So i am saving up for a nice fender guitar and so i am set on either a 62 reissue strat or a a 60s or early 70s mustang. I like both of their sounds and feels and i play all sorts of music from blues and grunge to folk and rock.

The problem with the strat is i always wanted it in surf green but fender stopped producing them i guess but thats only a small thing so its not a bug factor but a factor none the less.


I guess i just need to hear other peoples opinions on this.



I know i am in the strat section and you guys may be a little biased but i just need help on pulling the trigger. This wont be my last fender so i probably will end up getting them in the future but i just need to decide on one right now.

Owning both Strats and a Mustang I think I can give you some insight into both.Both are great guitars and each has it's own merits.The Strat offers more tonal variation than the Mustang and the pickups are stronger giving a fuller sound.The Mustang being a short scale guitar is well suited for people with smaller hands but doesn't have the tonal range and possibilities that the Strat has but the upper "phase"switches can give very cool tones in the meantime.The Mustang's vibrato isn't as rock solid as the Strat's but is still a very good one and tuning problems with it can be remedied pretty easily.A 60s Mustang will certainly give you a better sound than the newer ones-provided you get a good one-there were some below standard guitars in the 60s as well.But I think that I would lean towards a Strat first and then get a Mustang farther down the road.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Kurt Cobain liked the Mustangs and used them quite a bit. I understand he also replaced the pups with humbuckers. A friend of mine who is a Nirvana fanatic said that after Kurt would destroy his guitar on stage..he would take the pick ups out and reuse them on the next mustang.

Don't know if that helps answer your question...but certainly you can hear the difference in his sound vs any well known Strat player.

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I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

Owning both a 70's Strat and a 70's Mustang, I'd say without doubt that the Strat is more versatile. I agree with guitslinger, the tonal variations on the Strat make it ideal for all styles (Blues, Rock, Country, Surf, Alt) including those best served with a Mustang (Surf, Grunge). Remember, when the Mustang was first issued, it was marketed as a student line instrument. The Strat has always been a more deluxe model. Mind you the Mustang has a ton of cool vibe. However, IMO it's not the best choice for a first Fender.

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'78 Fender Stratocaster
Epi USA Texan '64 RI signed by Paul McCartney
'73 Fender Mustang
Gibson LP Deluxe RI '69
Fender Active Jazz Bass
Guild GADm20e Acoustic Guitar
Epi Casino RI
Gretsch Pro Jet w/Bigsby
And My Frankenstein-O-Caster

thanks guys i am going with the strat and then the mustang. I love fender so i will own both of them its just which one is first.

It sucks musicians destroy their instruments. To me its kind of like destroying a work of art.

I am a runty female with small hands even for a runt... That being said, I feel comfortable with the sizing on both the Mustang and Stratocaster models. If you are going for a first Fender ever... The versatility of the Strat alone is your best bet. Start from the center of a thing and work your way around. I say the Stratocaster is the center of all things Fender. IMHO. I know what you mean by wanting them all. I know I do. They shall be mine, oh yes...

Cheers to you.
Dean

[quote="cechansler"]I guess i just need to hear other peoples opinions on this.[quote]

Simple......just like automobiles. Maserati or Mustang

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"Another day in paradise!"

Hi Spicymeatball,welcome to the forum,always more room for another Fender lover here and you won't get any"sauce"here either lol.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

See, not only do I love me some Fender but I also cook for a living and I know a "subtle hint" at getting a free meal when I read one! Sauce indeed!


cheers baby!
Dean

p.s. Thank you for the welcome. I had lurked and listened for too long from under the sofa cushions.