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Average Price: $809

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$400

$1001+

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Description

Step into the world of musical innovation with the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special, a guitar that blends the best of vintage charm and modern versatility. This isn't just any electric guitar; it's a nod to the unorthodox designs of the '60s and '70s, reimagined for today's discerning musician. With its dual Enforcer humbucking pickups, this guitar offers a wealth of tonal possibilities, thanks to a unique 3-way coil selector slide switch for each pickup. This means you can explore up to 18 different sound configurations, from rich humbuckers to snappy single-coil tones, all with the flick of a switch.

The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special has an offset body that not only looks sleek but also feels comfortable during long sessions. Its short 24" scale neck with a '60s C-shape provides a fast, smooth playing experience, while the rosewood fretboard with a modern 9.5" radius and medium-jumbo frets ensures easy playability. Add to this the '70s-style hardtail Stratocaster bridge, which provides rock-solid tuning stability and perfect intonation, and you've got a guitar that's as reliable as it is stylish.

Whether you're chasing the vibe of a bygone era or forging new musical paths, the Pawn Shop Mustang Special is your perfect partner in creativity.

Key Features:

  • Modified offset Mustang body for a retro aesthetic
  • 3-way coil selector slide switch for each pickup, offering 18 tonal options
  • Dual Enforcer humbucking pickups for versatile sound
  • '60s C-shaped 24" short-scale maple neck for comfortable play
  • 9.5" radius rosewood fretboard with medium-jumbo frets
  • '70s-style hardtail Stratocaster bridge for stable tuning
  • Vintage-style tuners and strap buttons
  • Comes with a deluxe gig bag for easy transport

Product specs

Brand Fender
Model Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special
Finish 3-Color Sunburst, Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue
Year 2012 - 2013
Made In Japan
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type String-Through
Color Family Blue, Brown, Red
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss, Metallic
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Model Family Fender Mustang
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Series Fender Pawn Shop
Wood Top Style Plain

FAQs

What kind of pickups does the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special feature?

The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special is equipped with Enforcer "Wide Range" humbucking pickups, providing a versatile range of tones suitable for various music genres.

Is the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special suitable for players with smaller hands?

Yes, the 24-inch scale length of the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special makes it more comfortable for players with smaller hands, offering easier playability.

How does the pickup switching work on the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special?

The guitar features a 3-position toggle switch for selecting between bridge, middle, and neck pickups, along with coil selector switches for each humbucker, providing 18 unique tonal options.

What is the neck profile of the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special?

The neck of the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special features a 60s "C" shape, providing a comfortable grip and smooth playability for various playing styles.

Does the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special have a string-through body design?

Yes, the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special features a 70's-style hard-tail Stratocaster bridge with a string-through body design, enhancing sustain and tuning stability.

Fender

Fender

Fender 2012 Pawn Shop Mustang Special Demo | Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender 2012 Pawn Shop Mustang Special Demo | Fender by Fender

Fender 2012 Pawn Shop Mustang Special Demo | Fender

Fender

Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Rosewood Neck (Lake Placid Blue) by N Stuff Music

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Rosewood Neck (Lake Placid Blue)

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Video thumbnail for FENDER PAWN SHOP MUSTANG SPECIAL video demo [Musikmesse 2011] by Audiofanzine in English

FENDER PAWN SHOP MUSTANG SPECIAL video demo [Musikmesse 2011]

Audiofanzine in English

Audiofanzine in English

Video thumbnail for Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Rosewood Neck (Candy Apple Red) by N Stuff Music

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Rosewood Neck (Candy Apple Red)

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Video thumbnail for Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special MIJ 2010 Candy Apple Red Japan by NOIZEMAKER GUITARS

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special MIJ 2010 Candy Apple Red Japan

NOIZEMAKER GUITARS

NOIZEMAKER GUITARS

Video thumbnail for Fender Mustang Pawn Shop Special Lake Placid Blue #T011153 Quick 'n' Dirty by soundpurestudios

Fender Mustang Pawn Shop Special Lake Placid Blue #T011153 Quick 'n' Dirty

soundpurestudios

soundpurestudios

Video thumbnail for Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special 2012 Demo by Jerry’s Guitar Shop

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special 2012 Demo

Jerry’s Guitar Shop

Jerry’s Guitar Shop

Reviews

PROS

  • Versatile with 15 different tone positions for diverse sound options

  • Lightweight and well-balanced for comfortable play

  • Short scale neck ideal for players with smaller hands

  • Unique coil-tapping wide range humbuckers

  • High-quality build with excellent craftsmanship

  • String-through body enhances sustain

  • Compact size ideal for smaller living spaces

  • Excellent for overdrive, distortion, and fuzz effects

  • Suitable for both beginners and seasoned players

  • Attractive Lake Placid Blue finish

CONS

  • Stock pickups may not satisfy all purists

  • High E string can slip off fretboard if bridge alignment is off

  • Relatively scarce, leading to inflated prices

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special.

Build quality

  • The neck's glossy finish is praised for being smooth yet not slippery, a standout feature for many owners.

    Source
  • The body is not a traditional Mustang shape, being smaller and lighter, which gives it a unique feel compared to other Mustangs.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Some owners suggest replacing the existing bridge with a Toronado bridge for improved aesthetics and potential tonal benefits, though some worry about sonic changes.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The guitar features a hardtail bridge, which some users find more comfortable due to the slimmer body compared to typical Mustangs.

