Fender Mustang III Guitar Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12")

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Fender Mustang III Guitar Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12"), Main
Fender Mustang III Guitar Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12"), Top
Fender Mustang III Guitar Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12"), Main Fender Mustang III Guitar Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x12"), Top
Get 100 watts of power, built-in effects and presets, and USB conectivity with this tiny workhorse combo amp.

This Fender Mustang amplifier series raises the standard for modern guitar versatility and muscle. Driven by incredibly authentic amp models and a huge bank of built-in effects, Mustang amplifiers come equipped with USB connectivity and Fender FUSE(tm) software, allowing your musical creativity and imagination to run wild.

The Fender Mustang III is a 100-watt open-back combo with a 12-inch Celestion speaker that sounds great and pumps serious volume. The Fender Mustang III contains 100 amp presets derived from 12 different amp models that deliver tones from vintage Fender sparkle to outrageous modern metal distortion, and 37 different effects in four categories (stomp, modulation, delay and reverb), all easily and instantly accessed. It's great for rehearsing, jamming and small gigs, and the 1/8" headphone jack doubles as speaker-emulated line out. Further, connect Mustang III to your computer with free Fender FUSE software. Open up a world of possibilities, including on-screen parameter control, deep editing, additional effects, unlimited preset storage, online preset swapping with the Fender FUSE community, and free Fender artist presets. The Fender Mustang III's included programmable two-button footswitch controls preset up/down, quick access, effects on/off and tap tempo (optional four-button footswitch also available).

The Fender Mustang III packs it all into a striking visual design with sleek and modern Fender styling that provides a look that's as desirable as the sound.

General
- Model Name: Mustang III
- Series: Mustang(tm)
- Amplifier Type: Solid State
- Color / Part # : Black 230-0030-000

Electronics
- Voltage: Array
- Effects Loop: Mono Series Effects Loop
- Inputs: One 1/4" Instrument
- Auxiliary Input: 1/8" Auxiliary Input Jack
- Headphone Jack: 1/8" Headphone Jack
- Line Out: USB port, 1/8" Headphone Jack doubles as Speaker Emulated Line Out
- Channels: One Channel with 100 Presets
- Power Handling: 100 Watts
- Controls: Gain, Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb, Master; Data Wheel; soft keys for Amp Select, Stomp Edit, Modulation Edit, Delay Edit, Reverb Edit, Utility, Save, Exit, and Tap/Tuner

Hardware
- Grill Cover Cloth: Black Textured "Carbon Tweed" Vinyl Covering with Silver Grill Cloth
- Output Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Amplifier Length: 10.75" (27.3 cm)
Amplifier Width: 20.5" (52.1 cm)
Amplifier Height: 17.75" (45.1 cm)
Amplifier Weight: 36 lbs. (16.3 kg)
Effects: 12 Amp Models, 7 Stomp Effects, 11 Modulation Effects, 9 Delay Effects, and 10 Reverb Effects

Speakers
- Speaker: Celestion(r) G12T-100 12-inch Speaker
- Impedance: 8 Ohms

Miscellaneous
Additional Comments: 12 Amp Models: '57 Deluxe(tm), '59 Bassman(r), '57 Champ(r), '65 Deluxe Reverb(r), '65 Princeton(r) Reverb, '65 Twin Reverb(r), Super-Sonic(tm), British '60s, British '70s, British '80s, American '90s, Metal 2000; 7 Stomp Effects: Overdrive, Fixed Wah, Touch Wah, Fuzz, Fuzz Touch Wah, Compressor, Simple Compressor; 11 Modulation Effects: Sine Chorus, Triangle Chorus, Sine Flanger, Triangle Flanger, Vibratone, Vintage Tremolo, Sine Tremolo, Ring Modulator, Step Filter, Phaser, Pitch Shifter; 9 Delay Effects: Mono Delay, Mono Echo Filter, Stereo Echo Filter, Multitap Delay, Ping Pong Delay, Ducking Delay, Reverse Delay, Tape Delay, Stereo Tape Delay; 10 Reverb Effects: Small Hall, Large Hall, Small Room, Large Room, Small Plate, Large Plate, Ambient, Arena, Fender '63 Spring Reverb, Fender '65 Spring Reverb
Unique Features: Guitar amp with DSP platform, high-quality amp models and effects; 100 onboard factory and user presets; headphone output and auxiliary input; chromatic tuner; "Millennium Blackface" treatment includes carbon tweed covering and top-loaded front control panel; USB connectivity for high-quality, low-latency audio output and interface with free Fender FUSE PC application; Fender FUSE application offers on-screen parameter control, deep editing, unlimited preset storage, online patch swapping and easy firmware upgrades; Fender FUSE community includes chat forums, preset trading, and additional content from Fender and artists; includes disc with Ableton(r) Live Lite Fender edition, AmpliTube(r) Fender LE edition and other extras, making Mustang a one-stop solution for guitarists to digital recording.

