It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:43 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:13 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:38 pm
Posts: 77
I have a Mustang II, and am thinking of upgrading to the III just to get the better speaker and the better display. When I play the amp through headphones, I think it sounds much better than through the speaker. I want to get the warmer tone that I hear through headphones, and I wonder if the III's Celestion speaker will be a real improvement.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:36 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:04 pm
Posts: 186
CharlesTY wrote:
I have a Mustang II, and am thinking of upgrading to the III just to get the better speaker and the better display. When I play the amp through headphones, I think it sounds much better than through the speaker. I want to get the warmer tone that I hear through headphones, and I wonder if the III's Celestion speaker will be a real improvement.


I bought the Mustang III after spending time with the II and the III.

The III is definitely worth the extra $$$: better GUI, better speaker, 4-button footswitch.

_________________
Telecaster > Mustang Floor > FOH/BJr III/V1512T/HRDx III


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:34 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:26 pm
Posts: 269
Location: Near The City By The Bay
imho...

If you ever want to do any preset adjustments without a computer running FUSE, you need to be on a III or better.

The footswitch for the II may be OK for practicing a few songs, but you'll never get through a set with only a/b choices.

As for sound, don't forget the II has a very directional speaker in a sealed cabinet; I have a 25' cord and use all of it to get the most 'room' between me and the speaker. This also gives me the opportunity to crank it up a bit more than if I was standing on top of it which also helps the sound.

The open speaker in the III does a better job of filling the room so where you are isn't as big a factor.

ymmv.

_________________
1967 Epiphone Madrid EC-30
1975 Fender Stratocaster
1981 Rickenbacker 360
2002 BC Rich Bich
2007 Fender Standard Stratocaster
2012 Taylor GA3-12
2012 Squier Telecaster
2017 Les Paul Kit


"Make every song you sing your favorite tune."


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:49 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:38 pm
Posts: 77
I've tried out the III and the IV, and in short sessions at stores, both seemed to sound better than my Mustang II - but it's hard to tell in that environment.
I like the interface so much better that it's probably worth it to me to upgrade just for that alone. I might go ahead and get the IV; the two 12"s do move more air, and seem to open up the sound quite a bit.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:04 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:04 pm
Posts: 186
HeyJoe42 wrote:
imho...

If you ever want to do any preset adjustments without a computer running FUSE, you need to be on a III or better.

The footswitch for the II may be OK for practicing a few songs, but you'll never get through a set with only a/b choices.

As for sound, don't forget the II has a very directional speaker in a sealed cabinet; I have a 25' cord and use all of it to get the most 'room' between me and the speaker. This also gives me the opportunity to crank it up a bit more than if I was standing on top of it which also helps the sound.

The open speaker in the III does a better job of filling the room so where you are isn't as big a factor.

ymmv.


Exactly. Better interface - 4-button footswitch - 12-inch speaker w/open cab.

3 great reasons to move up to the III.

_________________
Telecaster > Mustang Floor > FOH/BJr III/V1512T/HRDx III


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 6:19 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:04 pm
Posts: 186
CharlesTY wrote:
I've tried out the III and the IV, and in short sessions at stores, both seemed to sound better than my Mustang II - but it's hard to tell in that environment.
I like the interface so much better that it's probably worth it to me to upgrade just for that alone. I might go ahead and get the IV; the two 12"s do move more air, and seem to open up the sound quite a bit.


Think carefully on this one, CharlesTY.

I got the III mainly for home use and for rehearsals and small gigs where no PA/DI box is available. I based my decision upon its manageable size/weight, its all-in-one nature and its 100 watts of firepower.

Moving to the IV changes things. It's much bigger and borderlines on becoming a chore more than a joy when it comes to gigging.

My $.02. :)

_________________
Telecaster > Mustang Floor > FOH/BJr III/V1512T/HRDx III


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:25 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
Quote:
becoming a chore more than a joy

Agree it's heavier and more cumbersome. But the 2x12 cabinet looks soooo good :) It's also large enough to double as a handy picnic-table when you're on the road... :D

Plus the stereo "fx send" can be used as a stereo line-out to a PA while keeping the amp itself as a stage monitor... not that I've ever done that, but for some it's a good option.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:42 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:43 pm
Posts: 532
Location: Here In Oregon
HeyJoe42 wrote:
The footswitch for the II may be OK for practicing a few songs, but you'll never get through a set with only a/b choices.

I totally disagree!!! I have many Fender TUBE amps that are one trick ponies and cost over a grand. I can get two awesome clean Fender Twin recreations out of my Mustang 2 with effects along with a tap tempo for delay and very easy to change even in the middle of a song as I have the amp up pretty high on top of another amp.

