One interesting thing about this Forum is that it has opened my eyes to all the different Fender guitars that have been produced through the years - dozens of which I never heard about until I read about them hear. This is one such guitar.



This line of Fender guitars was first released in the 90s, right about the time I was playing in my bands in Minnesota almost every weekend of the year, but I sure never saw one at my local Fender dealer. I've no idea what the guitar cost new, but I have a real good knowledge of what they go for used these days. There were Toronados produced in Mexico, Korea and right here in the U.S. I am currently watching CL and eBay for one of the American made models, though they go a fair bit higher in price.



This is one of the GT line, inspired by, as I understand it, big-block US cars, hence the racing stripe and the GT designation. I found myself (I know, I'm one sick puppy) liking the looks of the GT model, the one that was made in Korea and the only one that was built with genuine Seymour-Duncan humbuckers, rather than the Fender Atomic Humbuckers used stateside.



I watched eBay for months, waiting for the right GT model and, more importantly, the right price and I finally got the winning bid (and very reasonable $24 shipping) on this red Toronado that is in wonderful condition and superbly set up. It's all original and features a S-D Pearly Gates HB and a reverse-wound S-D Vintage '59. It sounds great clean or distorted and there's a great range of tones in the three switch positions.



I'll admit that I am a sucker for some of Fender's stranger guitars, but I certainly don't regret adding this guitar to my collection. I like rosewood necks, I love humbuckers and I like Tune-O-Matic bridge setups, so here it is, all in one Fender package. I've been experimenting with the guitar through different amps and I really like playing it clean. I'm hooking up with another classic rock band soon and I'm planning on playing this guitar live (along with several others) when I do.



This is my third Korean-made Fender guitar and I really like them all. Great craftsmanship, superb fit and finish and all wonderfully playable.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Nice guitar CR it's got a fab 60's look IMO, groovy baby.

Yes, I thought it looked good parked in front of that retro styled Mustang V. My son, who's 32, is into all things retro and he really likes both of those Fender products, can't wait to take them off my hands someday.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

I remember wanting one of those really bad when they came out. Didn't have the cash for it at the time. I always liked them though. Good deal!! Nice guitar.

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Great score, looks like a new guitar, must have spent 15 or more years in the case and under the bed.
Enjoy,
John.E

I love the paint job...looks sweet! Those were some cool axes--congrats!

I've always liked the neck joints like those, rounded off with big bolts holding it all together; I'm not a big Ibanez fan, but I always thought that was something they did right on some of their guitars.

I know the "tradition" is to have the normal squared off design w/the neck plate (and all my guitars have the traditional styling, so it's obviously not a deal-breaker for me), but I wonder why more companies (Fender included) don't do that...

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

That guitar looks AWESOME I almost wet my pants looking at those photos.

Congrats on the new family member.

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Deyr fé
Deyja frændr
Deyr sjálfr ið sama
En orðstír
Deyr aldregi
Hveim er sér góðan getr

I love the off the wall stuff. Congrats.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

That paint and stripe scheme is very reminiscent of Starsky and Hutch's Gran Torino- a sort of Torino Toronado.Although I never was a big fan of Toronados that one just exudes coolness.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Thanks, guys, for your comments. I stripped the strings it came with and gave the guitar a good cleaning (not that it was bad) and a light polishing and it looks awesome. I haven't hung it on the wall yet for the wife to see - that guitar is NOT going to blend in with the rest of the stuff she's already seen. At 55+ and counting, she's not all that keen on my continued collecting, though I did sell my mint Venus (Fender Vista Series - MIJ) electric 12-string before I bought this guitar. That's a rationalization, by the way.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Congrats Starsky!

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2006 MiM Strat Black/Maple
1982 Alhambra 6P Classical
The Gibson L-1
Ovation Celebrity Acoustic
Epiphone Black Beauty Les Paul HHH

Congrats CRG! Very cool guitar!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I can dig it! I used to drool over those guitars in Musicians Friend back in the day. Nice score, and a great addition to your collection!

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Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

Very nice looking guitar.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Those are very well made. The Korean guitars are really nice and I think long term it is sort of an oddball that will appreciate. The SD pups don't hurt either!