Fender Mustang, Dakota red, made in USA 1965. Good heavens, what have we here? It's pretty unusual to land an example like this, in this kind of condition, in this part of the world, so you could say I'm rather tickled to offer this one up. This sublimely smooth short scale superstar dates to June 1965, a few short months after one Leo Fender sold his young company to television giants CBS. Being a transition-era guitar, it bears an L+ serial on the plate, along with a June '65 neck stamp and original 1965 pot codes, as well as a matching vintage case. Aside from being historically significant and very collectable, this is a really enjoyable guitar to play. The neck is an agreeable slim, rounded vintage C style shape, with a subtle flame in the maple and a rich dark colour in the Brazilian rosewood fretboard. It's been played, so the finish on the back has been rubbed to a satin style feel, but it's playing very smoothly with the original frets intact. The pickups are divine: clear, bright, open, warm and full. If you've played reissue Mustang models, you'll be familiar with their naturally short sustain and thick fundamental note, which is definitely on tap here. But, this has a whole extra dimension, with a sparkly, expansive clarity to the top end that brings notes to life in vibrant colour. It's an expressive, responsive, vocal-like tone with huge personality. The original Dakota red finish has a gorgeous depth to it: rich dark red, plenty of little marks and signs of use but nothing untoward... it really pops. Paired with the original white tuners, yellowed and faded pearloid guard and tidy chrome, this looks cute as a button. I'm in love, and so are you.

Model: Fender Mustang Dakota Red 1965
Made: Fullerton USA, neck date 8 Jun 1965, pots date 1965
Serial: L50451
Finish: dakota red, gloss nitrop
Body: poplar
Neck: maple, Brazilian rosewood radius laminate fretboard, 7.25" radius, 24" scale
Weight: 3.5kg
Mods: switches replaced, neck shimmed
Pickups: Mustang single x2
Accessories: Fender case, trem arm, original switches

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end and bottom edge, as well as some checking and fading on the front and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, the back has rubbed to a satin style feel and has a couple of dimples but no major marks. The back has some minor scratches in the bottom corner, dents in the elbow area and top horn and some light scuffs and surface scratches around the whole body. The sides have minor scuffs around the whole body and some dents and scratches in the top horn, elbow area, back edge and jack areas. The front has some dents behind the bridge, dimples near the jack and in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 strings.
Fret life: 6/10, normal wear but recently levelled and dressed, playing smoothly with no major buzz issues. appear to be original frets