Pre-1969 vs. Reissue Mustangs: differences?

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 3:43 pm

For those who have pre-1969 Mustangs, what are the differences between yours and the reissue Mustangs?

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:55 pm

To be honest? A ton. Especially weight. Necks they say are about the same but if you play one you'll disagree. I prefer a 69RI over an original but that is just preference. Poplar vs Basswood is another.

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:01 pm

I'm not even sure the Squiers can be considered re-issues: thicker necks, thicker frets, heavier body, pickups sound different and so do the guitars unplugged. I do think the Squiers play nice though.

I can't say anything about Japanese re-issues, never played one.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:45 pm

Also the body thickness is different with vintage vs reissue. The bridges are a little different, the pickguards are a bit different (reissue bridge pickups are physically closer to the bridge than vintage), the contours are slightly different..

They are similar in many ways, but there are differences. Oh and vintage logos are normally smaller than the reissues.

J0K1 · Post by **J0K1** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:33 pm

Everything is different, you should try them both!

speedfish · Post by **speedfish** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:44 am

Squier has 9.5" fretboard radius and jumbo fret wire. Pre-69 is 7.25" radius and small vintage fret wire. Pre-69 pickups were hand wound vs machine wound.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:47 pm

speedfish wrote:Squier has 9.5" fretboard radius and jumbo fret wire. Pre-69 is 7.25" radius and small vintage fret wire. Pre-69 pickups were hand wound vs machine wound.

Thanks, everyone. I've not had a chance to do a point-by-point comparison and this helps. I played a Reissue Mustang and yeah, it felt different. But did not have my '65 with me for direct comparison.

Some have claimed the original Mustang pups are "weak" but I'm happy with mine. I always play with the guitar volume dimed to get the most out of my pups and I'm sure that helps. An amp is such a big part of the sound, I don't notice any weakness.

The neck is thinner and the fret spacing up near the body gets a bit tight, so it takes some playing for my fingers to adjust after playing a BluesHawk or Les Paul. But I have medium-sized hands and it's no big deal to adjust.

The original and the Reissue...really two different guitars.

Cheers,

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:55 am

WHAT THE FUCK IS A PRE-69 REISSUE ?

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:00 am

robroe wrote:WHAT THE FUCK IS A PRE-69 REISSUE ?

Maybe a 65RI?

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 3:10 am

would be a 65RI

having owned several of both, i've found that i just don't get along with the re-issues, usually due to the medium jumbo frets (or the squire 9.5r)
that japanese 69ri's are good, pups sound thinner then on my og 69 & 72, but feel about the same, i find the og models weigh less.

there is a dude on the forum that hand winds mustang pups, i used them in my `72 build and they sound spot on with my 65 & 69.

(i've sold off all the reissues i've bought over the years)

Post by **dots** » Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:40 pm

i wish i kept my RI comp stang. they're harder to find on the 'bay these days.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:53 pm

serfx wrote:...having owned several of both, i've found that i just don't get along with the re-issues, usually due to the medium jumbo frets (or the squire 9.5r)
that japanese 69ri's are good, pups sound thinner then on my og 69 & 72, but feel about the same, i find the og models weigh less...(i've sold off all the reissues i've bought over the years)

You're reminding me, the 1960s frets are lower and thinner. I'm used to that. I know bigger frets can make bending a bit easier, but because my action's pretty low, I can bend strings just fine.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 3:56 pm

Rox wrote:
robroe wrote:WHAT THE FUCK IS A PRE-69 REISSUE ?

Maybe a 65RI?

We're comparing the original 1960s Mustangs with the reissue Mustangs.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 4:10 pm

Doug wrote:
Rox wrote:
robroe wrote:WHAT THE FUCK IS A PRE-69 REISSUE ?

Maybe a 65RI?
We're comparing the original 1960s Mustangs with the reissue Mustangs.

ie: Fender 64-68 vs 65RI
69-73 comp vs ri comp
74+ vs whatever else & the squier models.

least thats my take on the topic.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:40 pm

serfx wrote:
Doug wrote:
Rox wrote:
Maybe a 65RI?
We're comparing the original 1960s Mustangs with the reissue Mustangs.
ie: Fender 64-68 vs 65RI
69-73 comp vs ri comp
74+ vs whatever else & the squier models.

least thats my take on the topic.

Yeah, that nails it, Serfx. Though I was focusing in on 64-68 vs the 65 Reissue. Because mine is a 1965 and I'm just learning that there are some significant differences with the 65 Reissue.

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:59 am

There's also a 66RI and some other ones like Factory Special Run, one of which had a bent arm vibrato when the other ones used the straight one and came in Cobalt Blue I think, they called the arm something like "vintage corksniffer" although those weren't the exact words that came up when using the translator. Unfortunately, I do not know any more about them and actual differences.

speedfish · Post by **speedfish** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:38 pm

What about finish? Is the 65RI poly or nitro?

gusman2x · Post by **gusman2x** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 3:23 pm

Pretty sure all the reissues from Japan (which is the vast majority) are Poly.

There was a USA CS vintage reissue made specifically for Namm, and I'm sure they were Nitro.

In fact, here's the US Custom Shop one MEGA $$$ - JUST BUY AN ORIGINAL AND STILL HAVE CHANGE FOR A HOLIDAY

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:52 am

3000 Euros for a Stang?

You can go custom built for less..

weeping_moon · Post by **weeping_moon** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 10:39 am

Rox wrote:3000 Euros for a Stang?

You can go custom built for less..

yeah lets talk about overpriced.

you could get a vintage one for less?

and white pickup covers on pearl pickguard?

if i would buy anything at that price (i wouldnt), everything has to be perfect.

can anyone tell me whats so special about these stangs? except they were only one made in each color?

Pre-1969 vs. Reissue Mustangs: differences?

Pre-1969 vs. Reissue Mustangs: differences?

Vintage, Reissue, two different guitars

The frets

For those who have pre-1969 Mustangs, what are the differenc

Re: For those who have pre-1969 Mustangs, what are the diffe

Re: For those who have pre-1969 Mustangs, what are the diffe