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
- '58 Duo-Sonic with Bigsby vibrato tailpiece: >
front |
body, front |
replacement bridge |
Bigsby vibrato |
back
headstock, front |
headstock, back
"When I picked it up in Tacoma about '95 it was already covered in the snakeskin vinyl seen here." Subsequently modified with a new bridge and tuners, then the Bigsby. "ps for some killer Duo Sonic sounds be sure to check out MAGNAAFLUX and THE RON DANGLE 2 MP3 offerings."
Owned by Mike/Rinso Records
- '61 Duo-Sonic, in "maroonburst" with hardtail Strat bridge
front, in case |
body, front |
body, back
headstock, front |
headstock, back |
butt of neck (dated 10/61)
Source: unknown (eBay)
- '64 Duo-Sonic, in "maroonburst" with vibrato bridge (SN 14369):
front |
body, front |
back/heel |
headstock
I can't imagine how much work this was to install!
Source: unknown (eBay)
- '64 Duo-Sonic II, in white with Tune-O-Matic bridge (116 k)
The original bridge was moved back and is now used as a tailpiece
Source: unknown (gbase.com)
- '66 Duo-Sonic II, heavily modified (SN 135358):
Refinished in "orangeburst"; roller switches removed for a toggle switch; replacement Badass(?) bridge; Sperzel locking tuners.
front, in case |
body, front |
detail, bridge |
back, in case |
body, back
headstock, front |
headstock, back
Source: unknown (eBay)
- '95 Duo-Sonic (Mexican re-issue), with humbuckers and hardtail Stat bridge
Owned by the Zen Pharaohs of Ultimate Love
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.