Duesenberg Starplayer CBR Trans Orange

Duesenberg Starplayer CBR Trans Orange review

The Duesenberg Starplayer CBR Trans Orange is a semi-hollow electric guitar with a mahogany body, maple top, and a striking transparent orange finish. It pairs a Duesenberg GrandVintage humbucker at the bridge with a Domino P90 single-coil pickup at the neck, giving the instrument two distinct pickup designs. A three-way switch, volume control, and tone control keep the controls straightforward.

In hands-on feedback, the guitar was praised for its careful finish, strong appearance, and wide range of tones. The tremolo stood out in particular: it moved smoothly and, according to the player's report, held tuning surprisingly well. That is a useful real-world impression, though tuning stability can also depend on setup, string choice, and playing technique.

Construction and neck dimensions

The Starplayer CBR uses a set mahogany neck rather than a bolt-on design. Its rosewood fingerboard has vintage pearloid dot inlays and a 305 mm (12-inch) radius. Duesenberg specifies a Medium D neck profile, measuring 20 mm thick at the first fret and 24 mm at the twelfth. Those figures give buyers a more concrete sense of the neck than the profile name alone.

The scale length is 648 mm (25.5 inches), with a nut width of 42.8 mm (1.67 inches). The fingerboard carries 22 jumbo frets. The neck and body have cream single-ply binding, while a silver custom pickguard adds contrast against the orange finish. Nickel hardware completes the visual package.

• Body: Mahogany, semi-hollow construction
• Top: Maple
• Neck: Set mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 305 mm radius
• Frets: 22 jumbo frets
• Scale and nut: 648 mm scale, 42.8 mm nut width

Pickup layout and controls

The bridge position holds a Duesenberg GrandVintage humbucker, while the neck position uses a Duesenberg Domino P90 single-coil pickup. Their different designs offer a practical source of tonal contrast within the guitar's simple control layout. The three-way switch selects between the two pickups and their combined setting, with volume and tone controls for adjustment.

The player feedback describes the available sounds as broad, without specifying particular genres or settings. That is a positive sign for players who want a single guitar to cover varied parts, but it does not replace a detailed sound comparison. Pickup height, amplifier settings, and playing style will all affect the result. The available specifications do not provide output measurements or switching options beyond the three-way selector.

Tremolo and day-to-day use

The Duesenberg Diamond Prestige tremolo is a central feature of this model. The reported playing experience was especially favorable: the arm action felt smooth, and the guitar retained its tuning better than expected during use. This is a meaningful hands-on observation because a tremolo's feel and tuning behavior can matter as much as its presence on a specification sheet.

The guitar comes with a case. No separate gig bag is included, and the model is not listed as a limited run. It has been available since May 2025. The listed price is 2169, with no currency specified in the supplied product information.

Verdict

The Duesenberg Starplayer CBR Trans Orange combines a semi-hollow mahogany body and maple top with a set mahogany neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and a distinctive two-pickup arrangement. Its dimensions are clearly specified, and the player report points to careful workmanship, appealing looks, versatile tones, and a particularly smooth tremolo that held tuning well in use.

At the listed price, this is positioned as a premium instrument. The strongest reasons to consider it are its detailed construction, the contrasting humbucker and P90 pickup pairing, and the favorable tremolo feedback. Buyers should still try the neck profile and assess the sound through their own amplifier where possible. The supplied review feedback is positive, but it does not include long-term reliability details or measured comparisons with other guitars.