(SOLD) Duesenberg V-Caster Vintage White 2005
Duesenberg V-Caster, vintage white, made in Germany 2005. Duesenberg launched the Starplayer model in 1995, so 2005 is pretty early in the piece for the company in the scheme of things. The V-Caster model was made from 2005-10, sharing a body shape and some DNA with the long running Starplayer Special model, including the alder body and maple bolt-on neck. It gets a few unique things though: three alnico single coil pickups, all in wide housings including a bridge pickup with staggered pole pieces, with some clever wiring too boot, and a cool 'Diego Deluxe' tremolo bridge with chunky die-cast saddles. First up, this feels amazing. The neck is straight, stable and super sturdy, carved to a comfy moderate D shape and blessed with some gorgeous grain in both the maple and rosewood. The body is pretty lightweight, the tremolo bridge is smooth and reliable and the fit and finish is work is absolutely bang-on. I've heard talk that pre-2007 Duesenberg models were all made completely in Germany, whereas later models use woodwork from Korea... this definitely feels like it's been made with a lot of love and care. The three way switch controls the neck and bridge pickups, Tele-style. The tone knob has a notch in the middle: wind it below the centre to roll off treble as per usual, or wind it above centre to blend the middle pickup in. The result is some really convincing tones. The neck + bridge option delivers gorgeous, smooth, fat Telecaster style tone, with heaps of zesty clarity balanced by a thick singing low end. Winding the middle pickup in with the bridge pickup and rolling the volume back to 7 or so delivers a superb Jimi-esque Strat-quack, again brimming with Duesenberg hi-fidelity sparkle and heaps of body. This sounds terrific, it took me all of ten seconds to fall in love. These are a pain to find these days so you've probably got one shot at this... don't mess it up friend!
Model: Duesenberg V-Caster
Made: Germany, 2005 (050832)
Finish: vintage white top, transparent black back & sides, gloss poly
Body: alder
Neck: USA rock maple, Indian rosewood board, 12" radius, 25.5" scale, moderate D shape
Weight: 3.750kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Duesenberg Alnico single coil x3
Case: Duesenberg hard case; good quality and condition
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock is pretty clean, The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has some very light scuffs around the neck joint and cavity, no major marks. Note this never came with a back cavity cover. The sides have no major marks, just some small dimples in the jack and elbow area and on the top horn. The front has some light scuffs around the bridge and some play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: excellent condition (9/10).
Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 11/49s Moonshiners strings.