Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed

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Offline Lelik

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Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« on: May 15, 2025, 12:19:19 PM »
I recently got a second-hand Squier Mustang Classic Vibe ‘60s, and aside from a possibly misadjusted bridge, I like it more than I expected!

It came with only one pickup left from the previous owner (the photo I’m sharing is from the catalog, not the actual guitar, but it’s the exact same model and color). The pickup was originally in the neck position, but I moved it to the bridge—and surprisingly, I really like how it sounds. It's got a snappy tone, even with the short 24" scale.

That said, I'm planning to make some changes. First, I'm looking to install a noiseless single-coil in the bridge position—just one pickup for now. I also want to add a pickup selector switch that toggles between an inductor and a capacitor, so I can get a few different tones from the single pickup setup.

I’ll admit I’m not very used to single coils in the bridge, and I’ve been rolling off some treble with the tone control to tame the highs. But that’s fine, because I want this guitar to sound different from my others, which mostly have humbuckers.

Here’s my question:
Which pickup would preserve that bright, snappy single-coil sound (especially with the 24" scale) while offering some versatility?
After some research, I’m leaning toward either the Injector Neck or the Heavy Blues 2. I’d really appreciate any input or other suggestions!

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Offline gregr

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2025, 04:31:49 PM »
I would also take a look at the Virtual Vintage Blues. The Alnico 5 magnets provide more dynamic range and punch while also allowing for a less aggressive wind to provide a sparkly top end compared to the Injector Neck and HB2.

However…

Seeing that you raised a concern about brightness, the HB2 might be the best choice, or perhaps even the Virtual Solo which also has the performance benefits of Alnico 5 stated earlier.
Areas 58, 61, 67 & Hot T; VVB, 54P & HB2; InjN. FT 1 & 2, Satch Track
BNIB, PAF Pro, HFH, Air Norton, LiquiFire, EJ Neck. V Mini N & B. Corgan & Timmons sets.
Duncan 59, Jazz/APH & Full Shred sets. Custom 2/5/Ceramic, JB, Seymourizer II, Screamin’ Demon.
SSL-2 & 6T, Lil Demon, JBJrN, HotRailN

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Offline Lelik

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2025, 01:33:51 AM »
I would also take a look at the Virtual Vintage Blues. The Alnico 5 magnets provide more dynamic range and punch while also allowing for a less aggressive wind to provide a sparkly top end compared to the Injector Neck and HB2.

However…

Seeing that you raised a concern about brightness, the HB2 might be the best choice, or perhaps even the Virtual Solo which also has the performance benefits of Alnico 5 stated earlier.

I hate you!
You’ve just introduced a whole new variable I hadn’t even considered — the Alnico type — and now I have even more pickups to think about!

Joking aside, thank you so much for the interesting and helpful information.

Now I’m wondering if the character I love in the current single coil on my Mustang actually comes from its Alnico V magnet. I do worry about harsh highs, but I think I could manage them with the treble knob — or maybe by adding a capacitor/resistor if needed.

I’ll definitely keep the “Vintage Blues” pickup on my radar as well!


PS: I found a b-stock "Vintage Blues", and I ordered it...
« Last Edit: May 16, 2025, 11:13:38 AM by Lelik »

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Offline gregr

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2025, 12:38:29 PM »
PS: I found a b-stock "Vintage Blues", and I ordered it...
It’s my favorite stacked vintage output pickup for the bridge position, though you’ll probably want to come up with a scheme to reduce the top-end chime for distorted applications.

