Modding my Fender Mustang #1 | Series, Parallel, & Phase Mod

Hey everyone! I got a new (to me) guitar! She is this lovely little 1996 MIJ Mustang that is one of the most comfortable and fun guitars I've every played. Not to mention she is also by far the lightest of all my guitars. Today we are going to mod her wiring to get her suited to how I play.
Check out the Seymour Duncan Mustang Antiquity II Set here:
seymour-duncan.sjv.io/dar1nM
For those who were looking for the wiring diagram, good news: I finally found my notebook! You can find the diagram I drew right here: drive.google.com/file/d/1MKQm...
I know my drawing is a little rough and probably hard to discern detail. So if you want a cleaner wiring diagram, all I did was combine this mod:
www.premierguitar.com/mod-gar...
with this mod:
www.fralinpickups.com/2017/08... (non-blender pot version).
Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions!
00:00 I got a new guitar!
02:48 Tear down
04:26 Here's how we're going to wire this mustang
05:47 Modding my Fender Mustang
08:01 Demo
09:20 Welcome Cali!
Instagram: @_nisebelle
Filmed by Britney
Edited and scored by ‪@nisebelle‬
Drum editing by Alex...
Thanks for watching!
#fender
#fendermustang
#seymourduncan
#guitarmods
#offset

[@nisebelle]

Hey everyone! For those who were looking for the wiring diagram, good news: I finally found my notebook! You can find the diagram I drew right here: drive.google.com/file/d/1MKQmvEne94yokZr4Xorhrih03FDoiJd6/view?usp=sharing I know my drawing is a little rough and probably hard to discern detail. So if you want a cleaner wiring diagram, all I did was combine this mod -> www.premierguitar.com/mod-garage-rewiring-a-fender-mustang with this mod -> www.fralinpickups.com/2017/08/30/phase-reverse-blender/ (non-blender pot version). Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions!

[@_widas_]

Where's the bocchi guitar video😢🙆‍♀️

[@reneebear3641]

@@_widas_I actually came here to ask that lol, maybe a copyright strike or smth?

[@trevorford8702]

Every guitar you have seems to really support your playing style. They all lend themselves to sparkly, easy-listening riffs. This is what it sounds like when you find the perfect tool for your job.

[@eclipsekitsune4837]

Her 6th guitar is gonna be an 8 string with a 30" scale and active pickups 😂

[@astridlenore]

As much of a classic tort girl as I am, that red guard is unique and fits the instrument; I'd go with that. Thank you, Nise, for your in-depth look at the Mustang, which has kind of always been "the one that got away" for me. Those DP3T switches have some tremendous mod potential! I modded my Jaguar years back in a somewhat similar fashion and the series/phased and series/strangle options are a couple of my favorites. I did a modded blend control to replace the tone and I highly recommend that mod as well, though Joe Gore gets most of the credit for that.

[@nisebelle]

Oooo I'll have to look into a blend control! I've seen them here and there on a few strats, but I've never messed with one myself. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@robertbodle2354]

This channel is so tightly edited and substantive, and the host/content creator/guitarist so charismatic, I'm hooked.

[@songsforsanguinius8576]

this might actually have the coolest ending song out of any of your videos, it blew my little brain

[@gringogreen4719]

Great video. I've owned over 65+ guitars in 30 years of playing. While I agree with your methodology on buying gear, anchoring to 7 might be premature. The ideal number might actually be 10 with a hard stop at 12 if you want a hard stop. The great thing about how you buy your gear is that you meet criteria that prevents you from too much GAS or buying mediocre equipment. Sometimes you come into gear that finds you or you end up with several guitars that just happen to make themselves available at the right time. I can tell you owning 24 guitars right now that you play each individual one less but it is nice to clean it uo and put it away and revist it later when needed or wanted. You also keep your spending way under control by keeping well specced and set up guitars. Trust someone who has bought the same type of guitar over and over again on several different models. 😉👍✨

[@deweymcpherson7582]

Ugh so amazing. You always inspire me to play! Please keep making videos, you've got that star quality ⭐⭐⭐

[@nathanielhixson2101]

This is a beautiful and fun guitar. I love your playing btw!

