on the Guitars4You site:


http://www.guitars4you.co.uk/fender-custom-shop-60s-duo-tone-relic-tele---faded-3-tone-sunburst+++722


In fact it seems lots of dealers have them, although up until today they've passed me by.

The "Duo Tone" bit refers to the body construction - it's a 3-piece with an alder centre block and ash wings, so supposedly you get some of the sonic characteristics of both woods....

Anyone tried one?  Do you think there's anything to the idea, or is it just a way of using offcuts of timber and trying to disguise it as something positive? 

[AndyR]

...or is it just a way of using offcuts of timber and trying to disguise it as something positive? 

You old cynic!

But I kinda feel the same :lol:

The bloke on Guitars4You seems to like it and think it works...

I don't think I'd want it in a sun-burst, though. Those lines where the woods join would upset me greatly!

[Mr. Air]

Is it just me that's going blind or does this guitar actually have any relicing?

I don't know about the body, but it could be a neat way of cutting down on excess pieces of wood. Anyway how big is the tonal difference between alder and ash? I don't think I have played an ash bodied guitar. At least I wouldn't know if I have.

[Frank]

Hmmm, not sure how much the wings would really contribute to the overall sound but I've got to say I couldn't live with the looks. Ash is a nice wood for a clear finish or sunburst but the grain just disappears where the alder is.

[Philly Q]

I don't think I'd want it in a sun-burst, though. Those lines where the woods join would upset me greatly!

Yeah, it looks rubbish on that Tele.  There are other Strats and Teles in solid colours (where, to be honest, it could be 17 pieces and you'd never know unless you did some routing or stripped the finish).

I would think the tone is going to be most affected by (a) the neck wood and (b) the centre block of the body which everything is actually attached to.  The "wings" must exert some subtle influence but surely it must be fairly minor?

[Philly Q]

Is it just me that's going blind or does this guitar actually have any relicing?

There's hardly any.  I don't know if they actually use the same system any more, but the Custom Shop used to make several different types of relic, from "NOS" (looking like it had never actually been out of the box in 50 years) to "Heavy Relic".

This is more like a "Closet Classic" - meant to look like it's been played, but very carefully looked after.  So with a little tarnish on the hardware, a few signs of gentle wear and maybe a small scratch here and there.

[WezV]

the sceptic in me feels fender may be finding it hard to get lightweigth ash

[Twinfan]

I'm in the "they're using up off-cuts" camp...

[Mr. Air]

Is it just me that's going blind or does this guitar actually have any relicing?

There's hardly any.  I don't know if they actually use the same system any more, but the Custom Shop used to make several different types of relic, from "NOS" (looking like it had never actually been out of the box in 50 years) to "Heavy Relic".

This is more like a "Closet Classic" - meant to look like it's been played, but very carefully looked after.  So with a little tarnish on the hardware, a few signs of gentle wear and maybe a small scratch here and there.

OK. I get it. But to me a relic still needs more signs of wear than this particular sample  :D

[dave_mc]

wow

i consider myself a total cynic and i didn't think of the "using offcuts" argument :lol: (don't get me wrong, now you've brought it up i agree with you, just it's nice to think maybe i'm not the absolute most cynical person in the world :lol: )

i was worried that maybe the two different woods might clash in terms of tone- just because the two work separately doesn't mean they'll work together.

of course i'm guessing if fender has tried this then it probably does sound alright

[jpfamps]

I have no problem whatsoever with the Fender "simply using off cuts"; if it reduces waste then it should be commended.

I have to admit a solid colour would have looked better, however I expect Fender might have then been accused of trying to hide the fact the body was made of 3 pieces of wood!

Regardless, if it works as a guitar then someone will buy it.

[Gizmo]

Interesting post. I must amid i did look into this when getting my CS recently.

I was after an alder body but thought this might give more spectrum in sound. However, before I got to try one i noticed on the same spec guitar the brightness and sound differred even with the same solid wood body. Every guitar can sound diff even if made of same type of wood and so i wouldnt let this make me want to choose it just because of the mix in woods. I would find the strat that sounded right.

I am dubious as well as this must have been thought of before and yet not seen anyone do this.

I would like to know how the 3 parts affects the resonance and therefore the tone. I always thought you paid a premium for 2 or even 1 piece body but that might be to do with continuous grain.

[Philly Q]

I have no problem whatsoever with the Fender "simply using off cuts"; if it reduces waste then it should be commended.

I think it's OK for general-production instruments; and after all, lots of great old Fenders have three piece bodies.

But I don't think they should be doing it at Custom Shop prices.

[AndyR]

I have no problem whatsoever with the Fender "simply using off cuts"; if it reduces waste then it should be commended.

I think it's OK for general-production instruments; and after all, lots of great old Fenders have three piece bodies.

But I don't think they should be doing it at Custom Shop prices.

+1

That's pretty much what I thought. If it sounds/plays good for you, then it is good (kind of what the Guitars4You guy was saying). If that's all in the bank, and you like the look of the guitar, who cares how many pieces of whatever it's made of...

But then it comes to the price... and if you've got some "off-cuts" suspicions in your mind, you're naturally heading towards "hang on a minute, I'm happy with off-cuts, but at that price??" :lol:

I realise that some of the CS price is the extra craftsmanship etc gone into it, and that would be needed no matter what the lumps of wood were... but I'd still have that slight niggle about the price (not that I'm prepared to pay that much for a guitar anyway!! :lol:)

[Telerocker]

I have no problem whatsoever with the Fender "simply using off cuts"; if it reduces waste then it should be commended.

I think it's OK for general-production instruments; and after all, lots of great old Fenders have three piece bodies.

But I don't think they should be doing it at Custom Shop prices.

+1. I would not hesitate to buy one if the price is right and if they come in vintage white, daphne blue etc. This jointshowing sunburst is just wrong when I compare it to my twopiece Fender American Series tele. You really have to  search for the joint on that one.