Fender's Innovative New 6-String, the Sub-Sonic

Fender's Sub-Sonic
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February 9, 2000 -- The new Sub-Sonic guitar from Fender's Custom Shop utilizes a 27" scale length, slightly longer than the 25.5 scale of a Fender Stratocaster. The longer scale length, coupled with its dropped B tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-B), offer the extended low range most often associated today with 7-string guitars.

"The advantage here," says Mike Lewis, Vice President of Electric Guitars for Fender, "is that the guitar's scale is comfortable and familiar, and guitarists don't have to switch to a 7-string and learn a new technique to get a low, growling tone." Adds Lewis, "When asked, most 7-string artists don't believe me when I tell them that they can get such a heavy sound from a 6-string. When I put the Sub-Sonic in their hands, I get this look of disbelief from them, and they go crazy when they plug it in!"

Team built by the artisans at Fender's Custom Shop in Corona, California, the Sub-Sonic has an alder body fashioned after the shape of the Stratocaster. The C shaped neck is made of maple, with a either a maple or rosewood fingerboard featuring 22 medium-jumbo frets and ìdot inlays. Deluxe cast/sealed machine heads complete the appointments of the classic Stratì headstock.

The Sub-Sonic is available in two different pickup configurations: a DH-1 humbucking pickup and two Vintage Noiseless single coils; or with dual DH-1 humbucking pickups. There are three controls: one volume, one tone for the neck and middle, and one no-load tone for the bridge. The Sub-Sonic has an American Deluxe hard-tail bridge, is straplock ready, and comes with a black Tolex Fender case.

Available color options include: 3-color Sunburst with a brown shell pickguard; Daphne Blue with a white shell pickguard; Black with a brown shell pickguard; and Candy Apple Red with a white shell pickguard. Production begins in March, 2000. US MSRP is $2,599.99.

}For more information, visit Fender's web site at www.fender.com.