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FENDER | CORONADO

Fender Coronado

Fender hollow body electric guitar

Fender Coronado
1966 Fender Coronado II in Cherry finish

Thinline semi-acoustic guitars were all the rage in the mid 1960s. The blues guitarists that had been playing them since the late fifties were being emulated by the groups of the time. The likes of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Keith Richards had made the Epiphone Casino very popular - whilst other guitarists were playing the blues on Gibson ES-335s (Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee) or the Guild Starfire (Dave Davies). Less expensive semis such as the Harmony H76 and Hofner Verithin were selling in absolutely huge numbers.

Fender Facts 10
The Coronado series was announced in November 1965 in the Fender newsletter Fender Facts. The guitars are said to be in the final stages of production. The Coronado II pictured has a different bridge and switch position to the production version.

In late 1965 Fender attempted to capture some of the lucrative thin-line semi acoustic market, by announcing a range of semi acoustics of it's own. The range was designed by ex-Rickenbacker guitar designer, Roger Rossmeisl, who left in some Rickenbacker touches like checkered binding, and F-tailpiece. The guitars were all-maple, with pickups designed by DeArmond. Fender had considered the names 'Fender Fantasy' and 'Fender Aztec', but finally settled on Coronado. They were described as follows:

The bodies are very thin (5 centimeters) with a distinctive design. The modern "F hole" is extremely attractive and is bound on all sides on the dual pickup model.

The pickups are full-range high fidelity units with a volume and tone control for each in the case of the dual pickup models. In addition, the dual pickup models have a three-position tone selector switch allowing the player to select either or both of the pickups.

The Coronado series was not actually available for several more months, and was first included in the price list of July 1966. There were single and double pickup six strings, a twelve string and a single pickup Coronado bass. Tremolo's were listed as an optional extra. By 1967 a dual pickup Coronado Bass II was added to the line. Early publicity images show the guitars placed next to sheet music by the Byrds and the Yardbirds - it was clear who these guitars were aimed at.

Launch prices were close to those of the Gibson ES-330TD and Epiphone Casino; the Coronado was a nice guitar, but whether it was in the same league as the fore mentioned models is debatable. The commercial failure of the Coronado - at least in comparison to Fender's solid body models - strongly suggests that the guitar buying public tended to think not. Some 1966 prices are shown below.

model1966 pricelist date
Coronado II$319.50July 1966
Epiphone Casino$335/$350 Shaded/CherryOctober 1966
Gibson ES-330TD$310/$325 Sunburst/CherryApril 1966
Coronado XII$449.50July 1966
Gibson ES-335-12TD$395/$410 Sunburst/CherryApril 1966

Standard colours were Cherry and Sunburst, and only these were offered in 1966. By 1967 Fender custom colours (DuPont finishes) were also available at a 5% premium, along with some interesting new finishes: the naturally grainy Wildwood and the antique-style Antigua.

1967 Fender Coronado II in Antigua finish Image Heritage auctions

Fender described their new Antigua finish as follows:

Fender's latest color dimension, the Antigua, puts elegance in the spotlight. This inimitable new finish is a rich, antique white with a halo mist shading which produces a subtle feeling of depth and dimension

Original Fender Coronado advertising

The Fender Coronado was widely promoted in 1967, to fill the desire for hollow body thinlines of the 1960s. Fender failed to break into this market in any significant way, however, and they turned their attention back to solid bodies pretty quickly afterwards.

Electric guitar advertisements originally published from 1966 onwards. Click on the images for larger copies. Check out other vintage Fender advertisements

Fender Coronado - Olé

Fender Coronado - Olé (1966)
Fender advert from the middle of 1966 for Fender guitars. Featuring the Stratocaster and Jaguar solid-bodies, the Coronado semi-acoustic and the Concert acoustic.
[more]

Fender Coronado - Full Color Sound

Fender Coronado - Full Color Sound (1967)
From Fender Musical Instruments, representing the complete musical spectrum with a selection of master-crafted guitars and amplifiers. See the complete line of Fender Musical Instruments at any aut...
[more]

Fender Coronado - Great New Sound. Same Old Quality

Fender Coronado - Great New Sound. Same Old Quality (1967)
1967 saw Fender pushing some new lines
Fantastic customized, one-ot-a-kind WILDWOOD guitars: new expanded Coronado Series guitars and basses; the new improved Fender Solid-State Series amps; all...
[more]

