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Post subject: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:58 am
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This topic is a follow-up to "Disillusioned before purchase" - I'm starting a new thread as the previous one has become a bit sidetracked by the fizz issue.

Several people were kind enough to offer advice in my original topic, and others seem to have similar concerns to me, so I thought it might be helpful to post my initial impressions of the amp having now bought a Mustang IV. Not particularly expecting any replies, just hope my view might be useful to someone, as others' views have been to me.

In the shop I A-B'ed it with a VOX AC15 (valve/tube amp, in case anyone isn't familar with it), for a reference comparison. The Mustang sounds good, but not as good as the VOX (at least to me, others will think differently of course). I was using the "British 60s" amp model (obviously). The Mustang still sounds 'artificial' rather than warm/natural - a very good emulation, but noticeably an emulation. Also, I had to tweak the presets quite a bit to improve the sound. The default settings for presets using the "British 60s" amp were rather flat and dead compared to the real thing (cue perennial side-discussion on why out-of-the-box presets are seldom good...).

So I was actually a bit disappointed, and very nearly bought the VOX instead. It turned into a head vs heart decision. My heart said the VOX, my head said the Mustang, because it can do the VOX "close enough" plus it can do lots of other amps that I wouldn't otherwise be able to try, plus it has all the stomp-boxes and effects I'll ever need built-in. For the money it's the only rational choice.

I chose the Mustang IV (over the other Mustange models) because I wanted the on-amp screen / editing and the stereo loop for future experimentation with external effects. The ease of on-amp editing and range of models/effects is also why I chose the Mustang over the Line 6 Spider, Peavey Vypyr, Vox Valvetronix, etc. Plus I was impressed with Fender's overall attitude to customer service (eg this forum), and the tools/software they provide for the Mustang amps, compared to the software available for other modelling amps.

The Mustang IV looks great, but is probably a bit too big for home use (both size and power); it can be used at "bedroom volumes", but certainly sounds better a bit louder. The speaker response isn't particularly linear; at low volume it's bass-heavy and boomy, the higher frequencies only come in when the master volume is turned up (particularly when trying to get nice VOX-like "chimey" sounds). So I'm having to turn down the bass on all the presets; at least I can then save them like that! If I were buying again, I'd probably forego the stereo loop (reluctantly) and pick the Mustang III. It seems a glaring omission in the product range: there should be an amp with all the top-of-the-range features, but in a smaller, lower-powered package.

I tried it with headphones, but to me that never sounds right for guitar playing. I prefer the sound through speakers. So I may have to put the amp in the next room to where I'm playing and shut the door to avoid being deafened. :) I did also move the amp around a bit, in case the open back meant it mattered whether it was close to or away from a wall, but that doesn't change anything. In a way that's good, I don't like amps or speakers that are position-sensitive like that. But it's a bit disappointing that the amp itself (literally the analogue amplication part, distinct from the digitial modelling / effects) isn't more hifi-quality FRFR. (On which I have another concern, but that's a specific question so I'll post that separately).

I'm having lots of fun trying the different amp models - although I wish more of the presets had cleaner sounds. Too many of them have (for my tastes anyway, I realise everyone's different) too much gain, fuzz stomp effect, etc, as standard. I prefer starting with a clean model and adding effects a bit at a time. I've never used a '65 twin or reverb before (real or modelled). I now understand why they're so popular. So that's all very good.

The stereo effect from the 2 12" speakers was never going to be great, but even through headphones the various stereo effects don't create as expansive a sound as I'd hoped. This may again be down to the standard presets: playing with the effects settings does improve things, I need to experiment some more. And try line-out to some better stereo speakers (ie further apart!).

So, the Mustang fulfils my goal of having convenient access to lots of different amp sounds and effects in one box. It contains everything I need to improve as a player and decide on what overall sound(s) I ultimately want. Importantly for me, it's very quick and easy to dial-in different sounds: I don't want (at least not at this stage) something more complex like a Pod HD or Boss GT100, where I'd spend all my time trying to make it sound good rather than actually playing the guitar. The Mustang has enough to take me a long way. It has enough connectivity (just!) so that I can upgrade in stages in the future, rather than having to replace everything all at once. I had thought/hoped it might be "the only amp I'd ever need" but I suspect not. I think it will gently and helpfully take me on a journey of discovery, then selflessly stand aside when it's time to move on. But the Mustang has enough to offer that that won't be anytime soon.


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Post subject: Re: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:47 am
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:18 am
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I have a Mustang I and my experience is that speaker at low volume, speaker at high volume and headphones always need slight different EQ. I will say that the headphone EQ is the one that works better on every situation.

I guess that if you have more watt, the behavior become more evident.

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Post subject: Re: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:04 am
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Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:26 am
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Don't forget that the speakers in the Mustang amps are very directional. I normally sit in a chair with the amp flat on the ground pointed to one side of my feet, so I get this nice sound, bass response, etc. Just yesterday, I took it and propped it at an angle so the speaker was facing my face. Almost all of the amp's bass seemed to disappear and all the mids and treble frequencies came roaring out at me, almost ice-picky but not quite.

It's something to keep in mind. Now I can see why some people get amp-stands for their combos.

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Post subject: Re: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:32 am
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When I modded my MII into an open back combo it became a lot less directional.

O.


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Post subject: Re: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:20 pm
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Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:47 pm
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The MIII is already open back and sounds very full not directional.


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Post subject: Re: Mostly Happy After Purchase
Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:44 pm
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Here's an interesting discussion on speaker directivity.

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