Review of the Fender Mustang 90 Electric Guitar | Is This Guitar For You?

[@devinftf]

I’m 6’2” and just generally a large dude and I play a Fender Vintera Mustang. It absolutely works just fine for me. Not too small by any means. It’s my favorite guitar I’ve ever owned in 25 years of playing

[@danielcarter3928]

ya i’m a bigger dude at 6’3 and want a mustang lol

[@tpark89]

"Conversation Piece" Wife: Why do we have this guitar if you don't play it? Me: It's a conversation piece.

[@ravendemo4980]

Wife: Why do we have this guitar if you don’t play it? Me: *EXACTLY!*

[@punkambassador848]

Wife: why did you get another guitar? Me: so that we can have a conversation about why I‘m spending all our savings. 😂

[@sjazzp]

Everything was going very well until the final recommendation. P90s, 24in, offset, lightweight, beginner, 50+ years old, yes, that's me and a guitar like this makes me feel motivated.. If I look to my heroes and get a guitar like that they use I may feel frustrated because I won't play it like them, I would prefer to listen to any record rather trying to play like any of them. So be it Mustang, what a great guitar for people like me although you recommend us to look elsewhere!

[@matthewbolduc2714]

I agree with you. This could be a great 'only' guitar. I also don't desire to sound like other players and I don't want to play it like them.

[@MP-wb6gz]

I din't agree, it's perfect to start at an older age, it's lighter than other guitars and the short scale make it easier to start to move on the fretboard

[@happyhappy85]

This guitar is no longer a kids guitar. The kids who grew up in the 90s now have guitar heroes who used these guitars. They sound amazing cranked up loud and they play really nicely. Worth every penny.

[@27needles1]

I have to disagree. I used to play metal guitars. And moved to Fender 2-3 years ago. Between my Strats and Telemaster, I actually enjoy playing my Mustang the most. It's so easy to play. I am definitely a 25.5" scale player, but damn, love the playibility of the Mustang.

[@Aniki82]

yes, there is quite something about those little devils! But changing the pickup to something different is almost necessary to take her to the next level

[@creamydistortion]

I put big 11-52 strings on it too. :-)

[@asant90]

I play mathrock so naturally the arrangement are super complicated. My life has been so much easier since I got this player series p90. P90s are amazing for tapping and noodling

[@asant90]

@@Aniki82 which pickup would you recommend? These bring fender p90s with alnico magnets so they should be solid contrary to what people say. But would you recommend something like duncan p90s? Would that sound way better? Im curious cause Ive been contemplating it although for me this guitar sounds beautiful out of the box.

[@BobbyG101]

which are the Mustang model exactly?

[@Bluestar-1969]

I have played and owned many guitars in my over 30 years of playing. I now have this exact model and love it! I sold my American telecaster to raise money to buy this one. It sits perfectly in my hands and not heavy at all. So easy to play!. Also, It sounds very good with my Tweed style amp. The only thing I would change is to get a better quality pickup selector switch. It would of been nice if it came with a case but I found one that works well with it.

[@punkambassador848]

I swichted mine about 3 months after buying it. Now it‘s all fine. Nothing to criticize about that guitar.

[@stuminnis4050]

I’m 52 and this is my only electric. It’s flexible af, and I have no desire for anything else (except maybe a Gretsch center block with a Bigsby).

[@Alan1955]

I agree with the folks that love this guitar! I’ve been playing over 55 years and I have a Ben Gibbard Mustang that I dearly love! And I have this guitar, the 90 due to arrive today. I can hardly wait! I really love the Fender short scale instruments. They fit me perfectly!

[@goog646]

How do you like your Mustang 90 after a year?

[@danielleelizabeth9417]

Love this color. What a great price point and fun piece to play!!

[@creamydistortion]

The Mustang 90 is DEFINITELY on my list! Another regular mustang is too. They are great.

