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Fender Mustang Club

#3,981
Davyo said:
A question for Mustang owners.
Why does the Mustang bass have a flat back instead of a contoured back ?
~~SNIP~~
Cheers, Davyo
Click to expand...

'Cause Mustang players have flatter, more beautiful bodies than other bassists? :bag:
Thas probably as good an answer as any...
If you want a better one you're asking in the wrong place.
Go ask Fender.

But also you might consider that it's a specialized short scale bass that Fender's made this particular way for decades. So now they can use words like Classic, Vintage, Authentic, and Original to avoid the added expense of having to redesign forms and update machinery.
Fenders are not hand made y'know...

Also I don't mind at all the Mustang being lighter, smaller, and flatter with a shorter, faster neck than almost every other Fender P or J or PJ out there!
Flatter is plain and simple. Contours are confusing; I know where everything is with flatter.
Flatter is good! Flatter rocks! I love flatter!!

Also flatter creates better tone.... :rolleyes:

Greywoulf
 
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#3,982
Greywoulf said:
'Cause Mustang players have flatter, more beautiful bodies than other bassists? :bag:
Thas probably as good an answer as any...
If you want a better one you're asking in the wrong place.
Go ask Fender.

But also you might consider that it's a specialized short scale bass that Fender's made this particular way for decades. So now they can use words like Classic, Vintage, Authentic, and Original to avoid the added expense of having to redesign forms and update machinery.
Fenders are not hand made y'know...

Also I don't mind at all the Mustang being lighter, smaller, and flatter with a shorter, faster neck than most every Fender P or J or PJ out there!
Flatter is plain and simple. Contours are confusing; I know where everything is with flatter. Flatter is good! Flatter rocks! I love flatter!!

Also flatter creates better tone.... :rolleyes:

Greywoulf
Click to expand...

Flatter is cheaper to manufacture. Flatter says, "screw you, we don't care if it's comfortable, just give us your money. We don't care if you don't like it, you bought it so we have won". Or, words to that effect :smug:.
 
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#3,983
Davyo said:
A question for Mustang owners.
Why does the Mustang bass have a flat back instead of a contoured back ?
I’m a big fan of short scale bass’s and currently own 2 short scale SBMM bass’s that obviously do have contoured backs.
And of course own several P-Bass’s as well.
Last year I purchased an American Fender Mustang, I loved the Mustang but found it a bit uncomfortable to play because of the flat back so I returned it.
Sorry if my question is stupid but I’ve just always wondered why the Mustangs are made with a flat back ?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Cheers, Davyo
Click to expand...

My 76 is contoured! I never realized the newer ones weren't. I wonder when it changed. Were the 90s one slab bodies?
 
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#3,984
Greywoulf said:
'Cause Mustang players have flatter, more beautiful bodies than other bassists? :bag: ....
....Also I don't mind at all the Mustang being lighter, smaller, and flatter with a shorter, faster neck than almost every other Fender P or J or PJ out there!
Flatter is plain and simple. Contours are confusing; I know where everything is with flatter.
Flatter is good! Flatter rocks! I love flatter!!
Also flatter creates better tone.... :rolleyes:
Greywoulf
Click to expand...
~
Flattery will get you everywhere ! :roflmao: :smug:
~
 
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#3,987
DavesnothereCA said:
~
Interesting.

I wonder how many were made with contours ?

And when was the first Mustang bass made ?
~
Click to expand...
The first Mustang bass with the slab body was released in 1966. The contours were added in 1969 and were present until they ceased production in 1981.

Fender Japan relaunched the Mustang bass in 1998 and as far as I know all reissues since then have had the slab body.
 
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#3,988
Greywoulf said:
OK, in the Accessories classified here on TB I just dropped the price for a No-Mod Thumb Rest for Mustangs to $25 incl shipping. And it fits both the Classic and the PJ styles..
Thanks,
Greywoulf
Click to expand...

Thats a cool looking bass. I’m getting the itch for either that or a Mustang. The thumb rest thing... is it comfortable? I’d like to get one but not used to seeing a thumb test so far from the strings.
 
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#3,989
Thanks for all the feedback/photos of the Gator Pro Go, ideal! Much appreciated guys.

As far as the slab body, I believe the Mustang originally had no contours as a budget/'student' model, and it was a luxury that would be cut out to bring the cost down. Personally? I'd rather have the contours. In fact, I did look into getting some put in, but it would ultimately cost more than the bass itself, so I'll just live it.