I also add in two different Radial Engineering tube distortion pedals before the amp for variable overdrives and this horse/car (Mustang) takes the pedals unbelievably well. I now have a whole panoply of sounds now without ear splitting volume.

HeyJoe42 wrote:
The open speaker in the III does a better job of filling the room so where you are isn't as big a factor.

I always have a mic on this amp and the sound sits big in every mix in my professional recording studio, and I will confess that I am *definitely* a tone snob and have been for decades. Never, ever liked a modeler until now,... and not having to replace expensive tubes all of the time is da bomb in a good way. :D

_________________
http://www.fullspectrumonline.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:42 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:13 am
Posts: 6
I thought the lll came with the 2 button switch


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 6:02 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:04 pm
Posts: 186
rick360 wrote:
I thought the lll came with the 2 button switch


Yes, the III comes with the 2-button footswitch; but the 4-button footswitch is MUCH more useful, especially in a live situation.

_________________
Telecaster > Mustang Floor > FOH/BJr III/V1512T/HRDx III


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 11:43 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:43 pm
Posts: 532
Location: Here In Oregon
FenderGuy53 wrote:
rick360 wrote:
I thought the lll came with the 2 button switch


Yes, the III comes with the 2-button footswitch; but the 4-button footswitch is MUCH more useful, especially in a live situation.

The II has an optional 1- button switch which has a 1/4 inch right angle end which is silly for this amp's architecture. I just pulled out a bunch of my boxes of old music gear and found like 6 or 7 footswitches and one by Roland had a straight 1/4 inch end with a long cable and works perfect.

_________________
http://www.fullspectrumonline.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 9:26 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:35 am
Posts: 13
Hi guys!

I have a Mustang I, love it, but I'd like to upgrade the sound with a 12” speaker. A have two options.: buy or build an 1x12 external cab with a guitar speaker and hook it up, or go for the Mustang III.

Does the Mustang III has better sound If we forget about the speaker? A better audio interface, better quality of models or better sound on recording? Or on basics they are all the same? - so if The MI would hooked up to the M III's cabinet or vice versa, will it produce the same sound with the same preset and gear?

If I go to make a DIY cab, which speaker would be the best from the Mustang line? The G12-T100 (M III), G-12P80(M IV) or a Rocket a Rocket 50 (M V 4x12)? I think I would choose one of these because the factory choose them as default.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 12:43 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
The amp models, DSP, effects, etc, are identical (I believe) in all the Mustang amps. The key differences between the different amps are the on-amp editing interface (MUCH better on M3 and above compared to M1/2), the power of the power amp, and the tone of the speaker/cabinet.

I imagine the circuitry of the M1 is probably tuned somewhat for the power of the power amp, the size and tone of the speaker, and the physical cabinet*. Connecting the M1's power amp to a different cabinet may well improve things, and of course is a fun and interesting thing to do, I wouldn't dissuade anyone from experimenting with that. However I just don't think it will turn an M1 into an M3.

My humble opinion: the better route is just to bite the bullet and go for an M3. Then you'll have a package of stuff that all works together acoustically, plus the better on-amp editing.

(*Whether this is in fact the case for the Mustang amps is an unanswered question that occasionally crops up - unless I've missed the answer somewhere)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 1:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:43 pm
Posts: 532
Location: Here In Oregon
bastrings wrote:
I have a Mustang I, love it, but I'd like to upgrade the sound with a 12” speaker. A have two options.: buy or build an 1x12 external cab with a guitar speaker and hook it up, or go for the Mustang III.


Huh,...you have at least one other option. You could go for the Mustang 2 which has a 12 inch speaker, no fizz, and less money than the Mustang 3.

_________________
http://www.fullspectrumonline.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang II to III - worth it for the speaker upgrade?
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:24 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:35 am
Posts: 13
Thanks Gents!

The bigger Stang's on board editing is a really great thing, but I'm fine with the FUSE. It could be just me, but can't find the answer for the question: Are they identical in the whole modelling system or the bigger ones are improved on some features? (Its make sens if the the II, IV and V are also tuned to the “regular” guitar speakers.)
If there is any improvement I would go for the Mustang III. On the other hand, a good 1x12 cab would be fine at bedroom levels with the 20Ws and it could be used with any other amp for more than just home practicing.
Yep, the Mustang 2! It has just more power and also a „special design” speaker like the Must1. All the bigger Mustangs are equipped with “normal” guitar speakers and it seems its better(?) with this kind of modelling technology.
Oh and I forget about the Fizz thing, thanks for the remind.
Too many questions, haha! :)

Thanks again! Cheers!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: