Pickguard and plate have been taken. I wish I had enough to give to everyone.
But,,,,, I don't.
Happy holidays to all.
Bob
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Fender Mustang Club
- Thread starter FlyingPigSound
- Start date
Pickguard and plate have been taken. I wish I had enough to give to everyone.
But,,,,, I don't.
Happy holidays to all.
Bob
Hello guys this is a new bass cover played with my beautiful Fender Mustang PJ Black EB Limited Edition, this time used only split coil and the big muff!
The pickup in my Vintera measures around 7.4 k ohms DC resistance. I'm not sure if this is in line with vintage specs?
The pickup is well made. It has grey bobbins like the originals, and very long, thin poles. The poles aren't flush with the flatwork of the pickup, so the pickup covers on my bass have four little raised dimples.
What bothers me is that the poles are quite 'beamy'. The string has to be right over them to get the fullest and thickest tone. Any deviation and the output and character of the notes quickly falls away. Most annoyingly the D pole doesn't sit under the D string.
I used my Vintera on a recording session yesterday. The E string was rudely boomy, the A and G strings were nicely present and the D string was a bit weak. The E in particular delivers a sort of dark whack of low mids that a P bass doesn't.
I'm tempted by the Nordstrand pickup set to replace the stock pickups, in a bid to iron out these output issues and imbalances.
I guess the D string saddle is not adjustable at all side-to-side?
Might look at string height (such as, raise the E string, lower the D string) and/or pickup angles (if the angle on the pickup is adjustable, try raising the D side and lowering the E side). If none of that can be done or doesn’t work, try different string gauges (i.e., a custom string set; for example, try going with a thinner E and a thicker D).
Good luck - string balance can be a bear (or other ‘b’ word) to sort out sometimes
I find this "beaming" character to be true with all the single narrow pole per string bass pickups I've ever used. I replaced the pickup On my SCPB a dual rail dual coil humbucking pickup which eliminates any beaming issues. The pole/string alignment on my MIJ Mustang so I haven't felt the need to replace that pickup.
I would like to put this out to all and get your response.
Yesterday I was showing off my basses at my daughters engagement party. I have a few that widen eyes. But the interest lay in my HEAVILY modified Mustang PJ. One of the Guys in the group at the end of the evening offered me absolutely Stupid money for it. With what he offered I could go down tomorrow and be the Proud owner of a Performer Mustang, which I test drove about a year ago and loved it. But it wasn't meant to be as my grandson decided to make an entrance 3 months early. He is as healthy as a horse and the expected costs did not occur. My quandary is, this was my first bass when I decided to return to playing after my 2 strokes 6 years ago. It is not the same little bass I walked out the store with. The only thing left on it that is Fender is wood. But that attachment still lingers.
So any and all input is requested positive, negative, ambivalent etc. I know I am opening myself up here but I gots to know (a la Dirty Harry).
Thanks in advance
Bob
I know-No pics No bass
It is in Archive I will be back with it.
Yesterday I was showing off my basses at my daughters engagement party. I have a few that widen eyes. But the interest lay in my HEAVILY modified Mustang PJ. One of the Guys in the group at the end of the evening offered me absolutely Stupid money for it. With what he offered I could go down tomorrow and be the Proud owner of a Performer Mustang, which I test drove about a year ago and loved it. But it wasn't meant to be as my grandson decided to make an entrance 3 months early. He is as healthy as a horse and the expected costs did not occur. My quandary is, this was my first bass when I decided to return to playing after my 2 strokes 6 years ago. It is not the same little bass I walked out the store with. The only thing left on it that is Fender is wood. But that attachment still lingers.
So any and all input is requested positive, negative, ambivalent etc. I know I am opening myself up here but I gots to know (a la Dirty Harry).
Thanks in advance
Bob
I know-No pics No bass
It is in Archive I will be back with it.
Here it is and for our Irish members I used a special stand.
Bob
Bob
First, let me commend you for your choice in a stand worthy of displaying a special friend. I may not be the right person to advise, after fifty+ years, I still can't part with the virtually unplayble first bass that started me on this adventure. Perhaps you could offer to reproduce your custom axe for a fee (insert "Stupid Money" here!)
