Arguably Duesenberg’s most iconic model, the Starplayer TV is the embodiment of everything that sets the company apart from the pack. From the slim spruce-topped-maple semi-hollowbody construction to the proprietary Diamond Deluxe tremolo unit and Z-Tuners, the Starplayer TV reimagines the golden age of electric guitar building through the lens of the modern performing musician. Plug into the Starplayer TV’s Domino P-90 neck pickup and bridge-position GrandVintage humbucker to traverse the entire tonal spectrum of semi-hollowbody tones, from creamy single-coil cleans to biting overdrive bark. You also get a Medium “D” profile maple neck fit with a compound 12–14-inch radius and 22 jumbo frets to facilitate all manner of fingerboard finesse. It may be inspired by the past, but the Duesenberg Starplayer TV is a decidedly 21st-century 6-string that truly defines the concept of a modern classic
The Duesenberg Starplayer TV’s immensely versatile H/S pickup pairing delivers sonic flexibility nearly unmatched in the semi-hollow realm. First up, the Starplayer TV 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’s bridge position harbors a GrandVintage pickup voiced to capture the dynamic and responsive sound of an old-school humbucker. The Starplayer TV’s pickups sport a remarkably unique final touch in the form of a built-in filter in the middle position that cuts out lower frequencies, resulting in a brighter and funkier feel.
Mixing the best of vintage-style semi-hollow construction and modern performance-minded enhancements, the Starplayer TV’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’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 12–14-inch compound radius.
Founded by German guitar designer Dieter Gölsdorf 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 Music Experience 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.
Beauty. Clarity. Reliability. The clear and flexible sound of the starplayer tv is at home in every genre. It wasn't designed to do one job well. It was designed to bring something new to the game everywhere. Because it was created for artists who want to develop their own voice and not be limited in their art. And it brings a lot of tools to help you along the way.
Our smooth Z-tuners are located on the elegant, black headstock. These tuners not only work extremely precisely, but also allow the sharp string ends to be hidden in the tuner shaft so that they cannot damage your case, gig bag or your fingertips. Lifetime maintenance-free guaranteed!
The clever Plek process allows an unusually flat string position while providing clean sound reproduction without fret brushing. The string position, i.e. the distance between the strings and the frets, can only be set flat if all frets are precisely at the same height. To achieve this, all Duesenberg instruments go through the ingenious Plek process, which adjusts the frets to an accuracy of 1/100th of a millimeter. Each fret is individually measured and processed to achieve optimal playability of the instrument. Our complex post-processing is carried out entirely by hand. Each individual fret is perfectly polished and the fingerboard edges are carefully rounded to create a pleasant playing feel. This provides the basis for our promise that a Duesenberg will always feel unique.
Duesenberg pickups are known for their characteristic, clear and versatile sound that easily performs in any context - whether it's gentle jazz or brachial turbo rock. Our warm and creamy sounding Domino P90 in the neck position forms a tried and tested dream team with the classically tuned GandVintage humbucker on the bridge, which many others have tried in vain to copy. The middle position of the Heavy Duty 3-way switch is particularly popular, as it uses a special circuit to specifically filter out bass parts from the humbucker sound. The resulting sound expands your sound palette with a sound that is unique in its openness, freshness and versatility.
Curtain raises for the vibrato system, which proves how good a classic design can be. But there is more to discover: The Diamond Deluxe Tremola offers the best sound quality because it is made of lightweight materials. Precise needle and robust nylon bearings as well as a precisely tuned spring guarantee a direct response while simultaneously providing sensitive tremolo action. The arm can also be rotated 360° and individually adjusted in length and angle. We already mentioned the hassle-free string changing above. It is so easy because the strings are simply guided through eyelets below the axle and anchored there. Proven in daily use on stages around the world.
The Starplayer TV comes with an elegant, laminated spruce top. The neck is made from a single piece of the best maple, and the stunning flamed maple back impresses with its elegant black burst finish.
A trademark of our instruments are the three levels that can be found on almost every component from the head plate to the socket plate. Most of our hardware is also nickel-plated. Compared to chrome, nickel has a warm, elegant shine that develops a completely natural patina over time. Nickel was once used to refine metals before chrome plating became the industry standard. By the way: If you want to preserve the original shine of the hardware, we recommend cleaning it regularly, for example with Duesenberg "The Cleaner".
A good suitcase is always more stable than its contents. Curtain up for the Duesenberg Custom Line series of cases! Indestructible like a flight case, classically cut to shape, built from high-quality materials and designed to withstand most realistic and unrealistic adversities. You can throw this case in the trunk of your car, in the luggage compartment of a train or in the hold of an airplane without having to give it or its contents another thought. The Duesenberg Custom Line Case is included with the purchase of this instrument.
| Body Type | Semi-hollowbody |
|---|---|
| Body Shape | Starplayer TV |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Body Material | Laminated Maple |
| Top Material | Laminated Spruce |
| Body Finish | PUR lacquer |
| Color | Vintage White |
| Neck Material | 1-piece Maple |
| Neck Shape | Classic "D" |
| Radius | 12"-14" Compound |
| Fingerboard Material | Indian Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Cream Dots |
| Number of Frets | 22 Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Nut Width | 1.673" |
| Nut Material | Synthetic Bone |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Duesenberg Steel Saddle Bridge, Diamond Deluxe Tremola |
| Tuners | Duesenberg Z-Tuners |
| Neck Pickup | Duesenberg Domino P90 Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Duesenberg Grand Vintage Humbucker |
| Controls | 1 x volume, 1 x tone |
| Switching | 3-way toggle |
| Strings | Duesenberg Custom, .010-.050 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Hardshell Case |
| Manufacturer Part Number | DTV-VW |
