Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special - Lake Placid Blue Rosewood user reviews ( 8/10) - 5 user reviews

Users reviews

• 08/31/12

  SonicPulverizer's review "Light as a feather"

  Characteristics

  The Fender Pawnshop series has been interesting, dishing out some of the cooler guitars Fender has to it's name. The idea was to join together ideas from different guitars to mimic what might have been found in the highly modified--secondhand environment. The Mustang special features an alder body, a maple "C" shape neck, and two "enforcer" wide range humbucking pickups. The guitars finish is pleasant to the eyes and it feels more expensive than the tag would suggest. It is surprisingly light as well.

  Utilization

  I found the switching setup to be awkward but effective. The single coil sounds, while not the best out there, were definitely passable. The 24 inch scale length made for a nice elastic playing feel. I've found that the Fender fret jobs have been shaming Gibson USA's lower cost models for a while now. My only complaint in this department is that the tuning stability is pretty mediocre.

  Sounds

  Played through a Vox AC15 I was able to get some decent clean sounds with both the humbucking and split coil configurations. I felt that the separated coils were more convincing when applying gain. The Mustang Special, while being underpowered for more aggressive styles of music, held it's ground with higher gain levels through a variety of amps. It's strongpoint, however, lies in the low to mid- gain realm.

  Overall Opinion

  This guitar is my favorite of the series. Fender's sense of aesthetics and finish quality sorely beats out Gibson USA and other manufacturer's at this price point. While tuning stability is at a loss here, the guitar can always be upgraded-- keeping with the spirit of the pawn shop line. With other manufacturer's starting to incorporate coil tap functionality in entry level models, the switching features on the Mustang might seem dated. However, this guitar was never intended to draw out consumers looking for cutting edge feature sets.
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• 12/29/11

  heads on fire's review "What a fun guitar!"

  Characteristics

  Model Name: Pawn Shop™ Fender® Mustang® Special
  
  Series: Pawn Shop Series
  
  Body
  
  
  
  Body Material: Alder
  
  Body Shape: Mustang®
  
  Body Finish:
  
  (0266400302, 0266400309)
  
  Polyester
  
  Neck
  
  
  
  Neck Shape: 60s "C" Shape
  
  Number of Frets: 22
  
  Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
  
  Position Inlays: Vintage Cream
  
  Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm)
  
  Fretboard: Rosewood
  
  Neck Material: Maple
  
  Neck Finish: Polyester
  
  Nut Width: 1.650” (42 mm)
  
  Scale Length: 24" (61 cm)
  
  Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Neck Plate
  
  Truss Rods: Standard Truss Rod
  
  Truss Rod Nut: 3/16" Hex Adjustment
  
  Electronics
  
  
  
  Pickup Configuration: H/H
  
  Bridge Pickup: Enforcer™ "Wide Range" Humbucking Bridge Pickup with downsized Wide Range covers
  
  Neck Pickup: Enforcer™ "Wide Range" Humbucking Neck Pickup with downsized Wide Range covers
  
  Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Middle Pickup, Position 3. Neck Pickup
  
  Special Electronics: Coil Selector Switch for Each Humbucker
  
  Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone; Pickup Toggle Switch; Coil Selector Switch for Each Humbucker
  
  Hardware
  
  
  
  Hardware Finish: Chrome
  
  Bridge: '70s-Style Hard-Tail Stratocaster Bridge
  
  String Nut: Synthetic Bone
  
  Miscellaneous
  
  
  
  Strings: Fender® USA Super 250L's, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)
  
  Unique Features: Double Humbucker Configuration, Hardtail Bridge, Unique Pickup Switching with 18 Options, Short Scale, Offset Mustang Body Shape
  
  Accessories
  
  
  
  Case Gig Bags: Deluxe Gig Bag

  Utilization

  This guitar is so fun to play! The neck has a shorter scale of 24" - shorter than most Gibsons by a full three quarters of an inch. The balance is great, and the guitar is very light. Basically, this feels like an old Mustang, yet sounds like an old Telecaster Deluxe, which kind of sounded like a Les Paul. The best of all worlds!

  Sounds

  The pickups sound great plugged in to a clean amp - tons of clarity, warmth, and note bloom. The pickups didn't respond super well to high-gain, but with a bit of crunch, the notes pop out like the puppets in a Whack-a-Mole game! The neck pickup especially sings.

  Overall Opinion

  Obviously this is no shred axe, so the fleet-fingered may want to consider another guitar. But for the bluesy oriented, or classic rock jammers, or even alternative/indie rock - this is a great guitar, and unlike anything else out there. This would have been one of Kurt Cobain's favorite guitars if it was around in the 80s and 90s, but then again, I could see someone like Jonny Lang playing this guitar as well. A cool axe, for sure!
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• 04/13/13

  ChTof's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Disappointed / electrical problem"

  Characteristics

  Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Lake Placid Blue
  
  Made in Japan.
  
