Fender Mustang Club

[DavesnothereCA]

LOL! -Yeah, Macca didn't do to bad with a lightweight, yas? (Although later in Wings he did switch to using a heavier Ric.)
I'd be less prone to putting Squire Jaguars on the "7-down" lightweight list tho, as I've rarely seen a new one on SW's website that is under 8+LBs...

I've also found that one can't really equate weight with better (or worse?) tone... While it's true the 9+lb Sterling SBMM short scale I recently owned had one of the better tones I've heard coming from an electric BG, it's equally true that my 3lb Hadean accoustic electric U-bass sounds almost exactly like a (softly played of course) upright bass when it's rubber strings are strummed accousticly.
(And it always confounds and amazes me that the smallest bass should sound so much like the largest!)
Enjoy,
Greywoulf

~
Yes, Macca did well with it, and he switched back to the Hofner when he got older, with good reason.

He used one in a series of concerts during 2005 [of which I attended several], and has continued to do so for his live gigs.

He could lift it over his head by the neck using one hand, with no effort at all.

BTW, the Squier Jaguar basses [medium or long scale] currently being sold are not the ones which I mean.

The short scale Jags were disco'd, now often selling used for more money than they did new, and folks have posted that some of them are sub-7 pounds.

I traded an unwanted cab for one last year, and have not taken it out of its case since, not even to weigh it, but it felt pretty light on the day that I made the deal.

And I fully agree that the overall weight of a bass is only one of several factors contributing to the character of its sound.

Cheers !
~

 

[Greywoulf]

~
Yes, Macca did well with it, and he switched back to the Hofner when he got older, with good reason.
He used one in a series of concerts during 2005 [of which I attended several], and has continued to do so for his live gigs.
He could lift it over his head by the neck using one hand, with no effort at all.

BTW, the Squier Jaguar basses [medium or long scale] currently being sold are not the ones which I mean.
The short scale Jags were disco'd, now often selling used for more money than they did new, and folks have posted that some of them are sub-7 pounds.
~

Sheeesh, if I had tried lifting that Sterling SBMM shorty (or the Warwick FNA I once had) over my head with both hands I probably would've ended up with a concussion and brain damage!
-Didn't know about the older shorty Jags being so lightweight; will have to check them out...
Enjoy,
Greywoulf

 

[G-Dog]

~
Yes, Macca did well with it, and he switched back to the Hofner when he got older, with good reason.

He used one in a series of concerts during 2005 [of which I attended several], and has continued to do so for his live gigs.

He could lift it over his head by the neck using one hand, with no effort at all. ... ...

Of course I can't find it now but, I've read where Macca said it was his original early '60s Hofner he was holding when he fell into the piano pit live onstage in Tampa Bay in 2005! He remembers thinking, as he fell, how to keep that historic Hofner from harm!! He succeeded in that and didn't hurt himself much, either, since he went on to finish the 3 hour, 40+ song, show!!!

He's also talked about, along with multiple videos for corroboration, often playfully tossing the historic Hofner way across stages for his guitar tech to catch!!! No mention of any mishaps there. Did you ever see that, Dave? To me that would top the pyrotechics in "Live and Let Die", which I saw up close in the Astrodome in the early '90s. But, I didn't see any falls or throws then.
.

 

[SoulReflection]

~
Yes, Macca did well with it, and he switched back to the Hofner when he got older, with good reason.

He used one in a series of concerts during 2005 [of which I attended several], and has continued to do so for his live gigs.

He could lift it over his head by the neck using one hand, with no effort at all.

BTW, the Squier Jaguar basses [medium or long scale] currently being sold are not the ones which I mean.

The short scale Jags were disco'd, now often selling used for more money than they did new, and folks have posted that some of them are sub-7 pounds.

I traded an unwanted cab for one last year, and have not taken it out of its case since, not even to weigh it, but it felt pretty light on the day that I made the deal.

And I fully agree that the overall weight of a bass is only one of several factors contributing to the character of its sound.

Cheers !
~

Now that I have upgraded the pups, my Squier Jag is my favorite for comfort with sound. My upgraded P (PV'63's) is, by far, my favorite for sound. My Mustang PJ is a compromise between the two. The Rogue is there to satisfy the soap bar lows. Guess it could be worse .

