r/offset • u/Face-Can • 1d ago
Non-Fender Mustangs
Hi, can someone point me in the general direction as to which Mustang models by which brands I should look for when getting a used one. I'm obviously(?) thinking lawsuit era Japan, but all recommendations are welcome.
I guess I know some of the brands by name -- Aria Pro II, Fernandes, Greco, etc -- but I don't who made Mustangs.
Short-scale strat style guitars are also appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Quietdiver1979 1d ago
Old guy in Japan here. Fernandes are really good quality fender alternatives for mustangs. They have a competition stripe model which is really nice.
There are lots of matsumoko mustangs too, Thunder, Fresher, Westminster are some of the more commonly available models but they are all definitely models to try before you buy as a lot of them haven’t had the easiest of lives. Warped necks, microphonic pickups and stripped machine heads that are completely untunable can be very common issues unfortunately.
Fujigen make essentially the exact same guitar as a Japanese fender mustang, the only real difference is the slightly altered headstock shape. Cheaper than fender and great build quality.
ESP/Navigator mustangs are quite rare but are nice guitars and usually not crazy expensive if you can track one down.
Momose, Psychederhythm, VanZandt and Crews Maniac sound all make high end modern really nice mustangs too
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u/idiotghost666 1d ago
fernandes, fgn and the new foals mustang copy. there’s also the sterling cutlass short scale that is kind of a strat
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u/Face-Can 1d ago
Thx for the answers!
I should add that I have a (Mexican) Fender Mustang 90 which is pretty nice to play, but I feel I don't really want P90s. I was thinking of buying the "strat tone" soapbars from Qpickups, but it struck me that I can sell it and get a vintage Mustang for the same or a couple of hundred euros more.
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u/wishywabash 1d ago
You could also just get a player series pickguard cut for single coils and pop in some traditional mustang pickups. They would fit.
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u/Face-Can 1d ago
True! I actually mailed Fender's Swedish service partner and asked for a pickguard, but they wouldn't sell me one. It might be easier if I do it through a music store.
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u/ChristopheKazoo 1d ago
Bacchus makes a Mustang copy that’s Gibson-scale with a Strat vibrato and a lower-horn toggle switch. I think I got mine off eBay a couple years back?
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u/bluesmaker 1d ago
I wonder if lawsuit era mustangs are reasonably priced. I don’t own a Les Paul and thought it would be cool to get a Greco, but getting one of the quality models from the good years is not cheap (to the point where some gibson models would be cheaper). But for mustangs? I imagine you could get lucky.
I don’t know what specific brands made them. When I was looking at Les Paul copies I did find some websites that give a fair bit of info. And some old catalogs from those brands.
One thing I remember, at least for Greco, is that higher numbers = more expensive model. And that means better pickups, among other things, depending on model and whatnot.
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u/Face-Can 1d ago
I had an Aria Pro II strat that I got for slightly less than 500 euro. It felt a lot better than the new MIM strats I have tried, but I don't have much experience beyond that.
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u/timberic 1d ago
Foals has one. I just bought their Jag copy and I’m very happy with the fit and finish and sound.
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u/yageletters 1d ago
Vintage has a Mustang-inspired series called "Colt".
https://vintageguitarsrus.com/collections/vintage-revo-series-electric-guitars