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Post subject: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:52 am
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I am considering buying one of these for some light gigging. I am in my 50's playing a wide range of classic rock but nothing too much on the heavy side. These all seem to have adequate power ratings. I was think the 2x12 IV would be preferable to a 1x12. Not too sure how I feel about the head. I would then have to buy a cab and speakers.

Anyone out there with experience with these and have any opinions/suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:03 pm
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Unless you're prepared to go into a quiet room and carefully check the amp out for "the fizz", I wouldn't buy any of them yet, until Fender solves this issue.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:03 pm
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Musicmaster2 wrote:
Unless you're prepared to go into a quiet room and carefully check the amp out for "the fizz", I wouldn't buy any of them yet, until Fender solves this issue.


Shut up about the f***ing fizz already.

I would get the V, you have much more tonal options as to which cab(s) you get etc.

However, the Mustang 412 cab is 'matched' to the V head, so it will always sound how the head "wants" it to.

The IV will definitely be better than the III, apart from portability, but it's still a one-man job whatever you decide.

I would go for the IV or V.

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:55 pm
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OPTION 1. MIII - If you want a lighter, more portable combo, the 100w 1x12" Mustang III is easy to take around and is quite compact. But for gigging, it lacks versatility in that it has no extn cab out to use with a bigger cab if you needed to. For most situations, a 1x12" is fine -but there may be times you might need the fuller, 'bigger' tone of a 2x12" or even a 4x12" cab so it's nice to have options.

In addition, the MIII only comes with a 2-button pedal & you definitely need the 4-pedal for gigging which is an extra cost (in-fact, using a 2 & a 4-button pedal gives the most flexibility).

OPTION 2. MV - For the same price as the MIII, the MV gives you the option of 2x75w STEREO through any stereo cab, or 150w through any mono cab. It's often easier to carry and store a head and cab separately than a bigger, heavier 2x12 combo, and as has been said already you have way more flexibility/choice of cab/speaker combinations to try out. The problem with combo's is that you're limited to just using the speakers inside.

In addition, it comes with the 4-button pedal as standard. Using two 2x12 stereo cabs will give you true stereo separation - something you cannot get from a 2x12 combo because the speakers are too close together. If you stack the cabs, you'll get more bottom end - so the MV with two 2x12 stereo cabs is a very versatile set-up. Downsides are that the MV head is a fair size even on it's own, you'll need to buy speaker leads, and setting up takes a little longer.

OPTION 3. MIV - bigger & heavier than the MIII but with a bigger/fuller tone due to its 2x12 speaker complement. 2x75w stereo, so it's louder & fuller sounding than the MIII . It's more expensive than the MIII but cheaper than MV plus a cab. A good solution if you have the space to keep it, don't mind the extra weight, you're unlikely ever to need a 4x12 option, and want simple set-up ie plug in & play with no speaker lead connections to fiddle with.

It comes with the 4-button pedal as standard. BUT you won't get proper stereo (see above)

SUMMARY

As you can see, each has pro's & cons which is why Fender generously offers the bigger amps in 3 flavours. It's not about which is BEST - it's about what's best for YOU and is most suitable for YOUR needs. Break it down into a list of volume, tone, weight, size, flexibility & gigability - and the extra cost of a 4-button pedal if applicable. Tick the boxes that are most important to you.

If you're not worried about speaker flexibility, but want a bigger, fuller tone and have the space & are happy with the weight, and aren't likely to mike up, the MIV is the way to go.

If you mainly play at home, want to keep it light & compact, don't need the extra volume or fuller tone, can mike up at gigs if needed, and happy to buy the 4-button (if you need it) then go MIII

If you have the budget, want the extra volume with proper stereo options, speaker cab flexibility (eg to take your head & use a cab at the gig or rehearsal rooms) and have the space, the MV and cab is perfect for you.

It's kind of like buying a car - do you want the small coupe (MIII), the bigger more comfortable Sedan (MIV) or the larger but more flexible 4x4 off-roader (MV plus cab).

Everyone here will have their own opinions - for example, I think the MV/Cab is for more serious gigging players only rather than mainly home players and that the MIV is likely to be a good 'middle-ground' option for you with a bit more flexibility than the MIII based on the info given (but remember, opinions are like backsides - everyone's got one! LOL) - but it's your money and so its only about what best fits YOUR needs now - with perhaps a little consideration as to whether you realistically see your needs changing in the foreseeable future.

Best

Rich :wink:

PS - it also depends on what existing gear you have. I have a 2x12 Valvetronix plus a 2x12 stereo cab already - so I wouldn't want another 2x12. I'd possibly go MV because I have the stereo cab and speaker leads already. But I'm short on space & I was looking for a light portable combo amp so I tried and liked the MIII. But I returned it because it didn't have extn cab out, or a direct out for the PA, and it only came with a 2-pedal. But if Fender changed the MIII spec to meet my needs, I'd buy it!

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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 5:25 pm
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Squidgy wrote:
Musicmaster2 wrote:
Unless you're prepared to go into a quiet room and carefully check the amp out for "the fizz", I wouldn't buy any of them yet, until Fender solves this issue.


Shut up about the f***ing fizz already.

I would get the V, you have much more tonal options as to which cab(s) you get etc.

However, the Mustang 412 cab is 'matched' to the V head, so it will always sound how the head "wants" it to.

The IV will definitely be better than the III, apart from portability, but it's still a one-man job whatever you decide.

I would go for the IV or V.

Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.


Why don't you come over here and make me tough guy? If you're stupid enough to buy a busted amp, you're probably dumb enough to get in my face. Man, the neighborhood has really gone downhill since Fender stopped moderating. Welcome to HC-Lite.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:00 am
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C'mon guys - please stop this. It's not solving any problems (which I appreciate are genuine) but it's just not nice to come on the board to see this.

Rich :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:21 am
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I had the IV but exchanged for the V. I picked up a line 6 4x12 with v 30s and it sounds great. It is not the most portable but at least you can switch cabs as long as you don't go below 8 Ohms per side. Besides the IV was a bit heavy. Not like a Twin but the same size.If you want the sound of a stack the V is the way to go.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:55 am
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hibiscus ro,i also have the mustang V head and i use the line 6 spider III 4x12 cab with it but i had to rewire the 1/4" input jacks on the line 6 for true stereo so it would work with my mustang head(when i first hooked it up to the line 6 cab before i rewired it i got a loud rapid sounding noise),did you also have this problem with your line 6 4x12 cab and or did you also have to rewire your cab for true stereo operation?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:15 am
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Mine is the spider cab with the v 30s. Its in true stereo. I haven't had any problems.it sounds a lot clearer mothan the mustang cab.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 1:47 pm
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Wow fantastic replies all (except for the fighting). I really appreciate the responses. So the V can also be 150 mono but not the IV? Does a 2x12 cab really take advantage of a stereo setup being the speakers have no real separation. Honestly I really don't need stereo (unless there is something go great about it I am not aware of). I am generally playing small bars and clubs these days.

I saw the V head and it is much larger and heavier than I thought it would be. You need a big cab to place that on.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 3:18 pm
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The stereo effect is minimal with the 2x12. With the 4x12 it a bit more noticable since the speakers are higher and mine are angled.The best setup is to get 2 cabs and separate them.The head is wide but the head fits the mustang cab perfectly as well as most cabs like Marshall, Mesa etc.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:03 am
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Sg, what did you decide on?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:32 am
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Given Fender's new "take this fizzing amp and shove it" attitude, I would boycott the brand until they get their act together, if ever.

I feel ashamed for recommending this product to folks. A product the manufacturer refuses to stand behind in good faith. Fender has fallen so low I can't even recognize them anymore.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:16 pm
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In my opinion it depends really where do you plan to play.
For home playing - Mustang III is more than enough (100W shakes the house lol - in fact my previous amp, Fender Frontman 212R which was also 100W was, due to a bit of bad volume knob connectivity or how should I put it [ie it's totally quiet, almost no sound coming from the amp just below the '2' mark on the knob and when you turn it for 1mm it's already very, very loud] well the amp was too loud for home playing), however the Mustangs all give you the possibility of very wide-scale amp editing therefore you can have the sound really quiet and you can also use headphones so it's no problem with minimum volume being too loud. It has a 2-button footswitch so that's a minus for me, seeing how (at least in my country) the difference in price between Mustang III (which is 300€) and Mustang IV (which is 420€) is 120€ and Mustang IV comes with 4-button footswitch which costs 66€ at authorised dealer so along with additional 50W of power and 2x12 instead of 1x12 speaker that's no brainer for me. You can still, undoubtedly, jam with band or do small gigs, however it'd probably need to be miked.

Mustang IV has enough of juice for jamming and doing gigs - don't think it'd need to be miked for the gigs though and you can play bigger venues than with Mustang III. With 4-button footswitch you get a lot of different sound capabilities basically at the bottom of your feet which is a good thing, at least for me. It's also quite light - it weighs about 20kg and it isn't very big so it's very portable. You can easily put it in the trunk of a car and go wherever you need to.

Mustang V with 412 cab is (again in my country) another 150€ more expensive than Mustang IV. The cab alone is bigger than Mustang IV and the head isn't much smaller either. So it isn't really portable. The power itself that the head provides is 150W too so you can't get any more juice than with Mustang IV.

I bought Mustang IV as portability is a must for me, I prefer 4-button footswitch than 2-button and I liked the additional 50W of power, but mostly due to first 2 things. I mostly play at home and jam with friends and occasionally, but really occasionally, have a smaller gig.
But it depends what's most important for you of course - for small bars and clubs I'd say that Mustang IV would be better, especially if you don't have too much money to throw around and because you probably need the amp to be easily-portable.

PS: If you don't like to fiddle around on computer too much some other amp might be better suited (I'm just saying that because, well you might be a computer genius for all I know, but I know a lot of people in their 50s that don't really know how to do much stuff on computer). It's great for playing metal as for classic rock - it took me quite a couple of hours (and I'm still basically a teenager so I know my way around on computers) to get the clean and driven sound I wanted on my amp and the heaviest tunes I play would probably be the ones from Guns N' Roses. However the user-interface of Fender Fuse program where you edit sounds (you can do it through amp too, but it's easier on computer) is very user-friendly and you really do have a wide possibility of sounds. In either case you have to try it out a lot before you buy it especially due to the fizz that a lot of amps have.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang III, IV or V - which one should I choose????
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:53 pm
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Hibiscus I still haven't decided. i am not yet in a rush but will probably get something soon. My guess is it will be between the III and the IV.


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