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Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
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Playability
78
Sound
75
Build
60
Value
76
Score
71
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Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
67
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Vintera 60s Mustang vs Ben Gibbard Mustang

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang over Ben Gibbard Mustang

Pickup Mods
Phase Out vs None
Interesting thin tone when combining pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.925'' (23.5mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
76 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang over Vintera 60s Mustang

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.925'' (23.5mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang vs Ben Gibbard Mustang

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang vs Ben Gibbard Mustang

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
SS
Beautiful cleans
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 71 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang has the upper hand when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang is the better choice.

The Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Mustang Tremolo bridge
  • 60s C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style with White Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang Overview

  • From Fender's 2021 Artist series
  • Ben Gibbard Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Chambered Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Mustang Tremolo bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style with Fender Logo tuners
  • Weight between 7.15lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.4lbs (3.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SS. SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang comes with some kind of pickup modification: Phase Out.

When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's switch options
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Vintera 60s Mustang.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 75
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang compares to the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's are Vintage-Style with White Buttons while the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's are Vintage-Style with Fender Logo

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Phase Out Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 67

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang and Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24".

There are advantages and disadvantages to a short scale length like this. This guitar will be very easy to play, especially if you have small hands because the frets will be close to each other. Also, since the distance between the bridge and nut is short, the strings will have less tension, so they'll be really easy to bend. However, this also means that you won't be able to lower the action (lower the saddles and get the strings closer to the fretboard) too much or you will get fret buzz since the strings will be a bit loose.

Also, short scales give less space for the harmonics to 'breath', so this ends up making the tone of the guitar sound more 'bassy' than a loger scale where there's more separation between harmonics, which gives the tone more chime.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's neck profile
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang Neck Profile
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang and the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's Fingerboard radius
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang Fingerboard Radius
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang favors large hands more than the Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang.

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Frets Size
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's Frets Size
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang Frets Size
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang's Frets Size

The Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Vintera 60s Mustang's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 100
Solo Playability 60
Playability 78
Fender Ben Gibbard Mustang
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Vintera 60s Mustang vs Ben Gibbard Mustang
General Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Ben Gibbard Mustang
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2019 2021
Configuration: SS SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Vintera Artist
Colors: Sunburst, Blue, Green Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Chambered Ash
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Mustang Tremolo 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Mustang Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style with White Buttons Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 24" 24"
Shape: 60s C Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.925'' (23.5mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Mustang (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Phase Out None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0