[@bsideguitar]

Just picked up a mustang bass which is pretty cool also 👌

[@jazzpezzas]

I am a tall guy with long fingers and i love the Mustang P90 guitar. The neck feels solid and the c shape is just perfect. The short scale enables for amazing bends, it is the same size as a BMG. The Mustang has become my guitar of choice, i choose it over my Tele.

[@lukemroch4959]

Just picked up one for 350 super stoked. Hell of a deal

[@3cardmonty602]

I bought the Squier Mustang HH version before the shutdown for $129. I replaced the pickups with lower output Alnico II Humbuckers. The original pickups were so hot that they were almost unplayable. I also had to perform fret end dressing, and replaced the tuners. Total cost now after mods - about $229. I love P90’s though, so that Fender P90 is a deal.

[@bsideguitar]

I have a review of the Mustang coming out next week. The frets on the one I got did not need dressing but can definitely see why you would replace the pickups.

[@bertbregdenz2756]

i did the same but changed to roswell "p94" in humbucker size. all together 190€ 😃

[@uglow_uknow]

Always felt like the stock single coils on the original Mustangs were way too thin and that humbuckers were often overkill for them. P90s are the perfect pickup for the Mustang!

[@stuartdennis8506]

What a gorgeous guitar

[@13druber]

Im not a student. I have the same one, i love it.

[@legatomodi3522]

I got one of the first runs in white. Im pretty sure they're mostly the same. I really the new colors, especially the one in the vid. It sounds really good but i constantly feel awkward with its sound. It dont sound like a mustang. Its still good. It feels like a mustang. P-90s are different. Very different from single coils and humbuckers. The amp and your pedals are gonna craft the tone more than a pickup ever can but you start from a different platform sound to start. The best way I can explain it is listen to the clean tones on Green Days Warning album. He actually switch to Gibson Jrs from his blue strat for that album and the totally change is apparent in the cleans and even less intuitively to hear, the overdrive. Rolling off the volume and tone can even get you close to an almost acoustic tone with it too if you roll way down. Like less than half on volume and tone.

[@skny2282]

I want a white but it’s long gone. Not even found in used market! Guess P90 line is very special to Mustang collectors.

[@kurt942003]

But this IS the type of guitar my hero’s played/play. I have a Jaguar, a jagstang, an sg, and a telecaster. Oddly enough, all of them are shorter scale, and two have p90’s. I very much dislike strats, but everyone is different, and I understand that. Regardless, I’m getting this guitar in a few months and I’m jacked!

[@bkosha97]

Haha. I like the guitar family theory! Good job, dude.

[@poesybeat]

Everyone points out the body size and scale length and concludes the Mustang is "small" -- but it's longer overall than a Strat

[@richardnissman6511]

@bsideguitar how do you compare this to the Vintera 60 Mustang and which do you prefer?

[@jessehernandez3688]

Nice guitar work and info

[@panduh1060]

Great review! I’m curious if the large headstock vs smaller body throws off the balance when playing it? Is it constantly falling forward or is it pretty evenly balanced? Thanks!

[@creamydistortion]

My old original (66) Mustang was super light and balanced. My newer squier mustang has a huge headstock but it's also insanely light and no neck-dive at all.

[@stuminnis4050]

I have this exact model, and yes, it does flop down at the head. I almost always play standing up, and the strap fixes the problem. But it you play sitting frequently, then yes, balance is a concern.

[@michaeljohnson3383]

Do you know if it's hum cancelling in the middle position? Also, is there any neck dive with the big headstock?

[@bsideguitar]

When I get to the music room I’ll check it out for you. I only played it sitting down so I’ll put a strap on and test it out. Stay tuned!

[@michaeljohnson3383]

@@bsideguitar Staying tuned. Thank you.

[@bsideguitar]

OK finally found a minute to play it again. So there is some slight neck dive. The guitar as a whole is smaller, so almost to be expected, although I didn't really notice it during the review, probably because the guitar is pretty light. As far as the pickups, all of the positions have a very small amount of noise. I really had to turn the overdrive up to make it annoying ;) So while not silent, they have nothing near the 60 cycle hum of a single coil.

