Duesenberg – Fantom Collection S | Overview

MSRP: (UK) £2599 / (US) $4249

Sam Bell critiques the Duesenberg Fantom Collection S. Full of signature options—together with a Domino P90 within the neck, a Grand Classic humbucker on the bridge, and people distinct Phonico pickup covers—the Fantom Collection S excels at every part from crisp cleans to wealthy, highly effective overdrive.



Duesenberg is a builder of premium guitars, based in 1986 by German luthier Dieter Gölsdorf. Beginning in only a small workshop, Dieter and his workforce got down to construct high-quality, handcrafted devices. The corporate’s identify, ‘Duesenberg,’ was apparently impressed by a basic automobile model of the identical identify, which symbolised luxurious and wonderful craftsmanship. On this challenge of G.I., I had the pleasure of trying out a Fantom Collection S from Duesenberg.

The Fantom Collection is a refined, single-cut guitar that brings collectively classic tone and aesthetic with trendy playability and flexibility. The Collection S sits on the high of Duesenberg’s Fantom line. This guitar is available in 4 totally different finishes: Gentle Vintage Burst, Tobacco Burst, Black, and Lumina Inexperienced. We had been fortunate sufficient to get our palms on the Tobacco Burst for this challenge. Let’s check out the specs…

The physique and neck are crafted from hand-selected mahogany, with the physique sporting a carved flamed maple high. The fretboard options Indian rosewood and is produced with Plek precision for super-smooth, levelled frets. The neck itself is D-shaped, has a 12-inch radius, and options 22 jumbo frets. The dimensions size could be very particular, coming in at 24.6″. It feels very {smooth} to play proper out of the case. All the pieces feels balanced—nothing feels caught on this guitar. Nothing will get in the best way.

The guitar has a beautiful five-ply cream/black physique binding, and Duesenberg’s super-cool ‘Wing’ fretboard inlays actually set off the aesthetic of this wonderful instrument. The Tobacco Burst end provides this guitar a basic, classic really feel, but it performs flawlessly due to the Plek setup and a spotlight to element within the craftsmanship.

The electronics are one other space the place consideration to aesthetic, high quality, and tone come into play. The Fantom S is supplied with two Duesenberg Grand Classic II Alnico humbuckers. These provide a heat and clear classic tone, and matched with the guitar’s development and setup, present loads of musical maintain. Cleaner tones are heat and punchy; pushed tones sing and soar. Once I pushed the guitar with a extra trendy high-gain tone, the pickups adopted alongside in a musical approach with out turning into mushy. It is a very versatile single-cut guitar, but it’s deeply rooted in classic type—very best for blues, jazz, basic rock, and even up to date clear/crunch tones.

The controls are easy: two volumes (one for every pickup), a three-way selector change, and a grasp tone. The neck pickup quantity is uniquely positioned beneath the neck pickup, and the bridge quantity close to the bridge. The three-way selector is positioned in an analogous spot to a Strat (beneath the treble strings of the guitar), and the place you would possibly anticipate finding a selector change on different single-cut designs, you may discover the Duesenberg ‘D’ emblem, including much more luxurious and elegance to this instrument. The grasp tone actually helps form the general sound—this will appear apparent, however the best way it interacts with the pickups permits you to go from punchy readability that is not harsh, all the best way to a desirably heat, woolly but clear tone—very best for extra understated moments if wanted.

For those who’re searching for a high-quality, luxurious instrument with basic vibes and a singular, stylish up to date twist, the Fantom S Collection from Duesenberg ticks all of the packing containers. After all, to get a guitar constructed with this stage of care and a spotlight, there’s a value to pay: the Fantom S Collection retails round £2,200. For those who’re critical a couple of handcrafted guitar and have the money, then Duesenberg is effectively value contemplating. Folks have paid rather more for a lot much less. Duesenberg is not messing about—they’re making high-quality luxurious devices to today, simply as they got down to do again within the ’80s. An organization of integrity and care.

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