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Fender Mustang Club

#4,582
DavesnothereCA said:
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Uh-Oh !

I was considering that model, due to some of its other specs.

So do ANY of the current models have the body contours, or must I seek original vintage ones to get the cutaways ?
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Click to expand...

Not currently. Would be nice to see at some point a American Pro style mustang that is a classic mustang with some of the forward thinking appointments, like contours!
 
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#4,584
SeanStewart said:
Not currently. Would be nice to see at some point a American Pro style mustang that is a classic mustang with some of the forward thinking appointments, like contours!
Click to expand...
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Or an actual official Fender Reissue of Magnus' 1977 Mustang bass in natural clear finish, complete with the wider nut width and Maple fretboard.

If it was built by Fender or Squier to the same specs, I'm not stuck on it being an original.
~
 
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#4,585
A different take on these 'contours'-- Since I only play seated now with my Mustang (and other basses) resting on my leg and with my arm draped over the top edge, I don't see or feel where 'body contours' are helpful at all? In fact I feel they sometimes make my playing more uncomfortable as the upper part of the bass that my arm rests on is thinner and sharper on contoured basses. I see these contours as perhaps only being advantageous over a slab body if one plays mostly standing and with the bass strapped on rather low, so the upper cutout part leans back into you belly. ~~Otherwise? Well.....??
I also have an Ibanez Mikro which is even lighter than my Squier Mustang but has the Ibby body contours, and I find no real advantage to it having that upper body contour cutout. Playing the Mikro is indeed different from playing my slab Mustang, but IMO it's not better (or especially worse for that matter), it's just 'different'...
I'd be interested to read others' takes on this?
 
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#4,586
Greywoulf said:
A different take on these 'contours'-- Since I only play seated now with my Mustang (and other basses) resting on my leg and with my arm draped over the top edge, I don't see or feel where 'body contours' are helpful at all? In fact I feel they sometimes make my playing more uncomfortable as the upper part of the bass that my arm rests on is thinner and sharper on contoured basses. I see these contours as perhaps only being advantageous over a slab body if one plays mostly standing and with the bass strapped on rather low, so the upper cutout part leans back into you belly. ~~Otherwise? Well.....??
I also have an Ibanez Mikro which is even lighter than my Squier Mustang but has the Ibby body contours, and I find no real advantage to it having that upper body contour cutout. Playing the Mikro is indeed different from playing my slab Mustang, but IMO it's not better (or especially worse for that matter), it's just 'different'...
I'd be interested to read others' takes on this?
Click to expand...

None of my 3 basses have contours. Only my Strat has them. The only time I play sitting is around the campfire with my acoustic 6 string. Never gave them being there or not a 2nd thought.
 
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#4,587
Greywoulf said:
A different take on these 'contours'-- Since I only play seated now with my Mustang (and other basses) resting on my leg and with my arm draped over the top edge, I don't see or feel where 'body contours' are helpful at all? In fact I feel they sometimes make my playing more uncomfortable as the upper part of the bass that my arm rests on is thinner and sharper on contoured basses. I see these contours as perhaps only being advantageous over a slab body if one plays mostly standing and with the bass strapped on rather low, so the upper cutout part leans back into you belly. ~~Otherwise? Well.....??
I also have an Ibanez Mikro which is even lighter than my Squier Mustang but has the Ibby body contours, and I find no real advantage to it having that upper body contour cutout. Playing the Mikro is indeed different from playing my slab Mustang, but IMO it's not better (or especially worse for that matter), it's just 'different'...
I'd be interested to read others' takes on this?
Click to expand...

Personally, I do play mostly standing, with my bass relatively low, and with a pick. From my perspective, contours make a huge difference.

It's not enough to put me off the bass - my PJ is still my number #1 live at the moment - but it is enough to help convince me to order a new bass that I'll likely prefer when it arrives.
 
