It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:28 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: all-new Mustang series of Fender amps
Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:42 am
Posts: 5
Location: Austin, Texas
Got an up-close preview of the all-new Mustang series of Fender amps this afternoon. The Texas sales rep came into the Austin Bazaar office and showcased the Mustang II amp in conjunction with his laptop, which was running the Fender Fuse software.

Image

For a modest-sized amp with a price point anyone can afford (around a hundred bucks for the 20 watt model and a couple hundred for the 40 watt model), the Mustang II that we got to sample sounded impressive. Not only was it louder than I'd expected, but the amp-modeling capability was remarkably accurate.

The Mustangs come preloaded with 24 individual amp presets arranged in three banks of eight: '57 Deluxe, '59 Bassman, '65 Twin Reverb, British 60s, British 80s, American 90s, Metal 2000, and Super-Sonic.

Image

It's clear that a lot of research and development went into the amp modeling. My buddy here at the office who is a guitar wiz was able to go from a spot-on rendition of Soundgarden's "Spoonman" to Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" with the quick twist of a knob. It was a lot of fun to go from metal shredding to a clean, classic Fender sound just like that, without any pedals or anything like that.

In addition to the amp-modeling capabilities, there is a bunch of modulation and delay/reverb effects -- 12 of each, to be exact.

Image

There's also a chromatic tuner, which is nice bonus feature to have onboard.

Image

These control panel features are really just the beginning, though, as the Mustang amps sync with the Fender Fuse software application. This opens up the door to a whole new world of presets and editing. We didn't have much chance to toy with this, but from what I saw, there's potential for hours of experimentation and manipulation. Fender's definitely onto something new and exciting with their Fuse software, and it'll be interesting to see how it develops in the coming years as more and more users get connected to the platform and start sharing with others. Seems like this is the way amp technology is headed nowadays.

Image

All in all, the Mustang II that was shown to us this afternoon was impressive, in particular for its size and price point. Not only is it a lot of fun to play with, especially for Fuse users, but it's a practical amp for those who want a lot of features for not a lot of money. It's also practical from the standpoint that it doesn't take up a lot of space. At 8.7 x 18.25 x 17.25 inches and 24 pounds (and that's for the Mustang II, the bigger of the two), it's a relatively small amp and doesn't call for much in the way of pedals or effects. You just plug in your guitar and play. Hooking up your laptop to use Fuse is optional, of course.

As with the G-DEC series, the Mustang isn't for everyone. For someone like me who came of age playing a Super Reverb, there's no getting around the fact that the Mustang is a solid state rather than tube amp. For some, the proposition begins and ends there. Fortunately, there are plenty of tube amps on the market for those who boycott solid state technology.

I have to admit, however -- and I can't say this enough -- that I was really excited by the amp-modeling capabilities of the Mustang. There may not be any tubes inside and it may not rival a Hot Rod Deluxe or a Super-Sonic Combo, but the Mustang sure sounds like the real deal. For only one or two hundred bucks, you're getting great value for your dollar with the Mustang series. It's an easily affordable entry point for anyone who is curious about the Fuse software platform but doesn't want to ante up for for a G-DEC of comparable wattage.

_________________
Jason Birchmeier
Austin Bazaar, a Fender authorized online dealer based in Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capital of the World


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:18 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 3
Great Info. Thank you.

_________________
16 weeks until I will retire. Fishing, smoking cigars and general debauchery.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: all-new Mustang series of Fender amps
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:15 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:13 am
Posts: 5
Thanks for the post... really great.

austin home builder


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: all-new Mustang series of Fender amps
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:17 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
How does it fare when the "Ford F150 test" is administered?

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: all-new Mustang series of Fender amps
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:53 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 134
Location: Greeneville, TN
To Arjay's point, looking at this realistically, I don't think we'll see many of these specific amps in use in the not-to-distant future. Maybe this is an over-generalization, but seems many software-driven digital devices are disposable, often unrepairable, and cheaper to replace with an updated model (engineered obsolescence). Maybe I am wrong and there can be software and firmware updates for the next 40 years to keep these amps viable and competitive in the used market?
We will, without a doubt, see new, improved, better sounding digital amps continuously marketed as the technology develops.
I think these amps are interesting, fun, and do offer some value for the pricepoint. It is a good thing they do, because I think most consumers will be replacing them every few years, as they do cell phones and computers.

_________________
By the River


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: