Duesenberg Guitars
| Duesenberg Guitars
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| legal form | Brand of Göldo Music GmbH |
| founding | first time 1986 |
| Seat | Hanover , Germany |
| management | Dieter Gölsdorf, Ingo Renner |
| Branch | Musical instruments |
| Website | Duesenberg Guitars |
Duesenberg is a brand of the Hanover- based Göldo Music company , which produces electric guitars , electric basses and other music equipment in the Art Deco style, as well as guitar amplifiers and effects pedals .
history
Rockinger Guitar
In 1978 Dieter Gölsdorf founded Rockinger Guitar in Hanover, a forerunner of Duesenberg Guitars. He offered u. a. the first kits for electric guitars and invented with the participation and help of Matthias Jabs under the name Rockinger Tru Tune Tremolo the first locking trem system in the world (which prevents detuning by blocking the strings while operating the vibrato lever) when Edward van Halen tremolo appeared in the USA under license from Kramer Guitars . In 1981, Rockinger USA was founded as a sales company based in Asbury Park , New Jersey .
Duesenberg
The Duesenberg brand was used by Dieter Gölsdorf for futuristic designs of heavy metal guitars as early as 1986. From 1991 the brand was used for the first time as part of its own company, Göldo Music GmbH, Hanover. In 1995 Gölsdorf developed a new guitar called Starplayer. It was a semi-acoustic electric guitar with a flat spruce top, two pickups , a maple neck and numerous applications in the Art Deco style. This guitar was a forerunner of Duesenberg's later most successful electric guitar, the Starplayer TV. With their classic decorative elements and the often unconventional coloring, Duesenberg instruments refer to the guitar building art of the 50s and 60s.
In 2000 the sales figures began to develop above average. This is due, among other things, to the strong media presence of the Japanese pop star Sheena Ringo , who always appeared with a surf-green Starplayer TV. In 2004 Duesenberg opened a sales office in the USA. The order situation continued to develop positively, so that in 2011 the company moved to a larger building on the outskirts of Hanover due to increasing space requirements.
Surname
The spelling of the name Duesenberg is identical to the automobile brand of the brothers Friedrich and August Duesenberg , which in turn became the epitome of automotive luxury in the USA in the 1920s thanks to its design and performance.
Like automobiles, guitars are often simply called doozy . The exclamation “It was a doozy!” or "What a doozy!" has been an expression of enthusiasm and extravagance in American colloquial language since the emergence of the Duesenberg automobiles. As with automobiles, the Duesy spelling can now also be found in the guitar scene due to its phonetic similarity .
design
“The unmistakable face of Duesenberg guitars manifests itself in the Art Deco design of the headstock, pickguard and hardware, while most body designs are based on old jazz guitar shapes like those in Germany and the USA from the 1940s especially produced by German emigrants. "
The most important design element and trademark of the instruments is the three-tiered form and symmetry. You can find it in almost every component of the guitar - from the headstock , the pickup frame , the pickguard to the potentiometer knobs , the cable socket and even the pickup selector switch . The Duesenberg-D also contains this three-stage structure in the lower bar.
In fact, many models of Duesenberg guitars are the traditional semi-resonance constructions popular with jazz guitarists . But the guitars with a fixed body, so-called solid bodies , also follow traditional designs.
The Art Déco style, which uses applications and noble and unusual materials, is combined with the shapes of traditional guitars at Duesenberg. The style elements typical for this direction such as parallel bands, graduated symmetries and elongated curves are used.
The color scheme also follows a classic model. In addition to the standard colors black and white, the color palette currently (as of 2012) includes, among other things, a translucent orange (trans-orange), a classic blue-green (surf green), a pastel-colored red (fiesta-red) as well as the color coatings with glitter particles ( Blue-, Silver- and Black-Sparkle) and the pearl finishes decorated with mother-of-pearl mosaic (Ice-, Blue- and Emerald-Green Pearl). Traditional finishes such as gold top, two-tone sunburst, fire burst and vintage blonde are also available.
Furnishing
Wood and neck
In the semi-acoustic models, spruce is usually used as the traditional ceiling material. The back , sides and neck of these models are made of maple , whereby the wood for the back and sides is flamed and, in the case of the back, is usually bookmatched , ie split into two thin sheets and then put back together symmetrically.