[@JustinWoo]

Love this. Your videos are always great. It's so relaxing watching you do this work. A lot of guitar mod channels feel very daunting. This is just chill.

[@ediththeband]

Absolutely stellar demo!

[@matthewf1979]

I quite like the Seymour Duncan Antiquity line. Sure, they cost a bit more, but they deliver on that "vintage" promise. They compete well with extremely expensive boutique pickups. Thanks for keeping guitar fun!

[@fisherman10101]

great to see you back and great demo.....just great :)

[@mundanemorning]

Hey hey! It’s Matt, Austin’s brother. Your channel popped up on my homepage cuz I’ve been searching up videos on Mustangs. Sick video, really good to see you killing it!

[@fanana_bishh]

The demo at the end. Speechless. So good!

[@scottraycraft5151]

holy shit...u are a phenominal player...love the tone, phrasing...guitar faces

[@Kyle-fy9kt]

Really glad I found this channel, and appreciate this video in particular. I have a telecaster I like but don't love, and have been thinking of modding it for a winter project. Seeing your process and the different things you consider as you work through it is like "oh! I should watch out for that!".

[@JeremyBeut]

Awesome as always 😊 Your videos are my favourite to watch: entertaining, fun, educational, and your playing is absolutely stellar. Thanks for sharing 👏

[@Mr.Steve-O]

You're a firecracker Lady, love it ! SD Antiquities are just superior, hope you love the new overhaul. The Brown Tort pickguard looks strong 👍

[@clairbeeguitar]

the red guard looks great and Cali sounds fantastic!

[@SoftLoft]

In love with this channel already! shes absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

[@thekrzwi]

I did this mod to my mustang and it’s pretty cool. Having both series and out of phase options without taking one out is great. But I found the switch a lil tricky and confusing lol. Thanks for wiring diagram, that helped a lot.

[@p.o.3889]

Love your playing! The original pickguard would be my choice.

[@CurtisPuetz]

Came for the modding, stayed (and subbed) for the awesome music with each video. Thanks for sharing your work with us!

[@NewLifeWithGuitar]

This is so good. I only started learning guitar recently & I'm documenting my entire learning journey on here so this was super motivational!

[@Zeal808]

Love my Mustang. So happy for you!

[@brywestwhit]

I’m about to do this exact mod to my Mustang. This video is very helpful!

[@christopherbrightman-white1961]

Just discovered your channel. Great videos, Nisibelle. Informative and full of joy. Keep them coming

[@lowkeyd34d63]

your vids are so underrated the editing is amazing the playing is amazing it is just wow

[@denro0]

I like the Darker pickguard. Thanks for Sharing.

[@Henni63]

Loved the demo song and that guitar sounds ace! I never paid much attention to shielding, but it seems to work fine here. Great channel!

[@BeastMadeReviews]

such a great video! Love your channel, Nisebelle! Love what you did to Cali! I'm team Red Pick Guard

[@diegodoesmusic]

Your videos are so great and fun to watch. I love modifying guitars and these vids inspire me to want to do more. :)

[@4stringz.]

Your channel is a real jem. I’m so glad I found you. I love your music, that you do electronics and mod. You’re freakin amazing ❤🎸

[@goosehonk3113]

this day keeps getting better frist hte best bassist ever joins my band and now a new nisebelle video

[@raceface_m2579]

The mod is sooooo cool! Awesome job!

[@crisjohnalvarez6036]

A future luthier!❤ full of skills

[@KrAzYKaRLoS1013]

Awesome track! Beautiful guitar!

[@quilak]

The brighter red pickguard really has something special for it, I really like it! :D Fantastic Mod as usual now I'm motivated to transform my MIJ Mustang into something more "personal" besides locking the trem for it ^^

[@trentguitars7609]

New favourite guitar of yours! I adore mustangs, great work!

[@_widas_]

Great video 🎉

[@WalterCReel3rd]

I love your music. It's got the excitement of late spring early summer.

[@Kusanagi672]

i hope that one day i could have even half the skills you have when it come to both playing and modding guitars, this mod is quite possibly my dream guitar and i think i'm going to try doing the same to a mustang if i can find one locally EDIT: i found one, time for me to get invested in mods

[@pothos9913]

I love the stock one! It's a great red color. For me to know if a shiny new thing is better than the old one, I try and imagine if the old pickguard was the "new" would I like it more or the same. Often my imagination tells me I just like the new one because it's different but not better.

[@signed8bit]

Love the original guard!

[@FrenchGuitarGuy]

That's really cool, nice video and great playing!

[@randrothify]

I’m always wowed by your playing and modding skills and you delivered again in this video. The 'Stang sounds great with the new pickups. I prefer the dark tortoise shell pickguard, but something tells me that the original guard is part of its soul. For that reason I wouldn’t change it.

[@markhammer643]

1) I like to use a "bi-directional" tone control when there is only a master tone. This uses a 1meg linear pot. The wiper of the pot goes to the volume control, as per usual, but the outside lugs each go to a different-value tone cap, that then goes to ground. I like to use values that are roughly 4:1 or 5:1. So, if the stock tone cap is .022uf, the "other" cap would be around .0047uf. This gives the standard dark tone when rotated fully in one direction, and a "rounding off the edges" tone in the other direction, somewhat like turning the treble-control down, and mids up a bit, on the amp. The midpoint of rotation is no cut of either type. Works great with single coils. And if you're a fan of "pinky wah", it means you only have to rotate the tone control *half* as far to go from full dark to full bright. The tricky part is getting used to "bright" being the midpoint of rotation. 2) A second mod I can't recommend highly enough for 2-pickup guitars is often called the "half-out-of-phase" mod. I believe it was dreamt up by the late great Bill Lawrence, and was used to great effect on the older Fender Jerry Donahue Telecaster, that did a striking Strat imitation with only two pickups. Normally, when neck and bridge are placed out of phase, the cancellations created produce a thin nasal tone with a noticeable volume drop. But cancellations occur when the spectral content in the two phase-reversed sources is similar. That IS, after all, how humbucking pickups cancel hum. For the half-out-of-phase mod, one simply reduces the amount of bass content in the neck pickup, using a series capacitor (I like to use .01uf, but there's nothing obligatory about that value). The result is a tone strikingly similar to the neck+middle setting on a Strat, with NO volume drop, no nasal honk, and no middle pickup! A phase-reverse switch is normally a simple DPDT that flips the pickup leads around. This mod does that, but inserts the capacitor between the flipped "hot" lead of the neck pickup, and the volume pot. I have even implemented the mod on a dual-humbucker guitar. Of course, that will *not* result in a Strat-like tone, but it does yield another very different and usable dual-pickup tone, with no honk or volume drop.

[@nisebelle]

Oooo I've never heard of either of these before! I'll have to look into them for some future projects, thanks for the suggestion!

[@markhammer643]

@@nisebelle The bidirectional tone control is from Guitar Player columnist Craig Anderton, from 40 years ago. The half-out-of-phase mod may well be from that long ago as well, but I only first learned of it in a Guitar Player review of the JD Telecaster, around 30 years ago. Actually, the standard Mustang wiring and switch arrangement would easily accommodate the half-out-of-phase mod, since the switches allow for *either* pickup to be phase-reversed. That would let a person get the traditional out-of-phase honk by putting the bridge out-of-phase and leaving the neck as is, OR the quasi-Strat quack by leaving the bridge on and phase-reversing the neck with the added series cap. But, since you've committed to a particular switching arrangement on this Mustang, proceeding with this mod would likely entail installing a toggle of some sort. I might note that if one implements the phase-flip/bass-cut to the neck pickup, using the neck pickup alone will give a bass-reduced neck tone, similar to the various G&L and Reverend guitars that have a "Contour" control for trimming back bass.

