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Post subject: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:26 am
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Guys, I kinda took your advice. I bought a MIM Strat and paired it up with a Mustang I V2.

I was instantly sold after quickly playing a tune on it at the Guitar Center. When I got home, I realized I couldnt really use the AMP as a regular AMP. And that the PRESETS are basically stuck onto the AMP no matter what mode you go. You can change and save on the spot, but it is still not clean as I would liked nor does it work like my Starter AMP from ESP. Am doing something wrong here? I just wanted a good sounding AMP for my small set up. I just play in my room, I dont gig, and find this level of Volume is WAYYYYY enough. Any other choices here if I want to buy one in store that is not discountinued etc. I was looking at the Champion 20 or 15 forgot...at the Guitar Center. my friend also is selling the GDEC 15. Should I jump for 1?

Also a side note, to switch from regular tone to OVERDRIVE, I would need a pedal yes? theres no button like there is on my starter AMP that came from the ESP F10 Starter Pack. That AMP that it came with had a small button called Overdrive. The mustang I V2 has no overdrive!!! Help!!! Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:44 am
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wow, where did you get the amp from? Did the salesperson explain that the Mustang I is a modeling amp? You will need to connect the Mustang I to a computer and use the (free) FUSE software to make changes to presets, such as adding overdrive. If that all seems like it's beyond your skillset, it might be time to take it back and look at something else.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:40 pm
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Hey thanks for the reply. If I am not using the Presets, and I am looking for a good low budget AMP, what are my choices? I have seen at the store the Champion 20 or 15 forgot, but it was 99 bucks at guitarcenter. There also this GDEC 15 my friend has. What are some of my choices if I want a good regular AMP for playing and get that nice nice Strat/Fender tone. I want it nice and clean.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:45 pm
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I still don't really understand why the Mustang I doesn't work for you. Are you saying you just really have your heart set on a tube amp? But can you get a decent tube amp for under a hundred bucks?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:58 pm
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The thing is I cant plug and play my guitar without having to deal with all the confusions of the presets and using the knobs to further modify the sound. And trust me, I like the look and the sound of the Mustang, its just too complicated for me. For an example, I just visited the Guitar Center today after work and told them my situation, and they offered either a 250ish VOX 4 or 5 WATT tube amp. I forgot what its called but its Beige/Cream Color with big words VOX on front, its actually on sale from 300~. He also recommended me the Frontman 25R, which I kind of like and May end up doing that instead. Because its simple, I plug it and I play it. Then there is the Champion 20 which I havent played or heard it yet, beacuse they didnt have one at the store. I heard the Super Champ X2, and it was GREAT, would buy but well over my budget. Any thoughts?????


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:52 pm
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OK, I think I hear you. The Mustang I v2 doesn't come out of the box with a clean tone that you like, and you don't want to mess with all the modeling to get it to sound right. Fair enough.

Word of warning on the Champion 20...there is no pure "clean" channel. You select one of the amp models just like the Mustang I. The Champion 40 on the other hand has a dedicated clean channel and a second channel with the selectable amp voicings. It also has an optional footswitch you could get later to switch between channels. If you're not happy with the Mustang I, I'm not sure you'll be happy with the Champion 20.

The Frontman 25R doesn't seem like a bad choice for you. It does have a clean channel and an overdrive channel, with an optional footswitch.

The little Vox is definitely a possibility too if you just want a small tube amp. You could also look at the Blackstar HT-1 too. The Bugera V5 could work too. All of those are tube amps, so that means they are a little pricier and headphones are no longer an option.

Overall, it sounds like you probably want the Frontman if you just want a simple 2-channel clean/overdrive amp.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:13 pm
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The Frontman may do the trick, but keep in mind that they are discontinued models being superceded by the Champion line.

IMO opinion, if you are going solid state Fender, the Mustang is the logical choice. Any tone from either the Frontman or new Champion line can be easily replicated with a Mustang. (Trust me as I am speaking from experience having owned all three model lines.) Many more can be replicated as well so most guitarists should not tire too soon with a Mustang.. As your playing evovles, so can your. Sound with a Mustang.

