On 2007-12-23, zontar gave this Fender Electric Guitar a 4
History: I've played guitar for over 30 years. I've played different stuff over the years--mostly blues & rock, but now primarily play my 12 string at church

Purchase: I had tried a Mustang a couple of years before I actually bought one--they weren't to common around here in the late 70's/early 80's. I bought it in 81. I was in a music store to buy a phase shifter--instead I put a down payment on a Mustang. The store was having a moving sale and the lower price was impossible to pass up! (I later got the phase shifter as well.)
Pros: The small neck. I have long fingers, and can handle larger scales--but it's fun to really stretch out on the smaller scale. Also it's great for learning tricky pieces before trying them on another guitar.Also the sound--I love the out of phase setting.I also love the floating trem--it's smooth, subtle and works well.
Cons: I'm more a humbucker guy than single coil, but I think if I put humbuckers on this, it would ruin it. It can be quiet--as far as volume, but I guess that's why amps have volume controls! In any case having the pickups out of phase sort of, (but not exactly), gives a humbucker sound--although the coils are separated. (Humbuckers have 2 coils out of phase.)
Quality: Sturdy, bolt on neck.Electronics on pickguard.

Summary: There were 2 Mustangs at the store--one a beautiful sunburst with a maple neck, and an ugly brown one with a rosewood neck. At first I was hesitant in a way as I don't like maple fingerboards. The salesman said they could swap necks--so I did that. Sunburst with rosewood fingerboard!

On 2003-11-09, Alessandro Abbott gave this Fender Electric Guitar a 5


Purchase: I bought this 1962 reissue mustang off of Musicians Friend in 2002. It was brand new for $489, a good deal in my mind.
Pros: I like the mustang because it has such low action and the fretboard is narrow and short for people who like to play fast. It sounds great with all of my amps and was a great investment. P.S. it looks great also, sparkling candy apple red with the two great racing stripes.
Cons: This guitar is very authentic, which has some disadvantages. The 2 single coil pick ups are a little noisy, but they do sound like they should. I replaced mine with two hot rod seymour duncan mini humbuckers and it is my favorite guitar now.
Quality: The guitar is built incredibly sturdy, nothing has happened to it. I love it

Summary: This is a great guitar for any players, especailly if you are into Nirvana.

On 2001-06-27, Ken Degnan gave this Fender Electric Guitar a 5


Purchase: I was 13 years old when I heard the song "so you want to be a rock and roll star" by the Byrds.The song rang out the words "get yourself an electric guitar,take some time and learn how to play".As it went on to talk about getting famous,I believed every word.I asked for an electric guitar for Christmas that year and when it came time to open the oddly shaped package,inside was a Sears nylon string classical. I was disappointed but not discouraged.I mowed lawns to earn enough money to buy that prize.My friend had said to buy a Fender,so with the $75 I had made, I marched to the local music shop.I didn't know a Fender from a bumper and on the wall was a sonic blue 1965 Fender Mustang for $75. The man said that it was a good beginers guitar and that later I could graduate to a Stratocaster. A Strato-what? It was 1968 and my journey had begun.
Pros: This guitar has a large headstock with a rosewood fretboard.There are 2 single coil pickups with 2 slide switches that will change the tone by putting the pickups out of phase or turning them on or off.It has a 3/4 neck and one tone and one volume control.The pickguard is pearloid and there is a tremelo bar that I warbled a few times to stay in vogue.The tone of these pickups are truely remarkable.As I was learning to play on this guitar,I didn't know what the tremelo was for untill I heard the Star Spangled Banner By Mr. Hendrix.I quickly retired my twanging skills.
Cons: The input jack is on the top of the guitar and the cord is perpindicular to it when plugged in. It's in the way most of the time and would have been better to have had a jack like a strat on it.A smaller neck is somewhat limiting in that the playing range is less.
Quality: This guitar was built to last.The consruction of the early Fenders was top notch.The quality control of those times can't be beat.They built them right,like an old Studebaker.Mustangs were reissued by Fender a few years ago and can still be picked up. They are a good begginers guitar

Summary: The 60's was a time of change,and unfortunately 1965 was no exception.Fender was sold that year to CBS.The instruments of Fender from that era are nostalgic as well as still very playable. I finally did graduate to that Stratocaster,and the old Mustang got retired.I didn't make it to the big time but what the heck, some have to be players and some have to be listeners.