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Post subject: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:32 am
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Hi all,

I am new on this forum and already I have a question. I want to purchase a Fender Mustang amp but I am not sure which one to get. I already know that I have to avoid the Mustang III V1 because of the fizzing problem.

I will mainly use this amp for playing at home with a low volume setting. I really like the Mustang III V2 because it's much easier on this amp to adjust all the settings then on the Mustang I or II. The III is a 100 watt amp so it can be very loud, but is the volume manageable on this amp? Doesn't it lose tone with a low volume setting?
I think that the speaker in the Mustang III is much better then in the smaller ones.

I mainly play blues and I like a warm sound coming from the amp. Also I am on a budget so a tube amp isn't an option for me.

Which Mustang would be the best choice for my needs?


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:52 am
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Hi Nick_66, I'm guessing you're the guy who asked the same on my YouTube channel. :D I got the Mustang III because I need something loud for gigs, if not for that, I would probably be happier with the Mustang II for home use. The III is just a little overpowered, hard to adjust at a low volume, and seems to lose something when you set the volume that low. But the MIII is working out so great for me, I don't mind, it's fantastic for gigging.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:17 am
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I am getting very confused about the Fender Mustang III now :?:

I've read on this forum someone telling something totally different about the volume and how sensitive it is:

davebols wrote:
If your still looking, the m-3 with the 4 and 2 button switch is very good. The volume goes up gradually so you have perfect control over volume. I've been giging with it for a couple months now and so far I love it. It has a high learning curve for me anyway. I just got the 4 button switch and the posibilities are endless. Whatever you get I'm sure you will have a gas. peace.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:56 am
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In my opinion, the best reason to move up from a II to a III is for the Celestion speaker and extra power.

Yes its true, the III can go from whisper to ear-bleed level real quick. But you CAN manage it a low levels and it still sounds fantastic. You just have to turn the knob very deliberately. And make sure you test the waters when you change presets, because the master volume can vary from one preset to another. Also don't forget you can plug in headphones. Of course, as strings alludes to, when you crank it up and feel the air being pushed by the speaker, it adds a whole nother dimension to the experience. Which is the beauty of having a III... the power is there when you want it and can be tamed when you don't. For my money, the Mustang III is the best balance of power, tone (at any level), and control.

The extra controls are a bonus, but in my experience, for primarily home use, its stays connected to FUSE most of the time anyways. So if you plan on staying connected to FUSE and/or you don't think you'll ever need to crank up the amp, then you'd probably be just fine saving some money and get a I or II. But if you think there's any chance that you might one day want to take the amp to a jam session or gig, definitely go for a III (or IV or V!).


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:12 am
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Nick_66 wrote:
I've read on this forum someone telling something totally different about the volume and how sensitive it is


I guess it comes down to just how quiet you need it to be. For me, I have a 3-year-old asleep at the times that I can play. And my house isn't huge, so the sound can definitely reach other rooms. I have it literally turned down to a whisper.

Your needs may be different based on your proximity to other people, the size of your house/apartment/condo/co-op/trailer/whatever, and how sensitive the people around you are. I can just tell you in my case (no matter how deliberately I turn the knob) I go straight from 'too loud' to 'too quiet' sometimes and have to futz with it to get the sweet spot.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:43 am
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Scorpaeon wrote:
In my opinion, the best reason to move up from a II to a III is for the Celestion speaker and extra power.

Yes its true, the III can go from whisper to ear-bleed level real quick. But you CAN manage it a low levels and it still sounds fantastic. You just have to turn the knob very deliberately. And make sure you test the waters when you change presets, because the master volume can vary from one preset to another. Also don't forget you can plug in headphones. Of course, as strings alludes to, when you crank it up and feel the air being pushed by the speaker, it adds a whole nother dimension to the experience. Which is the beauty of having a III... the power is there when you want it and can be tamed when you don't. For my money, the Mustang III is the best balance of power, tone (at any level), and control.

The extra controls are a bonus, but in my experience, for primarily home use, its stays co. Pnnected to FUSE most of the time anyways. So if you plan on staying connected to FUSE and/or you don't think you'll ever need to crank up the amp, then you'd probably be just fine saving some money and get a I or II. But if you think there's any chance that you might one day want to take the amp to a jam session or gig, definitely go for a III (or IV or V!).


