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Questions & Answers

Shopper : Does the guitar require a professional setup out of the box?RICHARD D : I bought two of these. One for me and one for a friend. One needed the nut slots to be leveled. The other was fine. It will need intonatingMICHAEL K : 1st Guitar that I never had to lower the action out of the box.MARIANNE I : I've bought two brand new Fender electric guitars from Adorama (my other came with a case, this one didn't), and both arrived in perfect condition, surprisingly mostly in tune. I did not need a professional set for either, so I imagine that Adorama is somehow storing their stock of guitars in a climate-controlled building. Your experience may turn out differently, but it likely won't arrive in bad shape.FRANCIS S : It probably wouldn't hurt, but Fender sets up all their guitars before they're packed.Alejandro G : The guitar already comes pre-tuned. At least mine did. No pro help required of any sort. You will need a guitar amp though.GRANT G : No, it played well out of the box. In my experience, many new guitars could benefit from a setup, but it's often more due to personal preference than "need."Barry B : It needed a slight adjustment to the truss rod when the weather changed and there was some fret sprout which I had to file down.George's G : Of course each guitar is unique. That being said all of my Fenders have been ready to play and have not needed a set up.Shane R : NoMichael H : Mine came setup perfectly for my tastes. It is a very well made instrument by any measure and would not need much to satisfy anybody in my opinion. It has a lot of tonal options with the HS and coil split. This is my second Mexican Fender from Adorama and both are excellent values. Neither needed any setup; not even an action adjustment. It's always possible that an instrument might go through some temperature cycles in shipping that could change things, but I would not expect it.William B : Mine was pretty good out of the box. Intonation was spot-on. The B string height was just a little low (about 0.002), but other than that, the action is good.Robert W : No it does not.Cosmo L : All guitars should get professional setups out of the box. The factory does not know your preferred tuning, string gauge, string brand, or playing feel. Additionally, climate changes between factory, shipping warehouse, and your house, can throw a factory setup out of whack. The workers making mass-produced guitars like this one are not luthiers, by and large. They are just assembling parts. I liken guitars to bicycles. Very rarely is a bicycle from the store going to come perfect for your body. You will have to adjust the handlebars/seat height/etc. to fit you individually. That all said, this particular guitar came with a very decent factory setup for me. I got lucky. So it probably didn't *require* a professional setup. However, I take all my new guitars to my luthier for the abovementioned reasons.CHRISTOPHER M. C : The one I received did not. It was very playable right out of the box, although I did make slight adjustments to my own preferences and have since made significant modifications. That said, any instrument being shipped from the factory may require adjustments, even some of the mass-produced American-made name brands. Your mileage may vary. Barring doing it yourself, I do recommend getting any instrument professionally set up to your unique preferences; it makes the playing experience so much better.JEREMIAH S : The guitars action was at a very playable height upon receiving however; since many musicians are discerning a professional setup would be necessary to get the action to your personal preference especially if you use a different gauge of strings.
Shopper : Hello the pictures show a maple finger board but your listing states Pau Ferro. Which is the correct fretboard material? Thank youDAVID S : MapleMICHAEL K : Lake Placid Blue has Maple Neck.FRANCIS S : It has a maple fingerboard.Dan L : I received the guitar just as the pictures show. The Lake Placid Blue guitar I received has a maple neck.
JGG J : Is this American made?ROBERT S : Made in MexicoMICHAEL K : MexicanFRANCIS S : No. It's made in Mexico, but it's made at the Fender Ensenada Factory in Mexico. So, it's completely legit. It's a fantastic factory. A lot of the workers there actually play the guitar.Dan L : No, the back of the headstock shows the serial number starts with "MX" which means Made in Mexico.ANDREW R : No I don't believe so.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2020-04-24T08:21:30

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Value, Sweet Sound

Gorgeous guitar, plays well out of the box. What a great value these Duo Sonics are.

James M.

2019-07-30T08:33:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Very nice guitar for the price!

Not as much as a Stratocaster but looks nice and plays well. Sounds great with a single coil and double coil pickup for a variety of tones. This one is a beautiful color, Sonic Blue!