I will do my best to be brief. My PJ was modified with following from top to bottom
Grover Vintage 124C4 full size tuners that headstock holes had to be routed
3 way switch replaced with a Short Stem Swirchcraft 3 way toggle
Pickups replaced with Seymour Duncan 1/4 pound PJ set
Pickguard Planet Custom 3 ply Conch pickguard
Hipshot Kickass High Mass Bridge
SwitchCraft 4 point output Jack
DiAdarrio Chrome Flats
Hipshot Guided String tree
Graph Tech Tusq XL Nut
Schaller Style Strap locks.
All of the mods came to no more than approximately $200. Total labor equaled no more than $75 and the bass itself was $399 due to Veteran discount.
So all in all a total of around $700 when completed.
He offered $1500.
I hope that was what your question referred to. This project was over a period of almost a year. In fact the tuners were the last and that was done 4 months ago.
Bob
What I didn't include is that he and I fell in like within instrument because of the neck. We both have physical limitations in our hands that this particular neck gets around. I left the store with this PJ knowing there was going to be alot of work to be done. My first bass I have been told was a 1972 Precision my uncle left me. You see the strokes wiped out any memory of music. I started playing on keyboards when I was 7 and now it is 60 years later.
Bob
Great looking bass.
Were those Grover tuners to reduce neck dive, or were they to address some other issue?
Also, if you had to do it over, would you still go with the same "Grover Vintage 124C4 full size tuners" as your replacement tuners?
I ask because I have some neck dive with my MIJ. Haven’t really looked into replacement tuners yet, but I’m slowly, slowly starting to take notes on what options are out there
Actually the Grovers were initially a mistake. I read a review that stated they were a great drop in on the Mustang. It was placed in the wrong item on the site. It was supposed to go on the Precision site. So being impatient and hating the shoulder Chafe due to the remaining neck dive that the bridge didn't relieve I order them. I realized imediately when they arrived they wouldn't fit but also noticed they were surprisingly lighter than the stock 3/8 tuners and I presented it to my bass teacher/Luthier and he offered to see what he could do. I had read in numerous posts that this couldn't be done due to lack of wood. That is not true at least on the PJ. The headstock on the PJ is the same size as the Precision. No more neck dive. The bridge and tuners balance out. With all the negative posts about Ultralites I just figured to give it a shot after doing the math. Now this result is for me and the individual who made the offer with our limitations. It may not be the same for others. I needed to add that so no one reads this as a magic bullet.
I hope this helps my friend.
Bob
To answer your second part- Yes knowing what I know now I would do it all over again only sooner. Thos stock tuners were difficult for especially during RA flairs. With them full size it allows me to grip better and with them being smooth and adjustable it relieves those issues. To be fair I believe Hipshots HB10's (I believe that's the right model)would accomplish the same thing. But with the Grovers being a quarter of the cost I went with them.
Bob
Assuming you now have the Mustang PJ playing how you want and have no remaining issues with it, I guess it would come down to weight, neck shape/feel, looks, pickups (in particular, the Mustang pickup vs. the P pickup in the PJ), and branding (MIA vs. MIM). Which do you prefer in those categories?
Or, is the whole of the American Performer somehow greater than the sum of its parts - is there just something somehow special about it to you beyond it being a mere collection of parts and specs?
Then there’s the subtleties of the individual instrument. They all have the same notes, but one will look just right or sound or feel just right (ideally, all three).
Good luck. Sounds like either choice would be a good one, so don’t sweat it
Beautiful bass! Congratulations on the new addition to the family!
My personal opinion is you should not part with your bass. You will surely miss it especially because of the significant landmark in your life. BUT, if you have time, what if you were to offer to build him one just like it for the same money? Have him give you half up front so you can buy the parts and bass and the rest afterwards. Everyone wins! He gets a new bass and you can then go buy your performer and keep your beloved friend.
Bob, not that it will necessarily exactly help, but a little related story:
I’ve had an MIM Standard Precision for a long time and then a few years ago bought an American Standard Precision as a long-wanted upgrade. In the meantime, I’d fixed all the issues I could with my MIM Standard (pickup, electronics, shielding, fret level ‘n crown, setup) so that I was actually pretty happy with it. Nevertheless, the MIM was on the heavy side and I wasn’t in love with the black paint, and it had always bothered me that it wasn’t the "right" wood (it’s poplar instead of alder), so...the MIA.
