Fender 1966-67 guitar and bass catalogue. Page 28. The Coronado series catalog debut. Image of the Fender Coronado I, II and XII and Coronado Bass. This is the left hand page of a two page spread, with specifications of the guitars pictured on the following page.
Semi-acoustic guitars were massively popular in the middle 1960s, but Fender's expertise, so far anyway, was in solid bodies. So Fender hired ex-Rickenbacker designer Roger Rossmeisl to create a range of guitars to compete in the hollow-body field; against the Epiphone Casino, Guild Starfire and of course the Gibson ES-335. The records shown in the mid ground include the Byrds' Turn Turn Turn and the Yardbirds' Heart Full of Soul.
This picture is one of the earliest Coronado publicity shots; note the very early bridge design on the Coronado II and bass; these were not generally fitted to production models. The examples shown are in the standard sunburst and cherry red finishes; indeed, at launch these were the only finishes available, but by mid 1967, DuPont custom finishes were also being offered, as well as the Wildwood stained finish (see the 1968 Fender catalog), at a premium, of course. The only option available for the Coronado in mid 1966 was a tremolo unit (guitars only), at an extra $55. Note that the twin-pickup Coronado II bass is not yet available, only appearing in price lists from 1967; see the Coronado bass II in the 1968 Fender Catalog.
July 1966 prices were as follows: Coronado I $229.50, Coronado II $319.50, Coronado XII $449.50, Coronado bass $349.50
$5300
$50
$2595
$3495
$1250
$140
$3995
$1550
$2195
$3500
$2797
$495
$2999
$2700
$195
$3895
£4000
£1790
£2000
£179