Fender Mustang Guitar Owners

Hi,
I'm about to become a Fender Mustang owner .... with pride !!
Mine is black and made in 1976, so is one of the last models made in the USA, if you don't mind about the Japan models or reissues.

Is out there anyone who wants to share some information about these babes, please?

Fran

I love my Mustang!!
Mine is a '72 and it you look just below the tailpiece you will see that its signed by dick dale.
its a pretty awesome guitar. I also had a blue '71 but i traded it for a "60's" tele with a bigsby. that ended up being a bad idea, i wish i had it back.
For some reason people don't seem to like the mustang style trem but i feel like that is the best part about it. you can do really subtle bends to huge bends with the palm of your hand. i do not use a bar on mine, i just move the "tube" with my hand.

One day i will have a tele with a mustang trem. that would be the best ever!

P.S. that is my brother playing the Mustang, not myself.

There is already a Mustang Club on here somewhere... but I don't mind joining another one.

Here is my baby. 1965... all original. It was my #1 guitar for probably 20 years. I love it. Some day I'll probably hand it down to my son... but he hasn't earned it yet.

http://www.apolloguitars.ca/images/STANG.jpg

I love my Mustang!!
Mine is a '72 and it you look just below the tailpiece you will see that its signed by dick dale.
its a pretty awesome guitar. I also had a blue '71 but i traded it for a "60's" tele with a bigsby. that ended up being a bad idea, i wish i had it back.
For some reason people don't seem to like the mustang style trem but i feel like that is the best part about it. you can do really subtle bends to huge bends with the palm of your hand. i do not use a bar on mine, i just move the "tube" with my hand.

One day i will have a tele with a mustang trem. that would be the best ever!

P.S. that is my brother playing the Mustang, not myself.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow!
Yours ia a competition model ! and with matching headstock color too!
What about the pickup response of this beautiful model, please?

Fran

I love my Fender Mustang. I bought a '78 back in 1997 for 300 cash and a crappy silvertone guitar. The neck pickup is the warmest sounded pickup I've ever heard. The previous owner painted the natural ash body with blue latex paint, put on what looks like an earlier pearloid pickguard, changed the amp knobs to the old school mutang knobs, and dropped in a pair of EMG pickups. I swapped the original 78 maple neck for a 73 rosewood neck recently due to the frets being badly worn.

It's heavy as a les paul and warm as a brick oven. LOVE this guitar. If the house were on fire, I'd probably have this under my arm as I got the heck out! The only thing I don't love about the 78 is the upper horn is thinned out to resemble a strat more and I think the original shape is nicer, but I'll give that up for the feel and sound of this. Certainly my number one.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x23/jonathanbennett120/IMG_3938.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x23/jonathanbennett120/IMG_3942.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x23/jonathanbennett120/IMG_3944.jpg

I got two, I must take some pics. I have a '66 in Dakota red with original case, lightweight and the best sounding guitar for distortion I own. I also have a '65 reissue in white, which is very close in details to the '66. I used to own a Competition blue Mustang but sold that long ago. I currently have a Comp-stang on loan from a friend.

i do not use a bar on mine, i just move the "tube" with my hand.

One day i will have a tele with a mustang trem. that would be the best ever!



I got a '73 back in '79 or so (comp orange too) without the bar and proceeded to play it the way described above for years, thinking how cool it would be to have a trem arm. Years later, after I had gigged it all over creation in a punk rock band and had basically retired it, I replaced my nasty rusty bar with an Allparts that had the arm. Within minutes my reaction was #$%^&!!!!!! It just got in the way of my hand (they sit up kinda high) and made the trem feel too loose and sloppy. It came out immediately and I went back to the nice clean armless look. YMMV.

[QUOTE=JBennett;2768061]I love my Fender Mustang. I bought a '78 back in 1997 for 300 cash and a crappy silvertone guitar. The neck pickup is the warmest sounded pickup I've ever heard. The previous owner painted the natural ash body with blue latex paint, put on what looks like an earlier pearloid pickguard, changed the amp knobs to the old school mutang knobs, and dropped in a pair of EMG pickups. I swapped the original 78 maple neck for a 73 rosewood neck recently due to the frets being badly worn.

It's heavy as a les paul and warm as a brick oven. LOVE this guitar. If the house were on fire, I'd probably have this under my arm as I got the heck out! The only thing I don't love about the 78 is the upper horn is thinned out to resemble a strat more and I think the original shape is nicer, but I'll give that up for the feel and sound of this. Certainly my number one.

Hi,
you have a real beauty indeed! And the color change is a well done job as well. But is it so heavy due to the Ash body? Is the ash wood so heavy, please? I never owned a guitar made from it.....

Fran

Here's my '71 in competition red.

http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/chesterburger/fmustcar711.jpg

Mine is black and made in 1976, so is one of the last models made in the USA, if you don't mind about the Japan models or reissues.