 

[Greywoulf]

Now there's a new "Squire Affinity Series Jaguar H" coming out. Mid sized 32" Jag neck and body with a single soapbar in the mid P-bass position. Curently $250 at Adorama; am watching SW to see if they'll carry it and will hopefully show the varied weights of them. They look to me very similar to G&L's Fallout basses...
Greywoulf

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Now there's a new "Squire Affinity Series Jaguar H" coming out. Mid sized 32" Jag neck and body with a single soapbar in the mid P-bass position. Currently $250 at Adorama; am watching SW to see if they'll carry it and will hopefully show the varied weights of them. They look to me very similar to G&L's Fallout basses...
Greywoulf

~
I stumbled upon those a few weeks ago while looking for something else.

At first they were only on some Canadian and German sites, and at the time were on a 'pre-order basis'.

They were not shown on the Fender site, nor those of any US retailers.

I posted about noticing them, either in the Squier Jaguar SS Club thread, or in the Medium Scale Bass Club thread [I forget which now], but I was interested, the pics looked nice, and the price seemed good.

Then, as specs began to filter through the ozone, I discovered that they have a Jazz width nut [1.5" 38mm].

That was a dealbreaker for me.

Gotta have P width [1.625" 1+5/8" 41.275mm], or wider like my longtime Ric.

Been playing that width too long to change now, old dog with big paws and all.

- - -

BTW, unless Sweetwater changes their policy, or prices them at $299 US or higher, they will not be doing their famous 55 point checkup/setup on each guitar and bass, which includes weighing it and posting the reading to the site for each, along with a unique photo gallery.

That's a shame, because I really like it when they do that.

I'm pretty sure that SW will carry them though.
~

 

[SoulReflection]

Mid sized 32" Jag neck and body with a single soapbar in the mid P-bass position.

With the "soapbar", I will pass.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

With the "soapbar", I will pass.

~
The soapbar must be a tip of the hat to Music Man.

As long as they are hum cancelling, I would try a bass with one, but the narrow nut width nixes it for me anyway.

And it's a shame, because they are medium scale, and that is a positive factor for me, either medium or short.
~

 

[SoulReflection]

~
The soapbar must be a tip of the hat to Music Man.

As long as they are hum cancelling, I would try a bass with one, but the narrow nut width nixes it for me anyway.
~

Different strokes, eh?

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Different strokes, eh?

~
Yeah, I guess.

I could play one [a narrow nutted bass] if I HAD to, but I don't have to.

Bought my Ric 4001 new in 1974, those are 1.6875" or 1+11/16" at the nut, and that's what my hands have known best for most of the years since.

That's also the main reason that I never bought a Jazz, and BTW, I had a P before the Ric.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
And to bring things back to the thread's main topic, a variety of differing nut widths is also why some Mustang bass models would suit me, and others would not.

There are other factors as well, but nut width is pretty much #1, along with light weight.

Hum cancelling pickups too, but I could change those myself later.
~

 

[SoulReflection]

~
And to bring things back to the thread's main topic, a variety of differing nut widths is also why some Mustang bass models would suit me, and others would not.

There are other factors as well, but nut width is pretty much #1, along with light weight.

Hum cancelling pickups too, but I could change those myself later.
~

Preferences and opinions. What would the world be without them, eh?

 

[Greywoulf]

Preferences and opinions. What would the world be without them, eh?

Yep. Thas fer sure..!!
I like (and need) 1+1/2" nut widths, like MM style soapbar humbuckers, prefer passive electronics and simple controls (such as 1V, 1T), and most definitely prefer short scalers and lighter weight basses. (Also inexpensive definitely doesn't hurt..) So with this new Squire Jaguar H all my good buttons are hit except possibly for the weight thing...
Greywoulf

 

[SoulReflection]

Yep. Thas fer sure..!!
I like (and need) 1+1/2" nut widths, like MM style soapbar humbuckers, prefer passive electronics and simple controls (such as 1V, 1T), and most definitely prefer short scalers and lighter weight basses. (Also inexpensive definitely doesn't hurt..) So with this new Squire Jaguar H all my good buttons are hit except possibly for the weight thing...
Greywoulf

Well, if it has neck dive, you know what to do. That does not mean "suck it up" as has been suggested before (by those young'uns). A thick strap only works with a tight fitting shirt, as I have found. Thin necks, soapbar pups, passive vs. active are all preferences. Good Luck in your quest!