In a strat I’ll use a 5-way super switch and add up to two capacitor/resistor pairs in addition to a tone control in order to manage the top end of a vintage output bridge pickup when it’s being used by itself. The last vintage output strat I did has a Lace Sensor Hot Gold Neck in the bridge with 6.8n/270k, 1n/200k, and 33n on a 250k tone control with a 47k series resistor, also dedicated to position 1. This smoothed out the top end nicely without any pronounced resonances. Position 1 is primarily used for dirty tones but it still sounds good with clean tones though all the chime is virtually eliminated.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2025, 08:06:50 PM by gregr »
Areas 58, 61, 67 & Hot T; VVB, 54P & HB2; InjN. FT 1 & 2, Satch Track
BNIB, PAF Pro, HFH, Air Norton, LiquiFire, EJ Neck. V Mini N & B. Corgan & Timmons sets.
Duncan 59, Jazz/APH & Full Shred sets. Custom 2/5/Ceramic, JB, Seymourizer II, Screamin’ Demon.
SSL-2 & 6T, Lil Demon, JBJrN, HotRailN

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Offline darkbluemurder

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2025, 03:59:42 AM »

In a strat I’ll use a 5-way super switch and add up to two capacitor/resistor pairs to position 1 in addition to a tone control. The last vintage output strat I did has a Lace Sensor Hot Gold Neck in the bridge with 6.8n/270k, 1n/200k,

Are you saying that you put both combinations from hot to ground? in that case that would be the equivalent to 115k/7.8n.

and 33n on a 250k tone control with a 47k series resistor, also dedicated to position 1.

Are you saying that the 47k series resistor is between the switch #1 connection and the volume control, or is it between the tone cap and ground? In the first scenario it would be permanently in the signal way once the switch is set to #1 and thus reduce highs. In the second scenario it would limit the operation of the tone control so I guess you described the first scenario.

Cheers Stephan
Area 67, Area 58, Area 61, VV Pro 54, Injectors, VV HB2, Virtual Solo, SDS-1, Area T, Area T 615, Virtual Hot T, Chopper T, Bluesbucker, Breed set, Air Norton, Super Distortion, DLX+ set, DLX-90, DP240, DP198, DP168, VPAF b, AT-1, Mo' Joe, FRED, Super 2; GS b

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Offline gregr

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2025, 11:27:35 AM »
in that case that would be the equivalent to 115k/7.8n.
The math is more complicated than that.

it would limit the operation of the tone control
This.
Areas 58, 61, 67 & Hot T; VVB, 54P & HB2; InjN. FT 1 & 2, Satch Track
BNIB, PAF Pro, HFH, Air Norton, LiquiFire, EJ Neck. V Mini N & B. Corgan & Timmons sets.
Duncan 59, Jazz/APH & Full Shred sets. Custom 2/5/Ceramic, JB, Seymourizer II, Screamin’ Demon.
SSL-2 & 6T, Lil Demon, JBJrN, HotRailN

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Offline darkbluemurder

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2025, 08:28:56 AM »
in that case that would be the equivalent to 115k/7.8n.
The math is more complicated than that.

If the filters are in series, yes. My math assumed (probably incorrectly) that they were in parallel.

Cheers Stephan
Area 67, Area 58, Area 61, VV Pro 54, Injectors, VV HB2, Virtual Solo, SDS-1, Area T, Area T 615, Virtual Hot T, Chopper T, Bluesbucker, Breed set, Air Norton, Super Distortion, DLX+ set, DLX-90, DP240, DP198, DP168, VPAF b, AT-1, Mo' Joe, FRED, Super 2; GS b

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Offline gregr

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Re: Squier Mustang Classic Vibe 60s – Pickup Advice Needed
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2025, 11:36:13 AM »
Maybe this will help:
« Last Edit: May 21, 2025, 11:56:42 AM by gregr »
Areas 58, 61, 67 & Hot T; VVB, 54P & HB2; InjN. FT 1 & 2, Satch Track
BNIB, PAF Pro, HFH, Air Norton, LiquiFire, EJ Neck. V Mini N & B. Corgan & Timmons sets.
Duncan 59, Jazz/APH & Full Shred sets. Custom 2/5/Ceramic, JB, Seymourizer II, Screamin’ Demon.
SSL-2 & 6T, Lil Demon, JBJrN, HotRailN