  Short handle 24-inch "C"
  
  2 humbucker pickups Fender Enforcer
  
  1 micro switch rocker
  
  2 switches in three-way slider spring (1 for each pickup)
  
  18 different tone options
  
  Fender cover luxury

  Utilization

  Handle many pleasant sounds rather different but suddenly it is quite difficult to navigate between the different positions of microphone.
  
  Electrical problem assumed by the brand is the particularity of these guitar (see paragraph sound) ...

  Sounds

  Big problem of mass pickguard screws making it unusable for recording. Whenever the hand touches the screw pickguard means a buzz.
  
  The sav Thomann fender and say that this is the peculiarity of the guitar and do not want to solve the problem ... and I'm sorry because it set out the sounds are not bad (on mesa boogie express 5x25).

  Overall Opinion

  It is in its packaging in the garage since the sav returned to me, I am disgusted ...
  
  I have other guitars (american telecaster deluxe us, sg 61'reissue, lag the beast ...).
  
  If you want sound string electric guitar that I suggest you go your way otherwise.
  
  If fender (or Thomann) assumed that the electrical problem and solve it would be a quality / price.
  
  I do not particularly remake that choice.
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• 01/13/12

  Alviss's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " A guitar of your dreams"

  Characteristics

  Guitar "made in japan" candy apple red finish.
  
  Fixed bridge
  
  Maple neck profile target type C handle of the first 60 years of Mustang rosewood fingerboard.
  
  22 frets
  
  Micro chrome fender "Wide Range" Humbucking 18 different adjustment possibilities by three positions over a micro killswitch three positions as well.
  
  A volume and tone adjustment (hardly easy)

  Utilization

  Channel pleasant good finish allows rapid adaptation.
  
  Guitar very light, shape type of mustang although a small facelift brought with him was more beautiful curves.
  
  No problem for access to acute.
  
  Small flat you too much of its 18 sound settings is much against it by all possible uses of the beast.

  Sounds

  For the rocker is the absolute dream a real pleasure.
  
  Just two small adjustments for me for a round type rhythm with the first micro second in position 3 to position 2 and killswitch above.
  
  And a two-edged solo microphone position 2 and killswitch down.
  
  I play with a fender 65R and with a fuzz or DS2 plus some other very interesant saturation effects it releases the full potential of treble.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a month and I'm in love is a wonder.
  
  I played mainly on a telecaster jim adkins (semi-hollow body + P90)
  
  I rediscover this guitar sounds sharp.
  
  I was Facin by this particular model because it remembered the Fender Duo Sonic has always been a dream of mine.
  
  
  
  At price / quality very good investment for a guitar rocker that I think that it can adapt to any adjustment to the panel as possible.
  
  
  
  This choice I would do without hesitation.
  
  
  
  Try an emergency
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• 06/18/11

  poivrassefm's review ( translated ) Improve this translation " Original and effective"

  Characteristics

  Fender Mustang Special series "Pawn Shop" made in Japan.
  
  Acquired a week ago, replacing a Gibson Les Paul Studio Double buckbusters rise, I really looking for a guitar with a warm, pleasant handle.
  
  The two double splitables microphones, to use all possible combinations between two doubles, a double sleeve or bridge, or a simple easel or acute or severe neck (well round / round, or neck / bridge, etc.. Look at the picture of two small switches to understand what will be simpler!) are quite effective.
  
  The finishes are not bad at all, nothing to say.
  
  The neck is thin enough, and I got used to it right away and is also a little shorter than usual strat handle or les paul.
  
  The quality of the varnish looks really good, it's the kind of thing I usually do not pay attention, but there was really a kind of "mirror" when looking good is smooth and regular.
  
  It comes with cover "Deluxe" (what a bag with lots of pockets and padded well enough)

  Utilization

  I find it quite balanced, although I have yet played nearly seated. It is not very heavy. The handle is like I said easy access, it glides well without it raises questions. Why should try it, I hesitated between three fenders and I really cracked on the handle.
  
  For settings, you get very quickly to different knobs. Volume, tone, and split the pickups.
  
  
  
  Only bad point, and I believe in the usual fender, sometimes input jack sizzles a little. But unfortunately this is the kind of evil against which it is difficult to control on some models. In all cases, guaranteed one-year magazine.

  Sounds

  Question her, I could not play much, unfortunately: in what I could do to saturated crunch on a tube amp (peavey), it left the way I like, while sensitivity. The tones are good, you feel the move towards the bridge pickup solo harmonics, and the neck pickup to make a round at the grave significant rhythmic crunch. In clean it - and I think it the advice of a friend having tried and being rigorous enough - round, warm, and when the foil is triturated microphones in the treble.
  
  In short, for now I'm really happy after a week of use.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for a week, after owning a U.S. Start and a simple 2 Gibson Les Paul with 2 doubles, and after trying a jaguar and a Mexican Start (mainly, I have tried many others) . I suggest you just out of curiosity to try if you can, it sounds more distinctive than usual to the fender in this price range usually reserved for Mexican.
  
  
  
  Next week I'll play much, so my opinion is detail, but for now this choice I would do without hesitation.
  
  
  
  Overall Rating 09 because I did, except this little fault input jack that sizzles 5 seconds, absolutely nothing against.
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