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Post subject: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:34 am
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I'm toying with the ideia of getting one of these amps. I just play at home for fun, don't have or plan to have a band, and the idea of having a lot of diferent amps/effects is tempting me.

I used to have a Marshall half stack, back in the days when i had a thrash metal band. Later, had to sold this when moving to a smaller apartment. I still have a bunch of preamps collected over the years for my high-gain stuff (a Rocktron Piranha, Mesa Quad and an ADA MP-1). I used to plug these preamps to the effects return section of my head, using just the power section.

Now, my questions:

1 - the Mustang III has an effects loop. Can i use this effects loop to plug the preamps, the same way i used to do? So it will be guitar->preamp->effects return section of the Mustang III (and then use it's Master Volume)?

2 - will this sound good? I mean, despite all the technology and modelling stuff, is the effects loop a "conventional" effects loop and the power amp section a solid state conventional power section?

3 - at bedroom levels, just to play without disturbing the neighbours, do you think it would make a world of diference between a Mustang power amp section or a dedicated power amp (SS or tube) + cabinet? I might as well buy a used cheap power amp + small cabinet...

Thanks in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:20 am
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Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
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Quote:
1 - the Mustang III has an effects loop. Can i use this effects loop to plug the preamps, the same way i used to do? So it will be guitar->preamp->effects return section of the Mustang III (and then use it's Master Volume)?

Yes you can do this. But it completely defeats the purpose of buying a modelling amp like the Mustang, if you're not using any of its effects. Remember, the fx loop on the Mustang amps comes after ALL the effects (even reverb), just before the power amp. You may as well have any SS power amp.

Quote:
2 - will this sound good? I mean, despite all the technology and modelling stuff, is the effects loop a "conventional" effects loop and the power amp section a solid state conventional power section?

It will probably sound similar to any other SS power amp. However, if that's all you want to do with it, you may get a marginally better SS amp for your money if you buy a dedicated one rather than spending $$$ on all the modelling and effects that you won't use.

Quote:
3 - at bedroom levels, just to play without disturbing the neighbours, do you think it would make a world of diference between a Mustang power amp section or a dedicated power amp (SS or tube) + cabinet? I might as well buy a used cheap power amp + small cabinet

If I understand you correctly, and you really aren't planning to use any of the effects or amp modelling in the Mustang, then yes, I'd suggest buying a dedicated power amp, either combo or head + speaker. But...

Quote:
having a lot of diferent amps/effects is tempting me

This is what's confusing me - here you say you want to use the modelling amps and effects in the Mustang, but the rest of your post you say you won't be doing this?

Personally, I think for "playing at home for fun" the Mustang amps, used properly with their modelling etc, not just as a power amp for a separate head, are brilliant. Don't assume you'll have to use your existing heads - whereas yes you can use them as you suggest, don't discount the possibility that the Mustang on its own may provide most of what you need, most of the time.

Also, for strictly home use only, you don't need to go bigger than the Mustang III. In fact, the Mustange II is plenty loud enough, but I prefer the on-amp controls on the III. (I actually bought the M IV, being fixated on the stereo effects; with hindsight the M III would have been more than ample).


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Post subject: Re: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:36 am
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Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:33 am
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scott-uk wrote:
Quote:
1 - the Mustang III has an effects loop. Can i use this effects loop to plug the preamps, the same way i used to do? So it will be guitar->preamp->effects return section of the Mustang III (and then use it's Master Volume)?

Yes you can do this. But it completely defeats the purpose of buying a modelling amp like the Mustang, if you're not using any of its effects. Remember, the fx loop on the Mustang amps comes after ALL the effects (even reverb), just before the power amp. You may as well have any SS power amp.

Quote:
2 - will this sound good? I mean, despite all the technology and modelling stuff, is the effects loop a "conventional" effects loop and the power amp section a solid state conventional power section?

It will probably sound similar to any other SS power amp. However, if that's all you want to do with it, you may get a marginally better SS amp for your money if you buy a dedicated one rather than spending $$$ on all the modelling and effects that you won't use.

Quote:
3 - at bedroom levels, just to play without disturbing the neighbours, do you think it would make a world of diference between a Mustang power amp section or a dedicated power amp (SS or tube) + cabinet? I might as well buy a used cheap power amp + small cabinet

If I understand you correctly, and you really aren't planning to use any of the effects or amp modelling in the Mustang, then yes, I'd suggest buying a dedicated power amp, either combo or head + speaker. But...

Quote:
having a lot of diferent amps/effects is tempting me

This is what's confusing me - here you say you want to use the modelling amps and effects in the Mustang, but the rest of your post you say you won't be doing this?

Personally, I think for "playing at home for fun" the Mustang amps, used properly with their modelling etc, not just as a power amp for a separate head, are brilliant. Don't assume you'll have to use your existing heads - whereas yes you can use them as you suggest, don't discount the possibility that the Mustang on its own may provide most of what you need, most of the time.

Also, for strictly home use only, you don't need to go bigger than the Mustang III. In fact, the Mustange II is plenty loud enough, but I prefer the on-amp controls on the III. (I actually bought the M IV, being fixated on the stereo effects; with hindsight the M III would have been more than ample).


Thank you so much for the detailed reply!

I think i wasn't clear about my post... I'm tempted to buy the Mustang because of the great clean/crunch tones and the amazing versatility with the effects. But since i have some preamps that i don't use right now because i don't have a combo/power amp + cabinet, i tought i could use them, when i wanted something besides the Mustang tones. This would be the best for me: to use Mustang modelling + effects, and when i wanted, plug one of my preamps to the power section and use just the preamp :)


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Post subject: Re: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:01 am
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Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
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Location: England
Quote:
This would be the best for me: to use Mustang modelling + effects, and when i wanted, plug one of my preamps to the power section

Yes you can do exactly this. Buy the Mustang. Buy it now, if not sooner! :D


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Post subject: Re: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 6:43 am
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Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:41 am
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I have gone through the ususal high watt tube stuff (Marshall JCM, Haze, VOX and more) but nowadays I only play at home. Got rid of all the others and bought a Mustang IV a year ago. Haven't regretted it for one split of a second. It's so much fun, versatile and good sounding you wont believe it. With a USB-cable plugged into the PC you can record directly too. Buy one :D


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Post subject: Re: Question for Fender Mustang III (IV and V) users
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:20 am
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Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:08 am
Posts: 91
I own a MI as my first amp and I really regret not having the cash at the time to get the MIII with the onboard effects control. It really turned me off the amp having to connect upto the laptop to edit effects.
My Class5 is now my main amp,and I have a burgeoning collection of stompboxes in front of it becasue I find manual effect tweaking on the fly so much easier than using the laptop.
I still love the fender model presets on the mustang but I tend to use them unmodified because I can't be bothered with the FUSE it takes too much away from actually practicing.

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* Fender Mustang I (V1) * Marshall Class 5 * Vox lil' Night Train*Epiphone G400 * Ibanez SA260 * Fretking Blue Label Eclat* Epiphone ES339 Pro*


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