Mustang III

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

So I didn't mean don't use the effects the amp has just that the presets it ships with tend to be a bit a effects heavy and cloud what the amp can do. They seem more like ads for what the effects are than how you'd likely use them.


@ Jeff maybe that's true in some cases. I set up an early Aerosmith patch off of the '65 Deluxe that just kills. Dialed it in against a few tracks from Featuring and Toys, the feel and response are very natural. It's the only patch I really made so far and its fairly straight-forward but it was effortless to dial in.

I'll be bringing the amp to rehearsal this week, that is the real test, just sounding like me. I am really psyched to try it with the band. I can A/B against my rig there at speed which will be fun.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Mustang III

I had a III. The screen made it very useable. I briefly tried the II but there was no LCD screen and it was a PITa to operate.

That 3 came with a nice Crlestion speaker and was open back.

I felt like it was the perfect grab n go small amp. I took it down to the beach a lot. Never worried about screwing it up with humidity or salt air. Didn't care.

 

[jtees4]

Re: Mustang III

I have a Mustang III v1. I love it. I have thought about getting rid of it many times for something else, but then I always end up coming back to it and realizing how great it sounds and works for me. I also had a II which I ditched quickly, I think the better speaker and open make makes the III sound so much better PLUS you need the 100 watts for clean settings to be loud enough. I'll probably try a V2 at some point if I see one cheap. To anyone who owns one, get the four button switch....with the two switches you can do a lot.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Mustang III

I had a V1 Mustang III a few years back and loved. Ended up selling it off after a long time of not playing and with nothing on the horizon. Wish I had kept it now that I'm playing with 2 groups. I think it would be perfect at either jam space.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Mustang III

I do have the 4 button switch. It was well worth it.

I found after a awhile that I used a couple of clean tones (Twin Reverb) over and over and just a few lead tones (Deluxe Reverb, Tweed Deluxe, Marshall Plexi...with either the Fender Overdrive or Tubescreamer)...with subtle adjustments to the echo and reverb effects.

I set my channels/presets up in groups of 10. So 00 - 9 might be tweaked for my PRS. 10 - 19 might be for my other PRS with hotter humbuckers. 20 - 29 might be for my Tele. 30 - 39 for my Strat. Etc.

And I set up the first 50 channels/presets so they alternate clean, overdriven, clean, overdriven, clean, overdriven...

That way I'm only one step up or one step down from a clean or overdriven tone, using the foot switch, and I can get back to clean or get to overdrive quickly with just one push of the button up or down.

I named my presets after songs or an artist. So I have one called Black Magic Woman, one called Europa, one called Crossroads...one called BB...one called Bluesbreaker...an Eric Johnson one I call Trademark...you get the idea.

And my clean tones vary a bit for country clean, jazz clean, etc.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

That's a pretty good logic I haven't gotten that far yet but I imagine I'll do something quite similar.

So far I've run my 2 LP's and my Mira thru it. I dialed in the Aero/'65 Deluxe patch with my Epi LP that has an upper mid bump (L500XLb/PAFn) and I am using that as the benchmark for the moment. My Gibson LP is a much fatter, warmer guitar (L500L/R set) and needs to have the bass come down a bit to get match the sound, my Mira (C5/59) needs much different EQ settings and maybe even a bit of a boost/TS in the mix. Didn't dial that one in yet.

I am so impressed with the feel and response with this amp. I've owned a Duoverb, a Vetta II and a DT25 , the III beats them all up pretty good. The Vetta would be the best contender IMO and it still didn't have that connection to the pick that the Mustang seems to have.

I'm going to have to get the 4 button switch for sure, I was just waiting to see how this thing performed first.

I've spent the most time so far with the '57 Champ, the '57 Twin and the '65 Deluxe models, that Champ model is what sold me on the amp fwiw.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Mustang III

I wouldn't mind having a lll. I used a Mustang l at a pair of out of town gigs when my Pro Junior died, and it saved my ass mic'd into the PA. I used the hot Bassman setting and it sounded fine.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

So maybe "all" the presets aren't so bad. I've actually found a few that are pretty good, especially once you tweak them a bit.

Kind of digging the Evil Bassman quite a bit, the over effected ones are kindof tough to get into though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Mustang III

So maybe "all" the presets aren't so bad. I've actually found a few that are pretty good, especially once you tweak them a bit.

