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FDP Forum / Fender Amps: 1985 - Current / Tried the Mustang III today

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telegib Canada	May 4th, 2012 04:04 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic The G-Dec amps are pretty much practice amps. They are great for jamming along with and the 30 watt version gives you some power but nowhere near enough for loud gigs. You also have to remember the 100 watts of power and the bigger cabinet and 12" Celestion of the MIII. If you are going to compare G-Dec amps with the Mustang amps you would be better off comparing the G-Dec with the MII at 40 watts although it still has a 12" speaker. The G-Dec are fun amps though. (This message was last edited by telegib at 04:06 PM, May 4th, 2012)
fredocaster USA	May 4th, 2012 07:48 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic +1 telegib. The MIII is way more than a practice amp. Sounds just fine at band practice and at gigs. Yes, I still like my 57 deluxe, twin, and hr deville better, but the grab and go factor of the mustang is huge.
Quackerjack Contributing Member ********* USA	May 5th, 2012 06:14 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic The 4 button pedal came yesterday, and I completely agree - its necessary for use at rehearsal or gigging. The positioning of the controls make this amp difficult to use, especially if tilted back. The 4 button gives you what you need on the floor. I've already set up a few good patches, and use the stomp for a boost. The tuner control on the floor works well too. It's amazing how much you can do with 4 buttons!
telegib Canada	May 5th, 2012 08:50 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Glad to hear that you got that 4 button switch. It is hard to gig without it.
RobertNasir Contributing Member ******* Motown Galt's Gulch is where I'd rather stay...	May 7th, 2012 06:20 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Happy Mustang III owner here ... ... and that's even before reading the manual, nor loading FUSE ... or even using the footswitches (yep, have both the 2 & 4 button ... sitting unused in the basement) ... sad, as I am, after all, a computer tech ... ... and yet, despite the neglect to its true potential, I am loving the MIII. Using it in the studio, and getting great tones with just the plain amp models (the last dozen or so presents), tweaked a bit manually ... Great recording amp. Between the '65 Deluxe, the Twin and the Super-Sonic emulations, with an occasional solo using the "British" amps, all of the important bases are covered. $300? Inconceivable!
jbryan Minneapolis	May 9th, 2012 12:22 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Champster, I dunno how you have your MIII setup but I really can't believe that it just sound "okay". My tube amps are collecting dust TBH since I got the MIII! Wow... Quackerjack- glad you got the 4-button switch. You really need it IMO to gig out with. You can flip thru the patches without looking at the amp and I LOOOVE LooVE LOOVE the built in tuner! Not having to unplug to tune or have yet, another pedal, is awesome! The MIII's are one kick-butt amp that will make a tube amp shudder in it's presence! I'm actually loaing my Classic 30 Tube amp to a buddy for a couple weeks. It may as well get some hours on it's new tubes and OT!
champster Contributing Member ***** Oceanside, CA	May 9th, 2012 12:33 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "Champster, I dunno how you have your MIII setup but I really can't believe that it just sound "okay". My tube amps are collecting dust TBH since I got the MIII! Wow..." I've done a lot of adjusting to get the MIII sounding as good as I can. Then I plug into my Egnator Tweaker or my PRRI. There's a huge difference. The MIII for me sounds okay but I still prefer tubes. For a $300.00 amp there's nothing wrong with the MIII. One person's tonal heaven is another person's tonal nightmare. We don't all want to sound the same in the end.
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC Axe Victim	May 9th, 2012 12:36 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I think some of you guys are sniffing glue or something. A Chinese made digital amp sounds better than a good tube amp? Can't be! (:oD
telegib Canada	May 9th, 2012 05:55 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "I think some of you guys are sniffing glue or something. A Chinese made digital amp sounds better than a good tube amp?" It's good glue! LOL. No but seriously the MIII can favorably compete in tone to a lot of tube amps. I never said it beats tube amps but it is amazingly good. I love my tube amps....65 Twin,Deluxe Reissue and HRD. I own these amps and love them. They are different. The MIII don't nail these amps. But the MIII comes very, very close to the character of these amps. Closer than us tube snobs (me included)would want to admit. Forget the $300 price tag. It will mislead you. It is much cheaper to produce this technology than it is tube amps. The MIII produces not only one great tone but many tones. It doesn't just "EQ" the amp to simulate different amp models. It really creates the "vibe " of our favorite amps. Fender MIII is the best value of any digital amp I have owned. You cannot walk into a music store and plug in a guitar that you don't own and plug into a Mustang III and instantly give you the tone of your favorite tube amp. Not gonna happen. Even your favorite tube amp would not sound the same in a situation like that. And if you don't know how the amp works or how to set up these amps then you are wasting your time. These are not switch on, adjust bass, treble and mid amps. They are very user friendly when you get used to using them but not as simple as single or dual channel amp whether tube or SS. I said months ago in another thread that I had the opportunity to bring home one of these amps for a weekend about a year ago. I wanted to entertain myself for the weekend by placing these amps next to my 65 RI Twin, 65 RI Deluxe and HRD amps and having a chuckle about how far off these amps were to the real thing. I was disappointed to hear how close the MIII sounded or even how good it sounded for a mere $300. Suffice to say that amp was never returned. I bought that MIII and am loving it to this day. I just wish the heck that these amps were around when I was a kid and could only afford a junk amp from a mail order catalog. I am really happy to know that somebody can buy a good guitar and one of these amps and be able to produce inspiring tones and be able to afford it.