Hey Fran, nah, they've been made up to 84 or so. Otherwise, the current '65 Reissues are awesome. Mine was propably the best built guitar I have ever owned. Sold it anyway because I wanted a Tele and didn't want to afford both ;)

here it is:

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy77/kypdurron01/guitars/DSC02064.jpg

check out this: grey bobbins on cloth wire and plate shields ... that' the standard of these Reissues. they are every bit as good as the old ones, exept for the missing nitro finish (which is also missing on 70s US Stangs btw)

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy77/kypdurron01/guitars/DSC02016.jpg

still have this ... not exactly a Mustang, but nearly :)

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy77/kypdurron01/guitars/D2.jpg

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow!
Yours ia a competition model ! and with matching headstock color too!
What about the pickup response of this beautiful model, please?

Fran


Fran,

The pickups aren't that hot. they actually sound somewhat thin BUT... I play surf music witht that guitar so it works well. I had a Blue '71 and the pickups were AWESOME but i traded it for a "60's" tele that i ended up hating.
It plays really well and is pretty light. The trem is what sells it IMHO

Fran, as I said in my description, "Heavy as a Les Paul". The Ash body is super heavy. But it feels good and sounds good, so it's worth it's weight.

Im in... here is my 1969 Mustang Competition

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3955/mustangfront.jpg

auriemma, that is such a cool and rare color! lovely man. I can't wait to get a mustang one day.

I'd like to get a stang one day too. What I can't understand is why do the reissues go for almost 1k (940) when other ri's are in the 600-700 range.

I have a '66 Mustang that I got used in 1973. It was in great condition. It had been white but someone had put flat black paint and 'glow in the dark' decals on it. I stripped it and put clear satin nitro on it, real thin coat, and used it exclusively until '91, when I got my first Tele, [Am Stand]. I sprayed a creamy white paint on it at that time and it has been hanging on a wall in a friend's basement studio now for twenty years, unplayed. All original except the wammy bar... It always sounded wonderful.

I've got an all original '66 Mustang

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll92/IPLAYLOUDGUITARS/Mustangs1969.jpg

Here's my CIJ Mustang made in '94. I traded someone an epiphone Les Paul for it.


http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3158/mustangzx.jpg

Here is my 1966, Dakota Red Mustang. I bought it while I was in college, about 1979. It is all original, except for the switches, which were replaced in 1980. Very cool looking guitar. Alas, not as much fun to play as my La Cabronita Especial. But plays well and has a sound all its own. Will be keeping this and passing down.

Gentlemen - I'm happy to once again be a Mustang owner. I love these things! In the mid to late 70's, my parents shocked me by having a used '66 Mustang (Dakota Red) under the Christmas tree! I think I was 14. I absolutely loved that guitar and was virtually attached to it for years.

I tried out and bought a Guild Starfire IV, (ES-335 copycat) and thinking I had a new style or sound or whatever, I sold off the Mustang. (what's the emoticon for regret?)

But now - a few decades later, a package containing a barely used 65 RI Olympic White Mustang has arrived!

Photos to folllow. I do have a question: I received the remolo arm, but I believe it needs an additional screw to come in at a right angle and hold it in place? Never had the trem on my first one, but I do hope to use it on this one AND stay in tune. This thing still has the plastic covering the pickups. I can't find a thing wrong with it...a couple of pick scratch marks on the pickgaurd...no manual, no soft fender cloth, but loads of tone!

It's a good day!

Hi guys

I have a 1976 Fender Mustang and have been looking all over the web to find one the same colour but I can't. It is bright yellow, I would describe it as banana yellow. It really does not look like a refinish, does anyone know if Fender did make mustangs in this colour around that time?

Thanks for your help!

Lewis

My original '69:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/459065_3520090088254_1670171572_o.jpg

Hi guys

I have a 1976 Fender Mustang and have been looking all over the web to find one the same colour but I can't. It is bright yellow, I would describe it as banana yellow. It really does not look like a refinish, does anyone know if Fender did make mustangs in this colour around that time?

Thanks for your help!

Lewis

There's a couple on Ebay that you might call banana yellow, and the years match what you're talking about. 76 / 77

There's a couple on Ebay that you might call banana yellow, and the years match what you're talking about. 76 / 77


Here's a good-looking Banana Yellow:

http://elderly.com/vintage/names/fender-and-reg%3b-mustang-and-reg%3b-%281978%29--30U-17029.htm

Tim

142633

Here is my comp mustang. Little more beat up then the others I have seen on this thread, but it is my favorite guitar.

Here's mine. Owned it since 1988.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4148/5052614314_034ba7626f_z.jpg

Lot's of nice ones here...
Mine's an alder USA body (h0ome painted in Sonic Blue) with 69RI hardware and neck.
Have some color issues 'cause I'm gonna cut one pickguard, a red tort or mint one,
for a full JB humbucker but can 't seem to decide wich one...

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w372/Silenus1/Mustang_Mint002.jpghttp://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w372/Silenus1/fendermustang_whiteknobs002.jpg

I'm sorry to share these photos of the desecration of a '65 Mustang, but here goes.

From the eBay description:You are bidding on an original 1965 Fender Mustang project.

It is HEAVILY modified, and incomplete, missing all its electronics, tuners , knobs and a couple other small parts. Comes with original tremolo, bridge, control plate and "L" series neckplate. All these parts have been re-plated a copper color.

