NVGD: 1964 Fender Mustang - CAUTION POO BROWN CONTENT AHEAD

mtotallywired · Post by **mtotallywired** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:30 am

Just picked this up the other day, for what I hope, was a steal of a price.

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Date on neck and body indicate it's a late 1964 mustang.
Used to be dakota red, but some moron decided to strip it and refin it this pooey brown color.
Not sure of the body wood, but I initially thought it could mahogany rather than poplar? perhaps ya'll could help me identify it.
Pickguard appears to be original and body still has all the original shielding, but switches, pickups, and pots are all newer.
Trem and bridge are original. pat pending.
Original white button klusons have been replaced with nickel ones.
Decal is original, but someone decided to re-lacquer the neck at some point, so it now sits below a layer of gloss rather than on top. (maybe after a refret?) not sure. I know it feels nice, and definitely vintage despite the fact.

The pickups are both Dimarzio DP404's (Virtual Vintage Solo's), as installed by 30th st guitars in manhattan apparently. haven't played many other vintage mustang examples, but they sound pretty nice, warm and very chimey/jangly! Only weird thing is that I get hum from all positions whether whether one or both pickups are ON/OFF/IN PHASE/OUT. I got some black pickup covers coming in so when i'm under there again I will take some gut shots. could be a wiring or grounding error. Even with new pickups installed, somehow the guitar still sounds very very woody, and old. I love it!

It's very very lightweight, and the neck is both a pleasure and a breeze to play. My hands are of average size but this A neck feels really teeny. Feels like you're playing a uke on the first 3 frets! I thought I could get used to it at first...BUT after playing at practice last nite, I think the A width is a bit too small. I may have to flip this guitar for a later 60's stang. If I ever get myself a space to work, I will definitely try to refin at least the body, but as is, the poo brown is pretty funny to me. Reminds me a lil of George Harrison's rosewood tele.

All in all, I wonder how much a piece like this is worth?
Anyway, wanted to share this find with you guys

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:46 am

I quite like that, umm colouration

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:14 am

Love me some poo brown! If the finish on my strat ever gets dinged up too bad I'd totally stain 'er like your Mustang. It's beautiful!

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:02 am

if your shit is that color, i'm afraid it's time for a change in diet.

that's probably one of the hottest mustangs i've ever seen. i'd much rather have that than dakota red which is one of the shittiest colors i've ever seen.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:12 am

This is the colour of that one shit you finally resign yourself to take in the woods after a weekend of PBR and campfire pork chops.
Cause you know you're not going to make it trough the ride back home, on those bumpy gravel roads and the suspension on the van is shot.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:13 am

I'm pretty sure those DiMarzios have integrated pickup covers, yo. These noiseless singles are complicated things and they like to keep it all together. And it does look like the bridge has the upside down stagger from flipping the pickup upside down, which I guess gives it Hendrix qualities.

ANYWAY, I bet it sounds great. I know some call it sacrilege but I think a Mustang isn't complete for me until I put noiseless Strat pickups in it. I've done that on both my Mustangs and will do that on all my future Stangs.

mtotallywired · Post by **mtotallywired** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:30 am

thanks for the comments guys. I quite like the finish. I do like dakota red, i must say, and would love the original finish back (for value's sake alone!) BUT I like it. I just wish I could get on with the neck. It came with either 9's or 10's and I'm doing my first adjustments as we speak, by putting on some much needed 11's right now

Lucamo · Post by **Lucamo** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:28 am

Man I love that finish. SO HAWT.

Good find my friend!

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:32 am

Love that guitar. I'm going to be building a brown mustang myself. After finishing my brown telecaster and brown musicmaster thing...

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:34 am

love this guitar, and it's probably one of my favorite i've seen on this site

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:30 am

i'd go for a refinish, fo' sho'. it looks like whatever mustangs were generally made of then, i.e. not mahogany.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:33 am

stewart wrote:it looks like whatever mustangs were generally made of then, i.e. compressed ball sweat.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:44 am

Not my favorite color but it works on this guitar due to its age.

Careful with that neck, once you do get into a Mustang neck nothing else feels as good.
I think Honey is right about them pickups too, most noiseless/stacked singles are vacuum potted as an whole unit. Imo they dont spoil the aesthetic anyway.

James · Post by **James** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:29 am

I don't know if it's been mentioned but the strings are strung up the 'wrong' way. It definitely changes the sound, and the response of the strings and with that the overall feel of the guitar. These pics show how it was intended to be strung.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:31 pm

well spotted. yep, change that right away and it'll sound and play much better.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:50 pm

laterallateral wrote:This is the colour of that one shit you finally resign yourself to take in the woods after a weekend of PBR and campfire pork chops.
Cause you know you're not going to make it trough the ride back home, on those bumpy gravel roads and the suspension on the van is shot.

zactly....lulz

mtotallywired · Post by **mtotallywired** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:01 pm

thanks guys. yeah I changed the way it was strung later that day after taking these pics. didnt notice it til someone pointed it out to me. shame though...I think I'm gonna have to get rid of this thing. it's a nice player but im not gettin along with the A width, andI don't really have the money to put into it to make it the stang I want it to be. So i guess stay tuned and check yr local listings

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:07 pm

I want this!

Boab · Post by **Boab** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:21 pm

Very classy looking.

Definitely prefer it to Dakota Red.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:53 pm

inventive way to say "i've got a '64 mustang for sale" i suppose...

:/