There are plenty of guitar brands that make instruments inspired by the past. There are far fewer that manage to make something genuinely timeless.
Duesenberg is one of them.
With their unmistakable Art Deco-inspired styling, elaborate hardware, distinctive pickups and wonderfully over-engineered construction, Duesenberg guitars have developed an identity that is almost impossible to confuse with anything else. They look vintage, but they aren't replicas. They sound familiar, but rarely predictable. And beneath all that polished metal and beautiful lacquer is an approach to guitar building based around practicality, reliability and serious attention to detail.
For a relatively young guitar company, Duesenberg has built an extraordinary legacy.
So, where did it all begin?
The Origins of Duesenberg
The story starts with Dieter Gölsdorf, who began producing and selling guitars and guitar parts in 1978. From the outset, Gölsdorf was fascinated by both musical instruments and mechanical design, developing an approach that would eventually become the foundation of Duesenberg.
The Duesenberg name first appeared as a guitar brand in 1986, with Gölsdorf developing instruments that were deliberately different from the conventional guitars of the time.
The modern Duesenberg story, however, really begins in the mid-1990s.
In 1995, Gölsdorf created the original Starplayer – the instrument that would eventually evolve into the Starplayer TV and become the cornerstone of the entire Duesenberg range.
It was an unusual proposition: a semi-hollow guitar with a distinctive offset-inspired body shape, a combination of humbucker and P-90-style pickups, and hardware that looked like it had been lifted from an Art Deco automobile.
It was also built with a very clear philosophy: make something beautiful, make it reliable, and make it work.
That philosophy has remained at the heart of Duesenberg ever since.
The Starplayer TV Changes Everything
If there is one guitar that defines Duesenberg, it is the Starplayer TV.
The original Starplayer evolved into the Starplayer TV, and the model gradually became Duesenberg's signature instrument. Today, it remains one of the company's most recognisable guitars and the starting point for much of the modern Duesenberg design language.
The Starplayer TV is a semi-hollow instrument with a solid centre block, giving it some of the resonance and character associated with a hollow guitar while providing substantially better resistance to feedback at stage volume.
Its classic pickup combination is another major part of the appeal: a Duesenberg GrandVintage humbucker at the bridge paired with a Domino P90 at the neck.
It's an incredibly useful combination.
The humbucker provides warmth, punch and sustain, while the P90 brings a little more bite, openness and character. Put the two together and you have a guitar capable of moving comfortably from clean jazz and blues through classic rock, country, indie and heavier territory.
And then there's the tremolo.
Duesenberg has developed its own vibrato systems rather than simply copying the familiar designs found on many vintage-inspired guitars. The company's hardware is engineered as part of the instrument rather than treated as an afterthought.
That's one of the things that makes a Duesenberg feel so different in your hands.
30 Years of the Starplayer
2025 marked 30 years since the creation of the original Starplayer, and Duesenberg celebrated by introducing the Starplayer CBR alongside a number of new and updated instruments.
The CBR takes the familiar Starplayer visual language and moves it in a slightly different direction.
Rather than the traditional semi-hollow construction of the Starplayer TV, the CBR uses a chambered construction with a maple top and mahogany body, giving it a more solid-body character while retaining much of the familiar Duesenberg feel.
It also retains the much-loved GrandVintage and Domino pickup combination.
It's a perfect example of how Duesenberg approaches evolution: rather than throwing away a successful design, the company takes something familiar and asks how it can be improved or reinterpreted.
Duesenberg in 2026
Fast-forward to 2026 and Duesenberg's catalogue has grown considerably.
The company now produces guitars across several distinct construction types, from classic semi-hollows to chambered and solid-body instruments. There are also basses, lap steels and other instruments, but it is the guitar range that remains at the centre of the brand.
And while every model has its own personality, they all share a remarkably consistent design philosophy.
Let's take a look at the current range.
Starplayer TV
The Starplayer TV remains the centrepiece.
For 2026, Duesenberg has given the model a significant update, including the new Sapphire Deluxe Tremola, redesigned pickguards and pickup surrounds, metal headstock logos and a new selection of finishes.
The range now includes everything from understated finishes such as Deep Black and Everest White through to Tobacco Burst, Gold Burst and several dramatic Flake and Balboa Pearl finishes.
There are also more specialised versions of the Starplayer TV, including the Deluxe, Phonic, Velvet Series, Custom and Rusty Relic models.
The Starplayer TV Deluxe takes the concept in a more luxurious direction, with twin f-holes, a floating transparent pickguard, diamond fretboard inlays and two GrandVintage humbuckers. The 2026 version also receives new burst finishes and an updated control layout.
The Phonic, meanwhile, brings a slightly more ornate take on the classic Starplayer formula, while the Rusty Relic takes Duesenberg's love of metal and mechanics to its logical conclusion, using metal-particle-infused paint that is hand-aged to create a unique rusted finish.
Starplayer CBR
The CBR is the newer member of the Starplayer family and one of the most interesting.
Introduced for the Starplayer's 30th anniversary, it takes the visual DNA of the TV but uses a chambered mahogany construction and flat maple top. The result sits somewhere between a traditional semi-hollow and a solid-body guitar.
It also demonstrates just how versatile the GrandVintage/Domino combination can be.
If you love the look of a Starplayer but want something with a slightly more solid, direct character, the CBR is well worth investigating.
Paloma
If the Starplayer is Duesenberg's great all-rounder, the Paloma is the company's answer for players who want maximum versatility from a solid-body design.
