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Post subject: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:31 pm
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I've been considering purchasing a Mustang III -- I've read about it online, seen a few YouTube demonstrations, and tried one out and was pleased with the results. I've been playing through a Peavey Vypyr 30 for a few years, and I'm really quite fond of it. That being said, there are a few shortcomings with the effects, noise gate, and lack of reliable/frequency of firmware updates from Peavey.

My number one is a recent American Standard Stratocaster SSS, and I'm playing mainly blues and rock licks. I've been playing metal for a while, but I really enjoy playing the blues licks on the Stratocaster. Playing that style is really much more satisfying, to me, than metal.

I wanted to get some feedback on the versatility (tones and voices) of the amp, reliability, frequency of firmware updates/support, and just the general vibe from owners of the III.

Thanks for your help and feedback,
Steven


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:15 pm
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Edit: Stuff removed because I was just not used to the amp yet. See my next post in thread for how to get awesome high gain metal.


Last edited by Pippers on Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:03 am
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Pippers wrote:
Just got a Mustang III yesterday after having sold off my Vypyr 30. The cleans are really great, but I am struggling with anything with distortion. Everything seems to get pretty muddy, and I've spent the whole night tweaking like a madman. Can't seem to get anything dialed in for like say, The Trooper. I've also noticed this amp really hums more than the Vypyr, but that just may be because it is 100w instead of 30w. I may just go with a distortion pedal and see how that fares since the cleans are so dang clean. The reverbs are not all that great, either, they also seem to get pretty muddy when you go for the springs or larger hall/room ones, you get a faint fuzz noise which is really annoying when you're trying to keep it all clean as possible. Not sure if that is a bug or what, but my spring reverb on my Tonelab ST is miles ahead of the ones on the Mustang. May get a pedal for that as well.

Not sure if that helps you out or not. I was initially very happy with this, but as I dig deeper, am finding more little things that bug me. But not enough to return it yet.


This is very interesting. I have owned a Vypyr 75 since they first became available and overall have been happy with it. I find it extremely easy to dial in useable tones. I don't use the effects except for a little delay and reverb so that's not really an issue for me.

I was all set to pull the trigger on a Mustang IV this weekend. I have wanted a stereo 212 for a while now and thought the M4 might be the way to go. However reading your experience with it and the fact that you also have experience with the Vypyr has made me a bit more cautious. I also play more OD/Dist and less clean so that is something I need to consider.

I hope to be able to try one out this weekend and see for myself.

Thanks for the info,
Jerry


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:49 am
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Well, if you're both happy with the Vypyrs then you will probably just want to try them out a few times in the stores. I was never truly happy with mine in the fact that I couldn't find any tones I liked enough to smile when I'm playing, so I am in the sell-buy-sell-buy cycle. With the Mustang I have found plenty of blues tones that put a smile on my face already, which is more than what I had with my Vypyr. I can't say I know this amp inside and out yet, and I may just be overlooking some setting combination for the higher gain stuff.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:11 am
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Thanks for weighing in on this, guys. I'd planned on keeping my Vypyr 30 around -- overall, it's a great amp to have around and I've been impressed with the sounds I can get out of it. I'll try the Mustang again in the store, and check what the restocking fee would be if I wanted to return it. Thanks, Steven


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:19 am
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I would also add that in my opinion, the Mustang III has done more for Single Coil guitars than any other modeling amp. Line 6 and Peavy stuff always seemed to make my single coil guitars sound thin and wimpy compared to a tube amps that I've owned where Single Coils seem to have so much more character than humbuckers.

I like Strats because of their amazing ability to create the sounds that I like, and the Mustang III is the first modeling amp where I am more than pleased with the single coil sound. Round, swampy blues tones when you want them, and ballsy classic rock tones too. I just think that it is the best modeling amp for a strat that I have ever tried.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 11:44 am
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Yeah, I love my strat though it so far. It's my dual HB guitar with heavier stuff that I'm hitting a speed bump.

