Hello all,
Due to a past debt, I may be able to come in possession of a Fender Coronado with a Bigsby. The guitar looks to be in very good shape.

Has anyone ever played one? In order for me to play it, I will need to drive 60 + miles and with my back being as it is, it is a very long drive!

Opinions are always appreciated!

Thanks

I like them. Some 60s models in great condition can be worth up to $3500US. While some had tremelo bars, I don't believe Bigsby tails were factory.

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fiftyamp
I like them. Some 60s models in great condition can be worth up to $3500US. While some had tremelo bars, I don't believe Bigsby tails were factory.

the Wildwood ones can be worth that much. That's where they actually injected dye into trees to get unusual wood colors. Coronado I's have only one pick up. The Coronado II's are nicer. These used to be very unfashinable guitars (sort of Fender's attempt at a Gibson 335) but now are much sought after, pretty much like anything from this period.

soo....worth the drive I guess. It is natural in color with 2 pickups. I am really excited about this guitar.

Let me know how it goes. I'd love to find one. I just got a 1967 Vox Sidewinder Bass with on board fuzz and tuner. Huge hollow body with skinny neck and "boat oar" head stock. I think Bill might have played one in one or two gigs.

will do. I am going to play it on July 1st....that's when my wife can drive me!

Don't forget to take your "piece" just in case something goes squirrely.

Hey all,
I got the Coronado yesterday. As you will see from the pix, it has been heavily modified. Looking at it made me want to scale back my Tele project. Unfortunatley, there is no way I can revert this guitar back to stock because the Bigsby was attached directly to the body and there have been holes drilled to accomodate the switches for the coil splitters. I have the original bridge.

It plays and sounds really cool. Great range, a lot of funky tones. The color is great. The low end is really good when you roll off the treble. Actually the volume and toone pots have great range which you do not see much of these days.

I need to replace the tuners as these are sticking, the nut as it's badly worn, and the bridge as it is worn as well.

All in all, good guitar for a great price!
[i943.photobucket.com]

[i943.photobucket.com]

[i943.photobucket.com]

Congrats.

thanks..it sure beats spending money on dope!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-02 18:39 by Cafaro.

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Cafaro
thanks..it sure beats spending money on dope!

yeah, but when you have dope and your guitar then you can make some magic.

Holes can be fixed. I would restore it if possible, but if you don't plan on selling it, who cares? Great find. Congrats.

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The Greek

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Cafaro
thanks..it sure beats spending money on dope!

yeah, but when you have dope and your guitar then you can make some magic.

depends on the dope

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71Tele
Holes can be fixed. I would restore it if possible, but if you don't plan on selling it, who cares? Great find. Congrats.

I was considerin taking it to a Luthier in my town as I dont really like the coil splitters. You are right though, I am going to play it. When my buddy told me it came in, I thought I had a real 'investment especially after I read your post!

Instead I ot a really cool player!

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Cafaro
Hello all,
Due to a past debt, I may be able to come in possession of a Fender Coronado with a Bigsby. The guitar looks to be in very good shape.

Has anyone ever played one? In order for me to play it, I will need to drive 60 + miles and with my back being as it is, it is a very long drive!

Opinions are always appreciated!

Thanks

Paul McCartney played an one when I saw him in Cardiff just a few days ago. Can't recall what song he used it on, but before his roadie took it off him at the end of the song, he told the audience "to those of you that are into guitars, that was an Epiphone Coronado".

Whoops - my mistake. What he played was an Epiphone Casino, as in this .......

[en.wikipedia.org]

[ I want to shout, but I can hardly speak ]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-07-03 11:19 by paulywaul.

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paulywaul

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Cafaro
Hello all,
Due to a past debt, I may be able to come in possession of a Fender Coronado with a Bigsby. The guitar looks to be in very good shape.

Has anyone ever played one? In order for me to play it, I will need to drive 60 + miles and with my back being as it is, it is a very long drive!

Opinions are always appreciated!

Thanks

Paul McCartney played an one when I saw him in Cardiff just a few days ago. Can't recall what song he used it on, but before his roadie took it off him at the end of the song, he told the audience "to those of you that are into guitars, that was an Epiphone Coronado".

Whoops - my mistake. What he played was an Epiphone Casino, as in this .......

[en.wikipedia.org]

Paul, George and John all had Epihone Casinos. Lennon stripped the finish off his and it became the iconic guitar he used on the White Album, LIB and Abbey Road.

I had a Casino which I really liked although I just traded it for a Martin DM, which I wanted more. I really miss the P90s though. It was that trade that facilitated my desire to re-build my Squier Tele Custom.


I see the Coronado as more Fender's way to compete with Gibson''s ES' but then again, my Coronado originally came withh D'Armond pickups so maybe Fender was chasing a more Gretsch like sound. As you can see, my guitar now has high output DiMarzio;s so I get more Gibson that Gretsch.

KR played Casino's for a while and "graduated" to ES' in the late 60s. I know MT also was in love with ES'.