Fender Toronado

Infobox Guitar model|title=Fender Toronado
bgcolor=#FFFFFF
manufacturer=Fender
period=1998 - 2003, 2004 — 2006
bodytype=Solid
necktype=Bolt-on
scale=24.75"
woodbody=Alder
woodneck=Maple
woodfingerboard=Rosewood
bridge=Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Anchored-Tailpiece
pickups=2 Humbucker
colors=(Deluxe Series, as of 2006) Chrome Red, Blizzard Pearl, Navy Blue Metallic, Carmel Metallic

The Toronado is an electric guitar made by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. Introduced at NAMM in 1998, it is a part of the "Deluxe Series" Fenders which are produced in Mexico, generally to higher specs than most "Standard" models.Fact|date=August 2007

Design

The Toronado features two humbucking pickups, rosewood fretboard, and popular design includes a tortoise-shell pickguard and four chrome knobs (x2 volume, x2 tone). The headstock features the famous Fender "spaghetti" logo, and sports vintage style "kluson" tuners. The body shape shadows the older Jazzmaster and Jaguar guitars. It has a 24 3/4" scale length.

[http://www.thomann.de/prodbilder/175174.jpg] This reissue was noticeably different from the older '98-'03 models, featuring more modern colors like Navy Blue, Caramel Metallic, Blizzard Pearl, and Chrome Red. The "Duncan-designed" humbucking pickups are also open coil as opposed to the covered humbuckers featured on the earlier models.The Fender Toronado GT HH (05-06)was Korean built, It sported a mahogony body and Seymour Duncans rather than Duncan Designed pick-ups. It was part of Fender's "Big Block" series. The guitar came in metallic finishes with a painted headstock and a racing stipe in a reverse L shape going from the left side of the body to the upper right horn.

Older production models are more sought after because of the original vintage-looking design and the classy visual appeal, but are generally hard to find because of the short production span (five years). Typical price range as of January 2006 is anywhere from $350 to $550 in the used guitar market. Newer Toronados retail for $741.99 list price but have a street price of around $600; used market generates around $400-$500.

Fender USA has also made the US Special Toronado model that features Atomic II Humbucker or Black Dove P-90 style pickups. Available in butterscotch blonde and crimson red transparent. The last edition was upgraded with the Fender Tech-Tonic one piece wrap around bridge and featured a black headstock. The US Special Toronado was discontinued in 2004.

The Toronado has attracted quite a few notable players. John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, uses an orange one on the bands video "Can't Stop," though he has been quoted as saying he did not play it and hated it, he only used it in the video because the director asked him (Frusciante is known to only play vintage guitars). Alex Kapranos from the band Franz Ferdinand plays the Toronado quite frequently, as do Joe Trohman from Fall Out Boy, Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, Matthew Wiseman (polarOPPOSITEbear), Liam Lynch, and Kevin O'Donnell from Attila and the Huns. Mathew Morand likes the Toronado and thinks it an excellent beginner's guitar. It was used on his Stony Road album. Codie McLachlan of the Canadian rock and roll band the Blazing Violets also frequently plays the Toronado. Lance Raber (formally of the Florida band Cryptic Radio) exclusively plays a yellow toronado. Also, Mark Smith, from the Texas-based band Explosions in the Sky, is often seen with a black Deluxe Toronado. Aaron Turner of Isis has also been seen playing this guitar. Both Aaron Barrett of Reel Big Fish and Robert Wilcox of By Surprise have been seen using an original production model in black with a tortoise shell pickguard.

As of January 2007, all Toronado variants had been discontinued by Fender.