1964 Fender Mustang
The original Mustang — Fender's student model that became a punk and alternative icon. Short scale, unique pickup switching system, and the Dynamic Vibrato. Kurt Cobain's choice.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Alder (22.5-inch or 24-inch scale — shorter than standard Fender) |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24.000" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | SS |
| Bridge | Dynamic Vibrato (Mustang-specific tremolo system) |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst, Custom colors (Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Olympic White) |
| Est. Production | 3,500 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two Mustang single-coil pickups with individual on/off switches and phase switching. Unique Mustang pickup design with separate rhythm/lead choices per pickup.
What Changed in 1964
First year of the Mustang — designed as a student model with a shorter scale length. Despite its budget origins, the Mustang became beloved by alternative and punk musicians. Kurt Cobain's use of a Mustang in Nirvana made it an icon.
Notable Examples
Kurt Cobain played a modified Mustang with Nirvana. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is also associated with the model.
Collector's Notes
Competition series Mustangs (with racing stripe) command a significant premium. Custom colors are the most valuable. The Dynamic Vibrato bridge/tremolo must be complete — missing the spring arm significantly reduces value.
How to Authenticate a 1964 Fender Mustang
The 1964 Mustang is the first year of the model — designed as a student guitar with the short 24-inch scale. Two Mustang-specific single-coil pickups with individual on/off and phase switches. The Dynamic Vibrato tremolo system is unique to the Mustang. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The Mustang's punk and alternative association came decades later. Serial numbers on the neck plate, typically five digits beginning with L (the L-series began in 1963). For 1964, L-series numbers should match documented ranges. Neck date stamps (pencil or ink on the heel) and body cavity stamps remain the most reliable dating method. Some guitars also have pencil dates on pickups and potentiometers with source-date codes. Two Mustang single-coil pickups with the distinctive individual slide switches for on/off and phase selection. Dynamic Vibrato bridge/tremolo assembly must be complete (bridge saddles, vibrato arm, and spring mechanism). Kluson Deluxe tuners. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Pot codes corresponding to 1964. Serial number on neck plate. Single-ply pickguard with correct screw pattern. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer. Nitro finishes check (develop fine cracks) and wear naturally over decades, showing wood underneath at contact points. The aging pattern should be consistent — even checking across the body, not localized. Refinished guitars often have a 'too perfect' look or inconsistent wear. Under UV/blacklight, original nitro fluoresces differently than modern polyester or polyurethane. Original custom color finishes are verified by examining the color in the pickup cavities and under the pickguard where it has been protected from light. The Dynamic Vibrato bridge has small parts that are frequently lost. The vibrato arm, spring, and plate should all be present. Missing parts significantly reduce value. Mustang pickups are specific — verify they are not replaced with Strat or other pickups. Competition series models (with racing stripe) command significant premiums — verify the stripe is original paint, not a decal or aftermarket addition. As the first year, the 1964 Mustang is the most collectible standard version. It differs from 1965-1968 in having the pre-CBS quality designation and from the 1969 Competition series. The basic design (short scale, phase switching, Dynamic Vibrato) remained consistent through production.