Duesenberg Mike Campbell 40th Anniversary

The Duesenberg Alliance Series Mike Campbell 40th Anniversary is a special edition of Duesenberg's Mike Campbell signature model, created to mark the 40th anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Introduced in Metallic Racing Green, it is distinguished by its nickel-plated pickguard carrying the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary logo. The model is based on Duesenberg's Starplayer TV design and combines a semi-hollow construction with a solid sustain block, a 25.5" scale and a set neck.

The Mike Campbell model has its origins in Campbell's long association with Duesenberg. Campbell had already become closely associated with the brand after playing a Duesenberg Starplayer TV with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, most notably during the band's 2008 Super Bowl halftime performance. The Alliance Series model takes the basic Starplayer TV concept and adapts it to Campbell's specifications while retaining the combination of a semi-hollow body, distinctive Duesenberg hardware and a two-pickup layout.

The 40th Anniversary version is built around a laminated spruce top and laminated flamed maple back and sides, with a one-piece maple set neck and Indian rosewood fingerboard. The neck has a Medium D profile, a 12" radius and 22 jumbo frets, while the 25.5" scale gives the guitar the familiar full-length electric-guitar scale found on many classic American designs.

One of the most characteristic aspects of the Mike Campbell model is its pickup combination. A Duesenberg Domino P-90 sits in the neck position, while a GrandVintage Humbucker is used at the bridge. This gives the guitar two distinctly different pickup voices within a relatively simple control layout of one volume, one tone and a three-way selector. The middle position also uses Duesenberg's special wiring, which removes some low frequencies from the humbucker signal and produces a more open sound.

The hardware follows Duesenberg's characteristic design language. The guitar has Z-Tuners, a Steel Saddle Bridge and the Diamond Deluxe Tremola, with nickel-finished hardware throughout. The Diamond Deluxe system is designed around a lightweight construction and bearing-supported operation, with an adjustable arm and a string-loading system that makes changing strings relatively straightforward.

Like Duesenberg's other instruments, the Mike Campbell is PLEK processed before final hand finishing and setup. Duesenberg uses the PLEK process to level the frets precisely before polishing and rounding the fret ends by hand. The result is part of the construction and finishing approach of the model rather than an aftermarket setup performed on an individual instrument.

This particular guitar is in near-mint condition, with only a small amount of tarnishing to the metal hardware and light fret wear. It is fully original apart from the addition of strap locks. It comes with its original Duesenberg Custom Line case and case candy, including the certificate, as well as the leather strap-lock belt.

The combination of the Metallic Racing Green finish, nickel 40th Anniversary pickguard and semi-hollow Starplayer TV construction makes this a particularly distinctive version of the Mike Campbell model. Unlike a purely cosmetic signature edition, the instrument retains the full construction and hardware specification of Duesenberg's regular Mike Campbell design, including the P-90/humbucker combination, PLEK-treated fretwork and Diamond Deluxe Tremola.

Specifications

• Model: Duesenberg Alliance Series Mike Campbell 40th Anniversary
• Construction: Semi-hollow with solid sustain block, Starplayer TV body shape
• Top: Arched spruce
• Back & sides: Maple
• Neck: One-piece American Hardrock maple, set neck
• Neck profile: Medium D
• Fingerboard: Indian rosewood, 12" radius
• Frets: 22 Jumbo
• Scale: 25.5" / 648 mm
• Nut width: 42 mm
• Pickups: Duesenberg Domino P-90 / GrandVintage Humbucker
• Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 3-way pickup selector
• Bridge: Duesenberg Steel Saddle Bridge
• Tremola: Duesenberg Diamond Deluxe Tremola
• Tuners: Duesenberg Deluxe Tuning Machines
• Hardware: Nickel
• Finish: Metallic Racing Green
• Year: 2020
• Weight: 3.76 kg
• Condition: Near mint; light fret wear and minor hardware tarnishing
• Originality: Original apart from strap locks
• Included: Original Duesenberg Custom Line case, certificate, case candy and leather strap-lock belt

The guitar has been fully checked and set up in our workshop and is ready to play.