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#4,588
Greywoulf said:
A different take on these 'contours'-- Since I only play seated now with my Mustang (and other basses) resting on my leg and with my arm draped over the top edge, I don't see or feel where 'body contours' are helpful at all? In fact I feel they sometimes make my playing more uncomfortable as the upper part of the bass that my arm rests on is thinner and sharper on contoured basses. I see these contours as perhaps only being advantageous over a slab body if one plays mostly standing and with the bass strapped on rather low, so the upper cutout part leans back into you belly. ~~Otherwise? Well.....??
I also have an Ibanez Mikro which is even lighter than my Squier Mustang but has the Ibby body contours, and I find no real advantage to it having that upper body contour cutout. Playing the Mikro is indeed different from playing my slab Mustang, but IMO it's not better (or especially worse for that matter), it's just 'different'...
I'd be interested to read others' takes on this?
Click to expand...

I play seated and have to raise my plucking arm to avoid the edge of the slab body. It works for me but I do enjoy my P and Jag more because of the contours.
 
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#4,591
Greywoulf said:
A different take on these 'contours'-- Since I only play seated now with my Mustang (and other basses) resting on my leg and with my arm draped over the top edge, I don't see or feel where 'body contours' are helpful at all? In fact I feel they sometimes make my playing more uncomfortable as the upper part of the bass that my arm rests on is thinner and sharper on contoured basses. I see these contours as perhaps only being advantageous over a slab body if one plays mostly standing and with the bass strapped on rather low, so the upper cutout part leans back into you belly. ~~Otherwise? Well.....??
I also have an Ibanez Mikro which is even lighter than my Squier Mustang but has the Ibby body contours, and I find no real advantage to it having that upper body contour cutout. Playing the Mikro is indeed different from playing my slab Mustang, but IMO it's not better (or especially worse for that matter), it's just 'different'...
I'd be interested to read others' takes on this?
Click to expand...
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You might have a point there.

My own analysis of Mustang bass body shape has been based more upon theory than practice, as I have not owned one so far.

I was unaware of the possibility of contours until someone else posted about them, having only examined current production models at first.

But having said all of that, the edge of the body of the other basses which I HAVE used since playing seated has not been something which has really gotten my attention, and come to think of it, I seem to recall posting similar words just a few pages upthread.

What ARE priorities for me, with ANY bass, are : no hum from the pickups and electronics, accurate tuning/intonation/setup, nut width, string gauge and winding type, not excessive neck dive, and then pretty much everything else.

While I do like certain finishes, I would generally choose function over them.

And if I ever play while standing again, the overall weight of the bass would move to the top of the list.
~
 
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#4,593
felis said:
I think it'd be cool to have a Mustang with body contours and just one stacked (volume/tone) knob.
Super simple in looks and function.
Click to expand...
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My Franken-Ric is even simpler.

One volume, NO tone control.

Just use the pickup selector switch and playing technique to get my sonic variations.

Since 1985.

If I play a bass with tone controls [as has been the case lately], I have to consciously think about what to do with them. :jawdrop:
~
 
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#4,597
felis said:
I think it'd be cool to have a Mustang with body contours and just one stacked (volume/tone) knob.
Super simple in looks and function.
Click to expand...
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In keeping with my other reply to you, if there were two pickups, how about concentric volume/blend ?

Problem is, I do not think that anyone makes the appropriate pot, and blend pots already have two gangs, so it would be complex to make one with a 3rd independent gang to address the volume function.
~
 
#4,598
felis said:
I think it'd be cool to have a Mustang with body contours and just one stacked (volume/tone) knob.
Super simple in looks and function.
Click to expand...

I'm on board. If there was a Mustang with a single P pickup and an on/off switch (no volume or tone), I'd be fine with that, too.

I've ordered a bass with a lot more bells and whistles than that, but I could happily gig with that setup and feel like I'm not missing anything I need.
 
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#4,599
So far out of the dozen or so very different BGs I've owned over the years the only one I remember having stacked controls was the Dano Longhorn. And it wouldn't be fair to judge them based on that bass as they didn't work too well. -It was very difficult to move a knob's one stacked level w/o also inadvertently changing the other one on that bass... :sour:
But I do think my 2021 CV Squier Mustang's passive setup is simplicity in itself... One pup, one V and one T knob. -What could be easier?
 
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