Mustang Lovers: Should I Get One?

[terminalvertigo]

If you're used to playing Jazzmasters and Jaguars, you may find that a Mustang feels really small.

I have always liked the idea of a Mustang (it's an elegant vibrato solution and the switches are interesting) but my torso is too big for them. If I stand up with one it looks ridiculous, and if I sit down I end up hunched over.

I'm not usually looking at the guitar while I play

People tend to hear with their eyes, so if you perform in public, the way your guitar looks on you does matter.

But small guitars are an ergonomic issue too, for me. It's less of an issue when standing up, but if I'm sitting down, I tend to hunch uncomfortably over Strats and Les Pauls, and also Mustangs and Duo Sonics. A guitarist with a short torso may not have this problem, but it's still worth mentioning. Mustang lovers will probably hate some of the guitars I find most comfortable.

Those violin and fiddle guys must really feel self conscious!

[JSett]

I love the look of Mustangs, and how they feel on a strap, and I like the sound. I've had 2, a '64 and a '73 and both were fun to own. I'm finally admitting I don't work as well with shortscales as I'd like to so I've given up.

Also, worst vibrato ever.

[manwithtitties]

i think theyre fun, but i dont need to own one anymore. they sound vaguely like something in between a strat and a tele, but a bit blander. Out of phase is a fun gimmick setting but i think i kinda prefer a 3 way like on the newer mustangs fender is pumping out. Dont care for the trem either

I ended up getting a super sonic and a cyclone and they do the small body and thin neck thing just as well, and they sound a bit more interesting too.

imo theyre kind of ideal for smaller people who play more “rhythm”-y guitar in bands. they take effects well too as said before in the thread

[BoringPostcards]

Out of phase is a really useful setting imho; you just need more overdrive/distortion. Playing it clean or with light overdrive really isn't going to be terribly useful in a lot of situations. If you're a lead player, double/triple up your drive and flip it out of phase, and hear all the crazy harmonics fly out of the amp. I would liken it to having a wah pedal on, but with a much wider range of frequencies at one time.

If you listen to the solo of Bohemian Rhapsody, that's a classic use of out of phase.

How have I never tried this?! I don’t think I’ve even tried out-of-phase on my Mustangs with distortion or fuzz on. Only clean funky stuff.
Geez. Thanks!

[PJazzmaster]

Mustang out of phase with tone rolled off about 30-50% with a subtle delay and your are right into Michael Rother‘s 70s signature sound I think you cannot emulate that sound with any other guitar. I dig Mustangs.

https://www.myrareguitars.com/michael-r ... u-harmonia

[JSett]

something in between a strat and a tele, but a bit blander.

This is very accurate. Like I said, I enjoy their sound, but they admittedly do sound like a poor facsimile of the two others you mention. I guess they are a student guitar so *shrugs shoulders*

[TagoMago]

I love Mustangs, they're my favourite Fender offset along with the Jaguar and the XII.

But the tremolo system does my head in. I hard-tailed vintage ones in the past, and now I've got a modern cheapo Squier Mustang that has a hardtail bridge already on it.

I'd never go back to one with the OG trem on it. But plenty folks absolutely love the Mustang trem, so what do I know

[flying_squad]

I'm a big fan of Mustangs - I find them comfortable and lightweight. The trem is ok - generally tend to hardtail mine but they can be set up properly with the rocking bridge. The switching is great - out of phase is unusual and the staggered pickups have their own character in both bridge and neck positions. The pickups are actually the same size as strat pickups so there's plenty of options and I think Mustangs can be great mod platforms. Had some Fralin split blades put on my MG-69 reissue and they're awesome. Japan is where it's at with short scales and the Mustang gets quite a bit of love from Fender Japan. The new late 70s version they've launched in CAR looks great - likely to be my next purchase if I can find one!

[BlixaFan]

i love love love my mustang. just love it.
you should absolutely get one

[Ice Tre]

Thanks to everyone who replied with the wide diversity of opinions!

[patski]

I'm in the same camp as you, OP. Currently fiend-ing for a Mustang.

There's a vintage Mustang local to me that keep dropping in price ever so slowly. It's been refinished in a glorious purple. But I cannot tell from the pictures if the refinish is good or not.

[coreytree]

Yes, check out a Mustang! I have a Classic Vibe 60's that I got last year in-person at the Sweetwater store, and I love it. I play it a lot. It really rings. They have quite the personality.

I picked it up to play simply out of curiosity as I was on my way out of the store, in a bit of a hurry. Holy smokes - that particular one was a lot of fun and I'm glad I got it. I got a fairly good deal, too.

Had a friend in college who played one from the 70's that was red.

[sonicmander]

They are massive fun, my wife plays a duo-sonic so it has a 3 way toggle instead of the slider switches plus it's already hardtail. I remember it being incredibly easy to intonate

for the sound I've played mustangs with the single coil in the bridge and it sounds a bit weak so imo humbucker is the way to go. it's fun having a small guitar that has so much grit. The Cobain tryhard allegations are either a pro or a con at that point

[Alex!]

It’s worth it honestly, I made my little Squier bullet mustang (my first guitar) into a purple badass riff machine. But even before the mods and everything it was still such a great guitar for its price

[Jaguar018]

I have been 'forced' to use my Mustang for almost a year now as the three guitars I play the most have been 'in the shop.' My goto guitar is a Jaguar. That's my favorite of the Fender flavors, but I have a lot of experience with Jazzmasters and Strats. So after a year of just the Mustang I am pretty happy with it. If you are forced to use it as your main guitar you quickly learn that it can get a lot of sounds. If you have all the other Fenders lying around it probably won't blow you away.

I'm also not a fan of the vibrato. I don't even use vibrato that much, but compared to the JM/Jaguar one it's just not for me.