Fender Vintera III Mid '60s Mustang , Full Demo
🎸 Nobody Saw This Coming
First came the Fender Vintera series. Then came the Vintera II. Now Fender has launched the Vintera III , a brand new series, and the first model Landon got his hands on is the Mid '60s Mustang in Sonic Blue.
This is also the first time in over 600 videos on the channel that Landon has featured an authentic Fender Mustang. Fender finally made it happen , and it did not disappoint.
📖 The Mustang Was Never Supposed to Be Cool
Leo Fender designed the Mustang in 1964 as a student model. Shorter scale, easier to play, lower price point. It was essentially Fender's entry-level guitar , not the prestige instrument. That was always the Stratocaster or Telecaster.
And then something funny happened. The kids who bought it as beginners grew up. Some of them became Kurt Cobain. Suddenly the guitar that wasn't supposed to matter was showing up on some of the most iconic stages of the 1990s. The underdog guitar became the alternative guitar.
So when Fender brings it back in a brand new series, there's a lot of history sitting on that headstock.
🛒 Where to Get It
* Fender, Thomann and Guitar Center links will be updated with direct product links once available. All links are affiliate links.
🔬 Fender Vintera III Mid '60s Mustang Specifications
| Series | Vintera III |
| Model | Mid '60s Mustang |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple, Mid '60s "C" Shape |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 24" (Short Scale) |
| Frets | 22 Vintage Frets |
| Pickups | 2x Mid '60s Mustang Single-Coil |
| Bridge | Floating Tremolo (Dynamic Vibrato) |
| Tuners | Vintage-Style with White Buttons |
| Finish | Sonic Blue (reviewed), Olympic White, Fiesta Red |
| Weight | 7 lbs 3.2 oz |
| Made In | Mexico |
👀 First Impressions
The Look
This one arrived in Sonic Blue , and it looks even better in person than it does in photos. The color can wash out in images and look almost white, but in person the blue reads clearly and looks fantastic. The pearloid pickguard against the Sonic Blue body is a really nice combination.
The Feel
The 24" short scale is immediately noticeable coming from a standard Stratocaster or Telecaster. String tension is looser, bends feel easier, and the reduced neck length makes the whole guitar feel more comfortable for players with smaller hands , or anyone who wants a more relaxed playing experience.
🔧 Bench Measurements
Before plugging in, Landon pulled the numbers he always checks on every guitar that comes through the channel.
| Weight | 7 lbs 3.2 oz |
| Neck Pickup Resistance | 5.49 k ohm |
| Bridge Pickup Resistance | 5.94 k ohm |
🎵 How Does It Sound?
The Mustang has always had its own voice. Not quite a Stratocaster, not quite a Telecaster. The shorter scale and the Mustang-specific single-coil pickups give it a slightly warmer, looser character than a standard Strat. Clean tones are glassy and responsive. Push it with some dirt and it gets into that indie and alternative territory immediately. You can hear why it appealed to Kurt Cobain and the grunge generation.
The floating trem is subtle and musical. It's not a dive-bomb system , it's vintage correct, adding gentle shimmer and movement rather than dramatic pitch shifts.
Watch the full video above for clean and driven tone demos with the controls walkthrough.
🛒 Get the Fender Vintera III Mustang
* Fender, Thomann and Guitar Center links will be updated with direct product links once available. All links are affiliate links.
The Fender Vintera III Mid '60s Mustang is built for players who want vintage specs without hunting down an original , and for anyone who has always wanted a short-scale Fender but found the Squier versions left them wanting more. The Sonic Blue finish is stunning in person, the pearloid pickguard is the right call, and it sounds exactly like a Mustang should. Watch the full demo above to hear it clean and driven, and see the full controls walkthrough.
📖 More From Landon
Affiliate Disclosure: Links to Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Thomann, Fender, and other retailers may be affiliate links. Landon Bailey receives compensation from affiliate programs of which he is a partner. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps support the channel and this site. Thank you!