[@marksmith9874]

Really like your playing style. Great video

[@J0N4H]

Awesome video as always, can’t way to see this channel blowup. 90s mij are true golden age guitars

[@polycube868]

I like that cream TV yellowish color, I see a Tele and an Epiphone hollow body, that is 66% of all one needs with guitars.

[@rkharper]

Great update Nisebelle! One crucial mod I did in my Mustang, I found some 3-way switch plastic brackets that go underneath the 2 switches, so they don't protrude as much, getting rid of them palm death traps.

[@peteytwofinger]

enjoyed watching the work , loved the original music !

[@mycawild]

Another New member to the Family is always great too see and it's cool to see you love it so much, amazing video ❤♥

[@nicholasfisher2916]

Awesome to see someone else go all out with the switching options and using the fancy giant CTS switching pots. I like their smoother pull up that has less travel, and how they have a really smooth but tight rotation. Almost ordered the Antiquity set tonight but am forcing myself not to purchase anymore guitar upgrades until I get all my pickups in that I allready have lol. My Stang allready has an Antiquity Texas Hot strat in the bridge anyway and SSL1 in the neck so not in real need, but I know I will be getting the Antiquity set in the not too far future because I allready have a strat with excellent strat pickups (Antiquity ll Surf) so Id like to have a more mustangy mustang. They have more low end and less high end than vintage style strats and I like that they still maintain a mid dip, which is less pronounced further differentiating it from strat pickups. But of couse the short scale makes it less strat like, not nearly as snappy and tight on low strings but much less edgy in the high end. Actually hard desision to change them now that I think about it because they do have a really cool tone in the Stang right now. In mid position it has a kind of steel guitar sound in the highest notes. But anyway you make me super happy that you recognize that you can use a wider variety of switching options to have a wider range of usable tones.

[@martyjackson180]

so what have you done with your pickups after all ?

[@hellajanice]

i’m a simple person. i see a nisebelle video, i click

[@liamguitars]

This was a great watch. I recently got a player mustang I was hoping for blue or black but found an amazing deal on a burgundy mist one. The color grew on me so much just adding a new shade to my playing area I could not change it if I tried. I am replacing the W-B-W pickguard with B-W-B and the p-90's with a P90 super distortion and a P90 dlx plus I do play a bunch of heavy stuff :) Regarding the pickguard I recently have been Buying sheets of pickguard blanks (you can get so many different colors that are not offered in precut versions) and it is a lot more fun than I expected to cut them out. I used a dremel tool and ong is it satisfying to cut but when you get it done and perfect it is a great feeling. That off white cream color can be matched with anything what a fantastic guitar. and the mods sound just brilliant. Noone asked , buuut Sky blue pearloid I like thinking about that combo. now I am dying in anticipation for #7 (you are strong , I have a hard time keeping under 10)

[@tonyevans9999]

sounding absolutely superb, what a heck of a tone machine! l really like 90's mij guitars a lot and my Jazzmaster has the red tortoiseshell pickguard too, it really does grow on you. I think your playing is great btw!

[@igordoizha8641]

This smile is brilliant) Thank you for the video!

[@rivertownrider7126]

You’re some sort of evil guitar genius, without actually being evil. 😈

[@tcase101]

Sounds awesome

[@redpillpusher]

wow great job. I just picked up a new MIJ mustang too. I most likely won't do your full mod but I may just change the pick ups with some rails.

[@ian221]

Love a Mustang great work on the mods. Giving me the courage to work on my MG65 Mustang.

[@buzzybrown1161]

I am partial to the brown tort because that's what I put on my Mustang that's the same color. I also put those pickups in mine and they are some of the best pickups I've played.