Fender Coronado - Full Color Sound

Fender Coronado - Full Color Sound (1967)
Advert for the Fender display at the June 1967 NAMM show in Chicago, USA. It features a number of instruments 'representing the complete musical spectrum': a Jazz Bass, a Coronado II electric acous...
[more]

Fender Coronado Wildwood

Fender had been injecting dyes into growing beech trees, in order to create interesting grain effects for the Wildwood acoustic guitar. When harvested the wood was primarily green, blue or brown - giving rise to three actual finishes - Wildwood I (Rainbow Green), Wildwood II (Rainbow Blue), and Wildwood III (Rainbow Gold). The very nature of the process meant that each Wildwood guitar was unique; "the color follows the grain and becomes a rainbow of colors and patterns. This causes each instrument to differ from the next"

Fender Wildwoods. From left to right: Wildwood I (Rainbow Green), Wildwood II (Rainbow Blue), and Wildwood III (Rainbow Gold)
Model Coronado I Coronado II Coronado XII
Available 1966-70 1966-72 1967-72
Pickups One DeArmond single coil Two DeArmond single coils. By 1970 these are described as Fender pickups. Two DeArmond single coils
Scale 25½"
Body Maple top back and sides. Bound front and back. 16" wide, 1 11/16" deep As Coronado I, but with bound f-holes
Neck 21 frets. Width at nut 1 5/8", dot inlays, rosewood fingerboard. As Coronado I, only bound, with block inlays, and optional maple fingerboard from 1969 As Coronado I, only bound, with block inlays. Fender curved 12-string headstock.
Hardware Chrome plated. 1 volume and tone control. Optional tremolo. Simple tailpiece with embossed F Chrome plated (optional gold hardware from '69. 2 volume and tone controls, pickup selector switch. Optional tremolo, but comes as standard with the Antigua II.
Finishes Cherry and Sunburst 1966-1969. DuPont colours 1967-69 Cherry and Sunburst 1966-1969. DuPont colours 1967-69. Wildwood finish 1967-70. Antigua finish 68-72. Cherry and Sunburst 1966-1969. DuPont colours 1967-69. Wildwood finish 1967-70. Antigua finish 68-72.

The Coronado hardware did vary somewhat - particularly the tailpiece and bridge. The image below shows some of the colours available, and some of the different tailpieces used throughout the course of production. Top Row: Sunburst Coronado I, Cherry Coronado II, blue Coronado XII, White Coronado bass, Sunburst Coronado II. Note the tailpiece. Bottom Row: Rainbow Green Wildwood Coronado II, Rainbow Gold Wildwood Coronado II, Antigua II and Cherry Coronado I. Once again note the tailpiece.

Fender Coronado guitars

Fender Coronado twelve string

Fender Coronado wildwood twelve string Image Heritage auctions

The Coronado XII had the same body as the other Coronado guitars, but was fitted with the standard 'hockey stick' style neck as the Electric XII and other Fender 12-string acoustics. The spectacular guitar pictured above is in the Wildwood III (Rainbow Gold) finish.

Fender Coronado timeline

Fender Facts 15
Like to have an instrument that differs from any other? If you are one of those who does, one of the Wildwood Coronado series answers the call. Even the name signifies this difference, for the Wildwood name is derived from the wood used in making these instruments - it is indeed wild! And, exclusively Fender's!

1965 First mention of the new thinlines in Fenders sales leaflet Fender Facts 10, November 1965

1966 Fender catalogue

1966 Model launch. The Coronado was first listed in the July '66 price list - three models, the Coronado I, II and XII, at $229.50, $319.50 and $449.50 respectively. A single pickup Coronado bass was also listed at $349. Cherry and Sunburst are the only colours listed. An optional tremolo was also available for an extra $55.

1967 Prices were unchanged from '66, with Wildwood II and XII models first listed at $449.50 and $524.50. Custom DuPont finishes are now available at 5% additional cost

1968 Fender catalog

1968 Prices still unchanged from '66, with a new model - the Antigua added to the line. Only the II and XII were available in Antigua finish - prices (March '68) $429.50 and $489.50 (the XII dropped to $479.50 in July '68)

1969 Fender Lovin Care catalog

1969 By the end of the sixties models were starting to be phased out. The Antigua and Wildwood finishes were the only ones available, with all Coronado Is dropped from price lists. Six string models had an optional maple fretboard (5% extra) and all models had optional gold hardware (15% extra). Base prices are (May '69): Antigua II $449.50, Wildwood II $469.50, Antigua XII $499.50, Wildwood XII $549.50.

