Fender Mustang Club

[mongo2]

here ya go, Fender MUSTANG® BASS PJ 2020 Fire Mist Gold

Nice, I like the look of that. The gold goes very well with the pao ferro fingerboard...thanks.

 

[sleddogn]

if this wasn't a p/j, i'd buy one. am not really into the p/j's, toggle, non thru body bridge are the killers in my opinion. Love the look of this one though, replace pickguard with a gold one, mmmmm

 

[mongo2]

if this wasn't a p/j, i'd buy one. am not really into the p/j's, toggle, non thru body bridge are the killers in my opinion. Love the look of this one though, replace pickguard with a gold one, mmmmm

I'm into the sound of the P but not the J. I never use bridge pickups anyway. I prefer the standard top load bridge to the through body on my MIJ.

 

[Florinda4]

Question: Has anyone here tried to fix the neck-dive of the Mustang by swapping the tuners for lighter ones? Did it work? How does it look?

I regret selling my Mustang PJ because I loved the tone, but didn't like the neck-dive. I might get another one and try to get rid of the neck-dive.

Must vary from PJ to PJ. Like @OtherLisa I had a little neck dive with mine before adding a high mass bridge, but even less since.

I recall reading a post on TB somewhere where someone noted that a strap with a clingy inner surface, like suede, eliminates some degree of dive (wait! would that mean I'd have to give up my 70s collection of polyester playing shirts?!?), and I logged it mentally as a solution if that last little bit of dive annoys me (get a strip of suede, find someone with a heavy sewing machine to stitch it on the inside of my good old 3" smooth leather strap).

In other news, I finally had the PJ's frets massaged by our somewhat local bass magician, first profiling and leveling the frets via his PLEK system, then hand smoothing them. I was able to lower the action a bit more, and the annoying slightly pointy ends of the frets have all been nicely rounded down.

I play it all the time now. PBass is scowling at me from its spot on the wall.

Flo

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Must vary from PJ to PJ. Like @OtherLisa I had a little neck dive with mine before adding a high mass bridge, but even less since.

I recall reading a post on TB somewhere where someone noted that a strap with a clingy inner surface, like suede, eliminates some degree of dive (wait! would that mean I'd have to give up my 70s collection of polyester playing shirts?!?), and I logged it mentally as a solution if that last little bit of dive annoys me (get a strip of suede, find someone with a heavy sewing machine to stitch it on the inside of my good old 3" smooth leather strap).

In other news, I finally had the PJ's frets massaged by our somewhat local bass magician, first profiling and leveling the frets via his PLEK system, then hand smoothing them. I was able to lower the action a bit more, and the annoying slightly pointy ends of the frets have all been nicely rounded down.

I play it all the time now. PBass is scowling at me from its spot on the wall.

Flo

Regarding the suede strap, absolutely. I’ve gotten used to using grippy straps and whether it’s cotton, suede, or that really soft leather you’d find inside a shoe, that can help a lot. This is the first bass where I’ve noticed neck dive, and it’s not bad, but considering I’ve owned probably 30 over the years, I think the grippy straps have helped balance things.

 

[vancamp]

It was the LPB with maple board. Ordered last Thursday, shipping speed set to "2 day". It spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday being "prepared for shipment". Sunday said "shipping now" and by end of Sunday I had a USPS tracking number (but no acknowledgement from USPS they've ever seen it). Monday it showed up as being in the NJ Amazon warehouse, then left Monday night. No further tracking available. At this point, even though I have a USPS number and an acknowledgement from Amazon that I have "2 day" shipping, I'm assuming Amazon is trucking the thing cross country before handing it to USPS for local delivery.

If Amazon hadn't listed it as "In Stock" and "Fulfilled by Amazon", I wouldn't have been tempted down this circuitous path. CME would have had it to me quicker. It probably worked out better for you being nearer the NJ site.

Can finally update this since it was delivered today. By letting Amazon instead of CME ship this bass... In Stock, Fulfilled by Amazon, 2-Day Shipping, I got:
- Preparing for Shipment... 3 days
- shuttling westward around various Amazon warehouses... 7 days
- final shipper (USPS) received it locally today and delivered it today.
So "2-Day Shipping" finally delivered in 11 days.

 

[dmt]

I prefer the standard top load bridge to the through body on my MIJ.

Why?

For me, I’d hesitate to get a top loader-only Mustang just because there’s no appropriate strings available locally, whereas by stringing through-body on my MIJ, I can just use the ubiquitous regular scale D’Addario XL nickel wounds that are easily found in pretty much any shop with bass strings.

What do you like about the standard top load bridge over the MIJ’s bridge?

 

[dmt]

Can finally update this since it was delivered today. By letting Amazon instead of CME ship this bass... In Stock, Fulfilled by Amazon, 2-Day Shipping, I got:
- Preparing for Shipment... 3 days
- shuttling westward around various Amazon warehouses... 7 days
- final shipper (USPS) received it locally today and delivered it today.
So "2-Day Shipping" finally delivered in 11 days.

Is everything in good shape after all that shipping rigmarole? How do you like the bass?

 

[vancamp]

Is everything in good shape after all that shipping rigamarole? How do you like the bass?

Strings were pretty loose. Just finished putting TI flats on it... I think it's going to be lots of fun!

 

[mongo2]

Why?

For me, I’d hesitate to get a top loader-only Mustang just because there’s no appropriate strings available locally, whereas by stringing through-body on my MIJ, I can just use the ubiquitous regular scale D’Addario XL nickel wounds that are easily found in pretty much any shop with bass strings.

What do you like about the standard top load bridge over the MIJ’s bridge?

I can use my preferred short scale strings which are readily available around here.

 

[dmt]

I can use my preferred short scale strings which are readily available around here.

Makes a lot of sense!

 

[Allatoona Rebel]

Is there a Fender Mustang Club?

If not, am I now #1?View attachment 2908266

I'm in! I played six string electric and acoustic for decades. I got a Fender Precision Bass and as great as it was, my fingers were just not "trained" for a 34" scale. No matter what I did, if I took my eyes off it, I screwed up. IMHO, nothing beats a Fender P-bass tone-wise, but if you cannot adjust your fingering to it, what good is it? For me the answer was a Mustang PJ. With upgraded pickups from both the P and J, it comes very close to both. I'm very happy with mine.

 

[dmt]

I'm in! I played six string electric and acoustic for decades. I got a Fender Precision Bass and as great as it was, my fingers were just not "trained" for a 34" scale. No matter what I did, if I took my eyes off it, I screwed up. IMHO, nothing beats a Fender P-bass tone-wise, but if you cannot adjust your fingering to it, what good is it? For me the answer was a Mustang PJ. With upgraded pickups from both the P and J, it comes very close to both. I'm very happy with mine.

Nice story, but we don’t believe you without pics

 

[dmt]

I'm in! I played six string electric and acoustic for decades. I got a Fender Precision Bass and as great as it was, my fingers were just not "trained" for a 34" scale. No matter what I did, if I took my eyes off it, I screwed up. IMHO, nothing beats a Fender P-bass tone-wise, but if you cannot adjust your fingering to it, what good is it? For me the answer was a Mustang PJ. With upgraded pickups from both the P and J, it comes very close to both. I'm very happy with mine.

But I definitely know what you mean - the P is the sound, but sometimes a Precision is just a bit physically big. For me (also came from/continue to play guitar), it’s not so much that my fingers don’t know where to go as that sometimes the reach out to the nut on a 34" really stresses my front left shoulder and surrounding area. Beyond that, my original and still best-loved P is a bit heavy and can be too much when my back is acting up. I’ve got a second, lighter P now, but I actually like my old heavier one better. The answer - Mustang!

Great little basses

 

[Bobhmcs]

Nice story, but we don’t believe you without pics

Ooh! You got to it before me!
;[)
Bob

 

[Bobhmcs]

But I definitely know what you mean - the P is the sound, but sometimes a Precision is just a bit physically big. For me (also came from/continue to play guitar), it’s not so much that my fingers don’t know where to go as that sometimes the reach out to the nut on a 34" really stresses my front left shoulder and surrounding area. Beyond that, my original and still best-loved P is a bit heavy and can be too much when my back is acting up. I’ve got a second, lighter P now, but I actually like my old heavier one better. The answer - Mustang!

Great little basses

Thumbs up and total agreement to what he said!
Bob

 

[Bobhmcs]

I really hate what I am going to say.
I will be away for a while. It has been decided that I will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the very near future. It appears my Leukemia has reared its ugly head again and this is the best option. I have to undergo not only a pre-surgical course of Chemo but radiation as well and I can't use my phone there. So I will be seeing all later and you can count on that! Keep up the great work and modifications.
Talk to you all as soon as I can.
Bob
Edit: Yeah I know it is a SG but it was Woodstock!

 

[SoulReflection]

I really hate what I am going to say.
I will be away for a while. It has been decided that I will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the very near future. It appears my Leukemia has reared its ugly head again and this is the best option. I have to undergo not only a pre-surgical course of Chemo but radiation as well and I can't use my phone there. So I will be seeing all later and you can count on that! Keep up the great work and modifications.
Talk to you all as soon as I can.
Bob
Edit: Yeah I know it is a SG but it was Woodstock!
View attachment 3667716

Wishing you all the best, Bob! You have had a lot of challenges and over-came them. This could be another one.

 

[G-Dog]

I really hate what I am going to say.
I will be away for a while. It has been decided that I will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the very near future. It appears my Leukemia has reared its ugly head again and this is the best option. I have to undergo not only a pre-surgical course of Chemo but radiation as well and I can't use my phone there. So I will be seeing all later and you can count on that! Keep up the great work and modifications.
Talk to you all as soon as I can.
Bob
Edit: Yeah I know it is a SG but it was Woodstock!
View attachment 3667716

Bob, I wish peace and steadfast courage for your battle. I know you've already been through a lot. But, apparently, there's a lot more. Just know that we're with you in spirit and in faith.
.

 

[johnk_10]

here's my JMJ mustang bass. i modded with tummy cut and arm relief contours for comfort:

and here's my 1970 mustang: