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Post subject: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and II!
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 9:40 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:27 pm
Posts: 11
Location: Finland
I'm a happy owner of a Mustang I, for about 8 months now. I like the sounds of the amp very much, but in my opinion, there is a "bug" in the usability of the amp. All the controls,
and the markings of the controls are facing upwards! And not only that, all the markings and LEDs are behind the control knobs. Why oh why! Every blackface model that Fender has, has got the controls facing forwards. Now even all the connectors are gathering dust very nicely.

When I'm practicing, I'm usually sitting down, and I setup the amp so that the speaker faces me. What else direction would the speaker be facing? Every other direction would be madness, just MADNESS! But now, I can't read the text's behind the knobs, the mod and dly/rev LED lights, and most of all, if I try to use tuner, there is no way to see the lights of the tuner unless I stand up or somehow try reaching a higher wieving point. Of the 8 months I've had the amp, 7 months I've been crying myself to sleep, thinking "why, Fender, why?"

Today it happened. I was sitting down, eyes significantly higher than the top of the amp, but I still couldn't see the tuner lights. With the guitar in my lap, I tried to reach the amp to maybe tilt it a bit, or to get my eyes on top, but the amp was just out of my reach. I reached and reached, and then the wheeled swivel chair under me started moving in another direction. In a superhero-like move, I was able to get hold of a table next to me, but the chair went ahead and knocked down various items on its way.

Then I had my vision! I just took out the MOD pot knob! Now everything works so much better! No more collecting myself off the floor! Here's a picture to prove it!

Image

See, you can almost see the whole LEDs!


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Post subject: Re: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:25 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:18 pm
Posts: 3
I was just having the same frustration with my new Mustang II today. I had moved the amp to an old typewriter (remember those???) stand to improve the sound. It is hard to see the important lights.

Here is my solution...

I took a 3" x 1/2" piece of the white sticky backing used to stick posters on walls and pealed off one side of the double stick covering. Then I pasted it onto a piece of heavy tinfoil and smoothed out any wrinkles. Then I trimmed the foil to the size of the sticky. I then pealed off the other side and pasted the piece on the cabinet edge behind the lights. It makes a good little mirror.

Now I can see the reflection of the lights in my homemade mirror. Works really slick!


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Post subject: Re: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:51 am
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Fender Staff
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Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:12 pm
Posts: 4396
Hey Guys,

Your experiences have been noted. We appreciate any feedback from our users, especially if that feedback helps us make better products in the future. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance.

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Fender Technology Support Lab
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
TSL@Fender.com
(800) 856-9801


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Post subject: Re: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:42 am
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Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed May 25, 2011 12:45 pm
Posts: 1169
For live work, forward facing controls are ALWAYS better. I use the little Mustang I when performing. The amp sits on an amp stand facing me in a tilted back position so that the speaker is aimed directly at me. It's basically a monitor as I put a mike on it and let the sound guy control what the audience hears. (Contrary to many opinions, 20 watts is more than enough to hear yourself over a drummer) With the top mounted controls it's very awkward to make adjustments while performing. Adjustment of the master volume is about all I dare try.

Top mounted controls were not a deal breaker for me. I sold a line 6 with nice front mounted controls so that I could get the Mustang I. The features and sound of the Mustang were much more suited to my playing style but I miss the convenient line 6 control panel.

Having said all that, I understand that Fender has to give the customer what they want and if amp models with top mounted, dust collecting, controls is what sells then that's the direction Fender must go. Oh well. :wink:

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.


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Post subject: Re: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:51 pm
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Amateur
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Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:22 am
Posts: 112
Location: BC, Canada
Luppa, thanks for bringing this up & Loren thanks for listening. This is an easy design mod that will make a difference in future versions.

BTW: I've had my MI for 10 months now. I originally said "It's the most fun i ever had with $100." Almost a year later, I still hold by that. I have hauled this puppy all over North America. Wherever i hang my hat, my little Mustang I sits beside my chair (along with my guitar and stand). No more having to go down to the basement just to play my electric guitar on my old 70's wall-of-amps. As a result, i have played more guitar in the last year that i have in the last 25 years. Thank you Fender Mustang!

Having fun.

Doc


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Post subject: Re: The best and cheapest modification for the Mustang I and
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:48 pm
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Roadie
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Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:01 pm
Posts: 218
mhowell wrote:
... top mounted, dust collecting, controls ...


Yeah, this along with the fragile connectors (PC-mount 3.5mm, mini-USB) for me are among the more annoying quibbles with the Mustang series, which hopefully can be easily (and not too expen$ively) improved upon in subsequent versions.

PITA


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