Mustang Questions

chambers23 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: Mustang Questions

i have also posted this under General in hopes of getting as much feedback as possible. anyways, i bought a brand new american standard strat but im still really wishing i had bought a mustang. i have a few questions and because my local stores dont keep them in stock and its been a while since iv played one, i figured somebody here could help out.

1. can you lock the tremolo down?
2. because of the short scale, iv heard the strings rattle a bit more and fret out easier, so if i played 1/2 step down would this throw it off?
3. can i buy a replacement pickguard cut for a humbucker/single style?
4. if i cant get a new pickguard, or if its a hassle, i wanna get HOT single coils. Lindy Fralin has hot 15% Mustang pups ($150/set). Is there any other brand that makes Mustang pickups?

if i have more questions i'll probably post a new topic later, but for right now, thanks for all the feedback!

-kc
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It's not the size of your rig, its how you use it...

American Standard Stratocaster
Alvarez Folk Cutaway Electric/Acoustic
Hot Rod DeVille 212 w/ Vintage 30's

Martian · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Mustang Questions

1. Yes.
2. Yes but the scale alone when tuned down isn't the culprit. Rather, it is the lousy bridge and tremolo designs even if the guitar was tuned to A-440.
3. Yes, from an aftermarket manufacturer such as (but not limited to), Terrapin, WD, etc.
4. You are not locked into Mustang pickups, per se. Strat pickups fit in there quite nicely too.

IMO, FWIW: Going from an American Standard Strat to a Mustang is like going from a Mercedes to a bicycle. Clearly, YMMV.

chambers23 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Mustang Questions

[quote="Martian"]1. Yes.
2. Yes but the scale alone when tuned down isn't the culprit. Rather, it is the lousy bridge and tremolo designs even if the guitar was tuned to A-440.
3. Yes, from an aftermarket manufacturer such as (but not limited to), Terrapin, WD, etc.
4. You are not locked into Mustang pickups, per se. Strat pickups fit in there quite nicely too.

IMO, FWIW: Going from an American Standard Strat to a Mustang is like going from a Mercedes to a bicycle. Clearly, YMMV.

hey thanks for the help, martian! i know what you mean in the Mercedes-bike analogy, but its just a personal preference of mine i guess. i like the short scale and i just love the little body of the stang.
_________________
It's not the size of your rig, its how you use it...

American Standard Stratocaster
Alvarez Folk Cutaway Electric/Acoustic
Hot Rod DeVille 212 w/ Vintage 30's

Martian · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Mustang Questions

chambers23 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

i think i might keep my strat and just save up for an old used japanese mustang later on. i do however have my mind set on finding an old USA hot rod deville instead of a mex made one... keeping the vintage 30s tho! Laughing

_________________
It's not the size of your rig, its how you use it...

American Standard Stratocaster
Alvarez Folk Cutaway Electric/Acoustic
Hot Rod DeVille 212 w/ Vintage 30's

zontar · Professional Musician Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1056

auriemma · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Mustang Questions

chambers23 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject:

well to be honest, i didnt expect to get this many replies lol. i will take a fender guitar over a gibson, epi, ibanez, prs any day! not because theyre cheap or affordable or i have to, (obviously! bc i have an american standard) but because i just love the style, the reputation, the feel, the sound, the history and just the general feel of 'wow, i have a fender'. i dont get that with gibsons, i dont feel 'wow, its a real gibson'. if i could own an american strat, a mustang and an orange rocker 30 head and 212 cab... my life would rule!

i just think that i get the WOW factor more when im playing a mustang than a strat. i think it just fits 'me' better. ya know?
_________________
It's not the size of your rig, its how you use it...

American Standard Stratocaster
Alvarez Folk Cutaway Electric/Acoustic
Hot Rod DeVille 212 w/ Vintage 30's

Martian · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject:

zontar · Professional Musician Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1056

Don't let the Mustang haters get to you.

Some people think that because it was part of the "student models" it's not a good guitar.

That's crap I say.

I love my mustang, and I don't think I could trade it for a Strat.
I plan to buy a Strat at some future date, but not at the expense of my Mustang.

And the Mustang was a bridge between the "Student" models of the time (Duo Sonic, Musicmaster) and the Strat & Tele. It was an intermediate model that way--and much better than the later attempts fender made at "Budget" models, such as the Lead Series and the Bullets.

The Leads weren't bad, but I'll still take my Mustang.

There is no sarcasm at all in this post, in case anyone is wondering.
I love my Mustang.

It is not my first guitar (It was my sixth)
It was not my first electric (My fourth)
It was not my first guitar I paid for myself either (third)

I love it because I love playing it.
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Maybe he just wanted to steal our wire cutters. You ever think of that?

Skiptracer1981 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:09 am Post subject:

The mustang vibrato gets a lot of flak, but when set up properly it's actually quite good.
Same goes for the Jag/JM vibrato.
Both are more stable then the strat when set up right.
I've yet to get a strat trem to reliably stay in tune when used frequently.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
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cottontim · Hobbyist Joined: 13 Nov 2009 Posts: 1

will regular fender pickups fit in a 69 fender mustang?

zontar · Professional Musician Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1056

They should.
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Maybe he just wanted to steal our wire cutters. You ever think of that?