NGD: Duesenberg Dragster DC Oil & Wax

[electrofaro]

Got me a new toy!

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[sloop_john_b]

Very nice!

[admin]

There is nothing wrong with simple Werner.

[jps]

Congrats! How's the build quality on it? I have my eye on a nice Duesenberg bass, but I read conflicting things about the brand.

[electrofaro]

Well, the wood's from Korea if I remember correctly, then assembled in Germany. As this one's simply oiled you see all the joints quite clearly, but it's been well executed. The box it was in reminds of Epiphone shipping cartons as used in Europe (triangular cardboard with a styrofoam neckrest, guitar in a foamy plastic bag), which I think for a guitar at this price point is weird to be honest. Case means upcharge, as it's not included (another weird thing at this price point). If you do order a case the two still come separately to your dealer! I did not order a case as this one is simply for fun at home.

I'll take some close-up with my phone this evening to show the heel, body/neck joint, pick-up etc.

Mine was in a box sealed with KLUSON tape, set-up lightning fast, low action. The neck is great. The three different settings on the pick-up do give three different tones. It weighs close to nothing... I doubt I'll be playing anything but this one for a while. The neck will move down if you let go of it, with my strap that means it ends horizontally, it doesn't move lower than that.

[kiramdear]

It seems to be my kind of guitar, except for the neck dive. Maybe the tuners could be lighter? Anyway I hope you like it and have many happy hours together.

[jps]

Thanks for that info, Werner. The bass is around $2500 USD so I do expect a lot for that kind of money, including a nice HSC to be included. I'll have to call some dealers and see what is offered for the selling price here.

[electrofaro]

This is a close-up of the heel - there's some wax residue, for the rest it looks okay for a guitar without lacquer imo

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Upside-down view of the joint:

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[electrofaro]

Here's the close-up of the fingerboard where it goes over the body, as in not, as it's obvious the mahogany neck's all the way in, sticking out on top!

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[electrofaro]

The pick-up (stacked single coil?)

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The tuners (some sort of Klusons, has the same owner as Duesenberg anyway)

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[electrofaro]

The back of the body - my colleagues were already dragging me to the spraybooth, as they wanted to cover it in clear nitro, afraid the guitar will get dirty! What's wrong with actual real aging of oiled wood?

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[jps]

There doesn't appear to be a finish on the it at all.

That heel joint is pretty sloppy; if I understand correctly, some Duesenberg models are made in Korea and others are made in Germany, right? I'd imagine if these were made at the Linhof factory the QC would be a bit better.

[electrofaro]

You are right, this guitar has no finish - that's why the "colour" is called Oil & Wax

The wood's premade in Korea and the whole assembled in Germany - as far as I know no Duesenberg model is entirely (as for wooden parts) made in Germany.

What exactly is sloppy about the heel?

[jps]

I would think the transition from the neck to the body would be more streamlined, as it is the neck looks a bit tacked on to the body at the joint. Perhaps, the lack of a finish makes this more apparent than it otherwise would be; a painted finish, for example, would flow smoothly from the neck to the body.

[electrofaro]

Jeff, I get what you mean - this model is simply showing what a lot of guitars hide (or at least mask) under lacquer. Table I took the pictures on is oiled oak... I guess I like oiled wood look!

The guitar reminds of a chopping board and weighs as much! The tone pot only turns 70 degrees = Duesenberg Speedpod. I think it is killing a lot of volume on the bass setting though. Both knobs work easily with your pink while playing!