[@michaeljohnson3383]

@@bsideguitar Hey, thanks for the comprehensive reply. Neck dive is a bit of a deal breaker for me but that's good news on the P90s. Maybe I'll try a few out and go for one with a slightly heavier body - or try some HS Duosonics with the smaller headstock. Thanks again for going to the trouble of testing it out for me.

[@MP-wb6gz]

@@michaeljohnson3383 or you can fit the strap to not let the neck dive. I didn't notice a big issue on mine tho. It's a practice guitar so it's played while i'm sitting.

[@msgesus4518]

It's kinda true, I have a tele and les paul type guitar and I want a guitar that no "guitar god" plays because that gives me inspiration to be a bit more out of pocket.

[@eliq2980]

You just answered my question for what would be my first guitar as an adult who wants to learn to play. Guess I'm shopping for a strat probably in the performance series. Thanks lots.

[@nichohells]

American performer didn’t convince me at all, I didn’t like the guitar that much cause it has different features that I just can’t stand, got a Player Series and a mustang gtx50 with the money I saved by buying the mexi strat instead. I think I made the right choice.

[@diddymies]

@@nichohells yeah dont like the jumbo frets on perfomer.

[@sjazzp]

Did you get the Mustang? I'm getting rid of my Strat...

[@eliq2980]

@@sjazzp I did, sorry for the late reply

[@monmixer]

I want one but I want the modern player with the out of phase switching and p-90's

[@dylanboiteux4005]

"get a type of guitare that your hero played" Kurt Cobain is my hero 😎

[@NintenDub]

I hope nobody has listened to you about getting something else. This is a great main guitar. We meed less ppl in the world with their les paul and strat as their main axe. Mustang is my main guitar. Nothing wrong with it at all whatsoever

[@vincentvancraig]

I totally *wanted* one of these (past tense) because cobain made it famous & it has p-90's like santana rippin it up at woodstock, & its so much cheaper than an SG....ive been playing acoustic for 30+ years, & its time to "go electric"....but now, after u said "child's guitar" 3 trillion times i feel like a h0m0 ....um....also when u said "oh! I had one of those when i was a *kid*"...my brain & my enthusiasm just feels as if it has been totally *pooped* on.....anyway, i think kurt using it so much on classic songs/masterpieces validated the mustang's existence, sir.

[@vincentvancraig]

It also has the toggle switch like an SG which i totally dig.

[@danielcarter3928]

i have a Tele with a p90 in the neck and love p90s and i’m looking for my next guitar , my Tele is a squier so something nicer. i’m actually stuck between a Fender Mustang / Mustang 90 and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard. they are so different lol, and I cannot decide what would be better ! like i said p90s are my absolute favorite.

[@コズミックまこ]

Do you think it would be possible to put a whammy bar on this?

[@camilo1455]

Yup.

[@camilo1455]

Busby style.

[@nicholasthompson1770]

Which guitar do you prefer: the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Les Paul Special in TV Yellow or this Fender Player Mustang 90?

[@bsideguitar]

Good question. They are two totally different guitars. The Mustang is short scale with a very different feel. If I had to choose one I would go with the Mustang because of the cool factor and the fact it is lighter weight but the Epi P-90s are a little hotter and more rock n roll.

[@lassesuurmunne8340]

