Fender is best known for its solid-body icons, but in the 1960s it made a striking attempt to enter the hollowbody world with the Coronado. Designed by Roger Rossmeisl, the Coronado stood apart with its fully hollow construction, distinctive styling, and bright, airy tone. Though it never rivalled Gibson’s dominance, it paved the way for future Fender experiments.
In this article, we explore the story of the Coronado alongside other hollow and semi-hollow Fender models—including the Montego, LTD, Telecaster Thinline, and Starcaster—and uncover how Fender ultimately found its own voice in a market it once struggled to crack.