The neck of most models is made of American hard rock maple . Exceptions are the D-Caster, Dragster, 49er and 52er models, where the neck is made of mahogany .
The fingerboard is made of Indian Rosewood and is provided with point inlays for orientation. The only exceptions are the Artist , 440 , Classic and Imperial series as well as the signature models Starplayer TV Chris Whitley and CC John Platania . Each guitar has a scale length of 25.6 "or 650 mm, a fingerboard radius of 12" and a dual-action truss rod , jumbo frets and factory-made strings with a thickness of .10-.50 are used.
hardware
All Duesenberg instruments are equipped with in-house hardware . The designs for it come from Dieter Gölsdorf.
All hardware is generally nickel-plated . According to the company, this should underline the style of the guitars, as the components of classic instruments were originally nickel-plated and not chrome-plated as they are today .
The in-house Z tuners sit on the head plates. These are encapsulated mechanisms in which the string is led down through the axis and snapped off. This prevents sharp ends of the string from sticking out of the machine heads.
Pickups
Only in-house developments are installed on the instruments. All pickups have an open nickel silver cap .
Currently (as of 2012) the company has five pickups in its range, each of which is offered in a neck and bridge version. With the Grand Vintage , the Crunchbucker and the D-Tron , the humbucker area is generally covered, whereby the Grand Vintage is its own interpretation of a classic PAF-style humbucker and is installed on the bridge in most Duesenberg guitars .
With the Little Toaster , Duesenberg has developed a pickup that is supposed to resemble a single coil in terms of output , but is technically a humbucker.
The Domino P90 is a P90 pickup in humbucker format and is installed on the neck of many Duesenberg guitars .
Starplayer TV
The Starplayer TV, often simply called TV, is a semi-acoustic electric guitar with a sustain block . The guitar has a curved floor and ceiling , a on the left-side sound hole is. In the case of the Starplayer TV, maple wood is used for the neck, back and sides and spruce for the top.
The guitar has two pickups in the standard version . There is usually a Domino P90 on the neck and a grand vintage humbucker on the bridge .
The Duesenberg Diamond Deluxe Tremola developed by Dieter Gölsdorf is used on the tremolo versions of the guitar.
The standard models have a black / gray burst finish on the back, which lets the maple wood shine through on the back. The neck, the ribs and the back of the headstock are coated in opaque black (on the standard models).
Most models have a simple cream binding on the body and neck.
Over the years, Starplayer TV has become the company's best-selling guitar. This led to the fact that it is or was offered in various designs and special versions:
- Starplayer TV
- Standard model, available in Black, Vintage White, 2-Tone Sunburst, Surf Green, Silver Sparkle, Blue Sparkle, Trans Orange, Gold Top
- Starplayer TV stop tailpiece
- Version without tremolo, available in black and 2-tone sunburst
- Starplayer TV Classic
- Special version in Honey All Over finish. In contrast to the standard models, this version has a completely honey-lacquered body and neck, with oval markings on the fingerboard. It also has a 5-layer binding and a black pickguard.
- Starplayer TV Rebound
- Special version in collaboration with the musician Wolfgang Niedecken and his "Rebound" project for the reintegration of former child soldiers and support for raped girls in the eastern Congolese city of Beni . Version with Fireburst finish, black pickguard, in-house toaster pickups and crown inlays on the headstock. The version is also available without a tremolo.
- Starplayer TV Plus
- Version with switchable piezo bridge and brushed aluminum pickguard. Available in black and vintage white
- Starplayer TV Outlaw
- Special version with crocodile leatherette cover on the body top and headstock, as well as a nickel-plated pickguard.
- Starplayer TV Pearl
- Special version with mother-of-pearl mosaic inlays on the body top and headstock, as well as a nickel-plated pickguard. Available in Ice, Blue and Emerald Green Pearl.
- Starplayer TV Custom
- Version in black with gold hardware, 5-layer binding and three D-Tron humbucker pickups. The middle pickup can be faded in in any position using the multi-tone pot.