David S.

2019-07-07T09:58:24

Rated 5 out of 5

Yay

I love it. Thanks

warren g.

2019-07-04T08:47:49

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing Guitar!

I’ve had plenty of lower level Squier strats that were fine but never felt right. The size and feel of this guitar is amazing. The scale is a little shorter but it’s barely a difference unless maybe you’re a professional. For me it feels perfect! The blue is beautiful, exactly the color I wanted, and I always leaned toward rosewood feet boards but decided to give this a try. The gloss maple finish on this is stunning. I’ll probably never go back to a darker color fretboard after this. Easy to play, beautiful design and finish, and setup perfect (to my novice knowledge) out of the box. May need tiny adjustments but plays beautifully for me as is. Would definitely recommend!

TIMOTHY S.

2019-06-28T10:33:28

Rated 5 out of 5

Great prosuct

Shipped very fast, package delivered as expected and the quality is fantastic

Shawn C.

2019-06-26T12:39:59

Rated 4 out of 5

Nice guitar, good value.

I now love this guitar. It needed some attention on arrival. The nut was not well cut. I had to deepen the slot for the G string to bring it to the level of the other strings. The e-string nut slot needed some attention too. Changed the strings to Ernie Ball .011’s which improved the consistency of the tuning Also needed intonating, but that is expected really. Its beautiful, now plays well, and sounds good too. Quite resonant unplugged. I liked it enough, I bought one for a friend and it turns out his didn’t need the adjustments mine did. Nut was fine. I think it's the same on most Mexican Fenders now, but I don’t like that the string tree has no spacer beneath it. Its flush against the head stock The B string didn’t come out from underneath it without completely unthreading it back through the tree. Having no spacer makes the string angle over the nut excessive. I put a spacer in and the string now binds less when tuning and returns to pitch after bending better.

RICHARD D.

2019-06-26T10:54:04

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic guitar, great value

Any regrets I may have had from buying a fourth guitar quickly vanished as soon as I unboxed it. The Fender factory packaging kept the guitar safe from minor movements, but I’d hate to see this package on the receiving end of rough handling. Mine arrived safe and without any damage, and with a really decent setup from the factory. Action was properly set, relief was great, and intonation was really close to perfect - D, G, and B were slightly sharp, but it was still very playable out of the box. So much so that I played it for two weeks and waited until just before a jam session to tweak the saddles. Everyone who has seen this guitar, or played it, has loved it. It’s a fantastic instrument, well put together and the pictures online do not do justice to the Lake Placid Blue finish.

JASON F.

2019-06-26T08:53:07

Rated 5 out of 5

The sounds that come out of this guitar are amazing

At first I had an issue and Adorama addressed it very quickly. So all of you guitarists out there looking for a versatile Guitar don't miss out on this one. The Fender Duo Sonic HS is a winner. Adorama also has The wooden case for this Guitar get it.

ROBERT S.

2019-06-26T08:31:16

Rated 4 out of 5

A Fender for Squier money

Overall, its a good guitar. I noticed some lines next to the 11th and 13th frets. At first I thought they were pencil marks under the finish, but after some closer inspection it's actually discolored / dirty finish next to the frets. I think it'll clean up or at least be less noticeable after I clean it with the strings removed. There were also two tiny pin holes missing filler under a couple fret ends on the bass side. These were like tiny needle tip sized holes. I took a similarly colored tan crayon and rubbed into them making them complete unnoticeable. The neck is super comfortable to play. Very nice rounded C profile. 24 in scale is easy to play. The pickups are good so far. No complaints. The push-pull pot is nice for added versatility. The factory setup was decent. Action low enough but neck had too much relief. A minor adjustment of the truss rod was needed. Nut was cut well. Action is 4/6th's inch at 12th fret at low E and 3/64th at high E. Intonation needs minor adjustment

BRANDON C.

2019-06-24T09:15:20

Rated 5 out of 5

Great guitar!

Awesome guitar, playability, fit and finish is top notch. the only issue I found was that the G string was binding on the nut and falling out of tune on pulls, but easily fixed with some lubrication. I was particularly impressed by the fret work,.