Quackerjack Contributing Member ********* USA	May 9th, 2012 06:04 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Better, no...pretty darn close, yes! I've had mine for a week now, and spent a few hours back and forth between the DRRI and the M3. There is clearly a difference in note definition, and "feel", but we are talking subtleties. Fender packed a lot of tones and possibilities into a inexpensive package that can be gigged. Mr. 5Strats: get thee to a Guitar Center pronto and see for yourself!
fredocaster USA	May 9th, 2012 06:51 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic +1 quarterjack and telegib. The MIII is not quite as good as the tube amps it emulates, but it is darn close. And telegib is right you do need to spend some time with it to get the sounds you want. But i don't really think that you need more time than you need to do this with a new tube amp. The reason you need extra tweak time is that you need to tweak EACH amp model that you use for your guitar. Just like you would on the real things. Also, as someone else here said, think it is best to start with the basic amp models (the last dozen patches or so). I think that many of the factory presets are design to attract kids and /or beginners in the music stores. No offense meant to kids and beginners. (This message was last edited by fredocaster at 06:58 PM, May 9th, 2012)
Five Aces San Jose, California ...just because I like it!	May 12th, 2012 07:55 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Hmmmm.... just my 2 bits. I just bought the GDEC-3-30 because I couldn't resist the closeout price and trade in they gave me for my old GDEC. But I originally went in with the intent of a mustang II or III. I stuck with the GDEC because in my opinion it's a much more versitile PRACTICE AMP and that is really what I wanted. The MIII sounded great but is way too much power for what I wanted. But if I had any intention of gigging with it, I would have probably been leaning for the MIII.
Quackerjack Contributing Member ********* USA	May 20th, 2012 06:01 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Ok... Just used the M3 at clamfest (an FDP jam). I had it on 5 or 6, and it did just fine outdoors with 2 drummers, 3 guitars, keys etc. Better yet, for the tones I wanted (early Page and Gilmour) it unquestionably nailed it. I even demoed it next to a silver face deluxe reverb, and it was close enougt that only a real geek would be able to tell the difference. I have some work to do on my presets, as they behave differently when cranked to 5 on the Master, but I'm afraid my CyberDeluxe is going into retirement.
fredocaster USA	May 20th, 2012 06:04 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Welcome to the MIII club!
Quackerjack Contributing Member ********* USA	May 20th, 2012 07:02 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Oh, I'm definitely among the converted. The M3 held its own against a star-studded lineup of tube amps. I just might buy another as a spare!
telegib Canada	May 21st, 2012 03:25 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I have even thought of buying another MIII as a spare. And I also own a Mustang V. I know. I'm sick. (This message was last edited by telegib at 03:26 PM, May 21st, 2012)
jbryan Minneapolis	May 22nd, 2012 01:46 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Hey hofner man. I had the same experience- i started out with the Mustang II but didn't like the sound and I needed more power. The Mustang III is completely different! I haven't tried a Mustang I, but those that have them seem to like them. I think Fender ought to maybe ditch the M II as it's too large for the spot the Mustang I fills and is not nearly as competent an amp as the Mustang III. I would suspect it also is the lowest selling model as well. Anyone know of sales figures for these critters?
Chris-K MD, USA	Jun 12th, 2012 11:07 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I bought a Mustang III last year and was impressed. I thought the honeymoon wouldn't last for a long time, though. I still love its tones. I have yet to explore the software.
RobertNasir Contributing Member ******* Motown Galt's Gulch is where I'd rather stay...	Jun 13th, 2012 06:12 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Well, I finally downloaded the software, but only because I picked up a Mustang Mini as well, and that one's a tougher one to tweak on the fly using just knobs & buttons ... some of the presets were, as usual, silly with flange and whatnot ... cleaned those up, saved, and now there's 30 great tones available ... Now I just need to hook up the III to FUSE and turn the "silly" presets into useful tones! But in the studio, I'm still using the basic amps (presets 88-99) ... if you're not a tweaker, I think that's a great place to start!
Quackerjack Contributing Member ********* USA	Jun 13th, 2012 03:38 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I love the basic amp models - especially the Fenders ;-).

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FDP Forum / Fender Amps: 1985 - Current / Tried the Mustang III today

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