ShortScale.org

I switched to a humbucking guitar, after playing a Tele copy for a while, as I really wanted that particular sound. I had gone off humbuckers due to the muddy nature of most of them, but found that some were still bright enough to have some character.

Now I'm missing the articulation and chime of single coils, but when I play my Tele, it's far too honky in the bridge pickup.

Most of the guitars I've been looking at, are the Fender short scales. The jaguar, the mustang, etc.

The thing is I buy most of my guitars very cheap, Xavieres etc. and I can't seem to find a good Jaguar or Mustang copy. I think I'm leaning more towards the mustang side as it's a better looking guitar IMO but the switching options of the Jaguar are intriguing. Would it be worth waiting to see if there's a Classic Vibe Mustang? They've just done the DuoSonic after all. That could be my ideal guitar.

I am a little worried about playing a short scale guitar as my hands are at the very least average sized and I sometimes have trouble making chords. However, I do like the idea of having a little extra reach for playing leads; I have a bad left wrist and some riffs would be a little easier if I had that tiny bit more reach. A short scale could be good for lead work.

or maybe one of the 24" strats from Rondo if you're after short scale single coils.

Unfortunately the duosonic has no trem system, which is a shame. Not sure I like the colours either. That's why I'd wait out for the Mustang.

I really hope Squier does a classic vibe Mustang. That would be tits.

the cyclone is the closest we'll probably get to a squier mustang.

Mages wrote:the cyclone is the closest we'll probably get to a squier mustang.

if they made a Duo Sonic why not a Mustang? if anything the Mustang would be a more sensible choice. Was there ever a DuoSonic with a trem?

What about a Mustang copy? I really want a Mustang now

You may want to spend the time with a shortscale and full length like a Tele side by side to really feel the difference if you have bigger hands. I have diddy hands but I will always play best on a 25.5" - partly as you say because of chords, but also with lead work, which I put down to there being more of a landing pad for my fingers. I've come to look at it as somewhat of a trade off - less room to stretch but a much smaller target. We're all different, however.

A Cyclone at 24.75" would be a compromise but by default you'd be stuck with a bucker again! Having said that you could look at the Cyclone II or whatever one has Jaguar pickups but if you ask me it's gonna limit your options with pickup choices. Plus Cyclones aren't as cool.

Tele too honky? I present to you, the FENDER STRATOCASTER!

These guitars aren't just for jerks. They're extremely versatile, play and sound great, and they're so comfortable to hold.

I've considered just getting a Strat but they're so vanilla and so overused. the main thing I like from a Strat is the neck pickup and I already have a pretty stratty neck pickup in my Tele(GFS fatbody). Plus the Mustang and Jag have better trem systems I believe, could be wrong though.

timhulio wrote:Tele too honky? I present to you, the FENDER STRATOCASTER!

These guitars aren't just for jerks. They're extremely versatile, play and sound great, and they're so comfortable to hold.

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Seriously Medicine Melancholy, screw the vanilla image and whatever first pops into your mind. I've totally fallen in love in love with my CIJ ST68 simply for the playability and fantastic tones in every position and use it alongside my Teles and Jazzmaster all the time. Simply said, use the trem and neck pickup as you need too and enjoy why it's such a brilliant design.

If you're tele is too honky then change the bridge pup

You Know what I did when I got a vanilla strat? I put a huge fucking sticker on it, day one. Don't look at my strat, look at my message upon said strat. "Equal Rights"

Medicine Melancholy wrote: my Tele, it's far too honky

My white Tele is named Honky.

Medicine Melancholy wrote:

Mages wrote:the cyclone is the closest we'll probably get to a squier mustang.

if they made a Duo Sonic why not a Mustang? if anything the Mustang would be a more sensible choice.

the CV duo-sonic was really easy for squier to make because they already had done duo-sonics in the 90s, the only truly new element was the bridge. squier prefers to make guitars with cheap, easy to get a hold of parts. look at the jagmaster; it's essentially the squier version of the jaguar or jazzmaster.

Medicine Melancholy wrote:What about a Mustang copy? I really want a Mustang now

mustang copies are rather rare outside of Japan and will probably cost you as much as a real mustang. the good news is that in the US mustangs are not rare whatsoever and can readily be found at affordable prices. if one keeps an eye out even vintage mustangs can often enough be found at midrange guitar prices.

Medicine Melancholy wrote:Was there ever a DuoSonic with a trem?

well, the simplest answer would be that a duo-sonic with a trem is a mustang. although, there's a little more to it than that as over the years the duo-sonic has come in many different forms many of which aren't so much directly comparable to the mustang.

You don't really need new , do you ? Or maybe something from Jay Turser could tickle your fancy ? Can certainly buy a used Epiphone with a trem for under $250 . Better than buying a new cheapy for $150-$200 THEN spending more for setting it up and fixing raised frets .

portugalwillie wrote:If you're tele is too honky then change the bridge pup

But then I won't be able to get Tele tones for when I do need them...

I think he means maybe go for a different Tele bridge pickup? What's currently in there?

GFS Fatbody. With all the upgrades though it'd be cheaper to get a new guitar. I'd need a new neck, new bridge pickup and trem system. I don't like the guitar that much....

ultratwin wrote:

timhulio wrote:Tele too honky? I present to you, the FENDER STRATOCASTER!

These guitars aren't just for jerks. They're extremely versatile, play and sound great, and they're so comfortable to hold.

+


Seriously Medicine Melancholy, screw the vanilla image and whatever first pops into your mind. I've totally fallen in love in love with my CIJ ST68 simply for the playability and fantastic tones in every position and use it alongside my Teles and Jazzmaster all the time. Simply said, use the trem and neck pickup as you need too and enjoy why it's such a brilliant design.

Totally agree with both posts. We had a long winded conversation about Strat's not long ago which you may find an interesting read.

But if your set on the mustang shape try looking for a Squier Cyclone, they are rare but cheap and still use a Strat tremolo after all that.

The CV strats are nice. I really like their necks.

Also you might want to consider a Danelectro. Used reissue ones are usually at a very good price and the 25" necks (most of them are this I think) are very nice as well.