Fender Mustang Club

[SuperK]

Fellow Mustang owners, I'm selling my Fender Hardshell case in the classifieds if anyone is interested. This is for the case only - I'd never sell my Mustang!

For Sale - Fender Mustang Bass Hardshell Case

 

[SuperK]

Looking for some help here. I have a Japanese re-issue Mustang. Up until recently it would give off a sight hum when plugged in but it was something I could live with. Recently it started humming really loudly. The hum doesn't go away when I touch the strings but it does go away when I put my fingers on or around the input jack. I haven't changed any electronics on the bass or even opened it up since I bought it. I've plugged it in at home and at our rehearsal studio and the results are the same. I plugged my P-Bass into the exact same setup and it's virtually quiet. So it's not my amp or the environment. It only hums when my Mustang is plugged in.

Any ideas? Is it a grounding issue or a shielding issue? Any reason why it would start up seemingly out of nowhere?

 

[manchego_eggo]

Looking for some help here. I have a Japanese re-issue Mustang. Up until recently it would give off a sight hum when plugged in but it was something I could live with. Recently it started humming really loudly. The hum doesn't go away when I touch the strings but it does go away when I put my fingers on or around the input jack. I haven't changed any electronics on the bass or even opened it up since I bought it. I've plugged it in at home and at our rehearsal studio and the results are the same. I plugged my P-Bass into the exact same setup and it's virtually quiet. So it's not my amp or the environment. It only hums when my Mustang is plugged in.

Any ideas? Is it a grounding issue or a shielding issue? Any reason why it would start up seemingly out of nowhere?

Sounds like a grounding issue. Those wires can come loose. Youll need to remove the bridge to see if the ground wire is loose (look up videos on yt).

 

[Real Soon]

Looking for some help here. I have a Japanese re-issue Mustang. Up until recently it would give off a sight hum when plugged in but it was something I could live with. Recently it started humming really loudly. The hum doesn't go away when I touch the strings but it does go away when I put my fingers on or around the input jack. I haven't changed any electronics on the bass or even opened it up since I bought it. I've plugged it in at home and at our rehearsal studio and the results are the same. I plugged my P-Bass into the exact same setup and it's virtually quiet. So it's not my amp or the environment. It only hums when my Mustang is plugged in.

Any ideas? Is it a grounding issue or a shielding issue? Any reason why it would start up seemingly out of nowhere?

Agreeing with @manchego_eggo ; this sounds like a solder joint somewhere in the grounding part of things was a little cold, i.e. a wire has gotten a bit loose.

Could be in the control cavity, but also yeah: it could be just that the wire under the bridge isn't making contact like it should (not a soldering issue, but a wire contact one).

Either way, nothing that hasn't happened a thousand times in the electric instrument world before. If you've got a multi-meter, you can check resistances readily. If not, the ~$20 USD for a decent one is well worth it.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

~
Yes, what THEY said.

BTW, is your signal still making it thru, along with the hum ?

And if you turn down the volume control on the bass all of the way, does it make any difference to the hum ?
~

 

[manchego_eggo]

Agreeing with @manchego_eggo ; this sounds like a solder joint somewhere in the grounding part of things was a little cold, i.e. a wire has gotten a bit loose.

Could be in the control cavity, but also yeah: it could be just that the wire under the bridge isn't making contact like it should (not a soldering issue, but a wire contact one).

Either way, nothing that hasn't happened a thousand times in the electric instrument world before. If you've got a multi-meter, you can check resistances readily. If not, the ~$20 USD for a decent one is well worth it.

+1 on taking it to the tech - forgot to mention that.

 

[SuperK]

~
Yes, what THEY said.

BTW, is your signal still making it thru, along with the hum ?

And if you turn down the volume control on the bass all of the way, does it make any difference to the hum ?
~

Yes my signal makes it through and the hum stops when I turn the volume down.
I took the bridge off and the ground wire is there. It had been flattened into the finish so I moved it out of its little groove so it could make better contact with the bridge. I re-installed the bridge and no change in the hum.

Then I tested it out by running a jumper wire from the control plate to the bridge as shown in the pic below. This completely stopped the hum so it’s definitely a grounding issue. Do I now check the solder of the ground wire to the pot? Or perhaps replace the ground altogether?

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Yes my signal makes it through and the hum stops when I turn the volume down.
I took the bridge off and the ground wire is there. It had been flattened into the finish so I moved it out of its little groove so it could make better contact with the bridge. I re-installed the bridge and no change in the hum.

Then I tested it out by running a jumper wire from the control plate to the bridge as shown in the pic below. This completely stopped the hum so it’s definitely a grounding issue. Do I now check the solder of the ground wire to the pot? Or perhaps replace the ground altogether?

View attachment 4548376

~
What you tried proves something important, and could even make do as a temp fix.

On your model of Mustang, with the jack right next to the controls, it should be easy to undo and lift up the metal assembly, and just look for a break in the wire which goes from the bridge to to somewhere in there, maybe give that wire a tug to see whether it is solidly attached at each end.

But if there is one wiring fault, their could be others, so examine all of the wires which you can see in there, and if any look loose or not shiny where they are attached to various spots, then get someone who is good at soldering to double check your inspection and redo any such points with some fresh solder [I qualify, but sorry, but I live too far away ].

Even if you need to hire a tech, it sounds like a quick job from how you have described the symptoms.
~

 

[manchego_eggo]

Turns out vintage necks fit the American Performers perfectly! Though there is a small gap on the side of the pocket, the holes line up well. It's a chunky neck, moreso than a 63 p profile even.

