Laurent Brondel’s New Vintage builds are all about reimagining classic instruments with a fresh perspective, blending vintage Fender and Gibson DNA in a way that feels both familiar and completely unique. The result is a guitar that combines the character of old wood with modern precision, delivering a truly inspiring playing experience.
At the heart of this build is a repurposed 1969 Fender Coronado neck—an often-overlooked piece of Fender history. While the Coronado was a departure from the company’s solid-body designs, its neck was essentially identical to a vintage Stratocaster neck, featuring the same 25.5” scale length as most of Fender’s professional models of the era. Brondel has preserved its original 7.25” fretboard radius but upgraded it with Jescar 57110 fretwire for smooth playability. The headstock sports a new decal, keeping the aesthetic clean while honoring the instrument’s roots. Vintage “F” stamped tuners and a bone nut complete the classic feel.
The body is a beautifully shaped, handmade alder body, finished in Burgundy Mist acrylic lacquer with nitrocellulose clear coats for a rich, aged look that will continue to develop character over time. The bridge setup is equally well thought out, featuring a Kluson vintage trem plate and block, Fender vintage reissue stamped saddles, and an aged Gotoh trem arm, all chosen to provide the perfect balance of vintage responsiveness and modern reliability.
Tonally, this guitar is built for players who demand versatility without compromise. A ‘70s Gibson-stamped patent number humbucker in the bridge position provides thick, articulate drive with a refined top-end, while a pair of Lollar Blackface single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions deliver the clarity and chime of a great vintage Strat. Brondel’s custom hot-rod ‘50s wiring allows for a more interactive tonal experience, with a 500k volume control, a dedicated 250k tone pot with a .047µF capacitor for the single coils, and a separate 500k tone pot with a .022µF capacitor for the humbucker. A 470k resistor to ground ensures that the single coils retain their proper voicing, blending seamlessly with the humbucker without unwanted treble loss. Unlike standard wiring configurations, Brondel wires the volume pot between the two switch banks in a ‘50s-style setup, which means the tone controls interact more dynamically with the pickups and allow for greater tonal flexibility.
Every detail of this build is carefully considered, from the parchment pickguard and pure vintage knobs to the CRL 5-way switch and aged single-coil covers. The combination of these vintage and modern elements results in a guitar that feels effortlessly broken-in yet delivers a level of refinement only found in boutique instruments. Housed in a custom G&G case, this Brondel New Vintage creation embodies the best of both worlds—old wood, vintage soul, and expert craftsmanship coming together in a truly unique instrument.
"New Vintage" Hot-Rod '69 #229 Specs:
- Repurposed ’69 Fender Coronado neck w/ neck plate (Date on butt-end of neck: 19 - 47 - 006B
- Neck carve: Med C .82” - .94”
- 25.5” scale length, same as vintage Stratocasters and other Fender professional models of the era
- Jescar 57110 NS fretwire
- Original 7.25” fretboard radius
- Vintage F stamped tuners
- Bone nut, 1 5/8”
- Handmade Alder body
- Kluson vintage trem plate & block, older Fender vintage reissue stamped saddles, aged Gotoh trem arm
- Parchment guard and pure vintage knobs, switch tip & single-coil covers
- Vintage 70s Gibson stamped patent # humbucker pickup w/ pure nickel cover
- Lollar Blackface middle & neck pickups
- CTS pots, CRL 5-position switch, hot-rod ‘50s wiring
- 500k volume pot, 250k tone pot (.047µF cap) for single coils, 500k tone pot (.022µF cap) for humbucker
- 470k resistor to ground for single coils to “see” a 250k volume pot
- Vintage style Burgundy Mist acrylic lacquer w/ nitrocellulose lacquer clear coats
- Blonde Tolex G&G custom case w/ Brondel Guitars logo
- Weight: 7lbs 6oz
