Factory Original Long Scale 1972 Fender Mustang

[CCOffset]

I bought a collection last week which included this exceptionally clean 1972 Fender Mustang. I didn't spend much time with it before buying since it was the least valuable guitar in the collection. It was only after I shipped it back to myself, restrung, and played it that I realized that the notes up the neck were nearly a half step sharp. I measured the neck for the scale length and found that the 12th fret was 12 3/4" from the nut which indicates that the neck is a 25 1/2" scale neck. Not only that, but it has only 21 frets instead of the typical 22 and has a the red SPECIAL stamp on the neck heel.

I'd love to know if this has been seen before? It's strange that they would make a 25 1/2" Mustang but forget that the bridge would be nearly 3/4" too close to the neck to get anywhere close to intonating properly. I do believe that the SPECIAL stamp indicates that the long scale was intentional and not just a factory goof where they grabbed the wrong neck.

(This guitar is not for sale. Post intended to share information only.)

[Fiddy]

Looks more like 24.75 to me, if you're measuring from where the nut meets the fretboard.

Stull, that's a great score. Congrats.

[JSett]

Weird. What numbers/markings does the heel stamp have on it?

It's likely just a factory mistake, there was once recently here where a Jaguar had a Jazzmaster neck (but Jaguar decal) on it brand new from a shop. Shame it renders it unplayable.

[Fiddy]

Could it be that the factory grabbed the wrong neck?

Edit, i see you think the special stamp makes it seem less plausible.

But yeah, Strat neck with Mustang logo, matched to a standard Mustang body is my guess...

[CCOffset]

Weird. What numbers/markings does the heel stamp have on it?

It's likely just a factory mistake, there was once recently here where a Jaguar had a Jazzmaster neck (but Jaguar decal) on it brand new from a shop. Shame it renders it unplayable.

That's cool! Was this a vintage Jag or recent? Can you link to the thread?

[CCOffset]

Looks more like 24.75 to me, if you're measuring from where the nut meets the fretboard.

Stull, that's a great score. Congrats.

Thanks! I believe that the correct way to measure the scale length is to measure the nut to the 12th fret then double that. I don't have a picture to share of that measurement at the moment. The tape measure next to the bridge was only to show that the bridge is in the wrong spot (as a result of the improper scale length and the missing 22nd fret).

[marqueemoon]

Measuring the neck will only tell you the scale length the neck is intended for.

How is the intonation?

[CCOffset]

Measuring the neck will only tell you the scale length the neck is intended for.

How is the intonation?

The intonation is not even close. It's a half step sharp at the 9th fret! Any ideas for a non-invasive and fully reversible remedy for this are appreciated.

[marqueemoon]

Measuring the neck will only tell you the scale length the neck is intended for.

How is the intonation?

The intonation is not even close. It's a half step sharp at the 9th fret! Any ideas for a non-invasive and fully reversible remedy for this are appreciated.

Put the correct neck on it.

[superficial]

Could it be that somewhere in the last 40 years, someone needed a new neck and bought the wrong one? It's sort of interesting if it's definitely a factory screw up, but I can't imagine it's that playable!

[marqueemoon]

My understanding is “Special” stamps designate samples for salespeople. If you’re just showing the guitar off then it playing in tune is not necessarily important I guess?

[sal paradise]

Do you think your factory guys where trying to play a trick on Derek, the LA sales rep, after he said he could “shred better than Page”?

[JSett]

Weird. What numbers/markings does the heel stamp have on it?

It's likely just a factory mistake, there was once recently here where a Jaguar had a Jazzmaster neck (but Jaguar decal) on it brand new from a shop. Shame it renders it unplayable.

That's cool! Was this a vintage Jag or recent? Can you link to the thread?

It was a modern one, but Fender have goofed like this throughout their years...especially in the CBS years.

Here is the thread

"SPECIAL" was used for several purposes: custom colour, sales samples, guitar shows/NAMM, etc. It's not really indicative of a thing being particularly special at all really. I'm 99% certain what you have there is a factory mistake/extreme-blem

[CVBassVI]

Here are some posts that might shed some light on the "special" stamp:
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/70s-neck- ... ed.149222/

viewtopic.php?t=61510

It's hard to believe Fender really put a 25.5" in "Mustang" neck on a guitar back then, that it passed inspection, and that the original owner didn't take it back when it wouldn't intonate. I mean all of that is possible, but likely? And could a salesman successfully demo a guitar that can't be intonated? If it were just for a photo shoot, or a display at a show, why have a 25.5" neck?

Is there any red paint transfer anywhere on that neck? And aren't these supposed to have dates/codes on them? I thought they started using the 8 digit code in 1972? I'm not convinced that neck is original to that Mustang. Without paying someone a fortune to make a weird-looking custom bridge to fit a Mustang that has the tailpiece and trem in one unit, I don't see you ever successfully using that neck with this guitar. It would make more sense to find a proper vintage Mustang neck and be happy with it. After all, this is a marriage between a neck and body that didn't leave the Fender factory together:

[JSett]

It's hard to believe Fender really put a 25.5" in "Mustang" neck on a guitar back then, that it passed inspection, and that the original owner didn't take it back when it wouldn't intonate. I mean all of that is possible, but likely?

I mean, we have documented evidence of it happening on more than one occasion. Fender's QC was terrible in the 70s