The amp will most of the time be connected to my computer and I am not planning to crank it up all the way, not at home at least.

The big difference between the II and the III is the operating panel, the power and the speaker, but is it worth to buy the III because of the better speaker? Will it sound better with low volumes then the II?


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:05 pm
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Hi Nick_66. I've been asking the same questions as you (viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51955) as I'm also mainly going to use my Mustang-to-be at home. The difference between us to is that I'm also aspiring to jam with it. If I knew I'd only play at home with it I think I'd pick the II V2.

But because I'm hoping to take part in the occasional jam with friends I'm leaning towards the new IV. People seem to be very happy with them saying that they push more air than the III. Also - for me - the difference in price, weight and size between the two isn't an issue.

With all this said I have yet to actually see and try the Mustangs out as the updated IV and V models don't seem to be available yet in parts of Europe. Hoping this will change during next week.

Good luck with your choice and it would be nice to hear which amp you end up buying.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:19 pm
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lovevolve wrote:
Hi Nick_66. I've been asking the same questions as you (viewtopic.php?f=27&t=51955) as I'm also mainly going to use my Mustang-to-be at home. The difference between us to is that I'm also aspiring to jam with it. If I knew I'd only play at home with it I think I'd pick the II V2.

But because I'm hoping to take part in the occasional jam with friends I'm leaning towards the new IV. People seem to be very happy with them saying that they push more air than the III. Also - for me - the difference in price, weight and size between the two isn't an issue.

With all this said I have yet to actually see and try the Mustangs out as the updated IV and V models don't seem to be available yet in parts of Europe. Hoping this will change during next week.

Good luck with your choice and it would be nice to hear which amp you end up buying.


Wow, a Mustang IV for at home use??? That's really big!! I could buy a second hand for about 260 euros. That is the V1. No, I think the IV would be really to big for just playing at home. Still not decided which one I should get. Difficult decision.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 3:51 pm
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I bought a Mustang IV for home use, here's my rationale and experience (nb this is an expansion of my reply to a similar question in another topic):

- I don't need the extra power/volume, and was a bit concerned how it would sound at low volume. It does sound good, and I find the volume perfectly controllable at the quiet end (but note others disagree on that so I recommend you check if it's going to work for you before buying [edit - I agree with pyroman below that tweaking the preset volume vs the master volume can help with this]). However, it sounds at its best if you can turn it up just a little bit - not enough to annoy the neighbours, but certainly enough to irritate (assuming they don't want to listen to your guitar playing, of course!) someone in the next room.

- The M-IV has a stereo effects loop. I wanted this for maximum options to play with other equipment. I haven't done so yet, ironically, but still like having the option there. Note the changes to the effects loop position in the V2 amps seriously compromises its usefulness for (eg) loopers, discussed in another topic. I prefer the way the V1 amps do this.

- The 2x12 cabinet looks sooooo good, and sounds great. The speakers are too close together to get much of the stereo effect, but they do give a nice full-bodied tone. I'm sure it makes my mediocre playing sound better :-) Plus the top of the cabinet is large enough to use as a shelf for keeping various accessories (capos, tuners, etc). To start with I thought it was way too big for the room it's in, but now I'm used it it, it just sits discreetly behind the door when not in use and doesn't take up too much space.

- The M-IV amp includes the 4-button footswitch. Yes you can buy this separately, but it's more cost-effective if it comes with the amp.

- I wanted the on-amp editing (buttons, LCD screen, etc) of the M-III or IV, rather than the M-II. The ability to easily change effects / amp model / etc to quickly dial-in the desired sound, adds to the practicality and enjoyment of using it.

For some silly/childish reason, the M-IV adds more to the fun of playing. It's presence, both visually and audibly, just encourages me to pick up the guitar more and play, compared to the way I'd feel about a smaller "practice" amp. I agree that's completely irrational, and I'm not being critical of practice amps at all. It's just the way it is, and if it makes me play the guitar more, to me that's a good thing. I wouldn't argue with anyone else who bought an M-IV for similar reasons, even if its size/power are unnecessary or impractical.


