1968 Fender Competition Mustang Competition Burgundy, Collector-Grade w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1968 Fender Competition Mustang in 100% original, collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Finished in Competition Burgundy with a matching peghead, this Mustang is one of the earliest examples of the "Competition" Mustang model, and visually distinct from its successors. Unlike the majority of Mustangs under the Competition Burgundy banner (wherein the finish presents as a Lake Placid Blue with contrasting stripe), this Mustang's burst finish has a deep purple hue, with the burst extending notably far towards the center of the body. Further setting this Mustang apart from the pack, the competition stripe extends fully across the back of the body, an exceedingly rare variation on the norm.Smooth and clear-sounding acoustically, this Mustang has an authoritative and snappy natural quality that translates well through the pair of gray bobbin single coils. The bridge pickup has plenty of jangle and sparkling cut, while the neck pickup has more warmth and sweetness, retaining a defined overall character. One of the most fun sounds on the Mustang is the out-of-phase setting, engaged when both on/off/on pickup selector switches are at their innermost or outermost points for a distinctive quack and spank. The guitar weighs 7lbs, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 12-52 strings, low action and accurate intonation.The maple neck has light flame figuring on the bass side of the profile, featuring a U-shaped carve with full shoulders and lightly rolled edges, measuring .880" deep at the 1st fret and .920" at the 12th. The rosewood fretboard has pearloid dot inlay, and the original slender fretwire retains its full factory height and well-rounded crowns, showing just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3. The guitar plays cleanly in all registers up the 24" scale, and the neck is straight with a responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1 5/8" in width, and the Competition Burgundy-finished headstock retains the original Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines with white buttons. The neck heel retains its bold November, 1968 date stamp, with additional factory markings on the neck heel and in the pocket. The pocket has the correct "paint stick" marking indicative of an original finish.The electronics all work as intended, with original gray bobbin pickups, cloth-covered leads, untouched solder joints, and CTS pots which date to the 42nd week of 1966. Hardware includes the bridge with barrel saddles (complete with bridge cover), and the vibrato unit which has excellent spring tension and actuates with a light touch, jumping back to the original pitch with ease. The chrome plating on the hardware is gleaming, and the original plastics are near mint, including the bright white pearloid pickguard and pair of pointer knobs.The Competition Burgundy gloss finish is extremely bold with zero touch-up or overspray, and cosmetic wear is limited to some small nicks largely on the body perimeter, a couple deeper marks on the bass-side body horn, and light finish scratches in the clear coat on the body as a whole.The original hardshell case with gray speckled exterior is just as clean as the guitar, with a trio of functional latches and the original handle.