I think this is particularly true at your price point. A 5 watt tube amp for $100 will likely limit your sound I strongly recommend learning your way around the Mustang. The tone you want is in there somewhere.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:20 am
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I don't have a Mustang 1 so am not 100% certain on the front-panel controls (different to my Mustang 4), but...

It should be just a few seconds work to select a preset with a 'clean' amp model, turn off all the effects in that preset, then save that preset back to the default power-on preset position. Then the OP has exactly what they want.

Maybe someone with a Mustang 1 can post some simple instructions to help the OP do that?

Note: exactly how to do this is covered in the owners manual here as well:
http://support.fender.com/manuals/guita ... nglish.pdf

I agree with other posters that sticking with the Mustang 1 overall seems a good option. It can easily be setup to do what the OP wants, gives longer-term flexibility, and is probably an overall better sound than other solid-state amps at that price.


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:38 am
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I tend to agree with Archtop Bill on this. I completely appreciate how overwhelming the Mustang might appear to you as an obvious beginner with all of the options, and Fender's documentation of the amp doesn't make it any easier. But maybe a simplified approach to get you started might help.

You mentioned the Vox amp you looked at. Do you realize you already have that amp? It's the one on the selection knob called "BRITISH 60s". You have three different variations on the setting pre-made for you, but you can change them and save them to be more to your liking. It may be best for you to simply stick with ONE model and tweak that to what you need.

Since you were wanting a clean sound, turn the selection dial until you have a green LED light next to the British 60's. Leave it there and play through it. If it's not as clean as you would like, first turn the knobs marked Mod and Dly/Rvb completely off (full to the left). That will remove all effects. If the sound is still not as clean as you'd like, turn the Gain knob counter-clockwise until you get a nice clean sound. You can also change the Volume, Treble, and Bass knobs to get the clean sound you want. Once you've gone through those steps and the amp sounds the way you want, press the "Save" button two times.

You now have that same Vox amp you were looking at in the store set to clean. The next time you turn on your amp, simply turn the selection knob until the LED next to "British 60s" is illuminated green, and you have the same Vox clean amp setting.

If you would like a little more distortion or effects, I'd suggest staying with the Vox amp for the time being and turn the selection knob until the LED light is RED next to the British 60's setting. Go through the same process described above, but this time adding more Gain which will add more distortion or crunch to the sound, and/or play with different settings for the Mod and Dly/Rvb dials. Press the Save button twice to save it and now you have that Vox amp on a clean setting (Green LED) and a distorted with effects setting (Red LED).

In your case I'd stick with just the one British 60's model. You can change any settings as much as you'd like while you're playing, but they won't be saved permanently unless you hit the save button twice. Bear in mind that the yellow/amber LED version of the British 60's (Vox) amp can be modified as well, but just not saved. Once you're comfortable with the process you can expand it and try out some of the other amps there like the Fender amps such as the 65 Twin Reverb, the 59 Bassman, or the 57 Deluxe Reverb.

The amp has an enormous amount of potential which is good because it will accommodate you for a long time as your skills grow. But for now, just start simple and stay with the basics and save yourself $300.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:07 am
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Thank you for the replies guys. I got the Mustang for about 107 and I can get the Front Man 25R for about 90. Not much difference there, but I think you guys brought up a few good points. First being that Frontman 25R might just fit the bill for a simple in and out AMP. Second most important thing to me was actually the Mustang is a good option from what I heard despite not needing the options that are available. I think I will try to plug it in and try things out a bit before I run to the GC store and do the exchange. I wanna give it one more try, since this is like the starting AMP that mostly everyone recommends. But all your words and opinions are very valuable to me and I appreciate it. Thank you!!!

BTW just a side note. I was really really stressed and torn between a MIM and MIA Strat. I have like OCD and just want the best out there. After checking out the prices both on GC and ebay. I went with the brand new MIM versus a MIA 2007? forgot year, maybe 2011 or 2012 Mystic Blue MIA Strat which was 850 if I was lucky or Buy it now for 1000 Shipped. The MIM i bought was brand new as well and it was only 450 with the discount I got. 10% off. I got the ampp for 10% off as well. All for out the door 600. So I think its not bad for a beginners set up. Also When i had brought it home I kept smiling and thinking I got the best bang for my bucks. I am super happy and glad I didnt get too paranoid over the MIA strat. I think this will definitely do for now.

:D


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:43 am
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What kind of music are you in to?

I was torn between the Frontman and the Mustang I and ended up getting the Mustang II. Very glad I did. For the same price you have a LOT of on board FX and stomps at your disposal should you decide you want to up the anti. You can make this AMP VERY simple. Take the advice above and rotate all the FX knobs to the left to turn everything off. Go through the clean amps and find one or two that tickle your fancy and treat as you would any other AMP by adjusting Gain and EQ to taste.

Once you have some tones going, you can hook up to fuse if you wish and add a stomp, and with a footswitch, you can have say a clean preset on one footswitch setting and that same preset with an OD added on the other. You can buy the switch for cheap. I opted to build my own out of some spare parts but the fender one is only 14 bucks I think.

My advice to any Mustang I/II owners is to program the FX knobs in fuse using the “Save Effects” function. That way you can tailor the mod and reverb/delay knobs to your needs and if you want to add on the fly you can do it right there on the amp. The possibilities with the mustang line make this AMP a much better option for the money. The Frontman is a cool little amp for the money. You just might find yourself wanting more and the mustang has plenty of room for growth.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:06 am
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captainc wrote:
What kind of music are you in to?

I was torn between the Frontman and the Mustang I and ended up getting the Mustang II. Very glad I did. For the same price you have a LOT of on board FX and stomps at your disposal should you decide you want to up the anti. You can make this AMP VERY simple. Take the advice above and rotate all the FX knobs to the left to turn everything off. Go through the clean amps and find one or two that tickle your fancy and treat as you would any other AMP by adjusting Gain and EQ to taste.

Once you have some tones going, you can hook up to fuse if you wish and add a stomp, and with a footswitch, you can have say a clean preset on one footswitch setting and that same preset with an OD added on the other. You can buy the switch for cheap. I opted to build my own out of some spare parts but the fender one is only 14 bucks I think.

My advice to any Mustang I/II owners is to program the FX knobs in fuse using the “Save Effects” function. That way you can tailor the mod and reverb/delay knobs to your needs and if you want to add on the fly you can do it right there on the amp. The possibilities with the mustang line make this AMP a much better option for the money. The Frontman is a cool little amp for the money. You just might find yourself wanting more and the mustang has plenty of room for growth.


Quality wise both Frontman 25R and Mustang sound the same if tuned or adjusted right, correct? How much difference is there between tube AMPs and Solid State amps? THE guys at GC center stated that Tube amps BLOWS any Solid State (ones I was looking at anyways) amps out of the water, any of you can confirm this!?!?


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:19 am
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Water blowing confirmation is an entirely different debate and another thread. And I’d bet if you took a Mustang after being in the hands of someone who knows how to use it back to Guitar Center for a demo, you’d turn some heads.

For the money? You can get a Mustang III far cheaper than a LOT of tube amps on the market. Sure you’ll get some good tones out of the Frontman, but as stated above, you can get that same tone from the Mustang for sure and there’s room for growth if you decide you need and want it.

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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:26 am
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Alright Captain, its decided. Ill keep it! Thank you all for the feedback and input. You guys have been very helpful!!!!!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: Mustang I V2 Yeeeeeellllps
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 10:24 am
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You've certainly come to the right place whatever you decide. The folks here are very knowledgeable and always quick to help out with advice, tips and help with issues regarding the Mustang Amps.

enjoy.

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