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Fender Pawn Shop Series Mustang Special

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Fender Pawn Shop Series Mustang Special

$809.37 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (1)

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Page last updated Jul 05, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 5, 2026.

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5.0 (11)

$809.37 3 available Used

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Average Price: $809

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, Fender Pawn Shop Series Mustang Special is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

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Description

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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.

The original Mustang's student status, short scale and diminutive body - not to mention quirky vibrato - have always affected its popularity compared to the classic Fender four. But this Special is substantially upgraded.

Here we get a 'modified' Mustang body: it's subtly offset in the style of the Jaguar and Jazzmaster, It looks like it always should have been that way! Plus it's strung through the body, using the a hardtail Strat bridge.

Then, replacing the original's single-coils, are two Enforcer Wide Range humbuckers with their distinct offset polepieces poking through the chrome-plated, Fender logo'd covers.

The Enforcer humbuckers pickups have that seventies Wide Range look, but in a stock size and with modern sound (regular Wide Range pickups are huge!)

A three-way toggle pickup selector sits on the treble horn, master volume and tone (and output jack) on the chrome-plated metal control plate then two three-position 'coil selector' switches - one for each humbucker - on the mint green three-ply scratchplate, which also suspends the pickups and holds that three-way toggle.

The three-way sliders represent the coils of each humbucker, so to the left is the front coil, in the middle is both coils, and to the right is the back coil. Just like it's laid out on the guitar. Couple that with the three-way toggle switch and you have 15 sounds!

Fender Pawn Shop Fender Mustang Special Features:

Body: Alder Body Shape: Mustang® Neck Material: Maple Neck Shape: '60s "C" Shape Number of Frets: 22 Fret Size: Medium Jumbo Position Inlays: Vintage Cream Fretboard Radius: 9.5" (24.1 cm) Fretboard: Rosewood Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm) Scale Length: 24" (61 cm) Neck Plate: Four-bolt Truss Rods: Standard Truss Rod Truss Rod Nut: 3/16" Hex Adjustment 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: Chrome Bridge: '70s-Style Hard-Tail Stratocaster Bridge String Nut: Synthetic Bone Strings: Fender® USA Super 250L, NPS (.009-.042 Gauges)

Unique Features: -Double Humbucker Configuration -Hardtail Bridge -Unique Pickup Switching with 18 Options -Short 24" Scale -Offset Mustang Body Shape

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 makes the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special unique compared to other Mustangs?: The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special features a unique HH pickup configuration and a modern twist on the classic Mustang design, offering versatile tones that are suitable for a wide range of music styles.
Is the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special suitable for beginners?: Yes, the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and versatile sound, making it easy to play and adaptable to various music genres.
What type of neck does the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special have?: The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special features a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, providing a smooth playing experience and a classic feel.
How does the pickup configuration of the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special affect its sound?: The HH pickup configuration on the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special allows for a broader range of tones, from warm and full to bright and cutting, making it versatile for different musical styles.
What is the finish style of the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special?: The Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special comes in a 3-Color Sunburst finish with a gloss and metallic style, offering a visually striking and durable appearance.

Videos

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Fender 2012 Pawn Shop Mustang Special Demo | Fender

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Inside the Fender Pawn Shop Series

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Reviews

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PROS

Versatile pickup options with coil-splittable humbuckers for a wide range of tones
Lightweight and compact, ideal for smaller players or easy transport
High build quality, with both MIJ and MIM versions praised
Unique design with no trem bar, making it more stable for tuning
Short scale neck, great for players with smaller hands
Excellent for overdrive/distortion, providing a powerful sound in recording sessions
String-through body enhances sustain for powerful, lasting notes
Modern, non-traditional Mustang design appealing to adventurous players
Effortless playability with easy access to tone customization
Highly regarded by musicians with more expensive guitars, indicating strong value

CONS

Pickups may lack the broad range found in higher-end models
Bridge alignment issues can lead to string slipping during play
Compact size may not appeal to players preferring standard-sized guitars
Jack of all trades but master of none; lacks specific iconic tones like Tele or Strat

Owner Insights

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

Features and functionality

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The Pawn Shop Mustang Special features a wide range humbucker in the bridge for thick, loud tones, and a tele neck pickup for clean sounds.
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The Mustang Special's atomic humbucker provides a unique tonal option, being the only humbucker among several guitars owned by an acoustic player.
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Use cases and applications