 

[Real Soon]

I'll reiterate that my Levy's 4" padded strap is the best thing that has ever happened to my shoulder and my access to the neck of a bass that would otherwise bury its nose in the ground. Mustang included! I've never tried it with any other strap, and as far as I'm concerned, I've got the perfect pairing.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Yep. Thas fer sure..!!
I like (and need) 1+1/2" nut widths, like MM style soapbar humbuckers, prefer passive electronics and simple controls (such as 1V, 1T), and most definitely prefer short scalers and lighter weight basses. (Also inexpensive definitely doesn't hurt..) So with this new Squire Jaguar H all my good buttons are hit except possibly for the weight thing...
Greywoulf

~
I now prefer simpler electronics too, and a traditional Mustang qualifies in that respect.

After a bunch of mods early on to my new 1974 Ric, trying additional pickups and switches in regard to ditching the hum [without removing the originals], I eventually stripped out everything and put in 2 EMG humbuckers as per early Steinbergers, one volume pot from an EMG kit, the original pickup switch, and a jack.

No tones, no stereo, and I lowered the 'neck' pickup to match its volume to the 'bridge' pup, so that what I got with both engaged was useful to me in character, as well as individually.

It's been that way ever since 1985, and the pups ended up more like where a Jazz would have them along the strings, rather than in the Ric locations, so in a lot of ways, it sounds much like a Jazz, sans hum.

There WAS one model of Ric bass which has its pickups in those locations, the 4002 : Rickenbacker 4002 , but I did not know of it at the time.

Yes, my 4001 has neck dive, always did, and I guess that all long scale Ric basses do, but I adapted early to that.

Still, recently when I've for other reasons [my quest for lighter weight basses, mainly] played a bass which has no neck dive [regardless of its other attributes], it's quite, what's the word, maybe 'liberating' ?

So when that 5 pound 14 once baby Mustang of yours is delivered, I definitely am interested to know what you think of it.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Of course I can't find it now but, I've read where Macca said it was his original early '60s Hofner he was holding when he fell into the piano pit live onstage in Tampa Bay in 2005! He remembers thinking, as he fell, how to keep that historic Hofner from harm!! He succeeded in that and didn't hurt himself much, either, since he went on to finish the 3 hour, 40+ song, show!!!

He's also talked about, along with multiple videos for corroboration, often playfully tossing the historic Hofner way across stages for his guitar tech to catch!!! No mention of any mishaps there. Did you ever see that, Dave? To me that would top the pyrotechics in "Live and Let Die", which I saw up close in the Astrodome in the early '90s. But, I didn't see any falls or throws then.
.

~
The closest I've been to Tampa for Macca was North Detroit, and MSG in NYC, as I live in Canada, but I did read of the piano pit mishap on the Macca message board when it was reported at the time.

I don't think that I am aware of Paul commenting about his bass, but it makes sense that he prob'ly was wearing it as he fell.

We were mainly happy that HE was not badly hurt.

To segue slightly, the nearest that I ever got to an onstage accident was a bit later, when CSNY played in Toronto, and on the 2nd of 2 nights in the arena where The Leafs play their home games, Stills, posing with one foot up on a floor monitor, slipped and fell during a dueling guitar solo with Young during the final number, and cut his hand.

He finished the song, but was bleeding from the hand, and someone came out after the encore call to announce that Mr Stills was injured, and sorry but there would be none.

The news media was not there as they had reviewed the first night's show, and I was 12 feet away in the front row, unable to help as I watched him fall.

It was not widely reported.

Oh yes, Mustang basses, THAT's the topic here.
~

 

[Terburg]

Been searching for another good lightweight short scale to accompany my excellent Mikro for a while now..

I can really recommend the Ibanez EHB1005SMS if you ever want to try a 5 string short scale that is incredibly lightweight. It is well balanced too - no neck dive - because it’s headless. The chambered body makes it really easy on the shoulders. I’ve got the fan fretted one and love it.

 

[dragonflyrock]

Some Sunday morning mustang action:

I've been perusing this thread looking for pickguard replacement ideas for my cream cij mustang. Where did you find yours? I love the color!!!!

 

[don21480]

if anyone has replaced the white pickguard on their recent surf green Squier Mustang Bass - please post some photos - I'm looking for ideas!