Fender Toronado
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Offset, Different Scale
Since its introduction at the 1998 NAMM conference, the Fender Toronado has already seen several design and cosmetic changes. While first glance shows a guitar with an off-set body familiar to Jaguar and Jazzmaster owners alike, many features of this instrument set it apart most of what Fender Musical Instrument Corporation has previously released or since.
===New Vintage=== The first models of Toronado were released in 1998 as part of the "Deluxe Series" (left). These models, produced in Mexico, generally follower more strict specifications than the "Standard" models built in the same facilities. The original Toronado configuration featured two chrome covered humbuckers, rosewood fretboard, tortoise-shell pickguard, 4 chromed knobs (2 for volume, 2 for tone), 3-way toggle switch on the upper left bout, "spaghetti style" Fender logo on a natural finish headstock, and kluson-style tuners. These original releases are considered to have a more "vintage" look and feel to them, and are quite sought after by collectors. Later models would see one or more of these features change (sometimes drastically), but one aspect that remains unchanged for all Toronados is the 24.75" scale length. This is usually referred to as the "Gibson scale" as it is commonly used on all Gibson manufactured guitars. Early colors available on the Toronado included black (pictured, left), red, white, sunburst, orange, and yellow.
Specially American
A New Revision
Yet another re-design of the Toronado was released featuring more modern colors like Navy Blue, Caramel Metallic, Blizzard Pearl, and Chrome Red. No single coils would be offered in this model, and the pickups were changed to "Duncan-designed" humbuckers, but still open coil as opposed to the covered humbuckers featured on the first Deluxe release. A short-lived racing stripe that went across the body from the bottom right and followed below the pickups towards the upper left horn, forming a sort of "L" shaped stripe (horizontally, pictured below) was left out starting with 2005 models due to complaints from Fender owners and enthusiasts.
So Many Choices!
Whichever of the different releases catches your eye, the Fender Toronado does stand out as a unique instrument in the company's assortment of guitars, while still capturing that Fender vibe so many of us love.
Specifications
Model Name Toronado®
| Series | Deluxe Series |
| Colors | Chrome Red, Blizzard Pearl, Navy Blue Metallic, Carmel Metallic, |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple, Modern “C” Shape, |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241mm) |
| No. of Frets | 22 Medium Jumbo Frets |
| Pickups | 2 Atomic™ Humbucking Pickups (Neck, Bridge) |
| Controls | Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup) |
| Pickup Switching | 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup |
| Bridge | Adjusto-Matic™ Bridge with Anchored-Tailpiece |
| Machine Heads | Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines |
| Hardware | Chrome |
| Pickguard | 4-Ply Black |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4” (629 mm) |
| Width at Nut | 1.6875” (43 mm) |
| Unique Features | 24 3/4” Scale Length, Jazzmaster® Headstock Shape, Side Mounted Output Jack |
| Strings | Fender Super 250L, Nickel Plated Steel, (.009 to .042) |
| Accessories | Deluxe Gig Bag |
| Introduced | 1/2005 |
