Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic Gallery

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mods info | mods galleries: bridge mods | MM to DS | refins




Tuning stability



Improved intonation



Gallery of Bridge Modifications



     Probably the biggest limitation of the Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic was the three-saddle adjustable bridge. A couple of the more creative solutions I've seen are on this page; be sure to also check the MM-to-DS mods gallery for some more examples. Also listed are some more drastically modified MM/DS guitars, one of which is mine.



Bridge-only mods



Other more drastic(?) mods

  • Teak-bodied custom-made MM/DS-based guitars:
    Glen Evelyn with a teak "Duo-Sonic" | teak "Musicmaster" | teak "Bronco"
    Glen Evelyn likes to modify guitars on his days off. Favoring short-scale Duo-Sonics and Musicmasters, he's crafted several bodies out of teak wood and then bolted vintage '50s and '60s MM/DS necks (plus a '90s Mexican-made DS neck) to them. Pretty high-quality workmanship for a "hobby"!
    Owned by Glen Evelyn

  • '56 Duo-Sonic with '65 Mustang neck, with the world's ugliest clear refin
    It was a tight fit, and the neck needed some fret work, but overall the transplant worked astoundingly well. I added a pair of Duncan pickups plus new Schaller tuners, StewMac's angled replacement Tele bridge saddles, and new electronics to make it complete.
    Owned by yours truly.

  • '63 Duo-Sonic, mahogany body with 24" scale repro neck:
    front | body, front | back | headstock, front | headstock, back
    Mods include the following:
    Warmoth repro 24" scale neck: "It took a bit of surgery (literally lopping off 3/8" from the base of the heel) to make it function on a student scale instrument."
    Fender Toronado bridge: "It wasn't at all difficult, but I had the assistance of a luthier friend's woodshop. All you need to make something like that work well is a drill press so the bit doesn't wander on you. I tried the angled saddles and it helped some. But that was still an imperfect solution. The angled saddles didn't like living in a pre-'64 bridge assembly."
    Original mahogany body re-refinished in clear lacquer; the headstock was veneered with matching mahogany and given a repro decal. Stunning!
    Replacement hardware: Squier Strat pickups, repro pickguard, and staggered-height Kluson tuning machines

    Source: Skip/sidpiks (eBay)

  • '64 "transition" Duo-Sonic, in white (128 k)
    A Duo-Sonic II 24" scale neck on a Duo-Sonic ("I") body. This couldn't have been original, could it?
    Source: unknown (eBay)

  • '65 Musicmaster with '63 neck, in blue
    I know this one wasn't original; can't really tell what type of bridge that is, though.
    Source: unknown (eBay)

  • '65 Duo-Sonic, refinished in blue with full-scale neck
    Owned by Mike Robinson

  • '60s Duo-Sonic, heavily modified
    With third pickup, switch, and Mustang bridge/tailpiece installed.
    Formerly owned by Thurston Moore/Sonic Youth, until it was stolen in 1999

  • Reissue Duo-Sonic/Reissue Telecaster Deluxe hybrid
    "I'm proud to show you my own fender custom, inspired by the musicmaster. this is a duo-sonic reissue body, a telecaster deluxe reissue neck and pickups, musicmaster bridge, duo-sonic switch, telecaster knobs and a custom "mustang style" pickguard."
    Owned by Julian from Switzerland.