Fender Mustang 90 Review: A Classic Always in Style

It's hard to argue with Fender's status as the most famous guitar manufacturer in the world. But while the California company may be best known for its Stratocaster and Telecaster models, it also offers a wide range of quirkier designs aimed at players of all different genres.

The Mustang, first introduced in the 1960s as an affordable practice model for newer players, found favor in the garage rock and grunge scenes decades later. Its offbeat appeal and cheaper price tag have helped it retain that success throughout the 21st century.

The new Mustang 90 model is an homage to the modified Mustangs common in underground music scenes. Let's break down the details of this special guitar, and examine whether or not it's truly one of the best electric guitars under $500.

Body and Neck

Like most Fender solid-body models, the Mustang 90 is built with an alder body and a maple neck. This guitar uses a Pau Ferro fingerboard. A relative of rosewood, Pau Ferro offers similar tonal qualities to its more famous cousin with a slightly lighter, coffee-colored appearance.

The neck itself uses Fender's standard 9.5 radius and modern C-shaped neck. It's a smooth, versatile setup that's comfortable over long practice sessions and allows for fast playing up and down the length of the scale. Unlike other Fender guitars, however, the Mustang 90's scale is only 24″ long.

In contrast with the traditional 25.5″ length, the shorter scale creates a slinkier, more compact feel. It's noticeably easier to bend notes and fret complex barre chords on this guitar than on other full-scale models. That makes the Mustang 90 an outstanding option for newer players or guitarists with slightly smaller hands.

Electronics

For all its other unique features, the electronics are what truly set this guitar apart. The Mustang 90 comes outfitted with a pair of Fender MP-90 pickups, rather than traditional single-coils or humbuckers.

P-90 pickups, first created by Gibson, are a type of single-coil known for their airy midrange and aggressive, punchy attack. They're a bit thicker and chunkier than standard single-coils, particularly through the low-end — some players compare them to a cross between a Fender single-coil and a Gibson humbucker. They also excel at distorted and fuzzy tones, which is a major plus for hard rock, punk, and grunge players!

Beyond the pickups, the rest of the Mustang 90 is a fairly standard setup. A three-way selector switch toggles between the P-90s, with the middle position blending the two together. Master volume and tone knobs help you manage your sound from a convenient location next to the strings.

Hardware

Though it's still a Mustang, this guitar's bridge borrows heavily from the Stratocaster design. It's a string-through body with six bent-steel saddles identical to a Strat setup. The one difference is the lack of a vibrato bar here. The individual saddles allow you to adjust the intonation of each string to your liking.

A synthetic bone nut holds the strings stable at the other end of the neck. Chrome Fender cast pegs do a good job at keeping your tuning steady.

On the aesthetic side of things, the Mustang 90 also features a Pearloid four-ply pickguard — a flashy touch that sets this guitar apart from other Fender models. It's sure to turn some heads!

Sound

When played clean, the Mustang 90 offers smooth, rounded tones with plenty of low-end and midrange body. The neck pickup is slightly more mellow and warm, while the middle and bridge positions offer some twang reminiscent of a Stratocaster or Telecaster.

This guitar really excels when played with some grit, however. The P-90s offer exceptional dynamic response — with your amp turned up to the edge of breakup, these pickups sound fantastic. It's easy to clean the guitar up by playing lower and obtain a dirtier, grittier sound by digging in harder.

With overdrive or distortion applied, the pickups really sing. The tones here are throaty and punchy, and they sound distinct from the rest of Fender's single-coil lineup. If you're looking for a sound that's versatile yet distinct and punchy, this guitar delivers on all fronts.

Conclusion

The Fender Mustang 90 is a fresh and unique spin on a classic budget guitar. The P-90 pickups deliver smooth and supple tones while also providing an aggressive attack. With some effects applied, they feature clear yet heavy distortion that's unlike anything else in the Fender lineup.

Whether you're in the market for a new guitar to practice on and play at jam sessions or want to step up from a cheap beginner electric guitar, the Mustang 90 is a great choice. The combination of distinctive features and classic Fender quality is hard to beat.