Fender Mustang Antigua Solid Body Electric Guitar (1979)
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Fender Mustang Antigua Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1979), made in Fullerton, California, serial # S 822494, Antigua shaded polyester finish, alder body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
This rather rare and slightly oddball Mustang is an extremely short-lived Antigua model from 1979, one of the least common of all these delightful fretted Fender ponies. This specialized shaded finish option was originally offered on hollowbody Coronados in the late '60s but was inexplicably revived on Fender solidbody models for a short time at the end of 1970's. The creamy polyester hue with greenish edges was very eye-catching, if not to everyone's taste! It also often does not stand up particularly well in actual use, the painted pickguard being the most prone to wear; this one survives in far better shape than many.
This guitar shows some light wear but remains clean overall and very unique looking in its love-it-or-hate-it sort of pea soup livery. It was built some years after the end of the run of the rather whimsical "Competition" Mustangs in 1973, at a time when the Mustang had otherwise reverted to more generic 1970s Fender cosmetics. The shaded Antigua finish on the body, topped with the matching painted plastic pickguard certainly offered a much more dramatic look than the standard limited late 70s Fender color palette. This Mustang has a fairly light Antigua shade, less "pea soup" than some; the pickguard has a slightly greener cast than the body.
Another notable change from earlier Mustangs is the one-piece maple neck and fingerboard, an original 1950s Fender feature that came late to this model in the mid-70s. The maple headstock has just a bit of burl figure on the face. The serial number decal designates this as a 1979 model, which is typical for the Antigua runs. The pot dates are to the 26th week of 1978. Aside from the maple fingerboard, and of course the eye-catching finish most other features remain basically similar to later 1960s models including the switchable in/out of phase pickups and "Dynamic Vibrato" trem system.
Like its automotive namesake the Fender Mustang first appeared in 1964, one of Leo Fender's final original designs for the company. Although intended primarily for students the instrument is so well-designed that it has also appealed to many professional players over the decades. By the end of the '70s Fender was phasing them out (the Fender Bullets were the company's new student concept) and it would disappear officially in 1982. Late 70's Mustangs are rare to begin with and this slightly wacky but endearing Antigua Mustang with a maple neck, one of the rarest variations, has survived the decades nearly perfectly and is ready for another 40+ years!
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This Mustang shows just some very light isolated finish wear but remains all original and very clean overall. The body shows some scuffing on the top and small dings and dents to the edges. The pickguard has some visible pick scuffing above and below the neck pickup, but no wear through the paint which is very common to Antiguas. The neck finish is very clean with just a few tiny dings and dents. All hardware is original and unaltered including the original trem arm; there is no bridge cover. The frets have virtually no wear and this is a fine player, and of course super distinctive looking! It resides in its nicely preserved original black Tolex Fender hard case. Excellent + Condition.
This rather rare and slightly oddball Mustang is an extremely short-lived Antigua model from 1979, one of the least common of all these delightful fretted Fender ponies. This specialized shaded finish option was originally offered on hollowbody Coronados in the late '60s but was inexplicably revived on Fender solidbody models for a short time at the end of 1970's. The creamy polyester hue with greenish edges was very eye-catching, if not to everyone's taste! It also often does not stand up particularly well in actual use, the painted pickguard being the most prone to wear; this one survives in far better shape than many.
This guitar shows some light wear but remains clean overall and very unique looking in its love-it-or-hate-it sort of pea soup livery. It was built some years after the end of the run of the rather whimsical "Competition" Mustangs in 1973, at a time when the Mustang had otherwise reverted to more generic 1970s Fender cosmetics. The shaded Antigua finish on the body, topped with the matching painted plastic pickguard certainly offered a much more dramatic look than the standard limited late 70s Fender color palette. This Mustang has a fairly light Antigua shade, less "pea soup" than some; the pickguard has a slightly greener cast than the body.
Another notable change from earlier Mustangs is the one-piece maple neck and fingerboard, an original 1950s Fender feature that came late to this model in the mid-70s. The maple headstock has just a bit of burl figure on the face. The serial number decal designates this as a 1979 model, which is typical for the Antigua runs. The pot dates are to the 26th week of 1978. Aside from the maple fingerboard, and of course the eye-catching finish most other features remain basically similar to later 1960s models including the switchable in/out of phase pickups and "Dynamic Vibrato" trem system.
Like its automotive namesake the Fender Mustang first appeared in 1964, one of Leo Fender's final original designs for the company. Although intended primarily for students the instrument is so well-designed that it has also appealed to many professional players over the decades. By the end of the '70s Fender was phasing them out (the Fender Bullets were the company's new student concept) and it would disappear officially in 1982. Late 70's Mustangs are rare to begin with and this slightly wacky but endearing Antigua Mustang with a maple neck, one of the rarest variations, has survived the decades nearly perfectly and is ready for another 40+ years!
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This Mustang shows just some very light isolated finish wear but remains all original and very clean overall. The body shows some scuffing on the top and small dings and dents to the edges. The pickguard has some visible pick scuffing above and below the neck pickup, but no wear through the paint which is very common to Antiguas. The neck finish is very clean with just a few tiny dings and dents. All hardware is original and unaltered including the original trem arm; there is no bridge cover. The frets have virtually no wear and this is a fine player, and of course super distinctive looking! It resides in its nicely preserved original black Tolex Fender hard case. Excellent + Condition.