Listed below are a few examples of guitars that are first or second cousins to the Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic design, as well as a few one-of-a-kind NAMM show pieces. Among the relatives listed for comparison are the two-pickup Mustang, whose design has many features in common with the third version of the Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic (and eventually replaced the Duo-Sonic), and the single-pickup Bronco, which was originally designed as the Musicmaster's replacement. Also included are selected examples of the Musicmaster and Mustang basses, and other related instruments.

     For a well-written, extensive history of the Mustang, check out Mr. Maxima's The Fender Mustang Story (back offline, for a while anyway) and Fender Mustang Web. In addition, the Jag-Stang Owners Club also has sections for Mustangs and Jaguars. Finally, if you can read Japanese, you might try to locate a copy of the "Vintage Guitar all of Fender Mustang Japan book" (editor in chief: Nishigaki Shigeo; editors: Ono, Sugai, Nakano; published by Urushima Tsugui) [info source: shakin/eBay].

• '60 Lucite Duo-Sonic (SN 61475)
  Probably a NAMM relic, this guitar has a single-ply black plastic pickguard and slab rosewood fingerboard.
  Source: The Chinery Collection of fine American guitars, displayed at the Smithsonian
  
  
• '64 Mustang, in Olympic White
  Owned by Genji Nakano/Genzo Vintage Guitars
  
  
• '65 Mustangs, in red, white, and blue
  Source: VintageGuitarGallery.com
  
  
• '65 Mustang, in Dakota Red
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '66 Mustang, in Daphne Blue
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
  

  
  1960s Mustang manual (also used for the Jazzmaster/Jaguar?)
  source: eBay (unknown)

  
  
• '66 Mustang Bass
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• A NAMM show piece: '67 Musicmaster Bass, with a Lucite body
  Source: Music Man
  
  
• Late '60s Fender Swinger
  "Like a Musicmaster on acid" - a genuninely rare, absurdly bizarre guitar made of leftover parts from the short-scale Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic II models, combined with an oddly cut Bass V body.
  Source: Guitar Center
  
  
• Heavily modified late '60s Swinger
  Refinished in black, with a Duncan '59 bridge humbucker.
  Owned by John Phillips
  
  
• '71 Bronco, in Fiesta Red
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '72 Mustang, 22.5" scale, in Competition Red:
  front | body, back
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• '73 Mustang, sunburst
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '93 Duo-Sonic (Mexican-made re-issue)
  Source: T. Pershing
  
  
• Late '90s Squier Musicmaster guitar (Chinese-made "re-issue")
  Apparently a "re-issue" in name only -- 25.5" scale length with one humbucker (although it looks like it uses the MM Bass 'guard).
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• '97 Squier Duo-Sonic, heavily modified
  Now loaded with Duncan Quarter-Pound Jaguar pickups and strung with chrome flatwound D'addario 12's, this guitar "plays great, with tons of bottom end!"
  Owned by Robert Roe
  
  
• Fender Cyclone
  Introduced in Fall '97 as part of their "Deluxe" series of guitars, the Mexican-made Cyclone seemed to replace the Mustang in Fender's catalog. It looks very Duo-Sonic-esque, aside from the bridge-position humbucker, the Strat-style tremolo, and the 24.75" scale length. I finally bought a Cyclone in 2000, and its thicker neck, heavier body weight, and high-output electronics liken it to a much more muscular Mustang. Subsequently, Fender introduced the Jaguar-esque Cyclone II and the dual-humbucker Cyclone HH. Fender discontinued the Cyclone as of Winter NAMM 2007.
  
  
• Recent Blade MS-2
  Like a Mustang with two angled single coil pickups, but with the Strat's whammy system and the toggle switch in the treble horn. Made by Gary Levinson/Switzerland; I don't think they're available in the U.S.A.
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• Recent Lady Luck The Master
  A budget Mustang-inspired guitar (isn't that redundant?)
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• Fender Mustangs ride again!
  At the 2002 summer NAMM show, Fender announced the return of the Mustang and Mustang Bass in the USA (albeit made by Fender Japan). The Competition Mustang guitar and the Mustang Bass are both welcome "reissues," IMHO. (In early 2004, I bought my own CIJ Mustang Bass.)
  
  
• The return of the Duo-Sonic!
  The '50s-era Duo-Sonic was revived at the Summer 2008 NAMM show as part of the Squier Classic Vibe series, albeit with a 24" scale neck. I've never felt strongly about a Squier guitar before, but I want one....