The Paloma is built around Duesenberg's innovative Split/King pickups, which are designed to provide genuine single-coil and humbucker sounds rather than simply offering a conventional coil-split arrangement.
That gives the guitar an unusually broad tonal range while retaining the distinctive Duesenberg aesthetic.
There is also the Paloma Custom, which takes the basic concept into more luxurious territory and forms the basis for several of Duesenberg's artist collaborations. The 2026 range includes the new Paul Sidoti Special Edition, created around the needs of the guitarist who performs alongside Taylor Swift.
Falken
The Falken is probably one of the most radical-looking guitars in the Duesenberg range.
With its angular body, aluminium pickguard and reversed headstock, it looks every bit as bold as its name suggests.
But the unusual appearance isn't just for show.
The Falken uses two Split/King pickups, giving players access to both single-coil and humbucker voices, while its solid alder construction is designed to deliver plenty of sustain and feedback resistance.
It's a Duesenberg for players who want something genuinely different – both visually and sonically.
Fantom Series A & S
The Fantom is Duesenberg's take on the classic single-cut solid-body guitar, but, predictably, it comes with plenty of Duesenberg DNA.
One of the most notable features is its shorter 24.6-inch scale length, making it the first Duesenberg instrument to use this scale.
There are two versions.
The Fantom Series S uses mahogany and a flamed maple top, with GrandVintage II pickups aimed at a warm, vintage-inspired sound.
The Fantom Series A is the more aggressive option, pairing a Crunchbucker at the bridge with a GrandVintage at the neck for higher-output rock tones.
So, whether your idea of the perfect Duesenberg is smooth and vintage or loud and unapologetic, there's a Fantom for you.
Julietta
The Julietta is perhaps the biggest surprise in the current catalogue.
Duesenberg describes it as its most affordable instrument, but "affordable" shouldn't be confused with stripped-down.
It's a solid alder guitar with a bolt-on maple neck, GrandVintage humbucker, Domino P90 and five-way switching. It also receives the same PLEK fretboard treatment used throughout the Duesenberg range.
There is also a 28-inch-scale Julietta Baritone, available with specially selected heavier strings for B-standard tuning.
And for left-handed players, there's now a Julietta Left Hand version too.
In many ways, the Julietta is the perfect introduction to Duesenberg.
Senior, Caribou, Julia and Double Cat
The rest of the chambered range is where things get particularly interesting.
The Senior offers a larger, more traditional Duesenberg aesthetic, while the Caribou takes a more compact and distinctive approach.
The Julia is perhaps the most elegant of the group, combining a chambered body with a Domino P90 and Split/King pickup. The result is a remarkably versatile instrument that combines vintage-inspired styling with some distinctly modern electronics.
Then there's the Double Cat, which brings Duesenberg's design philosophy to a six- and twelve-string format.
And for something genuinely unusual, there's the Mando 12-String – an electric mandolin that looks like it escaped from an alternate-universe recording studio.
Hanover Gold
For 2026, Duesenberg has also introduced the Hanover Gold Limited series.
Available as special versions of the Starplayer TV, Starplayer CBR and Paloma, these guitars feature a custom gold-metal finish with metal particles, hand-processed for a naturally aged appearance, combined with a matte-black back. They also receive the new Sapphire Deluxe Tremola and come with a certificate of authenticity and Custom Line hardcase.
They're about as Duesenberg as a guitar can get: luxurious, mechanical, slightly outrageous and impossible to ignore.
What Makes a Duesenberg a Duesenberg?
With such a wide range of models, what actually ties the whole brand together?
Part of it is the visual language.
Look closely at a Duesenberg and you'll see the repeated use of stepped geometric shapes, polished metal, distinctive headstocks, unusual control plates and Art Deco-inspired details. The design isn't simply "retro". It's a carefully constructed aesthetic that references the glamour and engineering of the 1930s and 1940s while remaining unmistakably modern.
But the real magic is in the details.
Duesenberg designs its own hardware, pickups and vibrato systems. Many of the instruments are PLEK processed, and the company places a huge emphasis on setup and playability.
It's an approach that makes sense when you look at the artists who have adopted the brand.
Over the years, Duesenbergs have found their way onto stages and into studios with players including Ron Wood, Mike Campbell, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, Robbie McIntosh and many others.
These aren't guitars designed simply to look good hanging on a wall.
They're working instruments.
The Duesenberg Philosophy
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Duesenberg is that the company hasn't tried to compete directly with the big American manufacturers by simply making another version of the guitars we've all seen before.
Instead, Duesenberg has created its own vocabulary.
A Starplayer TV isn't trying to be a Gibson ES-335.
A Paloma isn't trying to be a Stratocaster.
A Fantom isn't trying to be a Les Paul.
And that's exactly why Duesenberg has become such an interesting brand.
There is a familiarity to the designs – you can see the influence of decades of electric guitar history – but every instrument has been filtered through Dieter Gölsdorf's fascination with mechanics, Art Deco design and functional engineering.
The result is something that feels both classic and completely its own.
Why We Love Duesenberg
At Fat Bottom Guitars, we love guitars with a story.
And Duesenberg has one of the most interesting stories in modern guitar making.
From Dieter Gölsdorf's early work in the 1970s, through the creation of the Duesenberg brand in 1986 and the arrival of the Starplayer in 1995, the company has steadily developed its own interpretation of what an electric guitar can be.
Thirty years after the Starplayer first appeared, the formula is still evolving.
The 2026 collection proves that Duesenberg isn't content to simply rest on the success of the Starplayer TV. New construction methods, new pickups, new hardware, new finishes and completely new models continue to expand the range.
