Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang ‘Oranj-Stang’ (Red)

This guitar was first seen on July 23, 1993, at Roseland Ballroom, NYC. At that point, the guitar was mostly stock, and it featured a fiesta red finish and had a red tortoiseshell pickguard with two white single pickups, one of them being a Seymour Duncan JB Jr.

This guitar was one of the four Fender Mustangs that Kurt acquired prior to the ‘In Utero’ tour, with three of them being finished in blue. All of them allegedly had nicknames, with this one being called ‘Oranj-Stang’, while the other three were all ‘Sky-Stangs’. It is unknown at this time whether these names were given by Kurt himself, or by his guitar tech.

Mods

Sometime between July and October – when the Mustang was next seen, the guitar was extensively modified (as is the case with the other three Mustangs, more on this here – Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang ‘Sky-Stang I’ (Sonic Blue)). The body was routed out to fit a full-sized humbucker in the bridge position, and the choice fell on the Seymour Duncan JB – which Kurt was already familiar with from his Univox Custom.

The other modifications included the pickguard which was replaced with a white Pearloid one, the white neck pickup was replaced with a black one (could’ve been just the plastic cover that was changed), and the stock bridge piece was replaced with a Gotoh Tune-O-Matic.

On Tour

Kurt used this guitar occasionally throughout the In Utero tour in 1993 and 1994, although far less than his second (and possibly, the third) Fender Mustang finished in blue (seemed like Kurt simply preferred the light-blue color).

By 1994 he also started using his Jag-Stang, and the red Mustang was used even less from that point on, and eventually had its last appearance on February 24, 1994, in Milan, Italy (there’s a live recording of this gig on YouTube).

Current Whereabouts

It’s unknown what exactly happened to this guitar after Kurt died, but it seems to be accounted for since Fender used it as a blueprint to build their own Kurt Cobain Signature Mustang line (see video above). If you happen to come across any information regarding where this guitar might be today, be sure to leave a comment.

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Reiken
Reiken
3 months ago

At Stabler Arena – Lehigh University 11/09/1993. After the first song Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, he switches to a red mustang with red tortoise pickguard with what looks to be the S.D. JB Jr pickup. When this guitar is out of tune, he changes it to a different red mustang with white pickguard, black pickup cover and a full-size humbucker.
Seems to me the guitar used at Roseland and the one used for French TV might be two different guitars instead of mods done to one.

Link to concert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OVI3TC0QdA&t=302s&ab_channel=MCRANIRVANA

MrBeezwax
MrBeezwax
2 years ago

I think he also used a telecaster in 1994 or 1993

7D4D9B52-A397-450E-819E-C09CD1702A4F.jpeg
Luca nirvana fan
Luca nirvana fan
2 years ago

No he had one orange mustang and one red mustang with a jb junior in the Bridge and a red pickguard

Bleach Stain
Bleach Stain
3 years ago

Wait, in Roseland, it has a red tortoise pickguard and S.D. JB Jr.

Bleach Stain
Bleach Stain
3 years ago
Reply to  Dan Kopilovic

I will help you, i know all about Kurt’s guitars.

Luca nirvana fan
Luca nirvana fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Bleach Stain

Also the guitar fron roseland ballroom is at courtney loves house i sended her a letter and she sended me a pic with her and the red mustang from roseland ballroom the picture was taken on January 1st 2021

ernie
ernie
2 years ago

would you mind showing it? maybe post it on imgur and send over a link?

Scott
Scott
28 days ago
Reply to  Bleach Stain

I made his guitars I promise you dont know any thing

TKnight88
TKnight88
21 days ago
Reply to  Scott

Hey Scott, is there anything you can share about this one? Has your name on the heel. Is it legit?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276336439691

Scott
Scott
21 days ago
Reply to  TKnight88

Short answer RUN, the neck is legit, one of the four left over, but its a parts guitar. ALL ten I made were either sonic blue or fiesta red no exceptions. I have had to threaten the seller, he was using my name originally, and I stopped that, my name isnt on the body so he had to stop claiming it was a repaint

Tknight88
Tknight88
21 days ago
Reply to  Scott

Thank you!