Neck is straight and true, and frets are good. 8 Sept 65 B is stamped on neck heel.

This can be made into a very nice, playable guitar without too much effort.




Brace yourselves.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16ZHJIYE9qUcOtyfBQcG4udKjw60_32.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/KGrHqJHJFUFBiiYcb0PBQcG2Sqmg60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/KGrHqZHJCoEhGR4352BQcG40z2v60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16RHJIQE9qUHsjdPBQcG21Oww60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16VHJGIE9nnWqrSiBQcG2qHpYQ60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16VHJIYE9qUcNkeiBQcG2eP8E60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16VHJIYE9qUcNkeiBQcG2zoqpw60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/T2eC16RHJGE9nm3qUuBQcG2jZww60_32.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/skb/misc%20stuff/Guitars/Miscellaneous%20Guitar%20Stuff/Junk/KGrHqVHJDEEYYTcLb4BQcG27Z0Q60_32.jpg

:shock:

Wow, they must have been into some heavy drugs when they did that.

I said a really bad word out loud when I saw those pics.

I'm not really up on Mustangs. How is the pickup selection configured? Are there current (reissue) models? Did/Do they have a maple fretboard option? Fat Lightning talked about some people not liking the trem (vibrato tailpiece?). What's that about?

The sliding switches provide on/off for each pickup as well as in/out of phase.

I don't know anything about the re-issues, and I have never seen one with a maple fretboard.

Personally I LOVE the tremolo on mine. Great range and stays in tune. I prefer it over any Strat or Bigsby trem that I have ever used.

Here's a pic of me with my L-series Mustang (Olive Green) in 1975
A great guitar....I sure do miss it!

http://imageshack.us/a/img211/2121/file00026dy.jpg

The sliding switches provide on/off for each pickup as well as in/out of phase.

I don't know anything about the re-issues, and I have never seen one with a maple fretboard.

Personally I LOVE the tremolo on mine. Great range and stays in tune. I prefer it over any Strat or Bigsby trem that I have ever used.

Thanks for the info, John, and for your impressions of the tremolo. That helps.

I see the picture I posted a couple years ago is not showing... so here is mine, with the rest of the herd. She's an all original "65.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/Misc%20Part%203/pub015.jpg

And a close-up.

http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m408/apolloguitars/misc/family005.jpg

I'm not really up on Mustangs. How is the pickup selection configured? Are there current (reissue) models? Did/Do they have a maple fretboard option? Fat Lightning talked about some people not liking the trem (vibrato tailpiece?). What's that about?

There's two reissue models out. A Pawn Shop version and a Squier Vintage Modified version. Mustangs never had maple fretboards AFAIK. The Squier is a pretty good deal at $299 and plays and sounds pretty close to the original (of course your mileage may vary).

There's also the MIJ 65ri:

http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/classic-series-65-mustang/

Fender Japan makes a maple fretboard version (ash body, comes in black and natural), but only for their domestic market I think.

http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/mg77.html

Apparently Fender did make some Mustangs with maple fretboards in the 1970s, but they're quite rare.

Well whaddya know, I just came across this listing for a 1975 maple fretboard Mustang on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-1975-Mustang-Maple-Neck-Alder-Body-/221121386263?pt=Guitar&hash=item337bdc9717

Also has an alder body (weren't the original '60s Mustangs poplar?), and according to the listing weighs almost 9 lb!

can anyone tell me the width of the competition stripes on the Mustang
Thanks in advance.
PS Got a new one coming tomorrow and i like the look of the vintage ones.

1978 Fender Mustang. I purchased new. I have the metal bridge cover for it still. I also have the black tolex hardcase. Ash body. Heavy guitar. I have held mid 60s ones in my hands before which were very light.

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/jac92255/029.jpg

Traded a Tennis racquet for this 1966 back in the 70's. Pickups did not work, so I replaced with some EMG's, still have the originals. I did a refin and gave it to my son who still plays it. We put a set of SD SHR1's in it. It has all the original parts except for what I mentioned. I have the original salt and pepper case as well.

Traded a Tennis racquet for this 1966 back in the 70's. Pickups did not work, so I replaced with some EMG's, still have the originals. I did a refin and gave it to my son who still plays it. We put a set of SD SHR1's in it. It has all the original parts except for what I mentioned. I have the original salt and pepper case as well.


You're a good dad!

My ex gave me a 1966 Mustang back in 1975. I played only that guitar until I finally had enough money to buy a brand ne 1991 American Standard Tele. I retired it back in '91 and it has been hanging on a wall in a friend =of mine's home recording studio. It hasn't been played in 22 years after having been played daily for 17 years by me. I absolutely loved that guitar. I really should string her up again and plug her in.... I think the older frets from the 50s-60s lasted 2 to 3 times as long as they do now. That Mustang was played several hours a day for 25 plus years and it had no buzzes when I retired it.

https://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/7ec4fc32b6e311e2b12b22000aaa04d7_7.jpg

Picked up a 65 Mustang a couple months back. Had to get some work done on it, refret, new pot.

Original colour but not original paint unfortunately. I would've been happier with a beat up finish but alas, some people like to **** with things I guess.