Duesenberg Caribou LH Narvik Blue

Duesenberg Caribou LH Narvik Blue review

The Duesenberg Caribou LH Narvik Blue is a left-handed, six-string hollowbody electric guitar with a chambered alder body, an alder top, and an F-hole. Its Narvik Blue finish and distinctive diamond fingerboard inlays give it a clear visual identity, while the single-coil and humbucker combination offers two different pickup voices. The instrument has 22 frets, a glued-in maple neck, and a Duesenberg tremolo. A gig bag is included; a hard case is not.

The listed price is 2,444, though the supplied product information does not specify a currency. The model has been available since March 2019. Its item number is 458290. Those details help identify the listing, but the most useful questions for a prospective buyer concern the guitar's construction, controls, tuning behavior, and the quality of the individual instrument on arrival.

Construction and playing feel

The body is alder with internal tone chambers, and the flat top is also listed as maple in the detailed specifications. The neck is maple, glued into the body, and shaped to a D profile. A rosewood fingerboard has a 305 mm radius and diamond inlays. The nut width is 42.5 mm, and the guitar has 22 jumbo frets. A steel, dual-action truss rod provides neck adjustment.

There is a small specification discrepancy worth checking before purchase. The general listing gives the scale as 648 mm, while the detailed description states 650 mm. Both figures are close, but they are not identical. Buyers who need an exact measurement should confirm it with the retailer or Duesenberg rather than treating one figure as definitive.

The instrument ships with Duesenberg DSA10 strings, listed as.010,.013,.017,.028,.042, and.050. One owner found the low E string unusually heavy or odd-feeling. That is a subjective report, and string feel can depend on setup and personal preference. Still, players who prefer a lighter low string may want to ask about the installed set and consider whether a setup change would suit their playing.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

Duesenberg equips the Caribou with a single-coil pickup at the neck and a humbucker at the bridge. A three-way rotary switch selects between pickup settings, with one volume control and one tone control. The owner feedback describes the pickups as great-sounding and particularly sensitive. The same player also found them somewhat microphonic, which can mean that they respond audibly to physical vibration as well as the strings. That sensitivity may appeal to some players, but buyers who use high gain or play in loud environments should try the guitar at realistic volume if possible.

The Duesenberg tremolo drew a positive response from the owner, who said it sounded great. The bridge is a Duesenberg steel saddle design, and the hardware is nickel. The guitar also has a three-ply black pickguard and Duesenberg Z-tuners with Art Diego buttons. These details make up a coherent hardware package, though the available feedback does not establish how the tremolo performs across every playing style or how consistently the guitar stays in tune after use.

Owner feedback and quality control

The reported left-handed example arrived with a scratch on its pickguard and a couple of subtle dents in the body. The owner had expected top-level quality control and felt that this delivery raised questions about whether that standard was slipping. This is one customer's account, not evidence that every Caribou has finish damage. It is still relevant for a purchase at this price: inspect the guitar carefully on arrival, document any marks, and contact the seller promptly if its condition does not match the listing.

The same owner noticed that, after leaving the guitar down for a day, most strings had become slightly sharp. They wondered whether the nut needed work. That is a plausible setup issue, but the report does not establish the cause. String settling, nut friction, setup, and changes in conditions can all affect tuning. Ask the retailer to check the nut and tremolo setup, and test tuning stability after using the tremolo and after the instrument has rested.

Verdict

The Duesenberg Caribou LH Narvik Blue has a well-specified design for left-handed players seeking a chambered alder hollowbody, a glued-in maple neck, and a mixed single-coil and humbucker layout. The owner feedback is encouraging about pickup tone and tremolo character, but raises practical concerns about finish inspection, sensitivity to vibration, and tuning stability on one example. The conflicting scale figures also merit confirmation. A careful pre-sale inspection and a proper setup check are sensible steps before committing to the listed price.