[@robinleebraun7739]

Always enjoy your vids. You are awesome.

[@fretlessed25]

Most of my Telecasters get a 4 way switch and phase switch. I just wish there was no volume drop but that's hard to fix in a passive circuit. On your "7 guitar limit". Your music room will eventually look like a guitar store- trust me on that.. The sooner you realize this the sooner you can continue building on your guitar dream room for the rest of your life.

[@1980JPA]

Love the vid. New pickguard. 😁

[@BarnabyStipplethorpe]

Really great video! I love the math rock stuff that you play with your mustang. It's not at all the type of vibe I expect to played on a mustang, but the jangly tone works so well for how you play. I was trying to work out what you were playing and play along! Do you (or anyone in chat have any tabs!), I'd love to play along with the whole piece!

[@dfuzzybuzzy]

Awesome! Brighter pick guard rules.

[@damianhannon1581]

The MIJ Mustangs are already great, I played a couple, and they are great, but the new pickups really drove it into a place I loved, just sound so full and round, but articulate. They sound like what I am after to throw in my Cyclone to compliment my Duo Sonic. That guitar is an awesome.

[@kirkgreenman1386]

Hi Nisabelle, I too ran into the same pick-guard issue. I have a Charvel w a hum sing sing. And just wanted a hum when I ordered the pick guard the screw holes were off. So I made my own. I copied the screw holes off the old pick guard Great video and cool licks😊🎸🎸

[@HighZ]

Loved seeing this process all the way through! You put in the work and the result sounds fantastic in the demo. The new pickguard looks great and I'd go with that, however the stock McGuard is definitely growing on me. Either one is a solid choice.

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

definitely prefer the darker pickguard. Reminds me of the Mustang used by one of the guys in The Pillows.

[@miaoleman8605]

She looks like an awesome guitar =) Really have me wanting to finish my mustang build one of these days. Great video

[@Aeidotronics]

Red. Skystang ftw.

[@damham5689]

Great video. And 100% on keeping the stock pick guard 👍

[@jobriathfan1938]

I don't often comment on videos but this was an inspiring watch! Amazing playing and quality thoughts on getting the most out of your instruments without getting caught in the buying/selling loop. Liked + subscribed! Coming from a Strat, the recent MIJ Char Mustang is an interesting middle ground - they put a Strat trem on there! You might enjoy it if you ever get to try playing one, it's a really unique-feeling axe.

[@abunai.j]

Definitely keep the McGuard. Looks funky and a little wild - I dig it. As always, love the channel. You're awesome, and it's always a smile to watch you work. 🙂

[@FrankRemley]

With the comparison I’d have to go with the stock pick guard. Now, I wish I knew how to do everything you did in the video. I just started playing and stuff feels overwhelming and intimidating.

[@liamhedriana1553]

Tremelo bar slap was a cool touch

[@nisebelle]

Let me put one on your offset tele

[@williekenk]

This was a really cool video! I love mustangs, and I currently have a Squier Cyclone that I've been thinking of moding. Add a phase switch and a series switch were both on my list of things to consider, so I love seeing those here. I actually wouldn't mind an isolated demo of the series vs parallel mod to really hear the difference there. Plus I hadn't even considered how the OOP would sound while in series, so that's super cool. I also have to say I like the stock look. Personally I think it's cool when people mod guitars but keep them looking totally stock. It's a bit of sleeper hot rod situation. Incredibly cool in my opinion. Truly loved this video and this project.

[@foobar476]

I much prefer the red to the tortoiseshell. Although, now the comparison to McD's has been made, I can't unsee it...

[@twobarsfourstars]

Had no idea about the mustang difference from jaguar, so cool!! Yes please for the comparison. Another great video with beautiful playing, thank you!!!

