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Fender Mustang Bass

lesmarshall

lesmarshall

Feb 26, 2011
120
37
#1
How do the MIJ reissues sound generally as compared to other Fender basses like a P and a J bass. I know it's a short scale, but how does the overall tone compare to such other Fender basses. Is it darker, brighter , punchier , etc. Separately , how is the build quality and playability of the Japanese reissues as compared to the MIA Fender basses? I wonder why Fender chose to build it in Japan as opposed to Mexico or the USA. Thanks
 
#2
MIJ Fenders are well made and faithful. Which, in the mustang's case, is a bit of a problem: The Mustang was never designed to be a "pro" bass (though it has been used as such). It has less expensive electronics/hardware than the P or J. It is, in effect, a student bass. If you play one and dig it, then *great*. I would not speculate on one by just buying it on-line, however.
 
#3
BigOldHarry said:
MIJ Fenders are well made and faithful. Which, in the mustang's case, is a bit of a problem: The Mustang was never designed to be a "pro" bass (though it has been used as such). It has less expensive electronics/hardware than the P or J. It is, in effect, a student bass. If you play one and dig it, then *great*. I would not speculate on one by just buying it on-line, however.
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Thanks, I get the less expensive electronic/hardware, but having never played one, I was wondering how it sounds in comparison. A Vintage Les Paul Junior has quite a following because it will rock out and do certain things like no other guitar can. Does a Vintage Mustang have a similar utility in a professional application ? Can it do something the other basses are not good at?
 
#4
Having played P basses for YEARS I can compare as the Mustang I have for sale in the classified section replaced my P bass when I was having shoulder and health problems.

The utility is about the same, tonally, as you'd have with a good P bass. The CIJ Re-Issues are much better instruments than the earlier ones and they have all the quality and durability of a really good P bass. Tonally they have special Duncan Designed PU's in them that have a good growly P bass edge to them, but with more of an edge. The youth at my church loved playing my Mustang cause they really liked the bite it had. :)
 
#5
It may sound weird, but i've always thought the Mustang had a tone in between a P and a J. It's got growl and thump at the same time, while still having its own distinct characteristics about it.

I, personally, LOVE them. A Mustang is far-and-away my #1 lusted after bass... but of course, being Fender... they are out of my price range for now.

The Mustang has found a loving home in the indie-rock side of things.
 
#6
I too have debated getting one of these, as I already own an '86 P and a Sting P, both crafted in Japan, and the mustang would be, I am sure, comparable in build quality. Plus, it has an undeniable mojo that, say, an Ibanez (which I like too) might not have. I think they're a bit pricey for what you get, but what that is cannot be duplicated elsewhere.
 
#7
I also can't help but wish there could/would be a MIJ Reissue of the Musicmaster Bass as well. While the Squier Bronco is kind of the current iteration of the Musicmaster, it'd be sweet to have a legit Fender version.

But speaking of; a 90's Squier Vista Series Musicmaster is another one WAY way up on my GAS list.
 
#10
Having just very recently gotten a '95 CIJ Mustang Bass I can say it is very well built and sounds great, very much a Fender tone with nice bottom end and grind to it.

They can be found second hand for very reasonable $$$. :)
 
#11
BigOldHarry said:
MIJ Fenders are well made and faithful. Which, in the mustang's case, is a bit of a problem: The Mustang was never designed to be a "pro" bass (though it has been used as such). It has less expensive electronics/hardware than the P or J. It is, in effect, a student bass. If you play one and dig it, then *great*. I would not speculate on one by just buying it on-line, however.
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I couldn't possibly disagree more with everything you said.

Why would it ever be a bad thing that a bass is well made? Mustangs, both the guitars and the basses were always made to the same quality and with the same care, and of the same quality materials as the strats, teles, p basses and j basses. They were designed as student guitars, are a shorter scale to be comfortable to students and younger beginners. And they were designed with less frills, and more simplified than the more expensive lines. It does not mean they are lower quality.

And the CIJ pickups, I've always been told that they are made by Seymour Duncan. All the other parts and hardware are the same as the other CIJ fenders, so they're definitely quality.

I've always been a fan of the oddball and student model fender guitars and basses. They feel, look and sound great! Don't listen to the haters that say they're bad just because they were student model guitars. They're most likely the same people that will tell you the Squier classic vibes suck because they're Squiers.
 
#12
I've heard folks play em with a pick and get a really nice gritty precision-ish tone, and i've also heard some folks use them for deep, warm, thumpy purposes. I saw the band the Horrors at the El Rey a few years ago, and the bassist was using a '70s mustang, and I'm sure half of it was his rig and FOH sound, but my god if that wasn't the deepest rumble I've ever felt. Pretty amazing tone that guy had that night.
 
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#16
i have a mustang.
i'm putting it through a peavey/trace elliot frankenstein-combo stack.
it sounds monstrous, looks awesome, and is probably the lightest, most comfortable bass to play! PS. I use it in my heavy hard rock/punk three-piece. has a perfect tone to cut through. anyone who says otherwise ...
 
#17
I don't know where to get the competition stripe ones, but I know it's not hard to buy auto striping tape, and add your own...witness my Bronco, which is the same body. The nice thing about tape is that if you don't like it, you can change it.
PB070031.jpg
 
#18
The competition stripe basses can be found on Ebay but they're shipping from Japan so you will add $150 or so to shipping. They're pricey. Cool color combiations, however.

I have recently started playing in an altcountry band with a lot of fast bass lines to learn. I am playing a re-issue Mustang with LaBella flatwounds through my tried and tested Genz Benz head and Tech 21 pre-amp. The Avatar 2 X 12 was the missing link and I love the tone I am getting. Just a little lighter tone-wise than a P, but I can adjust it with the pre-amp. Thick and warm sound. Build quality of the MIJ is outstanding. There's no compromise going on with this "student" bass.
 
#19
redzebra6 said:
Having a Squier Musicmaster, and goofing around on the Fender version, I will say that the Squier is positively better than it's predecessor, or at least mine was better than the Fender.
Click to expand...

A little pricy, but this one on the bay is gorgeous!!

FENDER SQUIER MUSICMASTER BASS VISTA SERIES SHORT SCALE - eBay (item 280650861495 end time Apr-26-11 23:29:58 PDT)


Or a 70's Musicmaster for $25 LESS than the Squier:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1978-MusicMaster-Bass-Guitar-/180646920047?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a0f653f6f
 
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