30" scale, wide nut: Gibson LP Tribute DC vs Mustang JMJ vs Other?

I thought the Gibson LP Jr Tribute DC sounded amazing. I played one off the wall at GC for $599 about a year ago. If it wasnt for the slab body it would've come home with me.

But if you're playing rock etc standing up, might not be an issue.

 

The jmj has the 1 5/8 width nut and the dc jr has 1 1/2 nut.

 

The DC Jr is a gorgeous little bass .

 

I have a Gibson LP DC and a Squier CV Mustang (not the Fenders you’re looking at but in the same ballpark). For classic rock/old school metal I would go with the Gibson. The neck on mine is definitely more chunky than the Mustang and it’s tone is much more fat and snarly.

 

I have a Sandberg Lionel, which has a nice full-feeling neck and standard string spacing. Definitely a solid P-bass tone and vibe. Extremely well made, reasonable price if you don't add options.

 

Ibanez Talman TMB30.
P/J pickups, great sound, passive bass. It can cop a solid P bass tone better than most short scales I've tried.

It's got a chunky baseball bat feeling neck.

• Scale :
• 762mm/30"

• a : Width
• 41mm at NUT

• b : Width
• 62mm at 20F

• c : Thickness
• 21.5mm at 1F

• d : Thickness
• 24.5mm at 12F

• Radius :
• 240mmR

 

There's also the Ibanez EHB1000S, with a 1.614" nut width and a 30" scale length. It isn't readily available yet, but should be very soon. It is very much not an FSO, but the design is based around ergonomic comfort.

 

I just measured my Lionel. Nut is 39mm (1-17/32"). I ordered mine, took 5 months. It is killer.

 

I cannot yet speak to the relative success or failure of the ergonomics, but I have an EHB1000S on pre-order, so that should change soon.

 

Can't go wrong with a JMJ. Stupidly sold mine, same old story.

 

I’m thinking you can’t go wrong with a JMJ. I love mine. Maybe the best money I’ve ever spent on a bass. It really nails that classic old school Fender tone. I’ve got La Bella flats on mine. As a result it’s very good for pick funk, indy rock, garage rock, blues, VERY old school metal in the vein of Uriah Heep and early sabbath. I’ve never heard it with round wounds. Maybe it would be as good with with more modern heavy forms of music with round wounds. This bass sounds great with fuzz pedals or straight into an overdriven tube amp.

All this being said, I think I’m going to get the Gibby DC shorty as well. I think it will be a different enough beast. Though I’d be investing in a new bridge right off the bat to replace the less than ideal stock bridge. Also I’d be looking into other Thunderbird pickups to go in it as well. Not because it NEEDS a new pickup, but because there’s some great aftermarket Tbird pickups to choose from and it would be too fun to resist. The Seymour Duncan in the JMJ is already excellent.

I love mine enough that I bought it a new look. Good luck. I’m sure I’ve been no help.

 

The Gibson DC is a beauty right out of the box . I don’t mind the three point bridge , mine was simple to set exactly where I like things , haven’t touched it since . Set and forget . No drama ,no fuss .

 

Yes, something better.
Reverend Dub King
Some of the best stock pickups and electronics made.

Split Brick Bridge
Strong lows and highs, open mids. Like a vintage P bass pickup but with more beef, yet retains clarity. 43 gauge wire, ceramic magnet, 8.5K ohms.​

Thick Brick Bridge

Warm and thick with strong mids. Output and punch like an active, but more organic sounding. 42 gauge wire, ceramic magnet, 7K ohms.

It's all about the tone!


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While we’re on reverend, try the Wattplower. 1 5/8” nut. 30” scale, mine is under 6.5 pounds. Plays and sounds great. Despite the light weight and weird strap peg location it balances great. Mine is signed by Watt himself.

 

I had an SG Standard bass with the stock bridge. It was fine. I sold the bass to fund something else. I bought another SG bass that came with a Hipshot Supertone already installed. It is the superior sounding instrument of the two. More sustain and vibration.