78 Westminster (Matsumoku) Mustang

[Vampirebait]

Saw one of these on Craigslist for $150. Not much online, except that they’re MIJ during the 70s, when Fender standards took a nosedive. There’s a YouTube vid of a sound test, too. Pickups sound okay.

Anyone have experience with one of these (or an Aria or Greco, &c copy)? For that price, it seems worth checking out. My main concern is hardware, in the event something breaks. Trem arm seems to have some electrical tape on it, which raises concern.

[Pacafeliz]

Dude 150 is an insane deal on one of these!!!

[Vampirebait]

That’s what I was thinking!

It’s been a whole ordeal. Seller responded to my email by raising the price to $400. I wasn’t interested at that price, since I’d rather put that kind of dough towards a newer Mustang or a Squier Jazzmaster.

Seller’s since backed down to $250, which might not be bad, if it’s in decent playing shape.

Would you go $250 on one of these? Or, maybe, what would you expect to have to change/fix/replace at $250?

[LVC]

$250 still sounds like a deal for a Matsumoku made Mustang. If it's in decent playing shape, that is, as you pointed out.

On the other hand, that seller sounds like a bit of a jerk.

[MattK]

I bought a late 70s Fresher brand Mustang a few years back, also Matsumoku made I think. I have to say, despite a lot of experience with setups etc. I never got it quite right and I didn't like it much. Ended up selling it to my friend's kid for the low price I paid for it. It was playing just fine but always felt cheap (and I'm not a logo snob, I prefer my MIJ Squiers and Grecos to Fenders in most cases).
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