Is it a deal breaker for me? Absolutely not! I'm still considering selling another bass or two and buying a second PJ.
 
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#3,991
967922D6-74B1-4F89-86F7-9FD53E48F3A5.jpeg
I completed some modifications to my Sweetwater Tidepool this weekend and pretty darn pleased with the results. I removed all the electronics and replaced them with a custom Volume/Blend/Tone harness and the Lollar PJ set. The blend pot is now where the switch was originally located. I had to drill out the control plate to accommodate the bigger V/T pots though. All pots are 250k and I used a .047 cap. Then I restrung with Labella Deep Talkin Bass short scale light set 104 - 43.

The end result is a lot more tonal variety and control. The Lollar’s are more open sounding and I really like the ability to blend them.

Also - couldn’t use the Lollar split covers. They were a little too big for the stock guard. So I reused the stock ones no problem.
 
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#3,992
cjs2000 said:
View attachment 4271956 I completed some modifications to my Sweetwater Tidepool this weekend and pretty darn pleased with the results. I removed all the electronics and replaced them with a custom Volume/Blend/Tone harness and the Lollar PJ set. The blend pot is now where the switch was originally located. I had to drill out the control plate to accommodate the bigger V/T pots though. All pots are 250k and I used a .047 cap. Then I restrung with Labella Deep Talkin Bass short scale light set 104 - 43.

The end result is a lot more tonal variety and control. The Lollar’s are more open sounding and I really like the ability to blend them.

Also - couldn’t use the Lollar split covers. They were a little too big for the stock guard. So I reused the stock ones no problem.
Click to expand...

I am waiting to try the EMG GZR PJ pups with mine and may try a blend pot if I end up using the bridge pup more, yours looks great!
 
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#3,994
gip111 said:
Thats a cool looking bass. I’m getting the itch for either that or a Mustang. The thumb rest thing... is it comfortable? I’d like to get one but not used to seeing a thumb test so far from the strings.
Click to expand...
I didn't find it too far away myself. But it got in my way as I would sometimes accidently strum the thumb rest instead of the E string! -Can't get much sound that way... :banghead:
Anyway I sold it, and maybe the new owner here can respond to your question after he gets it in the mail..
Greywoulf :D
 
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#3,995
cjs2000 said:
I removed all the electronics and replaced them with a custom Volume/Blend/Tone harness and the Lollar PJ set. The blend pot is now where the switch was originally located.
The end result is a lot more tonal variety and control.
Click to expand...

The added blend control; is that set so when it's knob is in the middle position both neck and bridge pups play equally?
 
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#3,997
DavesnothereCA said:
~
I would almost buy one based upon that colour alone ! :drool:
~
Click to expand...
Thanks! Dang paint job cost more than the bass did, but worth it to me. Nice to know someone else likes it!

On the subject of slab-bodied Mustangs - strictly imho - maybe it kinda gives me a little vicarious Telecaster feel or something, not sure. But at barely over 8lbs, with nice rounded edges, it's no bother. It may be the most comfortable bass I've ever played, though I admit I do sometimes miss my P bass's aircraft carrier fretboard and my Sterling's sonic variability.

Both the Pbass and Sterling are contoured and comfortable, but they also are both over 10lbs. The P is just over 11. At those weights, being un-contoured could cause bruises and broken bones, though their effectiveness as defensive weapons in bar room brawls would definitely be enhanced.
 
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#3,998
Florinda4 said:
On the subject of slab-bodied Mustangs - strictly imho - maybe it kinda gives me a little vicarious Telecaster feel or something, not sure. But at barely over 8lbs, with nice rounded edges, it's no bother. It may be the most comfortable bass I've ever played, though I admit I do sometimes miss my P bass's aircraft carrier fretboard and my Sterling's sonic variability.
Click to expand...
Second the comfortability remark! For me the Squier CV Mustang is almost as comfortable as my well contoured diminutive Mikro! (And sounds more pleasing too...) Plus I also found the shorty Sterling MM to be too heavy. But perhaps the new-to-the-scene upcoming Squier Affinity Jaguar H with it's big passive humbucker in the "P" position can generate some similar sonic variety as the Sterling, w/o the excess weight? One can only hope..... :hyper:
Greywoulf
 
#4,000
Greywoulf said:
The added blend control; is that set so when it's knob is in the middle position both neck and bridge pups play equally?
Click to expand...

That is correct, with full p one extent and full j the other extent. Right now I am digging 80-90% p with tone rolled back about 30%. I feel like the tone control has way more impactful range with the new cap and pickups.
 
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