1973 Fender Mustang Bass, Competition Red
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
At a Glance:
Model: Mustang Bass
Year: 1973
Finish: Competition Red
Neck Date: August 1972
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Pearl Dot
Scale Length: 30"
Nut Width: 40.3mm
Neck Depth: 21mm (1st fret), 24.2mm (12th fret)
Neck Profile: Medium C
Frets: Original
Nut: Original
Tuners: Correct Fender open-back nickel
Bridge: Correct Mustang Bass bridge
Pickups: Split single coil Mustang Bass pickup
Pots: Matching Stackpole - week 29 of 1973
Capacitor: Non-original
Case: Non original hard case
Weight: 3.8kg
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1973 Fender Mustang Bass, Competition Red
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
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1973 Fender Mustang Bass, Competition Red
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Description
A very cool early-’70s Fender Mustang Bass finished in Competition Red. Introduced in 1966 as Fender’s short-scale student bass, the Mustang Bass filled a gap in the market for a compact, more affordable yet professional-quality instrument. With its comfortable 30" scale length and distinctive styling borrowed from the Mustang guitar, it quickly became popular not only with students but also with experienced players who appreciated its punchy tone and easy/comfortable playability.
By the late 1960s Fender had begun offering the bold Competition finishes, featuring diagonal racing stripes across the body. These colours gave the Mustang range a unique visual identity and today remain some of the most recognisable and desirable finishes on the model.
This example dates from 1973, with an AUG72 neck stamp, week 29 of 1973 pots. It retains its original Competition Red finish, which has aged and faded beautifully over the years, developing a stunning patina and character. The nitrocellulose headstock face has mellowed nicely too.
The maple neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard featuring pearl dot inlays and retains what appear to be the original frets, along with the original nut. The neck has a comfortable medium C profile measuring 21mm at the first fret and 24.2mm at the twelfth, with a 40.3mm nut width, making for an easy and inviting playing feel.
Hardware remains correct, including the open-back Fender nickel tuners and the original bridge with four individually adjustable saddles. Electronics appear largely original too, with the Stackpole pots dating to the 29th week of 1973. The capacitor has been changed, but otherwise the electronics are original.
Tonally, the Mustang Bass delivers exactly what players love about these instruments: a punchy, focused low end with a growling midrange, sitting perfectly in a mix while retaining that unmistakable vintage Fender character.
The Mustang Bass gained popularity well beyond its student-model origins, finding favour with many professional players over the years thanks to its compact feel, distinctive tone, and overall versatility. Today, early-’70s examples like this represent a great entry point into vintage Fender bass ownership, offering genuine period vibe, excellent playability and iconic styling in one very cool package!
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At a Glance:
Model: Mustang Bass
Year: 1973
Finish: Competition Red
Neck Date: August 1972
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Pearl Dot
Scale Length: 30"
Nut Width: 40.3mm
Neck Depth: 21mm (1st fret), 24.2mm (12th fret)
Neck Profile: Medium C
Frets: Original
Nut: Original
Tuners: Correct Fender open-back nickel
Bridge: Correct Mustang Bass bridge
Pickups: Split single coil Mustang Bass pickup
Pots: Matching Stackpole - week 29 of 1973
Capacitor: Non-original
Case: Non original hard case
Weight: 3.8kg
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
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ATB Guitars has been trading since the '90s and we've sold thousands of guitars to date. We pride ourselves on our in-depth descriptions, detailed photography, honesty and transparency. We also accept no questions returns within 14 days so you can buy with confidence! Read more about our history below...
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