1981 Fender Bullet Short Scale

[westrock]

I had an red 1980 bullet deluxe, long scale. I remember it having a nice thick neck and a very nice woody sound. Wish I would have kept it.

 

[Tom Gallo]

there’s one on reverb for less than 1k

Not too bad price wise, but a lot of money for was would be mostly nostalgia. My first good bass was the Squier MIJ 34" version.

 

[DJ Bebop]

For Sale - 1984 Squier Bullet Bass - Made in Japan

 

[Leonid Nidis]

Imo the modern fender or squire shorties sound better

 

[punchdrunk]

Little thing sounds great.

 

[mikecd1]

With the way Fender uses parts they have lying around is it safe to say that the bullets used an actual Mustang pickup? Guessing yes as the bullet replaced the mustang and musicmaster which moved over to the new squier line in the mid 80s and later giving birth to the bronco with the musicmaster strat style pickup, presumably more cost-effective than a mustang pickup.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Seems like the pickup doesn't offer a solid anchoring point for your right hand thumb. Also, would probably need a set up, there's a lot of fret buzz. How much were they asking for it?

 

[bobyoung53]

Seems my memory might be correct, that is, according to this Wiki:

Fender Bullet Bass - Wikipedia

"The Bullet Bass had Mustang style pickups, but was available with a standard 34" neck in addition to the short scale 30" neck that the Mustang had. These instruments were only produced in the USA for a couple years until Fender decided to transfer Bullet production to Japan in 1983/84. They then fell under Fender's newly active Squier branding."

Then there's this Article in Vintage Guitar Magazine:

The Fender Bullet Deluxe/JP-90

"In the early ’80s, Fender – then owned by CBS – was on a downward slide thanks in part to quality-control issues and uninspired products. And while the Bullet guitars and basses introduced in 1982 seemed like a solid idea, the masses weren’t buying it. So, domestic production of the model was discontinued the following year and production shifted overseas.

The Bullet Bass was offered in two versions; the B-34 had a standard-sized body and 34″ scale, while the B-30 had a 30″ scale with a slightly smaller body. Both had a classic silhouette and were made of alder.

The B-34 had a vintage-inspired headstock on a maple neck with 20 frets. Its split-oval pickups resembled those on a Mustang Bass (which had been discontinued the previous year), and it had a Precision-style bridge/tailpiece and Strat-like Volume and Tone knobs – nothin’ fancy."

Also my B-30 was a Fender.

Just like Fender to D/C a known name bass (Mustang) and bring out basically the same thing under a different name.

 

[CapnSev]

Love the Bullet bass. I’ve never had the opportunity to play the 30” version, only the 34”. I was so close to pulling the trigger on the 34” I played, but I couldn’t get past the neck dive. I bet the 30” has no such issue.

 

[7dollarbologna]

Now you've really piqued my curiosity as I bought someone's refinish project on MGR a while ago. It was advertised as a Fender Deluxe and is 34" scale but the SN is gone and the Decal is gone too.
The price was reasonable.
Would there be anything on the neck pocket or end of neck to indicate Fender or Squier?
View attachment 3972870

You can tell it’s a Fender by the shape of the pickguard

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Seems like the pickup doesn't offer a solid anchoring point for your right hand thumb. Also, would probably need a set up, there's a lot of fret buzz. How much were they asking for it?

I think the dealer is asking $700 for an in store purchase. I do not know the price for someone looking to have it shipped.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I think the dealer is asking $700 for an in store purchase. I do not know the price for someone looking to have it shipped.

Decent price for sure.

 

[MARSlAN]

Just picked up an American Fender Bullet B30 (short scale) '80-'81. Beautiful condition considering it's 40 years old. It has really great deep P-Bass tones, for sure. It only has one pickup (Mustang), so it doesn't have the versatility of a J-Bass, but it has the rich velvety tones I love from a P-Bass. The sustain goes on forever. I can't believe they didn't make a whole lot more of them, but at least now I can stop looking. I have my forever bass!

 

[MARSlAN]

Now I have to figure out what amp to pair with it to get the best P-tones.

 

[MinkDeville]

The Fender branded Bullet came in both 30" and 34" scale. They used the same pickguard on both models so as you can see the pickguard doesn't seem to fit quite as well on the full scale version. It doesn't extend all the way to the end of the bass. The Squier version was only available in 34" and because of that they pickguard fits the body a bit better. Clear sign that the bass in the photo is the 34" Fender version. That said i like the Fender neck a lot but the Squier neck profile is way nicer IMO.

 

[MinkDeville]

Hi, I see you mention that both the Fender 30" and 34" use the same pickguard. Does that mean I can take one off a 34" and use it on my 30"? Are the screw holes in the same place? I only ask because my bass needs a replacement, and although I can source a 34" pickguard they all say it won't fit a 30". And I really would like to get it replaced. Everybody I ask (sellers)) say they haven't ever even seen a 30" short-scale Bullet! I've added some photos. Many thanks for any reply. I might even start a thread.

 

[matt-o-]

Somewhere it was mentioned, that Fender used the same pickguards for the B30 and B34 Bullet Basses, hence the awkward view of the B34 basses. From photos it seems, that the pickguards and the screw holes are identical. But the later Squier Bullet Bass pickguard seems to be bigger, adjusted to size and is missing two screw holes.
Most pickguard makers offer the possibility, that you send them a drawing of your pickguard and they duplicate it precisely.

 

[Johnny Alien]

The Fender B-30 and B-34 share the same pickguard from everything that I have read and photos back that up however I have never physically tried to swap one. I would be 99% confident in trying it though. Make sure its a Fender pickguard and not a Squier one. The Squier pickguard has 10 screws vs 12 on the Fender pickguard.

 

[77stingray]

Reviving this old thread! I just procured a sunburst B30, can’t wait to receive it. Just wanted to say that there is a red one for sale on reverb, as well as several b34’s. I am a short scale player and I had been trying to decide between a bullet and Music Master. I remembered playing a B34 at a music store and loving it, so i put an offer in on the red B30 that wasn’t accepted and a day later one came up here. I really love the tone of the long scale version with the mustang pickup - very unique and I am surprised they aren’t more popular! I thought about getting one and stringing it B to D, to make the 5th fret the main playing position, but not sure that would work well. So I am glad to have found a shortie!

 

[dave_p]

I have a 34” scale American Bullet. Real workhorse. Naturally reliced. Original neck is twisted and in the closet. Has an AllParts neck currently. Light tru oil finish. Low action and plays great. Have had it since about 1989.