"60s Sparkle" and "Beauty Clean" are amazing with my strat, and so far my favorites.

Edit:

You know what? I think this is the issue I am having: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=49789

Distortion just isn't decaying properly, so it muddys out, and I think that is what i am noticing in the reverbs as well.

Loren Howard - Fender wrote:
Hey Guys,

We have verified that this is an issue. We are currently testing a firmware update that will fix this and a few other issues. If all is well, you should have that firmware very soon. Thank you all for your patience.


I'll keep my fingers crossed on this. The more I think about it, this really does sound like what I have been fighting in the settings trying to get that perfect dirty/distorted tone.

On my Tonelab ST for example, I can select an amp, get it to just breaking up when you strum chord then it gradually goes clean again. So when you're firing through chords they are all noticeable and "clean" distortion to them. Right now, the distortion never seems goes back to clean no matter how much you fiddle with the gain settings, or the bias. It almost stays constant unless it hits an effect which will close it off. Which in return makes it sound like an overdriven mess.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:46 pm
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Uh, wow. This amp reacts incredibly different depending on your guitar volume knob. Never seen anything like that before. On my Tonelab and Vypyr it just raised lowered volume. On the Mustang its actually causing the amp to go from clean to break up. I normally keep it around 5 on my strat, and pushed it to 10 on the "British 60s" amp and it's really dirty with an almost sweet child of mine type tone. Wow.

Going though the the higher gain amps it's incredible when you set the amp sim to volume around 4, then put your guitar at 5 - It sounds okay. Between 5-10 on the guitar it gradually breaks up and gets really dirty and the tone is changing (in a good way).

Playing with the distortion boxes this way it's not nearly as muddy. Cripes.

Found my Trooper tone, found my Sweet Child O Mine tone. Found my Iron Man tone.

Take "Intro Clean"
Select British 80s amp, Gain 10, Volume 3, Treb 7, Mid 3, Bass 8, Pres 5.
Overdrive default.

Change the guitar volume and watch all those tones become available from 5-7-10 and it goes from Trooper, SCoM, and Ironman.

Amazing. They key is keeping the Amp simulator volume LOW. Use the Master Volume for the actual volume for your ears. All the presets generally have it turned up so moving the volume knob on the guitar isn't causing the modeler to do much of anything with distortion. I guess maybe this is sort of how everyone thought the power sponge was supposed to work on the Vypyr?

Even the Metal 2000 sim is putting out some heavy stuff. Trying to get some real doomy sounds going.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:18 am
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You really can't judge this amp at all until you fire up the Fuse software.
Assuming you know how to make an amp sound good, you'll have the Mustang singing in a matter of minutes. Your retailer should have that set up for you when you try it out.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:26 am
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save and get the V for $400 from GC, its a steal


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:46 pm
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Just moved from a II to a III and diggin it. Like the interface a LOT more. Sound is a little more open. The speaker in my II had just gotten broken in and was sounding good, the III sounds good already can't wait to get more play time on it. Got the II to use at practice and jams instead of lugging my BDRI. The III is heavier but still very portable. Like the 2 button footswitch and programing of it, will also be getting the 4 I'm sure. Running pedals into it like the II and OCD sounds really good into the clean Fenders.

Worth the bucks to upgrade for sure but for just home use would have stayed with the II.


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:10 pm
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In addition to the awesome tones and versatility, the programing interface using the large control knob on the III, IV & V series is what sold me on the Mustang III. It is like changing from programing a computer in assembly language with punch cards to using a quality keyboard interface running a spreadsheet. Take the plunge and you won't regret it.

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1976 Alvarez Acoustic w/fishbine pickup; '98 American Series Strat (custom rewired); Modded Gibson Les Paul.
Mustang III; Crate v33 2-12; Raven G20; Digitech RP-2000; Morley Bad Horsie 2; various Danelectric stomps ...


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Post subject: Re: Should I Purchase a Mustang III?
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:13 pm
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BUY IT, buy it NOW!!! :wink:

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