Fender Mustang Club

[matthewwithanm]

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The Musicmasters, early and late, are those both Fender branded, and what years would you say that they are ?

Yup! Both Fenders. They changed it a little and the earlier ones (early 70s) had "tulip tuners," the transition logo, and a slightly different pickguard that didn't "wrap around" the neck heel. The later ones (they were made until 81 I think) have the "70s" logo and more familiar tuners.

Was the early MM separate neck originally on the early MM body, and if so, was the swap simply a matter of undoing the neck bolts, changing the neck, putting the bolts back, and checking the setup ?

Yeah. I got it in the early 2000s but it was in pretty bad shape. This year I got the body refinished but instead of putting the neck on, I got one of the later necks (I preferred the more standard tuners and 70s logo and by the time I got my early MM necks, they didn't have the original hardware anyway). It's funny, until now I always thought the nut width on the later 70s neck was wider, but measuring for you, I see that's not the case. It might just feel that way because of the gloss finish or the neck shape, I'm not sure.

Is the Squier MM one of the Vista series from around 1997 ?

EDIT : 2nd glance shows that the Squier MM neck is slightly wider, at both the pocket and the nut, so it may or may not be swapable with the other 3, which look to be identical in width as a group.

Yes, my first bass! I actually have two of the early Fender necks, one of which I had on this bass for a while. So I can say for certain that the Squier's pocket is definitely wider than the Fender's. It wasn't a big issue, but there was some space on the right side of the neck.

At first glance, it looks to me like any of these necks and bodies could be swapped if you had a reason to do it.

Is that also your feeling ?

Yeah, with the caveat about the Squier pocket I mentioned. I've never had the neck off the Mustang, but I don't think it would be an issue.

 

[rllefebv]

Hope these help! I have a late 70s Mustang, an early Musicmaster with a late Musicmaster neck on it, an early Musicmaster neck, and a Squier Musicmaster.

The pocket measurements were tough to measure given the rounded neck heel. They're all pretty approximate but seemed the same.

I know that this is the Mustang club and all, but as an affirmed Musicmaster fanboi I certainly would not mind seeing "full frontals" of all three of these basses... Purely for artistic appreciation, of course

-robert

 

[matthewwithanm]

 

[DavesnothereCA]

I know that this is the Mustang club and all, but as an affirmed Musicmaster fanboi, I certainly would not mind seeing "full frontals" of all three of these basses... Purely for artistic appreciation, of course

-robert

View attachment 4151032

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Yes, that was my next thought too.

And thanks again Matthew, for bothering to take the measurement pics, and for the explanations.

This clears up a lot of stuff for me, and no doubt for others here as well.

One further thing which the frontal pics clearly show, and of which I was previously unaware, is that Mustangs were at one point built with a 1.625" [1+5/8"] nut width on a Maple fretboard neck.

In current production units, I have not found both of those specs on the same bass at the same time [and would like to].

One other question :

Which of these basses takes the strings through the body at the ball end ?
~

 

[velobob]

tonally, how would you compare the musicmaster with the single p/u and the mustang with its split p/u?

 

[cjs2000]

Hi everyone, is this where I get my number? I am the proud owner of a Sweetwater Tidepool. So far just added Chromes.

 

[rllefebv]

tonally, how would you compare the musicmaster with the single p/u and the mustang with its split p/u?

So, while I can't (and wouldn't presume to) comment on @matthewwithanm stable, (other than to say it is awesome!!), I have a few of my own, though they are slightly modded and not totally representative of stock instruments...

First, the single Musicmaster bass pickup (which is actually identical to a Musicmaster guitar pickup) has rarely been a problem for me (except as noted later)... The issue has ALWAYS been the stock wiring and the additional cap added to pre-mute the highs. The stock pickup alone has always been fine for me when wired like a normal single pickup. I usually replace the wiring on MMs (and Broncos) with a standard P style harness and have been pretty satisfied. Worth a shot before flat out changing the pickup... I've gone with different "Strat" replacements in the past and have usually come back to the stock p'up...

The black '78 in the picture had an issue with the stock pickup (as referenced above) in that the two pole pieces on the E string side (there are 6 pole pieces stock) were pushed deep into the flatwork and had some potting covering them, which leads me to believe that this was an issue throughout it's life. I replaced the stock p'up with a Sentell stacked humbucker that reads like a hot single without the hum. With the P harness, (always!!), it has a more focussed tone than the stock Musicmaster electronics and somewhat higher output than at the stock pickup, but is in the same sonic territory. Lots of fundamental, a bit thuddy with flats or tapes, and usable throughout.

The Mustang I have is obviously a JMJ and has the Duncan designed pickup. On the whole, this is a cousin to the Musicmaster, but different enough not to be "siblings"... The Mustang, (and I'm assuming a kinship with most Mustangs with the single, small split p'up), definitely dials in a more immediate tone, with a wider range accessible through the "Tone" knob. It can drive pretty hard and I imagine would be great with pedals (my next obsession, no doubt). It took a bit of dialing in to get the action and p'up height squared away, but now that it's there it's great!

All three basses shown are great feeling, playing, and sounding basses in their own way, and are all keepers. Right now, the black '78 gets the least attention, but that's probably because it sounds consistently great no matter how I set the knobs. The Mustang has more tones available in it (again, I know that this has been said about the JMJ specifically, but I'm assuming it holds true for vintagey Mustangs as well), and it is the last bass I will purchase barring a catastrophe. If I could only grab one (of these) it would be the black '78 simply because it just never sounds bad and feels right. The white '78 has since been modded further and is a different beast altogether. The JMJ is great out the gate with zero mods (I would ALWAYS at least entertain rewiring a stock MM)...