Well, the American Standard fixed all those ssues I couldn’t address with the MIM - it’s lighter, the wood is the traditional alder, the fretboard wood is nicer, and the paint job is a 3-tone sunburst like I’d wanted instead of the MIM’s boring black). But, dagnabit, I just like that MIM more. The American Standard is kinda "too fancy" somehow, like a fancy new jacket, while the MIM is more like an old comfortable sweatshirt. But actually, most of all it’s probably just that the American Standard’s 3-tone sunburst finish is too reddish for me - it’s kinda right, but not quite right and I can’t help it but it bothers me. I’m not sure which I’ll ultimately keep - I like the MIM more, but the light weight of the MIA is a strong practical point in its favor...
On the other hand, sometimes you just want the nice thing or the real deal. With my Strat guitar, for example, no amount of upgrades to an MIM Standard or a Squire were gonna satisfy me, even if it would be "just as good" - I just wanted a nice, real deal American Standard Strat and that was that.
Just some thoughts
I’ve had an MIM Standard Precision for a long time and then a few years ago bought an American Standard Precision as a long-wanted upgrade. In the meantime, I’d fixed all the issues I could with my MIM Standard (pickup, electronics, shielding, fret level ‘n crown, setup) so that I was actually pretty happy with it. Nevertheless, the MIM was on the heavy side and I wasn’t in love with the black paint, and it had always bothered me that it wasn’t the "right" wood (it’s poplar instead of alder), so...the MIA.
Well, the American Standard fixed all those ssues I couldn’t address with the MIM - it’s lighter, the wood is the traditional alder, the fretboard wood is nicer, and the paint job is a 3-tone sunburst like I’d wanted instead of the MIM’s boring black). But, dagnabit, I just like that MIM more. The American Standard is kinda "too fancy" somehow, like a fancy new jacket, while the MIM is more like an old comfortable sweatshirt. But actually, most of all it’s probably just that the American Standard’s 3-tone sunburst finish is too reddish for me - it’s kinda right, but not quite right and I can’t help it but it bothers me. I’m not sure which I’ll ultimately keep - I like the MIM more, but the light weight of the MIA is a strong practical point in its favor...
On the other hand, sometimes you just want the nice thing or the real deal. With my Strat guitar, for example, no amount of upgrades to an MIM Standard or a Squire were gonna satisfy me, even if it would be "just as good" - I just wanted a nice, real deal American Standard Strat and that was that.
Just some thoughts
Very good thoughts I hadn't considered. You over anyone are aware of my "Other Bass" and the back story to it. I would find at impromptu jams myself reaching for the PJ. I can hear the PJ haters groaning right now. Now I don't know if this was muscle memory or if there was a psychological reaction. I have said to myself with my other bass within the same reach and what it is why did I just do that? Yes we play classic hard rock and those Duncans are perfect for that but that other one when set correctly has a specific and unique sound that is unequaled with any other instrument as you are well aware. This kinda makes me go hmmm. 2 others made the recommendation to do a rebuild on another PJ just for him and keep mine. That sounds like the best of both worlds. I did do a little research on the parts, quick and dirty. I don't believe I could get them at the cost I got them then except the Grovers. Their cost hasn't changed. But for what he offered we could almost go nutz! I never did this for resale. I was thoroughly aware that no matter was done it was still a Fender Mustang PJ with a MX serial number and that wouldn't change. It was for comfort and function and that is all plus to be able to do that I was told I loved to do. So I believe I got what direction I was looking for and in two weeks and he accepts god willing and the creek don't rise I will be posting new pictures. Funny thing I didn't hear much from the PJ haters. I thought they would be all over this. Thank you all. Sometimes the trees get in the way of the forrest.
Bob
So, I’ve stuck to my word and walked away from thomann with this beauty. I A/Bed a JMJ model and an american performer and all that taught me was that regular gauge rounds feel like ukulele strings with these, so before leaving I had them string it up with a set of EB slinky flats.
I was amazed at the colour of the sunburst in real life though!
(Oh, and also, can I get a number please?)
I was amazed at the colour of the sunburst in real life though!
(Oh, and also, can I get a number please?)