1970 Fender catalogue

1970 Only the Antigua II and XII are listed (April '70): Antigua II $469.50 (left hand $515), Antigua XII $525.

1971 Base prices are unchanged (Jan '71): Antigua II $469.50 (left hand $515), Antigua XII $525.

1972 Feb '72 - base prices unchanged

1973 No Coronado guitars are included in 1973 price lists.


Fender Coronado technical information

1966 Fender Coronado II

Fender Parts Lists

Fender have published regular lists of replacement parts for their instruments, along with part numbers. The lists below are all from June 1969, and are simple lists of parts. Note the different parts list for the Antigua finish. This finish is actually described as Antique rather than Antigua.

Similar Models

July 1966 Fender Price List
The July 1966 Fender pricelist featured the Coronado range on the front cover. This early publicity image shows 'prototype' instruments with no model designations on the headstock, and hardware that would not make it onto production instruments.

The Coronado is often described as Fender's answer to the Gibson ES-335TD, and in terms of looks perhaps it was. With regard construction and fittings however, it's closest Gibson would be the ES-330TD / Epiphone Casino; unlike most Gibson thinlines these guitars had no central maple block, and single coil pickups instead of humbuckers - or perhaps even the Gibson Crest, with its Wildwood-esque grainy rosewood body and still fully hollow.

No Gibson/Epiphone had a bolt-on neck at that time, so there was no model that could compare like-for-like with the Coronado. Perhaps one of the closest models to the Coronado was the Swedish Hagstrom Viking which resembled the Fender in many ways; but was considerably less expensive. In 1966, US distributor Merson were offering the Viking at just $250.

Why did the Coronado fail?

The Coronado was a great looking guitar, especially the Wildwood examples, and those with checkered binding and block inlays. And it was produced at a time when semi acoustics were all the rage. So why didn't it capture the public's attention? Frankly, the DeArmond pickups were not great - weak if anything - especially in comparison to the P90s and humbuckers fitted to the Gibson/Epiphone equivalents. These rivals, with their set mahogany necks, gave the characteristic 'woody' tones so important to jazz musicians and the powerful output desirable for rock musicians. The Coronado had a strong tendency to feed back - and all this at a price often (slightly) higher than a Gibson. If you wanted a Fender, a Stratocaster seemed a better and considerably cheaper way to go. A sunburst Strat with tremolo cost $281 in July 1966 vs $319 for a Coronado II. And with the likes of Jimi Hendrix demonstrating what a Stratocaster could do...

Fender Coronado reissue

In 2013, Fender briefly reissued the Coronado - in fact producing a significantly better guitar than the original. The new pickups were far superior, and the the body now had the same feedback-reducing maple block down it's center that Gibson had been using since 1958. These guitars, though no longer in production, are still widely available today.

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Fender Coronado for sale

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Fender Wildwood Coronado II 1968 - 1969 - Wildwood

Fender Wildwood Coronado II 1968 - 1969 - Wildwood

Benicia, California, 945**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

Its been played in bars around the SF Bay Area. Definitely want this guitar to go to a good home. It's been played and it shows. Has dings and dents. Frets are worn and need to be replaced. Will need a nut too as well


This is a guitar that, if you want mojo Fender tone, this is the one you want


Please note (we know this shouldn't have to be said .but .): The amp, chair and cable are NOT included in the sale


Location: Front Showroom
... more
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1966 Vintage Fender Coronado XII Sunburst 12-String 1960s USA w / Owners Manual

1966 Vintage Fender Coronado XII Sunburst 12-String 1960s USA w / Owners Manual

Jacksonville, Florida, 322**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2797

Up for sale is a RARE 1966 Fender Coronado XII 12 string Sunburst Guitar! Comes with the Original Owners Manual and The Original Fender Case!
All original and Untouched! Featuring Dual DeArmond Pickups!
VERY GOOD cosmetic condition - Showing dents and scratches, and finish checking all over, which gives it a killer vintage look!
Great feeling neck. Frets show some wear. Killer tone and playability!
All versions of the Coronado were true hollow-bodied electric guitars, with the top, ... more
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1967 Fender Coronado II Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sunburst, Mint w /  Case, Tags

