1964 Fender Mustang Vintage Pre-CBS Offset Guitar Olympic White, 100% Original w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1964 Fender Mustang in excellent, 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 last quarter of the '64 model year including gray bobbin pickups, single line Kluson tuners, pearl dot inlay, an L-prefix neck plate, and a wide bevel nitrate tortoise pickguard.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 15oz and professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with a fresh set of 10-46 roundwound strings and low action, this Mustang is a lively and vital-sounding vintage Fender.The maple neck has a slender U-shaped profile carve with quite a bit of shoulder in every register and notable heft and roundness as you travel up the fretboard, measuring .800" deep at the 1st fret and .975" at the 12th. The dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard features pearl dot inlay, and the original slender frets show virtually no wear. The guitar plays cleanly in every register up the full 24" scale, the neck is straight, and the truss rod is responsive and optimally adjusted. The nut has Fender's slender "A" width of 1 1/2". On the headstock, the Mustang decal is near mint on the face, and the original Kluson Deluxe single line tuners work smoothly and hold pitch well with clean white buttons. The neck heel retains the November, 1964 date stamp, along with the "paint stick" markings in the neck pocket indicative of an original finish.The electronics all function as intended, the solder joints are untouched, and the Stackpole pots date to the 40th week of '64. The pickups are both hand-dated on the gray bobbins too. The original hardware has gleaming chrome plating including the L-prefix serialized four-bolt neck plate, bridge with barrel saddles that show light surface patina, and Pat. Pending vibrato unit. This vibrato has excellent tension and actuates smoothly, jumping back to the original pitch with ease and complete with an original arm. The original plastic parts are notably clean, including the stock knob pair and red nitrate tortoise pickguard which is well-preserved with virtually no shrinkage, showing just a tiny bit of wear at the truss rod access point.The Olympic White gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, exhibiting faint vertical lacquer checking on the top, and more prominent checking on the back. There is a small spot of deeper yellowing at the bass-side waist, and an area of finish loss on the treble-side lower bout edge, with a few small finish chips on the body perimeter and back of the bass-side body horn, and some additional minor marks from careful use. The gloss finish on the neck profile is nigh flawless.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.