Mustang Pros/Cons

lukewarm

So I'm considering buying this mustang and am looking for some advice.

Link: http://paulsboutique.ca/index.php?id=20060902184848

This one is the 24inch and is 1 5/8 at the neck.

First of all, were mustangs ever produced with a natural finish, or is it more likely that this is a refinish job?

Secondly, I need a solid stage guitar that stays in tune. Is this possible with the stock bridge, or would I need to switch to a tune-o-matic or the modified mustang bridge. I play hard and I need a reliable guitar. Perhaps this is too much to ask from a mustang. The guy who works on my guitars seems weary of the stock bridge, but the guy selling is saying that they are quite stable.

Finally, is 1400 cdn way too much for this guitar?

Any help would be quite apreciated. I always thought I was a tele guy, buy maybe....

luke

BanditGuitarist1

Well in my experiance Mustangs stay in tune well if your really worried about it dont use the trem ( though I do and it effects it little ) and yes thats a real natural finish I think Natural was from the 70's to the 1980's with Sunburst. I would pick it up, it seems pretty nice.

LIFE

I dont have any cons for the Mustang. I think most people who think it sounds weak or whatever just don't know how to really push an amp.

Malik

Well, I have a Jag-Stang. Obviously I can't comment on the sound, but trust me the bridge is actually pretty awesome when you get used to it. I haven't ever modded it, but if that floats your boat, go for it.

Rick

lukewarm said: Finally, is 1400 cdn way too much for this guitar?

good point.

*taps table*

also, you'd be best wrapping the posts with just enough insulation tape, so that they are flush with the bridge bushings. that way the bridge doesn't rock when you thrashers get ahold of a stang.

i would say definately overpriced. in US dollars, you can get 60's mustangs for about that price, i think. and you can buy a japanese reissue for about $400-$500. check the mustang auction results thread

LIFE

I don't think you should put any tape around the bridge posts. If the bridge is fixed in place, and you use the trem, the strings will rub back and forth on the metal saddles, which causes a lot of friction. When the bridge moves with the strings, the strings will move only in the nut, which is a lot smoother.[/i]

SawaotheBuster

well who uses the vibrato anyways?

Malik

SawaptheBuster said: well who uses the vibrato anyways?

Yeah, you'd think, but I've taped my bridge in and my guitar never goes out of tune when using the vibrato, probably because there's so much friction.

Well, me for one. You can do some amazing vibrato effects just using your hand, I haven't got my hands on a whammy bar yet, though I have no doubt that'll be awesome too.

Rick

i find that the bridge bushing design that the mustang borrows from the jaguar and jazzmaster is suited only to jags and jazzmasters. whereby the angle of the string to the tailpiece is quite evenly balanced on both sides of the bridge with jags and jazzies, with the mustang, the angle is too heavy behind. and the bridge will slowly slump forward as you play or when you use the trem. especially with flatwounds

lukewarm

my tech person is saying it'll never stay in tune unless i replace the whole bridge with a les-paul style tailpiece, which may ruin the cosmetics of the instrument, not to mention its vintage-ness, so I'm feeling that i have to pass it up, even though it is a beauty and feels great. alas.

Malik

lukewarm said: my tech person is saying it'll never stay in tune unless i replace the whole bridge with a les-paul style tailpiece, which may ruin the cosmetics of the instrument, not to mention its vintage-ness, so I'm feeling that i have to pass it up, even though it is a beauty and feels great. alas.

Your tech person is retarded. I actually have a Mustang bridge and I guarantee you it stays in tune perfectly fine. The modifications that can be made to it for that niche of users who can't get on with the stock bridge do not involve ruining the cosmetics. This site is FULL of fixes for these problems, if your "tech person" wants to rip up your guitar to add them, again he's retarded. Locking the bridge down is simple and doesn't hurt the guitar. Changing the bridge for a Tune-o-Matic is also rather simple, but mostly pointless.

If you want to pass it up, it's your loss. We wouldn't be here talking about Mustangs and Jag-Stangs if they sucked.

LIFE

The bridge completely stock is fine. I use trem, and I never go out of tune.

SawaotheBuster

someone said: Your tech person is retarded

yeah guaranteed it'll stay in tune stock.

when I was buying one I worried like hell about it, but it really is no problem at all

agreed