Back to navigation


Meet the Starplayer’s Most Extravagant Iteration Yet





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





Duesenberg rarely pulls punches when it comes to aesthetics. In fact, many guitarists argue its 6-string designs are among the most idiosyncratic and elegant models on the market. Still, the Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic is truly a cut above even the most extravagant standard Duesenberg models. This guitar’s foundation essentially mirrors the time-tested Starplayer TV’s bones, consisting of a responsive spruce top, cutting maple back and sides, and a solid centerblock to eliminate feedback issues. And despite their eye-catching “Phonico” covers, the Starplayer TV Phonic’s pickups constitute the Starplayer-standard combo of a Domino P-90 and a GrandVintage humbucker. So, what separates the Phonic from the traditional Starplayer? Simple: every inch of this instrument is decked to the nines in the most high-class appointments that Duesenberg can muster, including glittering golden hardware, Duesenberg wing inlays on the Medium “D” maple neck’s rosewood fingerboard, and lavish pearloid binding on the body, neck, and headstock. Sure to demand the attention of your audience’s eyes (and ears), the Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic represents the peak of Duesenberg panache.





Related Videos: Starplayer TV Phonic Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar - Black





NOW PLAYING:


The Making of a Dream Guitar | Duesenberg Guitars Production Tour





Duesenberg Guitars: A Sonic Showcase of Multinational Musicality


Powerful H/S pickups wrapped up in “Phonico” covers





Encased in high-class “Phonico” metal covers, the Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic’s immensely versatile H/S pickup pairing delivers sonic flexibility nearly unmatched in the semi-hollow realm. First up, the Starplayer TV Phonic comes equipped with a modern spin on an all-time-classic pickup. The Domino P-90 single-coil boasts a supremely clear, warm, and creamy tonality that tackles everything from raspy blues to ultra-clean jazz without breaking a sweat. To complement the single-coil neck pickup, the Starplayer TV Phonic’s bridge position harbors a GrandVintage pickup voiced to capture the dynamic and responsive sound of an old-school humbucker. Lastly, the Starplayer TV Phonic’s 4-position rotary switch gives you access to standard middle-position sounds and a unique filtered middle-position setting that cuts out lower frequencies for a funkier and more articulate tone.





Serial 220365


Serial 220365


Singing semi-hollow construction





Mixing the best of vintage-style semi-hollow construction and modern performance-minded enhancements, the Starplayer TV Phonic’s body ? comprising a spruce top and maple back and sides ? slightly slims down the big-bodied semi-hollows of yore for a more comfortable feel and lighter weight. A solid center block runs through the middle of the Starplayer TV Phonic’s body, dramatically reducing feedback and enhancing natural sustain. The body is paired with an equally luxurious 1-piece maple set-neck carved into a Medium “D” profile. The neck is not quite the chunky “D” you’d find on a vintage semi-hollow, but just large enough to fill out your grip when navigating the rosewood fingerboard’s compound radius.





Duesenberg: the 6-string pride of Deutschland





Founded by German guitar designer Dieter Golsdorf in 1989, Duesenberg guitars represent a multinational mixing pot of American art deco aesthetics, hot-rod heritage, and exacting German engineering. Duesenberg's utterly distinctive instruments ? affectionately dubbed "Doozys" by their adherents ? gleam with proprietary parts and pickups that merge the daring appointments of the early electric guitar age with the pinpoint precision of modern manufacturing excellence. From the iconic Starplayer semi-hollow guitars to basses, lap steels, and beyond, every Duesenberg that Sweetwater carries embodies consummate artisanship. Fittingly, this unerring dedication has attracted more than a few luminaries, including the likes of Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, Mike Campbell, John Mayer, and Tom Bukovac. For the musician who demands superlative performance, idiosyncratic innovation, and master-level musical detail in equal measure, only a Doozy will do.





Serial 220365


Serial 220365


Duesenberg Starplayer TV Phonic Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar Features:


Builds upon the iconic Starplayer TV formula with brilliant “Phonic” aesthetics, including “Phonico” pickup covers, glittering gold hardware, 5-layer purfling, and opulent pearloid binding


Lightweight semi-hollowbody design with maple center block consists of treble-enhancing back and sides and a responsive spruce top


Maple neck in a somewhat slim Medium “D” profile forms a comfortable foundation for players of all styles and backgrounds


Compound radius plays comfortably for players of all styles and backgrounds


Bridge-position GrandVintage pickup oscillates between aggressive humbucking fury and smooth, clear, and snappy clean tones


Neck-position Domino P-90 unlocks creamy cleans and raw, aggressive, and biting dirty tones


4-way rotary switch offers both a standard middle-position combo and a funky filtered middle-position setting


Proprietary hardware crafted by Duesenberg includes a Radiator tremolo unit and rock-solid Z-Tuners