Fender Coronado
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This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations of additional sources. (July 2009) |
| Fender Coronado | |
|---|---|
 Simon Tong playing Fender Coronado II |
|
| Manufacturer | Fender |
| Period | appr. 1966 — 1972 |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Hollow |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on neck |
| Scale | 25.5" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Maple, Beech |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Fixed or tremolo |
| Pickup(s) | 1 or 2 DeArmond single coil |
| Colors available | |
| sunburst, cherry, custom colors, Wildwood | |
The Fender Coronado was a double-cutaway thin-line hollow-body electric guitar, manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The very un-Fender like instrument was designed by Roger Rossmeisl (who had previously also designed instruments for Rickenbacker, but who went on to create numerous models for Fender) in an attempt to capitalise on the increasing popularity of semi-acoustic guitars following the high-profile use of hollow-bodied instruments, such as the Epiphone Casino by bands like the Beatles.
Three versions of the Coronado guitar were produced from 1966 through 1972. The Fender Coronado I, discontinued in 1970, was the original single pickup design. The Coronado II had an added bridge pickup. The Coronado XII, released in 1967, was a twelve-string version of the guitar. Coronado basses were also manufactured.
The Coronado was a true hollow-bodied electric guitar; like the Gibson ES-330 and Epiphone Casino, it did not have a central solid wood block in the body. This is in contrast to guitars such as the Gibson ES-335, which, although appearing similar, were constructed with a solid central block running lengthways through the body, with two hollow "wings" attached to either side.
The top, sides and back of the body were constructed from laminated beechwood, the top being slightly arched, and featuring two generous, routed and bound "f" holes. The body of the instrument was finished in a high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, a finish which is no longer frequently used in the manufacture of modern guitars. A number of Coronado II and Coronado XII guitars were offered in a special "Wildwood" finish. This involved a veneer of specially prepared, heavily-grained beechwood; a chemical dye was injected into the growing trees, years prior to harvesting, which stained the grain pattern of the wood.
The Coronado also featured relatively thin 'C'-shaped bolt-on maple neck, topped with a rosewood fingerboard, and a headstock shaped similarly to that of a Fender Stratocaster.
Unusually for Fender at the time, the Coronado's pickups were made by DeArmond, and the bridge was a free-floating, non anchored, 'tune-o-matic' style bridge, with a suspended tailpiece. Tremolo tailpieces were also available.
The Coronados all came in cases made by the Victoria Luggage Co, and were made in the USA.
Despite the expensive construction of the instrument, the Coronado achieved little success. The guitar was prone to feedback at high volumes, and the bolt-on neck construction, favoured by Fender, failed to appeal to purist jazz guitarists, who would make up a large part of the market for a hollow-bodied electric guitar.
[edit] Models
Coronado I one neck pickup, one volume and one tone control. Dot inlays. Cherry or Sunburst finish.
Coronado II two pickups—neck and bridge positions—two volume and two tone controls, as well as a three-position selector switch. Block inlays. Optional tremolo. Cherry, Sunburst, DuPont custom colors and three shades of Wildwood.
Coronado XII two pickups—neck and bridge positions—two volume and two tone controls, as well as a three-position selector switch. Block inlays. Fender curved twelve string headstock. Cherry, Sunburst, DuPont custom colours and three shades of Wildwood.
[edit] External links
- vintage guitar website – Information and pictures of the Fender Coronado.