1967 Fender Coronado II Vintage Hollowbody Guitar Sunburst, Mint w / Case, Tags

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5300

Up for sale, a 1967 Fender Coronado II in time capsule-clean, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and all hangtags and case candy
This Coronado is featherweight at 6lbs 12oz with a fully hollow maple body, and the lively natural acoustic properties of the instrument translate well through the pair of DeArmond-made single coil pickups. Clear, warm, and articulate when plugged in, the pickups deliver a wide range of sounds, from ... more
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Vintage! 1967 Fender Coronado II Hollowbody Guitar Antigua Burst + OHSC

Vintage! 1967 Fender Coronado II Hollowbody Guitar Antigua Burst + OHSC

Thousand Oaks, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3995



Vintage! 1967 Fender Coronado II Hollowbody Guitar Antigua Burst + OHSC

Google us! Lovies Guitar Shop
Lovies Guitars is excited to offer up this 1967 Fender Coronado II Hollowbody Guitar with an Antigua Burst Finish! Known for their hollow sound and acoustic qualities, Coronado's are an amazing contribution to the hollow body market from Fender. This guitar has a gorgeous Antigua Burst finish that accentuates every design element of this 60's electric including the unique ... more
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Fender Coronado II 1967 - Sunburst Vintage Hollow Body Guitar FREE SHIP

Fender Coronado II 1967 - Sunburst Vintage Hollow Body Guitar FREE SHIP

Charlotte, North Carolina, 282**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2595

Dave's Guitars Charlotte is proud to offer a 1967 Fender Coronado II in classic, original finish option Sunburst. For those looking for a trem model, we have a same year, same model, same color Coronado II on our Reverb storefront This guitar has zero issues and plays fantastic as you'd expect! Clear & bright DeArmond pickups, stock tailpiece model for perfect intonation, and just as fun unplugged as it is plugged in to your favorite amp
These photos are unedited and reflect the true ... more
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1966 Fender Coronado XII Cherry Red Finish 12 String Electric Guitar

1966 Fender Coronado XII Cherry Red Finish 12 String Electric Guitar

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3495

1966 Fender VII Coronado Cherry Red Finish 12 String Electric Guitar
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See All Photos)
Maple Body - Maple Neck - Rosewood Fingerboard
Weighs In At - 6lbs 6oz

Nut Width - 1 33 "
Neck Depth At 1st Fret - .90 "
Neck Depth At 12th Fret - .91 "
Case Can Be Purchased For Additional Fee (Please Inquire)
... more
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1967 Fender Coronado II guitar

1967 Fender Coronado II guitar

Painesville, Ohio, 440**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2195

NONRETURNABLE ITEM>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Up for sale is an all original 1967 Fender Coronado II guitar with a beautiful sunburst finish and killer checkered board binding. The guitar is in excellent condition with some patina showing it's age and minimal use. The paint is in beautiful condition showing some light lacquer checking with some minor nicks and scratches. The binding is in excellent condition except for the one spot along the neck were it appears to ... more
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1967 Fender Coronado II with Rosewood Fretboard Sunburst

1967 Fender Coronado II with Rosewood Fretboard Sunburst

Antioch, Tennessee, 370**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2999

Very good condition 1967 Fender Coronado II in sunburst. All original, no breaks. Original pickups have a lovely sparkle to them, while maintaining clarity on the lowest frets. This one has some play wear as pictured, but for good reason. The neck is very smooth, with a flatter radius. The current setup is quite nice, and the action is currently very low, having been owned by a jazz player originally. Could benefit from some binding work, as pictured. Comes with pictured hard shell case. Willing... more
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1966 Fender Coronado XII Sunburst Finish 12 String Electric Guitar w / OHSC

1966 Fender Coronado XII Sunburst Finish 12 String Electric Guitar w / OHSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3895

1966 Fender Coronado XII Sunburst Finish 12 String Electric Guitar w / OHSC
In Excellent Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Sunburst Finish Shows Minimal Playwear
Maple Body
Rosewood Fingerboard
Weight 6lbs 10oz
Nut Width 1 618 "
Neck Depth At 1st Fret .86 "
Neck Depth At 12th Fret .94 "
Comes With Original Hardshell Case
Made In USA
... more
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Vintage Fender Coronado W /  Case Electric /  Acoustic 1966

Vintage Fender Coronado W / Case Electric / Acoustic 1966

Woodland Hills, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1550

Vintage Fender Coronado Electric / Acoustic Guitar from 1966 (Beautiful original Cherry burst finish with normal wear and natural patina )