    Source
  • The guitar features Wide Range Enforcer humbuckers, which are praised for their exceptional tone, outperforming similar pickups in other models like the Classic Player Jag HH.

    Source
  • The guitar is appreciated for its pristine condition, with only typical pickguard swirls noted despite years of use.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners highlight the exceptional resonance and light weight of the Lake Placid Blue model, enhancing playability.

    Source
  • Some users find the guitar's smaller size and 24" scale particularly comfortable, enhancing playability for those who prefer lightweight instruments.

    Source
  • Owners frequently find the guitar so desirable that they quickly sell out once listed, indicating strong demand and satisfaction.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The MIJ version is preferred over MIM versions for its unique attributes, particularly the neck quality.

    Source
  • Owners note that the Pawn Shop Mustang Special feels significantly lighter and smaller compared to the Cobain Mustang, with some preferring the heavier feel of the latter.

    Source
  • Some owners consider adding a Mustang vibrato, suggesting potential compatibility and interest in expanding its playability.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Recent transactions show the guitar selling for around $900 in Spain, with potential for higher prices in different markets.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 16 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
mylittleeye

A Compact Little Swiss Army Knife of Tone

I saw this as the perfect upgrade from my first electric guitar an aged hand-me-down Stagg strat copy. The fellow I got it from brought it back from the US for use as a backup gig guitar; a role for which it's perfectly suited. The specs certainly suggested it could be my One Axe To Rule Them All! Its special sauce is its two high output ceramic Fender Enforcer humbucker pickups. The Pawn Shop Special's trick is in the three-position switches offering the option to split each humbucker and use either the forward or rear half of it as a 'single coil' This, in combination with the pickup selector by the horn, multiplies up to a mind boggling 15 selectable tone configurations!

Economically this was a wise purchase too, saving me hundreds of £€$ I might have otherwise been tempted to squander on a proper Strat, Les Paul and/or Tele. For me this fills all those niches. As an intermediate player who is still on the learning journey this versatility is a godsend. For example with a flick of the switches I can put a single coil at the bridge and a humbucker at the neck and with eye's closed and a little imagination (all right a lot) have Keef's Micawber tele in my hands; switch off the neck entirely for some country twang; have just a single coil on the neck for wholesome cleans or else double down on both buckers for full bodied filth. The wide range pickups are hot but clean up very nicely too with the volume rolled off. The Pawn Shop Mustang Special delivers it all.

All this tonal capability belies the fact that this is a tidy little guitar. Its mustang body is slightly shorter than the standard and has a thinner profile. That along with its short scale neck would make it a more comfortable fit for someone of smaller stature. If you're a big fella already used to wielding a mighty axe this might look and feel almost toylike in your hands; it's the lightest most compact electric guitar I've used.

I would give this guitar five stars as it meets practically all my needs. However, while I like to imagine it can substitute for a tele, strat or SG, in reality it only gets about 4/5ths of the way there. Ultimately it's its own thing, a versatile workhorse perhaps but not the thoroughbred instrument a more discerning guitarist might desire.

From Gear Setup

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Ben Larson uses Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special

Ben Larson

Guitarist

The Jins

...
Verified via YouTube

Around the first half of this part of the set Ben uses this guitar

See how Samira Winter uses Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special

Samira Winter

Singer, Guitarist

Winter

...
Verified via YouTube

The Pawn Shop Mustang is used by Winter in this live video uploaded to the band's Youtube channel

See how Megan Washington uses Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special

Megan Washington

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

From her official Instagram post, you can see Washington playing a Fender Mustang Special (lake placid blue color). [2019].

See how Peter McPoland uses Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special

Peter McPoland

...
Verified via Instagram

In an Instagram post by Peter McPoland, he is seen with a Candy Apple Red Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special. This same guitar also appears on the cover of his album “Piggy” (source: Instagram, petermcpoland).

Album Usage

The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Fender Mustang Electric Guitar
Fender Mustang Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
2
Fender Supersonic 60w Head
Fender Supersonic 60w Head Guitar Amplifier Heads
1
Fender Excelsior
Fender Excelsior Combo Guitar Amplifiers
1
Fender American Deluxe Telecaster
Fender American Deluxe Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
Boss FZ-1W Fuzz Waza Craft
Boss FZ-1W Fuzz Waza Craft Fuzz Effects Pedals
1
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Steel-string Acoustic Guitars
1
Fender Player Stratocaster
Fender Player Stratocaster Solid Body Electric Guitars
1

Community setups

Show yours
mylittleeye

mylittleeye

Gear IQ 2829

mylittleeye

mylittleeye

Gear IQ 2829

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Vintage or Discontinued newer

The 3 Colour Sunburst Mustang Special is the 2nd edition of the Fender Pawnshop Series Mustang Special produced and was produced from late 2012 onwards. It differs from the earlier Japanese manufactured 1st edition in that they were subsequently Made In Mexico and were improved by having the truss rod adjustment nut made more accessible at the headstock rather than beneath the pick guard at the neck heel.

The Mustang Specials in 3 colour Sunburst finish were produced only in Mexico and seem a little harder to find.

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