'69 RI and '65 RI Mustangs

hydro9384

Besides the body contours exactly what is different between the 69 RI and 65 RI. I have a 65 RI and have fell in love. Its my 3rd electric. 1st was a 66 some kind of generic, but sounds pretty good. 2nd was a 72 Gretsch Chet Atkins, candy apple red in MINT condition left for me by my grandfather when he passed. I'm thinking of selling my 65 ri mustang (red and also mint, i bought it new) and getting a red 69 RI. I really want the contour body so what else is different.

Thanks .

foxyloxy

i think the neck is different. why sell it? they are very similar (tho the 69 is better).

minho422

'65 is poplar, and '69 is basswood.

'65 nut width is 41mm, and '69 is 40mm.

'65 has vintage pickups, and '69 has new japanese single coils.

they both have 184R 22F neck, so there is no difference.

also, the tremolo for the '65 is USA vintage design, but '69 tremolo size is smaller and stiff.

I rather get the '65 reissue, or the new '65 VSP.

informations from fenderjapan.co.jp

minho422

foxyloxy said: i think the neck is different. why sell it? they are very similar (tho the 69 is better).

no they're both 184R 22fret. check fenderjapan.co.jp

foxyloxy

clam down, i only said that cos when i was going to buy a mustang some one said it to me. i probs should have found a source but meh.

69s are better case and point.

Mustang-Pete

The necks do feel different though. My 69' RI plays like a dream and the 65' RIs that i've played have kinda had funny lumpy bits on the back of the neck up at the nut. Can't explain it properly, but the 69' RI necks are definitely nicer.

Pickups wise, the ones in the 69' RI are shocking. No 2 ways about it. I hear that the ones in the 65' RI are better, but I never played one plugged in.

Get the 69' RI.

foxyloxy

meh, i like my neck pickup.

Rich

The 65s are much more vintage accurate than the 69 reissues. White button tuners, poplar bodies, better pickups that sound closer to the vintage ones, and sheilding plates in the pickup cavities rather than the black sheilding paint. They are better sounding guitars than the 69 reissues.

Earth

I prefer the 69 RI's cause they come in competion colors.

hydro9384

the neck on 65 RI is smooth as butter at the nut, but I still like the contour body and chrome buttons on the 69 RI. Too bad one cannot get it in fiesta red.