Listed below are a few examples of guitars that are first or second cousins to the Musicmaster/Duo-Sonic design, as well as a couple of one-of-a-kind NAMM show pieces. Among the relatives 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. Selected examples of the Musicmaster and Mustang basses are also included, along with other related instruments.

     For a well-written, extensive history of the Mustang, check out Mr. Maxima's The Fender Mustang Story and ShortScale.org. 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].

1 9 6 0 s

• '60 Duo-Sonic with a Lucite body (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 Mustang, in Dakota Red: body, front | bridge | headstock
  Owned by Brian DeLucia
  
  
• '65 Mustang, in Dakota Red
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '66 Mustang, in Daphne Blue
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '66 Mustang Bass
  Source: GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria
  
  
• '67 Musicmaster Bass, with a Lucite body
  A NAMM show piece! Source: Music Man
  
  
• Late '60s Fender Swinger: in case | with VOX amp
  "It is all original except for one strap button. The color is Candy Apple Red painted over a Gold base coat. The neck butt is stamped 9 Sept 66A. I made a thread in the forum shortscale.com in which I posted more photos and information about the Swinger and videos and photos of artists playing Swingers. Check it out if you are interested."
  Owned by Mitch Berger
  
  
• Late '60s Fender Swinger
  "Like a Musicmaster on acid" - a genuninely rare 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
  
  

1 9 7 0 s

• '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
  
  
• '60s or '70s Musicmaster bass, refinished in red
  Owned by Michael Jetton (from the Czech Republic)
  
  
• Case study: '73 or '74 Bronco, in red:
  in case | body, front | body, back | headstock
  NOS condition, with a Victoria case!
  Owned by Mitch Berger
  
  
• Case study: '78 Musicmaster Bass, in black:
  in case | headstock | inspection tag | owner's manual | body, front
  NOS condition, with all tags/paperwork!
  Owned by Ruud van Harskamp (Netherlands)
  
  
• '78 Musicmaster bass, in white
  Owned by Paulo Mion (from Brazil)
  
  

1 9 9 0 s - c u r r e n t

• '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)
  
  
• However, this late 1990s Squier Musicmaster II apparently came stock with a 24.75" scale neck
  Owned by Thomas Lee
  
  
• '98 Squier Duo-Sonic, in red (completely stock)
  Owned by Jack
  
  
• Fender Cyclone (c/o the Internet Archive)
  Introduced in Fall 1997 as part of Fender's "Deluxe" series of guitars, the Mexican-made Cyclone seemed to replace the Mustang in their catalog, and appeared 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 pickups liken it to a much more muscular Mustang. According to its Wikipedia page, a U.S. made Cyclone was offered briefly in the early 2000s (possibly at the same time a U.S. made Toronado was offered), but I have never seen any examples of the U.S. Cyclone. Subsequently, Fender introduced the Jaguar-esque Cyclone II and the dual-humbucker Cyclone HH, and a Squier variant was also made. Fender discontinued the Cyclone as of Winter NAMM 2007.
  
  
• Late '90s or early 2000s Cyclone, in red
  Owned by Jack
  
  
• Early 2000s 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, it appears to have been discontinued.
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• Early 2000s Lady Luck The Master
  Source: unknown (eBay)
  
  
• 2002 Cyclone, in Graffiti Yellow
  Owned by Mitch Berger
  
  
• 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. (In early 2004, I bought my own CIJ Mustang Bass.)
  
  
• 2005 Cyclone, in Caramel Metallic:
  front | back | body, front | body, back
  Owned by Mitch Berger
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Recent-issue Squier Classic Vibe Duo-Sonic, with a 22.5" scale Musicmaster II neck
  "I've discovered that the CV's come with a 24" scale conversion neck that allows them to be put on a body with the bridge positioned for 25.5" scale. When I mounted the Musicmaster II 22.5" scale neck on it, the bridge saddles were about 3/8" too far away from the neck when fully extended. I ended up changing bridge plates in order to get more saddle travel and it worked out fine."
  Owned by Ken Wilson; thanks for the details!