[@Aleph_Null_Audio]

I spent a long time puzzling over wiring mods for my Mustang as well. I eventually found a way to get all six possible combinations of two pickups with only one "off" position. This was great for versatility, but made switching between setting fiddly, so I added a push/push pot that bypasses everything and sends the bridge pickup straight to the output jack. Mustangs can be surprisingly versatile! The nice thing is, I didn't have to drill any extra holes to make it all happen. P.S. In series and out of phase sounds amazing into a Fuzz Face!

[@crush3095]

I'm telecaster for life but I also started on a strat and have to admit, the body has a very unique feel I guess because I am a total rhythm guitarist, the Tele is perfect for me all the sustain, all the brightness, fat baseball bat necks for chording I used to get all the body contours too, on Warmoth bodies

[@charliegaylard8026]

This is a really nice video. I watched a video about the Fender Mustang on the FiveWattWorld channel, and was instantly fascinated. I've recently bought a second hand Squier VM Mustang. It needed a full clean and setting up. It also had some modified wiring, but I put it back to stock to be in keeping with the original (for now). Mine is only the budget Squier VM version, but I really like it and once its set up, its a great guitar to play with the nice delicate vibrato bridge. I love the thin body and the shorter scale neck. You did a great job refurbishing your Fender Mustang here, so I will definitely take some tips from you. I will probably swap the pickups as you suggested as the Squier VM comes with not so nice Duncan Design pickups.

[@charlie-obrien]

Another fantastic video! First let me say that I am so happy that you did not name your Mustang "Sally" Lol Second, I love the OG pickguard that definitely screams McD's (so much so, that I'm craving fries and a shake just watching), but it's also got a great vibe. Last I have to say how I am a little bit in awe of the way you attack the wiring on your projects. The first time I wired a Bourns push/pull pot I freaked and ended up with my Vol knob working in reverse. But how you go at it with guts and imagination is really inspiring!

[@UltraZombie]

Honestly my most wanted guitars are the mg-69 mustang along with a 1991 epi riviera honesty that’s all I’m ever gonna want

[@polycube868]

I like the tortoise shell but I think black would look great with that yellow color

[@GamerPastHisPrime]

Great video! I might grab some of those pickups for my MIM Mustang. I always love your playing too. I think I'd keep the original pickguard. I like the tort guard you got, and until you mentioned McDonald's, I wouldn't have thought of that (and now all I can think of is lunch). I think the bright red is a great contrast to that muted yellow. I think Cali is a great looking and sounding guitar!

[@cloneroom]

Thanks for the Vid was a wonderful journey....Original RED pickguard

[@MichaelBCoats]

Great job once again, Nisebelle! Welcome, Cali! I would normally prefer the tortoise Shell pickguard, but now that you put McDonald's in my head, I have to go with that! Drive Thru Cali: Do you want fries with that! Much respect to you, my friend! You are fearless, smart, and hardworking, but you make it all look like fun! Love your style, @nisebelle! Happy playing! I would love to see an Arielle/Cali matchup video!!!

[@trev3971]

The red guard is a very specific "I'm one of these!" to the '90s MIJ guitars, keep it!

[@jackmcdonagh4042]

Gotta stick with that og red guard, the MIJ and CIJ guitars that come with them always look so good, especially with the cream finish on yours, nice vid! (Totally didnt make me wanna go out and get one lmao)

[@jameshilton8942]

I wish I could be even half as enthusiastic about working on my guitars as you are about working on yours.

[@davidofchatham]

The second, darker pickguard for me - but it's your guitar! Cool project!

[@noryia]

I like the look of the red pickguard on the yellow mustang, it is striking.

[@zadesky1966]

This video is amazing! I prefer the darker pickgaurd, but I'm biased bc that's the one on Mizu, my 2004 CIJ Mustang ^^

[@HughBaunsgard]

LOVE the stock red tortoise shell - instead of Cali, just call it Mc Nugget

[@eljoel89]

Kurt Cobain's Skystangs all had the really bright red tortoise guards, but the darker one looks better on yours.