The Ultimate Guide to Fender Mustang Pickup Upgrade
Transform your Fender Mustang's tone with our comprehensive pickup upgrade guide. Learn about pickup options (single-coil, Hot Rails, P90s), master the unique wiring and phase switching, and follow our step-by-step installation instructions for the perfect sound.
The Ultimate Guide to Fender Mustang Pickup Upgrade
The Fender Mustang is a cult classic, beloved for its offset body, short scale, and unique phase switching. But for many players, the stock pickups can feel a bit thin, low-output, or just "uninspiring." Unlocking the true potential of your Mustang often starts with a pickup upgrade.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Fender Mustang pickup upgrades: from choosing the right pickups (single-coils, humbuckers, P90s) to understanding the wiring quirks and performing the installation yourself.
Part 1: Anatomy of a Mustang
Understanding What You Are Working With
Before you buy anything, it's crucial to understand the unique ecosystem of the Fender Mustang.
1. The Pickups
Unlike the Stratocaster or Telecaster, the Mustang uses two distinct single-coil pickups.
- Flat Pole Pieces: Vintage Mustang pickups typically have flush pole pieces, unlike the staggered poles of a Strat.
- Closed Covers: Original setups use a solid plastic cover. This isn't just cosmetic; it protects the fragile coil wire which, on some vintage models, is exposed without tape.
- Routing: Vintage bodies usually only fit single-coils. Modern reissues (like the Player Series or Squier Classic Vibe) often "swimming pool" routes or humbucker routes under the guard, giving you more options. Always check under your pickguard first.
2. The Slider Switches
This is the heart of the Mustang's weirdness. Each pickup has its own 3-position slide switch.
- The Logic: The switch connects the pickup to the circuit in different polarities.
- In Phase: When both switches are pushed to the same side (both left or both right), the pickups are in phase (standard big sound).
- Out of Phase: When switches are opposed (one left, one right), the pickups cancel each other's low frequencies, creating that thin, nasal "quack."
- Off: The center position is always OFF.
Part 2: Tools Required for the Upgrade
Quick Answer: To upgrade Mustang pickups, you need a soldering iron (40W+), solder, wire cutters/strippers, screwdrivers, and a multimeter to check phase and continuity.
Having the right tools ensures a clean, professional install:
Buy on AmazonPart 3: Choosing the Right Pickups
Quick Answer: For classic tone, stick with vintage-wound single-coils. For rock/punk, install single-coil specific humbuckers like Seymour Duncan Hot Rails. For a gritty alternative, consider Strat-sized P90s.
Your tonal goal determines your choice:
1. Vintage Accuracy (Surf/Indie)
If you want to restore the classic 60s jangle, you have two excellent paths. For the purist seeking historically correct construction (cloth wire, alnico rods), the Antiquity II set is the gold standard. For those on a budget simply looking to upgrade stock ceramic pickups, the Alnico 5 set delivers that signature "slap" and "spank" for a fraction of the cost.
2. High-Output Rock / Grunge (Nirvana Style)
Kurt Cobain made the Mustang famous for grunge by adding a humbucker. You don't need to rout the body if you use a "Hot Rails" style pickup. Ideally, you want a pickup that fits in a single-coil slot but uses dual blade magnets.
- Recommendation: Seymour Duncan JB Jr. or Hot Rails
- Wiring Note: These have 4-conductor wires, allowing you to split the coils if you want to get crazy with the switching (e.g., using the slider to split the humbucker).
3. Modern Versatility
Noiseless pickups give you the single-coil character without the 60-cycle hum, perfect for recording.
- Recommendation: Fender Gen 4 Noiseless
Part 4: Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Quick Answer: Installation involves desoldering old pickups from the slider switches, mounting new pickups to the pickguard, and soldering the new wires to the exact same switch lugs. Ground wires must go to the volume pot casing.
Step 1: Preparation
- Clear the Bench: Put down a soft towel or neck mat to protect the guitar finish.
- Remove Strings: Clip them off. This is a great time to clean your fretboard.
- Open 'Er Up: Remove the screws holding the control plate (metal) and the pickguard (plastic).
- Reference Photo: Take a clear photo of the wiring before you touch anything.
Step 2: Removal
- Desolder: Follow the wires from your old pickups to the slider switches. Heat the lug and gently pull the wire free. Do NOT overheat the switch; the plastic can melt.