Hope this helps,

-robert

 

[velobob]

hey, thanks! That is great info. My CIJ does the trick and it's my go-to, but looking to get something with a similar neck feel and weight with a different tonal palette. Fender or otherwise.

 

[Florinda4]

View attachment 4151321 Hi everyone, is this where I get my number? I am the proud owner of a Sweetwater Tidepool. So far just added Chromes.

Welcome to the corral, @cjs2000 - nice looking Mustang!
You want numbers? We got numbers! You are #116.

 

[matthewwithanm]

Mustangs were at one point built with a 1.625" [1+5/8"] nut width on a Maple fretboard neck.

Back when I got my Mustang in the early 2000s, I had never seen one with a maple fretboard before! Now that they're being made again I've seen a bunch (and a couple of vintage ones), but it still feels pretty special

One other question :

Which of these basses takes the strings through the body at the ball end ?

Both the Squier MM and the Mustang have string-through bridges. The Fender MM doesn't and also only has two saddles. (The ones on mine are replacement swivel saddles to help with the intonation.)

tonally, how would you compare the musicmaster with the single p/u and the mustang with its split p/u?

Sorry, I don't think I can contribute anything useful here! My Fender MM has a Sentell in it now too! (Unlike @rllefebv's, mine's a split-coil, though.) On top of that, I have it strung with flats and I've only ever had rounds on my Mustang.

 

[djett]

I’m looking for some advice on replacement pickups for my MIM PJ. In the thread I’ve seen some SD Quarter Pounders, EMG and Lindey Fralins mentioned. I’m looking for a Fender p bass sound and trial and error with pick-ups seems like an expensive option. Thoughts and comments appreciated

 

[Doctor Morbius]

View attachment 4151321 Hi everyone, is this where I get my number? I am the proud owner of a Sweetwater Tidepool. So far just added Chromes.

Looks great! And they can still be purchased for $575, which makes it even better.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I’m looking for some advice on replacement pickups for my MIM PJ. In the thread I’ve seen some SD Quarter Pounders, EMG and Lindey Fralins mentioned. I’m looking for a Fender p bass sound and trial and error with pick-ups seems like an expensive option. Thoughts and comments appreciated

I mean, the stock pickup is a Fender P pickup... add to that the fact that Fender Ps have such a wide range of sounds depending on era and model. Do you have something more specific in mind? And example of your ideal P?

Also keep in mind that the 30” scale will make it sound a little different from a full scale P.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

I mean, the stock pickup is a Fender P pickup... add to that the fact that Fender Ps have such a wide range of sounds depending on era and model. Do you have something more specific in mind? And example of your ideal P?

Also keep in mind that the 30” scale will make it sound a little different from a full scale P.

I agree, it sounds like a Precision to me when that pickup is solo'd. The scale length does make a small difference, but not much - less than changing strings can, for example.

 

[NinjaPyrate]

New pickguard and pickups

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Here’s a little clip I made with my PJ, Aguilar pickups and Dunlop flats.

 

[davimoto98]

Bought this off of Reverb a while ago, I’ve been looking for a MIJ and didn’t want to pass the opportunity. This is a Japanese Fender Hybrid Mustang Bass, and I’ve never had more fun playing a bass that both felt and sound good out of the box! Only mod I might do is replace the pots for a more linear response, and maybe the pickups for Lollars. I wish Fender sold MIJs domestically to make it more accessible.

 

[felis]

Bought this off of Reverb a while ago, I’ve been looking for a MIJ and didn’t want to pass the opportunity. This is a Japanese Fender Hybrid Mustang Bass, and I’ve never had more fun playing a bass that both felt and sound good out of the box! Only mod I might do is replace the pots for a more linear response, and maybe the pickups for Lollars. I wish Fender sold MIJs domestically to make it more accessible.

I've seen those. They've got some nice features. Too bad they aren't available here. I like that they use a Mustang bridge.
I also like that although the adjuster is at the heel, they've slotted the body for easier access.
Nice looking bass.

 

[Lytepipe]

New pickguard and pickups
View attachment 4159162
View attachment 4159166

OH MY GOD! I love that pick guard and those knobs! Where did you get the material for the guard? And where did you get those knobs? Looks really awesome!

 

[GraceToo]

New to the club (and to the forum!). I am primarily a guitar player, though I've had a Squier VM Jaguar for about a decade now for the purposes of creating guitar backing tracks. I was never fully satisfied with the Jaguar, as I have small hands and REALLY struggled at the lower end of the fretboard. Never really progressed with my bass playing because of it, and stuck mostly to simple stuff for my backing tracks.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in my right hand about a month ago. Total bummer, because I can't use with a pick anymore without experiencing pain. I've since discovered, though, that I can plunk away on my bass without feeling any discomfort in my right hand -- just my left, thanks to to straining to reach frets with my small fingers. So in an effort to continue playing a stringed instrument, I took the plunge today and got a MIM Mustang PJ in firemist gold at Long & McQuade!

I'm blown away by how much better it feels to play the Mustang. I was a little nervous about buying it without playing it (thanks, COVID), but it seems to have been set up okay. Decent neck relief, action is at a comfortable height, no pickup issues, no buzzing.

Only problem I've run into so far is the intonation. All strings are slightly sharp at the 12th fret, and adjusting the saddle screws isn't having much, if any, effect. The E string saddle actually got stuck at one point, and I had to completely loosen the string and manually reset the saddle in order to get it moving properly again. I didn't want to have to take it back to L&M to get it set up there (I never have issues setting up my guitars) but I might have to. Has anyone else had issues setting the intonation on their MIM Mustangs? I dunno if it's just a problem with the saddle quality, or if I need to replace the stock strings. My experience with new bass setups is obviously very limited haha.