Won't work. They're both 30" scale, but look at how much of the 30" scale is in the Rascal neck, compared to the Mustang.
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Fender - Classic Player Rascal Bass
- Thread starter howlin
- Start date
Damn, yeah, I see what you mean.
Just thinking aloud here, but none of my ideas are feasible.
No bueno...Rascal looks downright ugly with the bridge moved back.
Looks like you could back the bridge up to scaleDamn, yeah, I see what you mean.
Just thinking aloud here, but none of my ideas are feasible.
No bueno...Rascal looks downright ugly with the bridge moved back.
Interesting that there's so much speculation about changing a bass that people haven't touched yet.
Why not get it (if you like the look and basic layout), play it the way it was designed to be played, and then make decisions?
And if you don't like it, don't get one.
Why not get it (if you like the look and basic layout), play it the way it was designed to be played, and then make decisions?
And if you don't like it, don't get one.
Fair enough.
FWIW I really do like the concept of the Rascal as is, and I can't wait to get my hands on one to try. I guess what I'm getting at is that I've noticed there's somethings about the Rascal--the ergonomics of it, the neck width--that I might not like, so I'm speculating about fixing those problems.
Hopefully none of those concerns are valid and I can just play it as is.
If you cut the springs, yes, you could...but the only differences between the Rascal and Mustang necks are that the Mustang has 1 less fret and a natural headstock. Oh, and the Rascal has a slightly wider nut, which with a short scale I don't think you'd notice too much. Why bother with the change?
I don't agree, I think it would look fine if you did something with the pickguard. Much better than a Mustang or Bronco. And of course in photoshop-land there are never any ugly screw holes to fill in!
Even so I would much rather have the 21 fret neck and painted headstock so I would not swap necks. But if you have to have the shortest bass possible then you could:
Yeah, that actually looks really nice with the pickguard fixed up!
And I don't know why I'm already thinking of modifying it (maybe I'm just a b**** to please
). I really like the style of the neck on the Rascal already (the asymmetrical dots, the matching headstock, 21 Frets), so it's really just the nut width that's getting me down. However, as mentioned above, maybe that won't matter much on a short scale.
Me, too. There are some demos popping up on YouTube, so you might be able to give it a listen.
You've mentioned the nut width before and I've been meaning to respond. I personally find that a slightly (we are talking 1/8") wider neck actually feels right on a short scale as that's what a Jazz would feel like "up there" relative to whichever fret that would have the equivalent reach (2nd, 3rd, 4th?). However, if you're already playing short scales with Jazz size nuts my point is irrelevant and I'll shut up now.Yeah, that actually looks really nice with the pickguard fixed up!
And I don't know why I'm already thinking of modifying it (maybe I'm just a b**** to please
You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. I wasn't really thinking of it relative to a Jazz, I was just in the mindset of, "I like thin necks, so thinner is always better."
Come to think of it both of my full-scale basses (Ibanez SR600 and Fender Kingman) have thin necks (1.496 and 1.5 nut widths respectively), but they're not any more comfortable to play than my short scale Gretsch, which has a 1.6 nut width. That being said I do slightly prefer the feel of a Fender Mustang (1.5 nut width) to the Gretsch, but not enough that I'd completely write off the Rascal.
Great...now I'm back to GASing.
I'm saving up the pennies for this one at the moment. People here are right - There is just something about it. I'd like to hear a proper review of it played finger style, showing all the tonal options, including the extra settings via the push-pull volume pot. Oh, and played by a professional, not a moron who hits it too hard! 
Just pulled the trigger on one of these on the bay and if the quality is like my MIM PS Bass VI there is no need for an MIA. The MIM Bass VI is every bit as good as any MIJ Fender I have ever played and being an MIA would probably mean a $1200 price tag and out of the price range of what will be at best a specialty application bass for most. I definitely dont see this as being anyone's only horse in the stable like a P or J could be and spending well over a grand for a bass that will see limited use at best is not a good idea. Just my two cents though.
I'm just stoked that this best is the best of three worlds for me in one of my bands. Right now I am splitting duties between the Bass VI, a Squier Jag SS and an Ocean Turquoise J I built with a pearl pickguard. Looks like this bass will take the best parts of those three and put them all together. At least I hope it will.
Excellent! You've got to give us some sound samples when you can. I'm GASing for this hard but I want to hear it first.
Simon Langley, thank you for your two cents! I can't wait to play one. I only worry about MIM QC from bass to bass. Let us know how it is man! I'm sure it will cover a tone of ground for you. There is no shortage of tonal options.
Fender released an official video...
Edit: He never actually plays it...maybe the track in the background was recorded with the Rascal, but I doubt it. Essentially he just talks about the design process.
GAK, however, did a demo...already posted it here, but I figured I'd put it up again...
Edit: He never actually plays it...maybe the track in the background was recorded with the Rascal, but I doubt it. Essentially he just talks about the design process.
GAK, however, did a demo...already posted it here, but I figured I'd put it up again...
Yeah, I've had several MIM deluxe series and classic player series and frankly they are great guitars. As you say, they are every bit as good as the old Japanese stuff (when I say old I just mean we don't see much of it anymore - it's still good). Anyone thinking MIM is crap hasn't tried one since the turn of the century when Fender realized they had to have better hardware on the middle of the road $500-$600 stuff than on the low end Korean and Chinese stuff.
In the early days, Fender did indeed make some kinda crappy Mexican stuff in an attempt to keep the price low and the difference between the standard and American standard series worth the money. But the classic serices and the deluxe and classic players (which are based on the classic series for the most part) are just plain good guitars, no qualifications needed.
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Yeah, was wishful thinking on my part. Gets here tomorrow. Will post pics as soon as I can put it down long enough. My Jag SS caught on and told my Bass VI about it. Now they're both mad at me. Haven't told them yet that I might just keep all three much to the displeasure of my wife. Sorry Honey.