- Dismount: Unscrew the old pickups from the pickguard. Keep the springs/tubing; you might need them.
Step 3: Installation
- Mount: Place the new pickups into the pickguard.
- Tip: If the screw holes aren't threading, turn the screw backwards (counter-clockwise) until you feel a "click," then screw it in. This prevents stripping the plastic bobbin.
- Wiring the Phase Switch:
- Standard Single Coil (2-Wire):
- The Black (Ground) wire usually goes to the specific lug that cross-connects for phase flipping.
- The White/Yellow (Hot) wire goes to the signal output lug.
- Humbucker (4-Wire):
- Soldering the Green & Bare together typically creates ground.
- Black is usually Hot.
- Red & White are soldered together and taped off (unless coil splitting).
- Crucial: If you get the phase wiring backward on one pickup, your "In Phase" setting will sound thin and your "Out of Phase" will sound big. Test before closing!
- Standard Single Coil (2-Wire):
Step 4: Testing
Before screwing everything back, plug into an amp and tap the pole pieces with a screwdriver while toggling switches to verify:
- Neck ON / Bridge OFF
- Neck OFF / Bridge ON
- Both ON (In Phase)
- Both ON (Out of Phase - sound should be thin and quacky)
Part 5: Pickup Height & Setup Specs
Quick Answer: Correct pickup height is critical for Mustang tone. Set both pickups to approximately 2.4mm (3/32") on the bass side and 2.0mm (5/64") on the treble side, measured from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string while depressing the last fret.
| Pickup | Bass Side | Treble Side |
|---|---|---|
| Neck Pickup | 2.4 mm (3/32") | 2.0 mm (5/64") |
| Bridge Pickup | 2.4 mm (3/32") | 2.0 mm (5/64") |
Mustang pickups are sensitive.
- Too High: You'll get "Stratitis"—a weird warbling chorus sound on the low E and A strings. This happens because the magnets are pulling the string out of its natural vibration pattern.
- Too Low: The sound will be weak, thin, and lack dynamic punch.
Setup Tip: We verify all height measurements with a precision string action gauge. It's the only way to be consistent.
Common Questions (FAQ)
Can I put Strat pickups in a Mustang?
Answer: Yes! Physically, Stratocaster pickups fit perfectly into Mustang covers and pickguards. However, Strat pickups usually don't have the solid cover; you might want to keep your Mustang covers if the pole spacing aligns, or simply rock the exposed pole pieces of the Strat pickup.
How do I eliminate the buzz?
Answer: Single-coils naturally hum (60-cycle hum). To fix this:
- Shielding: Line the pickup and control cavities with adhesive copper tape. Ensure the tape has continuity.
- Grounding: Ensure the bridge ground wire (under the tailpiece) makes solid contact.
- Upgrade: Switch to Noiseless pickups or stacked humbuckers like the Seymour Duncan Hot Rails.
Do I need to change pots for Humbuckers?
Answer: It is highly recommended.
- Standard Mustangs use 250k potentiometers, which bleed off some high frequencies to tame bright single-coils.
- Humbuckers (like Hot Rails) are naturally darker. Running them through 250k pots can make them sound "muddy" or muffled.
- The Fix: Upgrade to 500k pots to let more treble through and open up the clarity of the humbucker.
Complete Your Mustang Rig
The Mustang's short scale and unique phase options shine when paired with the right amplifier.
1. The Classic Choice: Vox AC15
For that chimey, aggressive indie rock tone, nothing beats a Mustang into a Vox. The Top Boost channel brings out the "quack" perfectly.
2. Modern Versatility: Boss Katana
If you need to cover everything from surf cleans to grunge distortion without breaking the bank.
3. American Clean: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Perfect pedal platform with massive headroom.
Conclusion
Upgrading your Fender Mustang pickups is one of the most rewarding mods you can do. It keeps the distinct feel and aesthetic of the offset body but tailors the engine to your specific sound—be it surf, shoegaze, or grunge.
Ready to start your mod?
Need to Set Up Your New Pickups?
After installing new pickups, proper height adjustment is essential for balanced tone. The Fender Setup Guide includes Mustang-specific pickup specs plus complete setup instructions.
Related Guides
- Fender Jaguar Setup Guide - Mastering the other famous offset.
- Guitar Action Height Guide - Perfecting playability for short-scale guitars.
- - Mustang vs Jaguar Comparison - Understanding the differences.