Franklin M.

2019-06-24T08:43:22

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome Guitar at a GREAT price!

This little gem plays like a dream! Great action, great tone, great play-ability. I put locking Fender tuners on her and she rocks! This was a fantastic price for this guitar. Worth EVERY PENNY!

Dot K.

2019-06-20T19:28:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic Guitar

What a great little Fender! I set up my own guitars, but this one arrived so nicely done, no tweaking was needed. I actually dont think there is a single thing I do not like about this guitar. Side mention: When the guitar was delivered, it was so hot the pickguard warped. In one day, Adorama was able to get me in touch with Fender, who sent me a replacement with no questions asked.

Jarett M.

2019-06-20T08:55:22

Rated 3 out of 5

Ok

Looked nice but was not set up well. Had to take it to a luthier to get rid of string buzz. He said the nut was cut wrong and neck a little off. 100 bucks later, plays nice. Not pleased with quality control.

Aldo F.

2019-06-18T08:33:32

Rated 5 out of 5

Nice guitar

Great shipping..nice guitar. No issues

Camae P.

2019-06-12T14:42:58

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome Purchase

Guitar arrived quickly. It plays beautifully and the price point is spot on. Love it!

Neesha O.

2019-06-12T08:59:24

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing value for a brand new Fender!

Arrived quickly and in perfect condition. Threw in a Graph Tech Left Hand nut and restrung for lefty. (This is NOT a left handed guitar so please don’t misunderstand me) This is now my main guitar and after my setup it is amazing. Better and price on this than anywhere else! The Lake Placid Blue/Mint guard/maple board is a sweet combo! These pics online do not do it justice!

Ryan M.

2019-06-10T14:46:40

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent shopping experience

Very pleased with all aspects of this purchase—easy-to-use interface for shopping and purchasing; fast shipping; well-packaged guitar; and guitar exactly as pictured. I recommend Adorama without hesitation.

Elliott C.

2019-06-10T09:19:40

Rated 4 out of 5

Make sure it is the HS model

Received this beautiful guitar in mint condition. Only problem was it wasn't the Duo Sonic HS model. It was the Duo Sonic with 2 single coil pickups. Works and sounds great. Lost a star for false advertising.

Andrew Z.

2019-06-05T10:44:58

Rated 5 out of 5

Exceeds expectations!

Highly recommended! Nice tones and super comfortable to play, came with a good set up and good fret work.

Burton B.

2019-06-03T13:19:25

Rated 5 out of 5

Mean American Rock N Roll Machine!

Quality built guitar at a awesome price! How do they do it?

Matthew K.

2019-01-22T18:38:43

Rated 5 out of 5

Not a Student guitar

One might assume with a description as a "student" guitar that somehow this is "less than". Well, any youngster that is fortunate to receive one of these could go "cradle to grave" if it met their sonic desire. The point is, this is a full-blown tone machine, the stepchild of the Telecaster and Stratocaster with a vibe all it's own. I barely notice the smaller scale, the fit, finish and build quality is excellent. For the price, this is beyond anything I could have expected. Out of the box, the set-up let me plug in and play. And boy did I play. 2 hours of pure joy. The neck profile fits my hand perfectly, satin finish on the back, a lightly tinted poly on the fingerboard, very comfortable. Weighs 7 pounds even, no neck dive, very balanced. The color is very easy on my eyes (first Lake Placid Blue guitar). As with all guitars, likely not for everybody. I am sure many may look down on this "budget" least expensive Fender, and that's a shame, as you could be missing out on something really special. Well, that is one person's opinion. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

MATTHEW H.

