Up for sale, a 1964 Fender Mustang in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. A first year example of the Mustang model and one of very few produced, this instrument is a true Pre-CBS Fender with a feature set consistent with the '64 model year including gray bobbin pickups, single line Kluson tuners, clay dot inlay, an L-prefix neck plate, and a wide bevel pearloid pickguard.
An uncommon short scale version of the Mustang, this guitar has a more compact 22 1/2" scale length and slender "A" 1 1/2" nut width. The guitar delivers a smooth acoustic voice that translates well through the stock gray bobbin pickups with great sparkle, clarity, and sweetness. Since the pickups are essentially flat pole Stratocaster pickups with covers over the magnets, the tones are surprisingly similar, although the Mustang has the added benefit of a pair of three-way on/off/on pickup switches for an out-of-phase hollow twang and quack when the switches are engaged in their innermost or outermost positions. Featherweight at 6lbs 10oz and professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with a fresh set of 11-49 roundwound strings and low action, this Mustang is a lively and vital-sounding vintage Fender.
The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut, gaining notable heft and roundness in the higher registers with ample shoulder, measuring .815" deep at the 1st fret and .999" at the 12th. The extremely dark, tight-grained Brazilian rosewood board features rolled fretboard edges and clay dot inlay, and the original slender frets, ostensibly dressed in the guitar’s lifetime, currently show only very light wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-3. The guitar plays cleanly in every register, the neck is straight, and the truss rod is responsive and optimally adjusted. On the headstock, the Mustang decal is largely intact, and the original Kluson Deluxe single line tuners work smoothly and hold pitch well with stock white buttons. The neck heel retains a bold September, 1964 date stamp, along with the "paint stick" markings in the neck pocket indicative of an original finish.
The electronics all function as intended, and the Stackpole pots date to the 22nd week of '64. Â The original hardware has gleaming chrome plating on the bridge and Pat. Pending vibrato unit. This vibrato has excellent tension and actuates smoothly, jumping back to the original pitch with ease. The original plastic parts are notably clean, including the stock knob pair and white pearloid pickguard which is well-preserved with virtually no shrinkage and great dimension in the pearloid material.
The Daphne Blue gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, exhibiting faint vertical lacquer checking on top, and tighter, more prominent checking on the back. There is concentrated buckle rash on the back of the bass-side body horn, and wear through the plating on the left side of the neck plate. Additional buckle rash is present at the bass-side waist, there is some ‘stand rash’ on the lower bout body edge, and there are additional small nicks and scuffs on the body as a whole. The smooth nitro lacquer finish is present on the length of the neck profile.
The original Victoria Luggage-made hardshell case with gray textured exterior is included. The case has clean black leather ends, a trio of stock latches, the original handle, and even the small neck strap.