1966 Fender Coronado - Should I pull the trigger?

[M.H.]

Hi everyone!

I played a red 1966 Fender Coronado yesterday (the one with the neck pickup only) and I really liked it. It felt and sounded amazing and really "old" (if you know what I mean).

The guitar has some issues: Binding is in poor shape, no case, pickguard is not original (has an additional drill hole) and the metal plate which holds the neck seems to be not original (serial number and Fender logo are not existing). Price is 1300 Euro (which are 1400 US Dollars).

Any opinions about the Coronado? What would you guys do? Actually I need to spend the money on something else at the moment... In fact the guitar is only usable at reasonable volumes (feedback), isn't it? That would be a problem for me. I used only solidbodys so far.

Thanks a lot!
Martin

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Pass on it. There are far better guitars out there.

 

[roycaster]

If you “really liked it” you wouldn’t be asking us about it…

 

[Tom Wittrock]

(serial number and Fender logo are not existing).

Another strong reason to avoid this guitar.


And ... does it have a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard? :ganz

 

[M.H.]

Another strong reason to avoid this guitar.


And ... does it have a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard? :ganz

Maybe. That would make it even more problematic... Thanks for your advice! I will pass on it.

Cheers!
Martin

 

[guitarguy1962]

I think passing on it is the right move. Despite the nostalgia factor, Coronados are not very good guitars. Being fully hollow, they are notorious for feed back.

 

[krapac]

Many Coronado haters here
I have had two Coronado, a '66 and a '67 two PU and i liked the sound. It's a very light and resonant guitar, regarding feedback, i installed a little block inside the body, under the bridge, like doublebass, and problem was solved.
The only thing i dislike, is the tremolo, better the models with normal trapece.
If you like, please buy one in perfect condition and 100% original.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Many Coronado haters here



If you like, please buy one in perfect condition and 100% original.

Not haters. This was a bad deal.
And, it wasn't in great condition.
I agree with you .... if you like one buy one in perfect condition and 100% original. :salude

 

[zombiwoof]

I had a sunburst 2-pickup Coronado when I was a kid. For the same money I should have bought the Starfire IV I was looking at at another store, but I bought the Coronado because the store I bought it from gave me more trade-in for my old Japanese solid body. The Coronado was nice-looking, but had some problems that I discovered over time. It was very microphonic, due to the pickups and that I believe it was fully hollow bodied. Also, the neck would bend very easily, some said that at that time Fender was using green wood that wasn't cured enough. I could bend the neck back until the strings fretted out on the fingerboard. It looked pretty, but when I finally wanted to sell it, I couldn't get anything for it. Finally sold it to a friend of a friend for $75! (by the time I had added the vibrato that sat on top of the body, it had cost me around $400 back then). I crack up when I see these going for big bucks now. I bet the new reissues are better guitars. It sounded OK, but fed back too easily.

Al

 

[M.H.]

Thanks for all the comments guys! Much appreciated! :salude

Martin

 

[Triplet]

I have a Wildwood II. Sounds great, thin nut, though.