I know you didn’t ask me but it’s such a shame about the covid situation since I’d always recommend trying them out. I often think I know what I’d want until I try then I might easily discover I prefer something else. But I’m a huge fan of both guitars. I own a p90 Mustang, in fact I own 7 Mustangs haha. Mustangs are my favorite guitars in the world so I’m quite biased. But the p90 model is crazy good for the price, a totally professional instrument. It used to get a lot of compliments for it’s sound at blues jams before the virus. The scale to me feels pretty comparable, the Stang isn’t much shorter, they feel very similar when I switch between a Gibson and Mustang. The funny thing is the Stang is actually physically longer than a Strat or tele. People mistakenly think Mustangs are very small, they’re not that small. They are narrower and thinner(body) but overall actually longer even though the scale is shorter. The Les Paul Special is something I dream about getting when I stop being broke. Those are incredible sounding guitars, just to die for. So are the p90 Mustangs but they different. The Stang is very punchy, cuts through the mix, never muddy sounding, some of the most clear p90s I’ve heard and you can play Metal on those things. Both guitars take dirt very well. It’s hard to compare, more like you could get both. Both are affordable. If I could only own one I’d take the Mustang but that’s because I’m biased. The necks on Mustangs to me are just so comfortable. But that doesn’t make the Stang the better guitar. Comes down to preference. I have to fight to play Gibsons a little more personally but I’ve always loved them. That’s more of what you’re used to and your playing style. I dunno if that helped all ✌️

[@nicholasthompson1770]

@@lassesuurmunne8340 I appreciate the insight!

[@hahalmao8047]

hi...so im getting my first guitar, and im sort of confused whether I should get this or a MIM strat. They're both the same price, and I would've picked the mustang up in a jiffy if it had single coil pickups, but unfortunately, it doesn't. I'm going for a Nirvana, sonic youth, etc, indie/alt rock sound, so I thought an HSS strat with seymor duncan jb pickups would be nice. What are your opinions? Also, if I get this, would I be able to switch out the neck pickup for a single coil? Thanks in advance!

[@bon2038]

nunna ur beesinus you can just get a player series mustang with single coils for the same price

[@hahalmao8047]

@@bon2038 ah I'd do that but you see I cant find it for the same price online, or in my area, the mustang 90 I saw is suuuuuppeeer cheap cos its used and the seller wants to get rid of it quick, same with the strat

[@bsideguitar]

Really great question which there will not be a super clear answer. To start there are not really drop in replacements for the P90 pickup to switch to a single cool. That being said Nirvana and Sonic Youth used offset Fender guitars and some of the Sonic Youth guitars actually had a P90! The P90 is not as far as a humbucker so you would probably be just fine with the Mustang, but if you are set on single coils then you should go with the Strat.

[@bsideguitar]

Thanks for adding that. Good point.

[@bsideguitar]

If you are getting a great deal then you really can’t go wrong.

[@matthewbolduc2714]

Actually someone could find this guitar to be super mega great. Might open a new world of discovery and motivation. It might be the key to the future. Another person might find this guitar to be totally useless. Might give it away to someone else, the same day. Have no use for it. Have no use for any guitar..... This would have been more than a great guitar for me. Someone else might have scoffed at it. It is a matter of perspective. The guitar in your presentation looks and sounds great. It would have been nice to see you focus on the pickups for a minute. P90 pickups are known to be noisy, especially when not noise cancelling in the middle switch position, as you know. Furthermore placing overdrive on top of p90 pickups can become very very noisy very quickly. Raining on party. It would have been good to check out those aspects and expose any weaknesses. But I guess the main idea here is to sell guitars. This is indeed a very groovy guitar. Small. Light. Sporty. Of great quality construction by a great iconic guitar company. Fender mustangs are iconic. This is a beautiful example and your playing skills revealed something of the charm of p90s.

[@IgnacioGomezPrats]

The guitar is great in good hands

[@TheRoninBlue]

What chord are you playing around the 4:40 mark?

[@mccartney7108]

Aadd9, or the barre A shape with the b and the e string open. hope this helps!

[@idavidcrawford]

Do you find the mustang to be neck heavy while played sitting?

[@bsideguitar]

It does have a little neck dive. The guitar as a whole is not that heavy since it is a smaller body, so it doesn't bother me much, but it is there.

[@frilokk]

nice work

[@bsideguitar]

Thanks! Appreciate it.

[@zackwatson6438]

P90s technically are single coils though….

[@johnmeeks9308]

there $800 now

[@tarared7668]

I bought a used one 4 months ago at reverb for $509. Fender overpriced their guitar, yes it's $800 now for brand new.