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Owners find this guitar excellent for playing open tunings and jangle-style music akin to bands like American Football.
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This guitar is appreciated for its ability to handle both clean and distorted sounds effectively, addressing limitations found in other models like the Thinline.
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The Mustang Special is appreciated for its ability to deliver clean jangle tones and lo-fi fuzz, making it suitable for diverse musical styles.
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User experience

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The guitar's two-tone with maple aesthetic is highly praised for its classic appeal, making it a favorite within the Pawn Shop Series collection.
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An owner noted persistent buzzing on the G string, suggesting a bridge setup is necessary.
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Comparisons

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The Pawn Shop Mustang Special is contrasted with the Thinline, noting the former's versatility due to its pickup configuration.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners recommend using thicker gauge strings, such as 11s or 12s, on the 24” scale length for improved playability and tone.
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Mods and upgrades

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One owner plans to convert a Jaguarillo into a baritone, highlighting the series' potential for customization.
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Critic Reviews

Fender Pawn Shop Guitars: '51, '72, Mustang Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

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mylittleeye

2829

over 2 years ago

Small, light and immensely versatile.

The Fender Pawnshop series was Fender's bold attempt to reimagine their classic guitars as if they had been customised and modded by some enthusiastic tech head to deliver something a bit off the wall and then found abandoned in some Pawn Shop somewhere. I was instantly drawn to the potential flexibility of this model's funky pair of coil splittable humbuckers. Not a range for traditionalists perhaps but as a lily livered liberalist I commend Fender for breaking their own mold. I think fender continue running with the concept as their Paranormal Series after all the online sniggering that came from saying the word Pawnshop 🤦

I'd warmly assert that this guitar's a Mustang in name and silhouette only; it has no trem bar, the pickups are humbuckers and not single coils and even the body has been modded; shortened to balance the look of the non standard hardtail strat bridge. It's been thinned and contoured too, making for a guitar that's significantly more compact and lightweight compared to the original. If I were to have just one criticism it's that to my eye the headstock is left looking a bit oversized in proportion to the rest of the guitar but most folks probably wouldn't notice.

But with that said these are all positive mods for the better. Not only is the body shorter, it's thinner and nicely contoured too. This makes for a very compact guitar that's perfect for someone of smaller stature... a petite female or Angus Young for example. For myself, being average height it's fine too but additionally I just find it great to have out in the room to just snatch up, carry about the house, throw in the car etc. It's effortless to play and the switching is so versatile it can deliver a huge variety of tones. It's very much a swiss army knife of a guitar but like many a Jack of All Trades it's a master of none. I've since acquired my first Telecaster having realised that despite my best hopes the Mustang's never quite gonna deliver that Tele twang or Strat quack. Close enough for government work... but no cigar!

I like the Mustang Special so much that this is the second one I've bought, my first being the Candy Apple Red one. It's weird how the blues sound so much better played through this 3 colour sunburst version. I just feel so much more mellow and relaxed with this across my lap whereas the red one leaves me feeling tense.

There's a bit of snobbery that goes on between the first (Japan made) and second (Mexican) editions of these guitars. However, the knobs on this MIM version (the 2nd edition Maligned In Mexico) are bigger and feel better quality than the 1st edition MIJ I owned previously. The pots aren't scratchy and the electronics don't hiss like the MIJ either. Plus, the truss rod's directly accessible from the headstock without taking the guitar apart. It feels, plays and sounds every bit the MIJ's equal to me... perhaps even better? 🤷 so fight me!

Preferred Settings + Usage:

There are 15 potential tone configurations on this guitar and while some differences can be subtle they are significant enough that I do find myself using them all. Some favourites:

Both central coils: my default starting position and the one that sounds closest to an acoustic guitar amped with a magnetic soundhole pickup.
Both outer coils: the warmth of the neck coil plus the edge of the bridge; this is a combo you can't get on your standard Strat.
Neck HB + Bridge single coil: I call this the Micawber configuration even though, yeah it sounds nothing like a real Tele really!

For sure there's enough switching options here to get in the ballpark for most styles of play.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Drummer

Genres:

Folk, World, & Country Harmonica blues Psychedelic folk

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