Kind of digging the Evil Bassman quite a bit, the over effected ones are kindof tough to get into though.

I think of the 80 factory presets as being demos of the built in effects and they're very over the top. I'd never permanently alter the amp models which are located from approximately 81- 99 because those are my starting points for my own presets. So when I go to, say, the Tweed Deluxe or Marshall Plexi preset I'll adjust it for my own preferences, then store those changes by assigning it to overwrite a factory preset from 00 - 80 that I have no use for. Eventually I overwrote them all!

But Not the 20 amp models.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mustang III

I find it funny that after like 40 years, generally any 'factory presets' on anything are terrible, or at least perceived that way. They are supposed to wow you on the floor of a loud music store, but many people are trying these things at home rather than the store. If they can't get a good sound, they send it back. I wonder why 'good' factory presets can't be created.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Mustang III

I bought a a used JMD1 and the presets the previous owner had written were worse than the factory presets. I think he was really into effects though. I'm not. The preset were just way over the top for me. I really only need or want three or four presets of basic tube amp tones, maybe with a bit reverb, if I need to use a modeling amp that night. A few of the factory presets on the JMD did help me to write some of my own presets. I was having trouble dialing a clean preset that I liked. I used the "crazy clean" preset parameters, actually on a different amp model, as a starting point, and was able to dial in a great clean.

The guy I bought the modeling amp from has gone completely low tech now, ironically. He just uses many analog pedals through a clean tube amp.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mustang III

the factory presets on all these modelling amps are for the 14 year olds

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

I took the "Aussie Rock" preset which wasn't too bad, a bit heavy on gain and verb and tweaked that a bit. Dialed it in and I saved it as Duffy since it sounds like his main guitar on Electric.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mustang III

the factory presets on all these modelling amps are for the 14 year olds

I think 14 year olds have more sense. Roland/Boss digital devices continue to have the worst presets in any devices, ever. This has been going on for years.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

Setup with a few more patches yesterday, used the Fender Fuse software to dial them in a little better. Super easy to use if you are at all comfortable with a PC. Changed some bias settings, removed/changed effects and changed cab sims just getting to know the software and seeing how much these things actually effect the output.

I used my Tele with it today and the III took singles coils as well or better than any of the other modelling amps I've had in the past. The Vyper was pretty good with singles as was the DT25. THe DT was really an excellent amp but to get the most out of it you had to master the HD500 which was a PITA in my experience.

The Orange (British Color) amp they have modeled is excellent for my tastes/sound.

One thing I found thru the software is the heavy use of ambient and room reverb on the presets, as opposed to using the particular modeled amp's reverb. Dialing that back or eliminating it made some of the more friendly patches waaaay better.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Mustang III

Everyone's praising the Mustang so I have to throw in my opinion. They sound good for digital amps, but lack in response. Cleans are very good, but overdriven, I never really got it sound right. Couple of Vox hybrids I've tried have been significantly better.

Though this is just Mustang I and II. I haven't tried III.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

I have never played any Mustangs besides the III. I like Vox too but no one had the AV line in stock for me to try out so I gave this a shot.

The headphone out on the Mustang is very good and the Aux in was a must, both things that I wanted in a combo. Looking to try the Orange model against one of my Oranges at rehearsal and see how it holds up. I haven't gigged with it yet that'll be the big test for it, see if it can hang. I just want to have a decent light rig to carry for smaller gigs and I think this will be the ticket.

This amp may not be the end all and be all I'm probably making it out as but bang for the buck is off the charts as far as I am concerned. YMMV just calling them out as I am going along for giggles and ****s.

 

[RogerMexiko]

Re: Mustang III

If anyone is considering a Mustang amp might want to wait a bit.
My Mustang V's preamp board crapped out. Contacted Fender to see if they would sell me a replacement board. The helpful support guy told me none available, they are working on next gen.
As far as mine goes have bypassed preamp and using my own preamp. No modelling or USB connection so I'm thinking of sticking a cheap Pod or V-Amp2 in the loop and see.how that works.
Like my 5 because I cut out an opening in the front panel squeezed two 10" speakers in the head so I can just use the head up to about 30% for some stuff or hook up a couple of 80W 12s if I need the full 150Ws.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Mustang III

That's a drag. Did or do you run it on a surge protector?

 

[RogerMexiko]

Re: Mustang III

That's a drag. Did or do you run it on a surge protector?

Always. Dirty powers is death to amps, tubers especially.