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I was having a look in my local guitar shop this morning and saw one of these wonderful specimens:



It played really nicely (although I think the bridge could have been set up a bit better) and sounded lovely, and the best part is it was only £329! It looks pretty sexy as well which always helps.

My dilemma though, is that my ultimate goal in saving up for a guitar has been a Fender Mustang 65RI for a long time. I could save up for this Hagstrom and probably have it within a couple of months. But if I got it, would I regret not waiting a bit longer and buying a Mustang? I can't compare how they play because none of the local shops have Mustangs - my plan was to go a bit further affield to try some out when I had enough money. Help me decide, please.

Don't do it young feller: in short term gratification lies long-term disappointment. Keep saving for the Mustang.

You're probably gassing yourself into a frenzy unnecessarily.
See how you feel about it in a few months when you have enough to buy the guitar outright. The money will either be burning a hole in your pocket or you won't be so excited about the guitar.

I know how it goes though.
I have a bunch of money saved up towards an amp. have to stay strong all the time...
I don't need any new pedals, I don't need any more guitars... I keep telling myself.

Freddy V-C wrote:I was having a look in my local guitar shop this morning and saw one of these wonderful specimens:



It played really nicely (although I think the bridge could have been set up a bit better) and sounded lovely, and the best part is it was only £329! It looks pretty sexy as well which always helps.

My dilemma though, is that my ultimate goal in saving up for a guitar has been a Fender Mustang 65RI for a long time. I could save up for this Hagstrom and probably have it within a couple of months. But if I got it, would I regret not waiting a bit longer and buying a Mustang? I can't compare how they play because none of the local shops have Mustangs - my plan was to go a bit further affield to try some out when I had enough money. Help me decide, please.

For £329 you can buy a 2nd hand Mustang RI

benecol wrote:Don't do it young feller: in short term gratification lies long-term disappointment. Keep saving for the Mustang.

+1

The Mustang was a great guitar when I owned it. I still miss it a bit, even though I have the Duo-Sonic II I made with my old man.

Mike wrote:...even though I have the Duo-Sonic II I made with my old man.

UR Buffalo Bill and I claim my £5.

Lotion Basket Etc

I've never played the Hag' but if the Mustang's what you've wanted for a while then you will, of course, be better off holding out for it.

It's always the easy option to go for the quick fix/the guitar you love at that particular time, but a Mustang will be awesome! Forever!

I've got a Mustang (vintage, but I'm pretty sure the reissues are almost as good) and a brand new Hagstrom (Ultra swede though) which I'm trying to sell, and there's a whole world of difference ... getting/keeping few "expensive" instruments is way more rewarding than frequently buying/selling cheaper ones ... although it's hard to stick to it (for myself too ... hence the Hag') ...

I guess this all depends on why you had chosen the Mustang, in the first place.
Other than for the body thickness, I really don't see how the F 200p and Mustang compare...

If it's just a look thing and the F 200 appeals to you equally, go for it but I caution you that while all the F series Hagstrom I've tried did sound good, they also all had something wrong with them. Wrong as in typical budget build quality issues that should be overlooked in a $250 guitar but that's unpardonable at $400+.


A used 65RI will run you about the same as that F 200.
A used 65RI, in terms of build quality is a blatantly superior instrument.

I had that exact Hagstrom, and I quite liked it. It's a tough choice, but ultimately they are very different guitars. Shortscale Vs a fatter arsed, trem-ed SG, kinda like comparing chalk and cheese.

Kind of leftfield approach here but have you seen the 'Take it Away' scheme thing? You basically get 10 months interest free on any instrument between £200 and £2000.

It avoids the whole agonising 'I need to save for 12 months' to buy my dream guitar. It's Arts Council backed so it's pretty legit and safe and I'm pretty sure you can still get it as a student too. My gf's mum just bought a new Taylor with it, and a lot of places have just started doing it.

Link

Shameless plug over. Apologies

Yeah, I'm aware they aren't really similar at all. I just like them both equally and one is considerably cheaper than the other. I think what I'll do is wait until I have enough money for the Hagstrom, play the Hagstrom and a Mustang, and see which I prefer. If I prefer the Mustang I carry on saving, if not, well, yeah...

It's difficult to find them second hand (Mustangs), that's the thing. A friend of mine was selling his for £350 last year, it didn't sell but he wants to keep it now, grr... lol.

EDIT: Yeah, I have heard of that scheme. My friend Matt was gonna buy a bass on it a bit ago. I might just look into it!

buy a mustang. that thing you posted is hideous and makes worse use of a strat jack plate than a strat.

I made a similar move once. I wanted a comp stang back in 2002 and ended up with $400 burning a hole in my 16 year old pocket and winded up with a red transparent HSH Floyd'd Samick. I really didn't know much about guitars back then other than how they looked and I really liked the flat neck and the sound of the duncan designed buckers the samick had to offer. Needless to say I always regretted the purchase, but I did end up trading it in towards my 68 ovation tornado, which is still probably my favorite guitar I own.

If a hagstrom is really what you want, try to find a vintage II or III....they're not much more money if any than that reissue, and are quality instruments that will never go down in value.

markleton wrote:I had that exact Hagstrom, and I quite liked it. It's a tough choice, but ultimately they are very different guitars. Shortscale Vs a fatter arsed, trem-ed SG, kinda like comparing chalk and cheese.

. True 2 different guitars. But if you've been jonesing a Stang get the Stang. Worst case scenario you buy the stang, get bored of it and trade for a Hag. At least you'll get a better trade for the stang than vice versa. But chances are you'll keep the stang.