2019-01-21T17:30:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Not just for students

One might assume with a description as a "student" guitar that somehow this is "less than". Well, any youngster that is fortunate to receive one of these could go "cradle to grave" if it met their sonic desire. The point is, this is a full-blown tone machine, the stepchild of the Telecaster and Stratocaster with a vibe all it's own. I barely notice the smaller scale, the fit, finish and build quality is excellent. For the price, this is beyond anything I could have expected. Out of the box, the set-up let me plug in and play. And boy did I play. 2 hours of pure joy. The neck profile fits my hand perfectly, satin finish on the back, a lightly tinted poly on the fingerboard, very comfortable. Weighs 7 pounds even, no neck dive, very balanced. The color is very easy on my eyes (first Lake Placid Blue guitar). As with all guitars, likely not for everybody. I am sure many may look down on this "budget" least expensive Fender, and that's a shame, as you could be missing out on something really special.

MATTHEW H.

2019-01-15T15:48:18

Rated 5 out of 5

Great guitar

Really like playing this guitar. Good action great tone. The hummbucker and single coil pickups creates great versatility and tonal opportunities. Great price would highly recommend.

Alan L.

2019-01-08T13:12:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Amazing and Solid Guitar

Awesome guitar. Beautiful sound and look. Love the split option on pickups, very versatile.

Andrew F.

2019-01-08T08:06:19

Rated 4 out of 5

Fender Duo-Sonic is a keeper for sure!

Sound is incredible a little spank, a little quack. Setup was low. Stays in tune well. Back of the neck is smooth as butter.Smaller scale takes a little getting used to but I knew that going in and I am loving it!!Strings were VERY dirty when it arrived. I also thought it would bend easier than my LP. Not so, more like a normal Strat with 10's. New strings should change all that.Love the unusual color. Not like everyone else Seafoam green.VERY VERY HAPPY.

MICHAEL K.

2019-01-07T11:27:49

Rated 5 out of 5

Quality, versatile, well-priced Fender electric

I got this guitar for my younger brother for Christmas 2018, and he has been playing it everyday since. I managed to find a local store in order to demo the different Duo-Sonic models before buying from Adorama, and I'm glad I did. This HS version is ideal because of the greater variety of tones that can be achieved with the humbucker, including when it is split with the coil-tap option on it. It is well worth the extra money as a step up from from the version with two single coils. Additionally, after playing the Duo-Sonic version with the Pau Ferro fingerboard, I highly recommend the maple version. Pau Ferro is a cheaper, perhaps more sustainable wood being used to replace rosewood in guitars (at least the ones under $1000) from here on out, and it feels significantly cheaper than both rosewood and maple on a Fender neck. Also, the shorter scale neck on these offset models is very easy and fun to play no matter whether you are a beginner or advanced guitarist. There is one thing to keep in consideration with this guitar: many of these MIM offset Fender electric guitars shipped with a scratchy pickup selector switch. Apparently there is a common flaw where they are dusty inside. But don't worry, they can easily be cleaned and really have no negative impact on tone and playability (just sound scratchy through your amp when flipped sometimes).This is the second Fender electric guitar I've purchased from Adorama, and I cannot recommend them as a vendor enough. Both this Duo-Sonic and the Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar I purchased from them (in September 2018) arrived with a perfect factory set-up, in the original unopened Fender packaging, and for the best possible price. Adorama always has wonderful customer service and ships out very quickly: the Duo-Sonic shipped the Sunday before Christmas and arrived in PA two days later. If you are considering buying a brand new Fender guitar, wait around for a Special Price deal from Adorama and buy from them and no one else ever.

MARIANNE I.

2019-01-07T04:11:33

Rated 4 out of 5

Good guitar but needs a setup

Beautiful guitar and easy to play. Arrived with a lot of of string buzz with the low E, A and G strings. Wish it came with a bag.

HAIWEI Z.

2019-01-05T07:39:38

Rated 5 out of 5

Recommend!

Great guitar. Came set up and amazingly in tune. Love the variation in tone, and the short scale makes it easier to play for people with thinner fingers.

Adam Y.

2018-08-05T12:59:30

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent guitar

Plays real well, nice features, short scale, resonant, great sounding pickups and electronics options. Great color.

Matthew S.

2018-07-29T08:39:23

Rated 5 out of 5

A beauty

Amazing tone. Absolutely gorgeous color.

Trisha W.