[@AndyDion]

I need 2, one for my 2 year old and one for my 4 year old.

[@bsideguitar]

Exactly! Maybe 2 colors to mix it up a bit ;)

[@bsideguitar]

Yes! Thanks for the sub and you are going to love that mustang!!!

[@skny2282]

Fun fact, despite scale length is 1.5” shorter but overall length is taller than a tele! Leo is genius making a proper thing for shorthand’s and doesn’t look bad.

[@pbj6537]

​@@skny2282wait so does this mean that a tele would be better for someone with small hands?

[@mrsweettater]

The Mustang is also good for beat up old men. I played a monster Martin acoustic for 52 years but I can't reach around it anymore. But my Mustang is much easier to wrestle with.

[@camilo1455]

Tele with P90s

[@bsideguitar]

I prefer a tele with a neck p90 and a single in the bridge ;)

[@pabloconchetumare1753]

Fender MuSang P-90 review

[@ElmerSpuda]

What if you just want to rock?? Then what?

[@bigkeezo]

Well I deserve the best give me that one $600 hey 5:40 you jammin your azz off But I'm 48 and I'll get the STRATOCASTER

[@tarared7668]

Its not for kids😂 Im 50 and Im comfortable with this guitar. My middle finger is only 2.5 inches and I'm 5 feet. This guitar has smaller body and scale. U telling me I will be comfortable with bigger guitar like tele. Common!

[@jamesritchie6888]

I don't need to spend 600 dollars to start a conversation chief...

[@Finjodb]

so true hahaha

[@skny2282]

You don’t get his point. It doesn’t not only sound good and feel good on hands but also a conversation piece.

[@kritikkholia8584]

BTW What about the giveaway ?

[@roygumpel8415]

“That being said...”. Doesn’t mean anything

[@JohnChrestman-m2x]

Maybe instead recommendations he should stick to playing and please please consult a professional on that horrific tone. I mean im easy going. I dont say anything unless it is bad. And i had a better tone in 1983 on my crate. A lot better. It’s not the price of the amp. Its the ear that is dialing it in.

[@mcdee56]

Sounds terrible, sorry!

[@pcorriveau1982]

I don’t like the sound either but great review.

[@p_e_t_e]

check out other reviews. this is HIS tone, not completely representative of the guitar.

[@BlueprintsForHeadaches]

I think it’s his amp set up I heard another guy play it and it sounded very nice. I have also played on the p90s and they sound amazing.

[@skny2282]

His amp setup can’t justify how nice P90 pickup can deliver.

[@13druber]

Man, mine has so much better tone. Im 59 its everybodys guitar! Get a strat and a tele and a mustang. 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@musicinsurance2]

If it’s just for kids that I don’t need it. Thanks for nothing.

[@themusicstudy3669]

This is a terrible review

[@brooklynboy1000]

Hanging guitars in walls is terrible, heat rises on walls and if you have baseboard heating do put a guitar bear it, your neck will warp. So your basis for buying a guitar is based in your 9 year old. Who's in charge ... Your wife?

[@acm1350]

Le Polish- you've obviously never been married if you have to ask if his wife is in charge. OR you are now divorced because you had to learn you were not in charge the hard way. LOL!!!

[@rook2759]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with hanging guitars. There is much more tension on the neck from the strings than what is produced from hanging one on the wall. Heat is everywhere, there isn't enough fluctuation in a well-insulated room for any of your drivel to make a difference. I have been doing this for 30 years and never had an issue.

[@seanchurchill5844]

Guess you have never been to a music store. Have had guitars hanging on my walls for decades, no issues. Wild temp and humidity changes are what cause issues so unless you arent running anytype of heating and cooling all year round and you home temps are constantly changing in 20-30 degree swings you won't have issues.

[@mamaraccoon42069]

Ngl this guy kinda looks Brian Baumgartner or kevin from the office

[@kritikkholia8584]

first