The body finish, electronics, pickup, knobs, F tailpiece and body hardware are All original Fender 1966. This guitar has a replacement Warmoth custom USA made neck with Coronado logo added, chrome Fender F tuners, medium jumbo frets and plays great! This American made neck improved Playability and includes a 1976 Fender vintage neck plate as ... more
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1967 Fender Coronado XII / 12-SAITENHALS USA passt JAZZMASTER

1967 Fender Coronado XII / 12-SAITENHALS USA passt JAZZMASTER

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£1790

1967 FENDER CORONADO 12 STRING NECK USA :
* finish has wear
* frets are fine
* 2 sets of SCHALLER M 6 tuners are included
* could be installed on a JAZZMASTER to turn into an ELECTRIC 12
... more
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1969 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA

1969 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1555

1969 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA :
* finish has wear & tape residue sticking on it
* 1 pickup, pots, dice knobs and pickguard are included
ATTENTION! OVER 5000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
... more
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1967 Fender Coronado II

1967 Fender Coronado II

Kanata, K2L***, CANADA

C $3750

This beautiful guitar is from my personal collection
In great shape for a 56 year old guitar. Made in Fullerton, California, USA. * F plate serial number: 504274 * Neck date stamp: 19Jan67B (the B is for a 1 5 / 8" nut width)
All original parts including the case, with the exception that the (original) nut was reslotted for the G, B, and E positions
The guitar has a few scuffs here and there. No major blemishes. Frets are in great shape All electronics work as they should.
This... more
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1968 FENDER CORONADO II BODY - made in USA

1968 FENDER CORONADO II BODY - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€998

1968 FENDER CORONADO BODY - made in USA :
* finish is very worn
* neck pickup rout was made wider
* some tape residue between pickup routs
* NO other parts included
ATTENTION! OVER 5000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
... more
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1967 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA

1967 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€1090

1967 FENDER CORONADO I BODY - made in USA :
* finish has wear
* routed for 2 humbuckers
ATTENTION! OVER 5000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-AMPS-PARTS
in our OTHER AUCTIONS !!!
CHECK OUR SHOP OUT -------------->>>>>-------------->>>>>
PLENTY of PARTS for SALE
... more
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Fender Coronado RARE TUXEDO FINISH 1967 - White

Fender Coronado RARE TUXEDO FINISH 1967 - White

Doncaster, DN6***, UNITED KINGDOM

£5499

FINESTSELECTIONSHIPPINGSPECIALISTS24 HourSupportLondon Vintage Guitars are please to offer:Fender Coronado RARE TUXEDO FINISH 1967 - WhiteTHE TUXEDO
The following Fender Coronado is finished in this rare Tuxedo Finish, details as follows 
Fender Corando 
1967 ( March 67 Neck Date ) 
Black / White Finish ( Tuxedo ) 
Twin Pickup 
Tremolo 
Internally / Externally Original 
Original Swing Tags 
Original ... more
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Fender Coronado 2 Guitar 1973-74 Vintage

Fender Coronado 2 Guitar 1973-74 Vintage

London, E4***, UNITED KINGDOM

£2600

Fender Coronado 2 Guitar 1973-74
Beautiful Vintage USA made Fender Coronado 2 dated 1973-74. Excellent condition, lovely sound and unique rare collectors guitar
Collection from London
We can not except returns on such expensive vintage guitars due to potential modification of valuable vintage parts before return. Therefore it is advisable to collect from East London... more
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1968 FENDER CORONADO TAIL PIECE USA

1968 FENDER CORONADO TAIL PIECE USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

£179

1968 FENDER CORONADO TAIL PIECE USA... more
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1968 FENDER CORONADO KNOB USA

1968 FENDER CORONADO KNOB USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€75

1968 FENDER CORONADO KNOB USA :
* 1 knob ONLY
* wear can vary... more
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Fender Coronado 1 1966 Sunburst Hollowbody (Pre-Owned)

Fender Coronado 1 1966 Sunburst Hollowbody (Pre-Owned)

Ormskirk, UNITED KINGDOM

£3299

eBay Store Design by Visualsoft Home About Us Our Feedback Shop Categories Electric Guitars Acoustic Guitars Pre-Owned Guitars Guitar Effects Pedals Accessories... more
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Find more Fender Coronado for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 4 comments on this article so far. Add your comment