Fender Duo-Sonic HS Specifications

  • Body Material

    Alder

  • Body Shape

    Duo-Sonic

  • Body Finish

    Gloss Polyester

  • Neck Material

    Maple

  • Neck Shape

    "C" Shape

  • Fingerboard Material

    Pau Ferro

  • Neck Finish

    Satin Polyurethane

  • Scale Length

    24" (60.96cm)

  • Fingerboard Radius

    9.5" (24.13cm)

  • Number of Frets

    22

  • Fret Size

    Medium Jumbo

  • Nut Material

    Synthetic Bone

  • Nut Width

    1.65" (4.19cm)

  • Position Inlays

    White Dot

  • Truss Rod

    Standard

  • Bridge Pickup

    Duo-Sonic Humbucking

  • Neck Pickup

    Duo-Sonic Single-coil

  • Controls

    Master Volume, Master Tone (with Push/Pull Coil Select Feature)

  • Switching

    3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge And Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup

  • Configuration

    HS

  • Bridge

    6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Strat Hardtail with Bent Steel Saddles

  • Hardware Finish

    Nickel/Chrome

  • Tuning Machines

    Standard Cast/Sealed

  • Pickguard

    3-Ply Mint Green

  • Control Knobs

    Knurled Flat-Top

  • Switch Tip

    Chrome

  • Neck Plate

    4-Bolt

  • Strings

    Fender USA, NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)

  • UPC Code

    885978865468

About Fender Duo-Sonic HS

FEATURED REVIEWS

Not a Student guitar

By MATTHEW H.

One might assume with a description as a "student" guitar that somehow this is "less than". Well, any youngster that is fortunate to receive one of these could go "cradle to grave" if it met their sonic desire. The point is, this is a full-blown tone machine, the stepchild of the Telecaster and Stratocaster with a vibe all it's own. I barely notice the smaller scale, the fit, finish and build quality is excellent. For the price, this is beyond anything I could have expected. Out of the box, ...

View full Review

Exceeds expectations!

By Burton B.

Highly recommended! Nice tones and super comfortable to play, came with a good set up and good fret work.

Size matters not
A modernized version of a student-turned-classic instrument originally released in 1956, the Duo-Sonic HS model's compact form belies its giant-sized sound. It's the ideal companion for adventurous players who aren't afraid to buck the norm and shatter expectations.

• 24" scale length; "C"-shaped maple neck
• One Duo-Sonic single-coil neck pickup; one Duo-Sonic humbucking bridge pickup with coil-split capability
• 9.5"-radius maple fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets
• Six-saddle string-through-body hardtail Strat bridge with bent steel saddles
• Master Volume and Tone controls; three-way pickup switch

24" scale length
This classic shorter scale was originally offered during the 1960s on Fender classics such as the Jaguar and Mustang guitars. The 24" scale remains an authentic Fender design element still offered today.

Duo-sonic pickups
Clear and punchy-sounding, thanks to their vintage-spec output, Duo-Sonic single-coil and humbucking pickups add a unique character to the guitar's voice. The instrument's pure Fender tone shines through with enhanced upper harmonics and an articulate midrange that easily cuts through a mix.

Modern "C"-shaped neck
This instrument features a modern neck designed for comfort and performance, with a contemporary "C"-shaped profile (the shape of the neck in cross section), 9.5" fingerboard radius and medium jumbo frets-ideal for those who play with the thumb on the back or side of the neck.

Special electronics
The Duo-Sonic features a three-way toggle pickup switch, giving you either the bridge or neck pickup alone or both. The push/pull tone control knob selects just the bridge coil of the Duo-Sonic humbucking bridge pickup, unlocking a variety of tones.

Six-saddle String-through-body Hardtail Bridge
This model features a hardtail six-saddle bridge for solid tuning stability, precise intonation and increased sustain. The string-through-body design enhances string-to-body vibration transfer for added sustain.

Engraved Neck Plate
This Duo-Sonic model features a special neck plate engraved with a Fender "F" logo-a classic design element for Fender instruments.

What's in the box:

  • Fender Duo-Sonic HS Electric Guitar
  • Fender 2 Year Limited Warranty