Accessories
FootSwitch: Included Programmable 2 Button Footswitch (P/N 008-0997-000) for Preset Up Down, Quick Access, Effects On/Off, or Tap Tempo; Optional 4-Button Footswitch (P/N 008-0996-000) also available

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-488-1818

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (26 ratings)
Submitted April 22, 2012 by Lorin C in Lexington, SC

"Fender delivers an overall excellent sounding modelling amp with amazing value"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
I purchased chiefly to serve as a practice amp and light jamming duty with acoustic drumkit. In both roles it succeeds. It has more than enough volume to play cleanly at high volume (well beyond a heavy-handed drummer) with just the stock single 12" speaker. I might mod mine to add an external speaker jack. That is definitely one area Fender needs to correct in subsequent revisions.

Sound
Most of the Fender models are excellent and I am hard-pressed to tell them from the actual amps. 75% of my patches are based on the 65 Twin, but I've also used the Bassman models and the 65 Deluxe. The clean tones I've gotten with this amp are the best I've gotten since I actually used a vintage 68 Super Reverb. You could possibly tell the difference if you had the actual amp side by side, but the convenience of digital, as well as the lack of noise you experience with true vintage tube amps more than makes up for it in my opinion. Sadly, the higain amp models are not as good as the Fender models and there is failry significant fizz (the kind people typically associate with digital modeling). However, once you connect to the Fuse software you can take steps to tame that. If you reduce the SAG and Bias controls you clean up the emulated power section. Then lower your preamp gain and channel volume and crank the master and you'll kill 90% of the fizz. Putting an EQ in the effects loop will also allow you trail off the fizz. Some of the effects are not terribly… read more good, but most are serviceable. Virtually all of the reverbs and delays are excellent and I couldn't see myself using an outboard effects system for those. The Fuzz and Phaser are too pretty noticeable failures. Despite multiple attempts to tweak them, I can't get the most common sounds you would expect to get. I'm recommending to Fender that they replace both models in subsequent patch updates. My favorite crunch / hard-rock patch is actually based on the Fender Super-Sonic. With low gain settings on the amp and a slight boost from the Overdrive model you can get an awesome crunch with lots of throaty med/hi-gain bite. Sadly, the 5150 & Dual Rec models aren't as good stock as other modelers (the HD500)

Features
*USB jack , this serves as both connection method for using the Fuse software and a recording out. Its your basic ASIO interface in that capacity but it seems to be fairly low noise. Fender also includes a nice selection of software: a basic Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) program in the form of Ableton LIte and software modeling program Amplitube. I use Reaper, but I might try it out just to see if it might be simpler for sketching song ideas out. Amplitube I've used in the past and its good for cleans. The lack of an external speaker out is troublesome and should be rectified in future revisions on the Mustang line.

Ease of Use
I was able to get great sound out of the box without a single look at the manual; I've still not opened it. I didn't even connect it to the Fuse software for a couple of weeks after owning it. Both the software and amp are easy to use, tweak and save patches. If I have a qualm, its that the two button footswitch is extremely limited. I plan to buy the 4 button, but I feel that will still be too limited. Fender needs to release something like the Mustang Floor, with buttons to toggle all of the effects on/off as well as up/down bank selection. In that area Fender has not learned from its competitors.

Quality
The cabinet seems well made, very clean craftsmanship, no obvious defects or short-cuts in manufacturing. Everything feels solid.

Value
This amp is really the best value in its price range, hands down. You get a gig-worthy amp, an exceptional computer interface, loads of tweakability and all the software you need to get started recording on a computer.

Manufacturer Support
I've not had occasion to contact Fender with regards to this product, but they've always been fairly responsive when I've contacted them for issues in the past.

The Wow Factor
I've been playing guitar for over 17 years (since I was 15) and I remember how practice amps used to be. I never even played with effects until I was already in my first band in highschool. I can only imagine having this level of sound quality back then. The overall value and amazing sound quality really Wows me.

Musical Background:
Played for 29 years. I play Guitar, Bass, Violin, Banjo & Mandolin. I've played semi-professionally but mostly play at home now

Musical Style:
Classical, Folk, Classic Rock, Jam, Hard Rock, Modern Rock, Metal, Progressive read less
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