- TV star player Mike Campbell
- Signature Edition for Mike Campbell for the thirty-year anniversary of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers . The version has a special blue and white rally finish and a nickel-plated pickguard with Mike Campbell's signature lasered on.
- Before the version became the Signature Edition, it was supposedly planned as star player TV Shelby due to the paintwork.
- TV star player Chris Whitley
- Signature Edition for Chris Whitley with a special red finish, mother-of-pearl block inlays in the fingerboard and piezo pickup in the bridge.
- Starplayer TV Ron Wood
- Signature Edition for Ron Wood with a yellow mother-of-pearl mosaic on the ceiling and a nickel-plated pickguard with a lasered Ron Wood signature. Limited edition of 100 pieces. The star player Ron Wood was, so to speak, the archetype of the current Pearl models and became a collector's item.
List of Duesenberg instruments
Semi-acoustic and full resonance electric guitars
- Starplayer TV
- see section "Starplayer TV"
- Starplayer III
- New edition of the original form of the star player. Features identical to the Starplayer TV, but with a flat top and bottom and 5-layer binding. Available in black and sparkle.
- CC
- Large, flat full-size semi-hollow body with a vaulted spruce top and bottom. Features identical to the Starplayer TV. CC application on the body. Available in Black, 2-Tone Sunburst, Trans-Orange and Vintage White.
- A signature edition for the musician John Platania is also available with a special red finish, mother-of-pearl block inlays in the fingerboard and a piezo pickup in the bridge. Thus, the CC John Platania is, so to speak, the CC counterpart to the star player TV Chris Whitley.
- Fullerton
- The Fullerton series currently includes the Starplayer TV and the CC as a double cutaway version in vintage white. Equipment is identical to the basic models.
- Fullerton Hollow
- The Fullerton Hollow has the shape of a Fullerton CC, but is a fully resonant guitar, so it is completely hollow. A special Duesenberg tailpiece is used, as well as two Duesenberg P90 pickups. The guitar was presented in a vintage sunburst finish at the NAMM Show and the Frankfurt Musikmesse in 2012 .
- Imperial
- Large full-size hollow body with deep sides. Pickup equipment: Duesenberg P90 on the neck and Duesenberg Grand Vintage on the bridge. Available in the black version with Duesenberg D-Tron pickups. Two f-holes, plexi-glass pickguard, mid-shift potentiometer, Saturn fretboard inlays. Available in red burst and light orange, in the D-Tron version also in black.
- The 440
- Features and shape identical to the CC, but with a stop tailpiece instead of the tremolo, plus Saturn fingerboard inlays and 440 appliqués on the body. Available in black and natural.
- The 52
- Sound-chambered mahogany body with set-in mahogany neck. Arched maple top, wrap around tailpiece , individual pickups on the bridge (either domino or little toaster). Available only in the gold top version.
- Double Cat
- Semi-acoustic, sound-chambered guitar with "cat's eye" F-hole in the alder body, maple top. Features identical to the Starplayer TV, but with a short tremolo. It is also available as a 12-string version or with a multi-bender system. Current colors: Black and Fireburst.
Solid body guitars
- Starplayer Special
- Screwed neck, alder body, Duesenberg Grand Vintage humbucker on the neck, Chrunchbucker on the bridge, Master Volume, Multi-Tone-Pot, available in Black, Vintage White, Blue Sparkle, Silver Sparkle, Black Sparkle, Fiesta Red and Orange.
- The 49er
- Set-in mahogany neck, mahogany body, Domino P90 in the neck position, Grand Vintage humbucker in the bridge position, adjustable string-through-body system. Available in Black, Gold-Top, Outlaw, Blue-Pearloid and Honey.
- Dragster
- Set-in mahogany neck, mahogany body flat top, Duesenberg P90 on the bridge, 3-way pickup selector, wraparound tailpiece. The guitar is available in two versions: Single Cutaway (Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Blonde), Double Cutaway (Cherry Red, Oil & Wax).
- Since 2012, a signature model has also been built for guitarist Peter Stroud, which is equipped with two pickups and the multibender system. The instrument is available in cream white.
- D-caster
- Double cutaway design with optional pickup configurations, glued maple neck, mahogany body, string-through-body system, special swell pot circuitry. Available in Black, Vintage White and Lake Placid Blue.
