Duesenberg Guitars
Encyclopedia
Duesenberg Guitars is a German
company producing high-end electric guitars
and basses
with a distinctive Art Deco
design since 1986. The company's name alludes to the legendary car company Duesenberg
.
Models are assembled in Hannover Germany, where Korean woodwork is combined with parts from various sources in the Far East and Germany. Most hardware, including the single-coil/vintage, P-90
and humbucking
pickups, are designed in-house.
The electric guitars feature solid and semi-solid, 12 and 6 string models. The range also includes signature models for German guitarist Carl Carlton, Ron Wood
and Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers); a custom '49er' was built for Keith Richards
. The latest version of the Starplayer TV incorporates Duesenberg's version of the piezo bridge.
In addition, the company has designed a range of replacement bridge/vibrato units. These include one based on the famous Bigsby vibrato and incorporates a novel locking device, while another is a bolt-on version of the B-Bender
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
company producing high-end electric guitars
Electric Guitars
Electric Guitars were formed early in 1980 by Neil Davenport and Richard Hall who were both studying English at Bristol University. The band soon increased to a five-man line-up, with Andy Saunders , Matt Salt and Dick Truscott , they also later added two backing singers: Sara and Wendy...
and basses
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
with a distinctive Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
design since 1986. The company's name alludes to the legendary car company Duesenberg
Duesenberg
Duesenberg was an Auburn, Indiana based American luxury automobile company active in various forms from 1913 to 1937, most famous for its high-quality passenger cars and record-breaking racing cars.-History:...
.
Models are assembled in Hannover Germany, where Korean woodwork is combined with parts from various sources in the Far East and Germany. Most hardware, including the single-coil/vintage, P-90
P-90
The P-90 is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Having a more complex architecture and larger dimensions than Fender's single coils, it is occasionally mistaken for a humbucker.- History :...
and humbucking
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
pickups, are designed in-house.
The electric guitars feature solid and semi-solid, 12 and 6 string models. The range also includes signature models for German guitarist Carl Carlton, Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
and Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers); a custom '49er' was built for Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
. The latest version of the Starplayer TV incorporates Duesenberg's version of the piezo bridge.
In addition, the company has designed a range of replacement bridge/vibrato units. These include one based on the famous Bigsby vibrato and incorporates a novel locking device, while another is a bolt-on version of the B-Bender
B-Bender
B-Bender is a guitar accessory that enables a player to mechanically bend the B-string up a whole tone to C-sharp. There are several different designs, but all use levers or pulleys inside or outside the guitar body that are activated by a pull or push of the guitar neck, body, or bridge...
.
Guitar models
- Starplayer TV
Arch top, semi-solid, single cutaway, single f-hole, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. (Optional additions: Bigsby-style tremolo, piezo bridge) - Starplayer TV 'Outlaw'
The 'deluxe' version of the Starplayer TV. Added finish options. - Imperial
Arch top, semi-solid, single cutaway, two f-holes, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, multi-tone switch, master volume, master tone, Bigsby-style tremolo. - Double Cat
Semi-solid, double cutaway (asymmetricAsymmetricSomething which is asymmetric displays asymmetry. Specific uses of the term may include:*Asymmetric relation for information on such relations in mathematics and set theory*Asymmetric warfare for information and theories of modern war...
), single 'cat's-eye' f-hole, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. (Optional additions: Bigsby-style tremolo) - Double Cat 12
12-string, semi-solid, double cutaway (asymmetric), single 'cats-eye' f-hole, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. - Mike Campbell signature model
'Starplayer TV' with Bigsby-style tremolo and custom finish. - Carl CarltonCarl CarltonCarl Carlton is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama ".-Career:...
signature model
Arch top, semi-solid, single cutaway, single f-hole, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone, Bigsby-style tremolo. - Ron WoodRon WoodRonald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
Signature model
'Starplayer TV' with Bigsby-style tremolo and mother of pearl mosaic top. - Starplayer Special
Arch top, solid body, single cutaway, two pickups (2x Humbucker), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. - V-Caster
Solid body, single cutaway, three single coil pickups, three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. (Optional additions: 'Strat'-style tremolo) - The 49er
Arch top, solid body, single cutaway, two pickups (P90/neck, Humbucker/bridge), three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. - Rocket
Solid body, asymmetric flying V shape, two humbucking pickups, three-way pickup selector switch, master volume, master tone. (Optional additions: Bigsby-style tremolo)
The original Rocket had the classic symmetrical flying V shape but this had to be altered due to copyrightCopyrightCopyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
problems with GibsonGibson Guitar CorporationThe Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
.
Bass guitar models
- Starplayer Bass
4-string, Semi-solid, single cutaway, single f-hole, two pickups (Humbuckers), 2x volume, master tone. - Violin Bass
4-string, Semi-solid, violinHöfnerKarl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of musical instruments, with one division that manufactures guitars and basses, and another that manufactures other string instruments....
-shape, two pickups (Humbuckers), 2x volume, master tone.