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Kidd Blast Comment left 26th March 2017 19:07:48 reply
I had a Coronado II given to me. Base of the neck says "19JUL67B". A stamp on the back of the base of the neck says "B744". There is a stamp on the neck receiver hole on the body that I believe says"S750" and initials written there also in black "FPE" The F is written in the traditional Fender script F. Tuning Keys have that same script F but the back plate says "Squire", which confuses me. I can find nothing on that and didn't know that Fender had a squire line in 1967. Any insight?
dale gang Comment left 14th July 2014 05:05:22 reply
how many Coronado II were made in a turqiese green color and a year thanks
Steve Thompson Comment left 27th May 2014 03:03:44 reply
I would like to know how to tell what year a Fender Coronado II Wildwood II (color green)was made
Bill Bontrager Comment left 7th September 2012 22:10:13 reply
I would like to know if all Fender Coronados were made in USA. i have one that is made in Japan. Thanks much Bill

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1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

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1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bassRose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner ZambesiThis very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super AceThe Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New EscortThe Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin CareCatalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger FolkThe Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitarThe Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music

1959 Hofner Committee

1959 Hofner CommitteeThe Hofner Committee was a truly beautiful guitar produced in Germany, primarily for the UK market. It was a large bodied (initially 17 1/2") guitar with a carved spruce top, available as an acoustic or electric guitar. By the early sixties the carved top was replaced with a laminate, and although still a very fine guitar, the earlier carved top examples, with frondose headstock (like the example shown here) are far more highly prized amongst musicians and vintage guitar collectors.

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean

1965 Gretsch Chet Atkins TennesseanThe Gretsch Chet Atkins Tennessean, or model 6119 was Gretsch's best selling hollow body of the 1960s. This wonderfully faded example from 1965 was originally Dark Cherry Red, but has turned a mid-orange brown. The original color, however, can be seen underneath the pickup surrounds. 1965 specs: maple body, two-piece neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard and Hi-Lo 'Tron single coil pickups. Nickel plated Gretsch Bigsby tailpiece.

1965 Gretsch 'For the Spectacular Sound of the Times' guitar and amp catalog

1965 Gretsch catalogThe 1965 Gretsch catalog, or catalog #32, featured 10 hollow body electric guitars, including the newly launched Gretsch Viking; four solid body electrics, including the Astro Jet - making it's only catalog appearance; just one bass, the single pickup PX6070; nine acoustics and 12 tube amplifiers. Pride of place went to the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman that adorned both the front and back covers. 24 pages, six of which are in full color.

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret ends

Guitar Repair: fixing fret buzz and sharp fret endsLoose frets are especially problematic in certain old guitars, but are generally very easy to fix. You'll be amazed at the difference you can make with just a few tools, a bit of knowledge, and a little time. Fixing loose frets can eliminate fret buzz, remove sharp fret ends, and greatly improve the tone of any guitar. If your luthier bill will be greater than the value of your guitar, definitely time to have a go yourself!

1966 Hagstrom 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog (Merson USA)

1966 Hagstrom guitar catalogHagstrom guitars were distributed in the mid-1960s United States by Merson of USA. This eight page 'worlds fastest playing neck' catalog, printed in two-colors contained six solid body electrics, three solid body basses, two electric acoustic guitars, two electric acoustic basses and five acoustics.

1965 Hofner President

1965 Hofner PresidentThe President was produced by Hofner in Bubenreuth, Germany, specifically for Selmer, who distributed the brand in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other commonwealth nations. The President was a hollow body electric acoustic, available as a full body or thinline, and with blonde or brunette finish. It was a great playing guitar that sold fairly well in the second half of the 1950s, throughout the 1960s, and into the very early 1970s. The example shown here is a full-body depth guitar in blonde - and as a 1965 guitar, one of the last to feature the rounded Venetian cutaway. From late 1965 until 1972, the President sported a sharp Florentine cut. Naturally, such an electric acoustic suggests jazz and blues, but many of the original British Hofner President players were part of the rock 'n roll, skiffle and beat scenes of the late 50s and early 60s.

1963 1964 Fender catalog

Fender 1963 catalogue"The Choice of Professional and Student Musicians Everywhere" This eight page catalogue was included as an insert in the 1963 annual "school music" issue of Downbeat magazine (September 1963). As well as keyboards and pedal steels, this catalog contains seven guitars, three basses and ten amplifiers - from student guitars such as the Musicmaster and Duotone to professional models like the new Jaguar.