- V-caster
- Single cutaway design with 3 single coils in humbucker format.
- No longer available
- Rocket II
- Asymmetrical Flying-V design, alder body, available in black with or without tremolo.
Special models
- Rezobro
- Semi-acoustic design based on the Starplayer III. A Dobro / Resonator sound is generated electrically by a special bridge construction . With adjustable saddle for using a slide . Available in black, vintage white and 2-tone sunburst finishes.
- Baritone D6
- Baritone model based on the Starplayer Special with 28 "scale length. Grand Vintage pickup on the neck, Chrunchbucker on the bridge. Available in Black Sparkle.
- Pomona6 Lapsteel
- Electrical implementation of the Lapsteel design, which was equipped with the Multibender system in order to be able to generate pedal steel-like sounds. Equipped with a sliding capo , two Little Toaster pickups and a Speed Pot tone control.
- Mandola
- 12-string guitar with 15.35 "scale length and guitar tuning increased by one octave. Equipped with a Duesenberg single coil pickup on the neck and a Little Toaster pickup on the bridge.
Artist Series
- Dave Stewart Blackbird Signature
- Special model based on the Starplayer III with a limited edition of 52 pieces according to the specifications of the musician Dave Stewart . The model is equipped with silver-plated hardware, custom three-step fretboard inlays and a graphic on the top of the guitar. The graphics correspond to an album cover designed by Dave Stewart himself.
Bass
- D-bass
- Solid body alder body, long scale 34 "scale length, mid-shape controller, toaster bass pickup. Available in both 4 and 5-string versions in black, sonoma red or lake placid blue.
- Starplayer bass
- Semi-acoustic construction with 4 strings based on the body of the Starplayer TV. A sustain block, a 30.3 "medium scale length and two bass humbuckers are built in. It is available in Black, Trans Orange, 2-Tone Sunburst and Champaign Sparkle. The Starplayer Bass is also available in blue and white under the name Mike Campbell .
- Violin bass
- Interpretation of the classic violin bass design, 4 strings, 30.3 "medium scale length, 2 bass humbuckers. Back and sides are made of flamed maple, curved spruce top, no sustain block. Available in black and 2-tone sunburst.
Duesenberg effect devices
The product range includes the White Drive II ( overdrive ), the Blue Move ( chorus ), the Red Echo II ( delay ), the Green Comp II ( compressor ), the Violet Trem ( tremolo ) and the Gold Boost (booster).
All effects are hand-wired, analog and have a true bypass circuit.
Amplifier from Duesenberg
As with the guitars and basses, the design of the guitar amplifiers is also adapted to the Art Deco style. The amplifiers are hand-wired and work with all-tube technology , which is provided with modern components. The so-called Doozy amplifier is available in two versions:
Doozy One
- 20 watt Class A / B amplifier combo with integrated 12 ″ Eminence speaker, all-tube preamp and power amplifier as well as spring reverb and 3-band tone control.
Doozy Two
- 110 watt Class A / B guitar amplifier with 2 × 12 ″ box with Eminence Red Coat governor speakers. 2-channel all-tube amplifier with an extra gain stage for the second channel. 3-band tone control and 55 watt half power switch. Serial effect loops for each channel.
Well-known musicians who play Duesenberg
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Bands: |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Tony Bacon, Paul Day: The Ultimate Guitar Book. Edited by Nigel Osborne, Dorling Kindersley, London / New York / Stuttgart 1991; Reprint 1993, ISBN 0-86318-640-8 , p. 188.
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Duesenberg history
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Duesenberg product catalog 2012
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Products
- ^ Tony Bacon, Paul Day: The Ultimate Guitar Book. Edited by Nigel Osborne, Dorling Kindersley, London / New York / Stuttgart 1991; Reprint 1993, ISBN 0-86318-640-8 , p. 188.
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Technical, common features
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Technical, common features, neck
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Technical, common features, hardware
- ^ Duesenberg.de - Technical, German Pickup Engineering
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Products & Pickups
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Products, Starplayer TV
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Effects
- ↑ Duesenberg.de - Amps
Coordinates: 52 ° 25 ′ 0.9 ″ N , 9 ° 44 ′ 12 ″ E