Last edited by scott-uk on Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:42 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:41 pm
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I'm going to agree with Scott. I bought my M3 V1 specifically FOR the expanded control panel and on amp adjustability. To me, it just feels more like an AMP- to reach for the control panel to adjust something rather than reaching for my computer. FWIW, I have not even downloaded Fuse, much less used it- and I can't be happier with this amp.

It sounds wonderful to my ears at bedroom levels. I was concerned about this, too- I'm an apartment dweller, and my walls are both very old, and thin! Upon trying it out for myself, I discovered that it would "do" quiet just as well as loud. Remember, the biggest advantage of a digital/solid state amp over a tube amp is that you don't NEED to crank it up to get to those crunchy tones. Esp in the Mustang, ALL the tone is produced by the modelling in the preamp. The power amp stage is designed to be transparent- it just makes whatever tone you have louder.

The Speaker you asked about is a selling point, too. The G12T-100 is voiced perfectly for this amp. It's both tight and middy. You'd likely pay as much to buy one on the aftermarket, as the price difference between the 2 and 3.

AND, when you do get an opportunity to open the volume up, it's there waiting for ya!

I also find that the quieter presets make the master volume pot less sensitive to minor changes. By adjusting the regular volume control, you can adjust the volume level of the presets in relation to each other. For instance, switching from Intro Clean to, say, White Chapel Heavy will give you a big jump in volume. With WCH, the master volume is a bit jumpy- it goes from too quiet to too loud very easily. With Intro Clean, the change is more gradual. Turning the volume pot down on the WCH preset takes the jumpiness out of the master volume.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:53 am
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If I understand things correctly - and please correct me if I'm wrong - the IV isn't that much louder than the III.

Double the amount of watts and you get a 3dB increase in volume. So going from 1w to 2w is actually the same increase in dB as going from 100w to 200w.

This means that the increase in volume between the III (100w) and the IV (150w) is only 1.5dB.

How the fact that the III has one 100w speaker and the IV has two 75w speakers affects this equation I don't know.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:41 am
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scott-uk wrote:
- The M-IV has a stereo effects loop. I wanted this for maximum options to play with other equipment. I haven't done so yet, ironically, but still like having the option there. Note the changes to the effects loop position in the V2 amps seriously compromises its usefulness for (eg) loopers, discussed in another topic. I prefer the way the V1 amps do this.


Had to look up what scott-uk was referring to. If anyone else is interested the thread can be found here: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=83653

Not a deal-breaker for me though although I think it's strange.

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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:04 pm
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You are correct about the watts thing. anyway if you use the amp at close range and play at 100w or 150w it will not matter very soon as you are going to be deaf in a matter of minutes.

Having two speakers is another question, in most occasions having two speakers will sound better than having one, simply a question of more air moved at the same watts rating. that's why you see so many popular combos and cabinets with 2 and 4 speakers.

I agree that the effects loop on V2 is a bad idea (or more like half of a good idea :)


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:45 pm
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Thanks for all the help so far!

As I am mainly going to use the amp at bedroom levels and don't need all the power, I still am going for the Mustang III V2. The speaker in the III is of a better quality then that of the II model, but if I will hear the difference at low levels?

Anyway, the GUI on the III is a big advantage over the II and I will not always need my pc to tweak and adjust all the settings. It's all easily done on the amp itself.

Only thing I am still a bit afraid of is the power. I will have to trust on the fact that it will sound ok at bedroom levels.

Going to order this amp online and hopefully be a happy owner of a Mustang III.

On other forums some people didn't recommend this amp. Instead I should buy a Peavey Vypyr or a Vox (not sure which model) or a used Tech21 30?

I am definitely going for the Mustang because it such a versatile amp. I keep you all posted and keep you updated as soon as I have the opportunity to test the amp.


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Post subject: Re: Which Fender Mustang
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:56 pm
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Hey Nick,

I used to own a Mustang 3 V1 and played exclusively on my basement, mostly at 1-2 watts power (comparing to other sources that of which I know the power rating), and the sound was still marvellous

Regarding the Vypyr and Vox stuff, they are simply not on the same category of the mustang, with the possible exception of the Vypyr if you play heavy metal, as you have more metal-sound options with that amp compared to the mustang. Go to a guitarcenter if you can and compare them side by side, I'm pretty sure you will leave the place with a mustang under your arm.


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