Mustangs, being one of the more affordable genuine vintage Fender guitars in the ’80s and ’90s, were picked up and hot-rodded by punk, grunge, indie-rock, and alt-rock musicians in quest of punchier, more forceful tones than the original, fairly weak single-coil pickups. It delivered a powerful and raw sound that was perfect for these genres.
Over the years, they slowly gained popularity and became a staple in the music world. Their consistent quality and versatile sound make them a favourite among musicians of all genres.
Popular Fender Mustang Guitars
If you want to give your sound a vintage yet unique edge, you should look into the range of responsive guitars by Mustang. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), John McLaughlin (Miles Davis), Damon Albarn (Blur), David Byrne (Talking Heads), and many others have embraced it, known for its tones that respond well to muted picking, chorus-drenched chords, and a variety of strumming methods. It’s easy to use, looks and sounds great, and has something for everyone’s taste.
When trying your hands at Mustang guitars, the smaller size means it costs less than some of its Fender counterparts, yet still retains all of the Fender quality. You shouldn’t view it solely as an affordable substitute for a Strat or Telecaster; it is a distinct instrument in its own right. These are the most popular models of this cult classic instrument.
Vintera 60s
The Vintera, like the Player Mustang, strives to capture as much of the original 1960s look and sound as possible, bringing you back in time. Mustang electric guitars will provide you with a vintage yet unique tone. But that’s not all – it has all the classic features synonymous with the brand’s range, such as an alder body and a maple neck.
These tonewoods offer a diverse sound palette for the guitar, with warmth and brightness that play off each other. The Pau Ferro fingerboard is fun to play with, and the neck, like the other guitars by Mustang, is somewhat shorter, making for more comfortable playability.
The Vintera 60s series incorporates every aspect of a vintage Mustang electric guitar, such as a classic-style tremolo bridge that preserves the aesthetic integrity of the plastic tip tremolo arms while providing smooth movement. The Alnico V magnet single-coil Bridge and neck pickups offer an excellent harmonic balance of thin and thick, as well as warmth and transparency. So, if you want to hear the vintage Mustang sound, this is the choice for you.
Furthermore, the guitar’s distinctive pickup switch system is mounted on top of the pickguard. Each pickup has a single switch that controls four different tones. The sound is then further tweaked with master volume and tone. Overall, it’s straightforward and elegant, providing all you need without straining or spending the earth.
Player 90s
The Player model is a terrific place to start for anyone who wants to join the party because it is the original Mustang recipe and includes a little bit of everything. Since 1964, the Player model has provided top-tier Fender sound to stages and studios, striking the ideal blend between conventional elegance and cutting-edge technology. It’s tremendously playable, produces a performance worthy of any professional musician, and fuels the Mustang’s long-term success.
These Mustang electric guitars aren’t usually linked with strong or emotional lead voices. They sound great when coupled with the chorus and open chords. The main difference between the two is the presence of two P90 pickups in the Player 90. When combined with an overdrive effect, P90s provide the best of both worlds: mid-rich tones, clean ringing sustains, and an unexpected amount of distorted ferocity.
American Performer
The Fender American Performer Mustang is without a doubt the most sumptuous of the three instruments. Although it is more expensive, it has all the functionality of a modern design paired with a vintage edge.
The American Performer features a sleek Modern C neck profile, an asymmetrical alder body, and a smooth polyurethane finish on the neck and body. Like all Mustang models, this one has a much shorter scale length of 24 inches and a board with 22 frets. Together, these components produce a consistent sound and an enjoyable playing experience.
But what distinguishes the American Performer from others? It features the same Marmite ‘Dynamic’ vibrato as the late 1960s and early 1970s models. Although it is not for everyone, primarily because it can disrupt the guitar’s tune, it does have some benefits. Aside from Kurt Cobain converting it to a hardtail bridge, the tremolo shimmer added to the guitar’s tone, which is one of the reasons why this model became so popular among punk and grunge players in the 1990s.
Kurt Cobain Signature Mustang
This is where the KC Mustang, Kurt Cobain’s tone-loving follow-up custom Fender to the tremendously successful Kurt Cobain trademark Jaguar, truly shines. This version provides more tonal variation, with a standard Mustang single coil on the neck and a Seymour Duncan humbucker at the bridge.
The neck pickup ensures full-bodied lows and a balanced midrange. The guitar’s true distinguishing feature, however, is the bridge humbucker. Regardless of how much amplification is used, this pickup retains an incredible level of tonal purity and richness, making it ideal for gritty power chords and bluesy rock tones.
Regardless of how much power you put through the humbucker, the Kurt Cobain Mustang’s modest size keeps it from ever truly going into metal territory; instead, it comfortably resides within the garage punk rock genre.