Fender Mustang Earliest August 1964 - first month, first year!
$3,075.00The Fender Mustang was introduced in August of 1964. The neck date on this example is August of 1964...
White and pearl fretboard markers were standard throughout the model's production. This one sports clay dot markers, like the Stratocasters and Telecasters of the era.
Other early Mustang features are the Kluson tuners, which changed to Fender "F Tuners" in 1965, the L series neckplate, and black-bottom pickups.
One thing you might not notice about this example is the headstock logo - in particular, the patent numbers. This guitar has the unique, early waterslide logo with "DES. 186,826 PAT. 2,960,900 2,741,146 & PAT. PEND." under the logo. Others from the period vary, showing three patent numbers, and still others shuffle the DES number between two Patent numbers. I suppose some Mustang fanatics know more about this than I do, but this is one identifier of the earliest Mustangs.
All that nerdiness aside, this particular instrument jumps right out at you at first glance. The finish checking is so cool looking, making the body nearly as distinguished as the crazy birdseye maple neck. The back of the neck is worn perfectly.
The guitar has seen one typical Mustang maintenance repair - the two slider switches are replaced. There is a solder touch on the original-looking Switchcraft output jack, on the solder lug that typically is not used. I wonder if perhaps the person who replaced the switches ended up with a grounding issue and maybe tried grounding the output jack lug, because the switch is original and shouldn't have solder on that lug. Who knows, and it is no big deal, but this is the kind of thing we notice and prefer to tell you about.
The original case, trem arm, and bridge cover are included. One end of the case is "smooshed" a bit, see pics.
Overall, what you have here is pretty much the perfect anchor for the collection of a Mustang fan!
- Color: Dakota Red
- Weight: 7lbs
- Body: Alder, could be poplar...
- Neck: Flamed Birdseye Maple
- Neck Profile: C
- Neck date: 8 Aug 64 A
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Inlay: Clay Dots
- Frets: Vintage
- Fret count: 22
- Nut material: Bone
- Nut width: 1.495"
- Scale: 24"
- Radius: 7.25"
- Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.8"
- Neck thickness at 7th fret: 0.89"
- Neck thickness at 12th fret: 0.977"
- Hardware: original except strap buttons
- Neck pickup: 6.16k
- Bridge pickup: 6.27k
- Pickguard: MOP 3 ply M/B/W
- Bridge: original
- Tuners: original
- Switch: both slider switches replaced
- Pots: original
- Case: OHSC