Threw some ultralites on the neck to drill as little as possible and even if i could get vintage tuners, i didnt really want to pay extra just to be stuck with hardware from a notoriously low quality era of fender products.

This was set up by the head luthier at Southside in NY, a shop that specializes in vintage. He said the neck dated to 78 and was likely used in that year as well because it was stamped on the heel.

 

[sleddogn]

cool mash up on the neck swap. i know there are a few here that have always wanted the epic mustang bass neck swapping guide.

 

[never-enough]

Hey all.

This is a fender JMJ that I picked up recently.
I replaced the pick guard, set it up for BEAD tuning with Dunlop flats, and did a little massaging to the body.

Super thumpy and plays real nice now.

these pics are of my 1974.
It having the body contours is the reason I felt the need to add them to the JMJ.

I bought it at the start of the pandemic and quickly fell in love.
It’s tuned standard with dr legends and just might be my favorite instrument to play out of everything I have.
A real treat!

i have a real nice p and a real nice j but the mustang really does something different, and tough to beat the ergonomics.
Especially on the couch, where I’ve done a majority of my playing the last year or two.

 

[manchego_eggo]

Hey all.

This is a fender JMJ that I picked up recently.
I replaced the pick guard, set it up for BEAD tuning with Dunlop flats, and did a little massaging to the body.
View attachment 4551081 View attachment 4551082 View attachment 4551083

Super thumpy and plays real nice now.

these pics are of my 1974.
It having the body contours is the reason I felt the need to add them to the JMJ. View attachment 4551085View attachment 4551086 View attachment 4551087 View attachment 4551089 I bought it at the start of the pandemic and quickly fell in love.
It’s tuned standard with dr legends and just might be my favorite instrument to play out of everything I have.
A real treat!

i have a real nice p and a real nice j but the mustang really does something different, and tough to beat the ergonomics.
Especially on the couch, where I’ve done a majority of my playing the last year or two.

How is the tension / low B for BEAD? I've always wondered what BEAD on a mustang would be like? Did you have to file the saddles and the nut?

 

[never-enough]

How is the tension / low B for BEAD? I've always wondered what BEAD on a mustang would be like? Did you have to file the saddles and the nut?

nut needed a little filing
The tension is a little lower than I prefer, but I tend to like a lot!
It plays like butter. I can dig in a decent amount without it just farting out.
Obviously playing closer to the bridge helps but I can play reggae style over the fretboard without having to keep too much focus on playing with restraint.
the foam helps in this area as well.
I really like the dr strings but the 5 string medium scale are sold out everywhere. the dunlops feel good but I think the legends are a little stiffer and when I can finally get a hold of a set I’ll be giving them a go.

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Turns out vintage necks fit the American Performers perfectly! Though there is a small gap on the side of the pocket, the holes line up well. It's a chunky neck, moreso than a 63 p profile even.

Threw some ultralites on the neck to drill as little as possible and even if i could get vintage tuners, i didnt really want to pay extra just to be stuck with hardware from a notoriously low quality era of fender products.

This was set up by the head luthier at Southside in NY, a shop that specializes in vintage. He said the neck dated to 78 and was likely used in that year as well because it was stamped on the heel.

~
Thanks for sharing, looks great, and we all now know that it fits.

Also, you got one with a MAPLE fretboard to boot !

Where ARE these necks anyway ?

And they must cost a bloody fortune, if a person DOES find one !

Of course in a metro area as large as NYC, there must be a few [of anything] at large.
~

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Hey all.

This is a fender JMJ that I picked up recently.
I replaced the pick guard, set it up for BEAD tuning with Dunlop flats, and did a little massaging to the body.
View attachment 4551081 View attachment 4551082 View attachment 4551083

Super thumpy and plays real nice now.

these pics are of my 1974.
It having the body contours is the reason I felt the need to add them to the JMJ. View attachment 4551085View attachment 4551086 View attachment 4551087 View attachment 4551089 I bought it at the start of the pandemic and quickly fell in love.
It’s tuned standard with dr legends and just might be my favorite instrument to play out of everything I have.
A real treat!

i have a real nice p and a real nice j but the mustang really does something different, and tough to beat the ergonomics.
Especially on the couch, where I’ve done a majority of my playing the last year or two.

~
And hey, now your JMJ is DOUBLE-reliced !

BTW, I've considered for some time now, to try BEAD tuning, and with the number of basses which I have, I'm sure that I could choose ONE of them on which to do it.
~

 

[never-enough]

~
And hey, now your JMJ is DOUBLE-reliced !

BTW, I've considered for some time now, to try BEAD tuning, and with the number of basses which I have, I'm sure that I could choose ONE of them on which to do it.
~

I really like the bead tuning.
I've never gotten along well with a 5 string, but definitely have missed having access to those low notes.
And the general fatness of a b string.
I had been a one bass kinda guy for a long time (I have a great old mutt of a p bass that kept me loyal for over 20 yrs) but I finally got a jazz bass so I could try BEAD out. It’s a great solution for me.
After falling in love with the thumpyness and playability of the mustang I wanted one in BEAD too.
If you have a few basses I’d definitely give it a go with one of them

 

[Real Soon]

There's some mighty purdy bass pics on this page. Among other things, I love me some worn-in vintage rosewood, I must say (as an owner of a 1960 Precision with a fretboard that looks like ocean waves at night)

 

[manchego_eggo]

~
Thanks for sharing, looks great, and we all now know that it fits.

Also, you got one with a MAPLE fretboard to boot !

Where ARE these necks anyway ?

And they must cost a bloody fortune, if a person DOES find one !

Of course in a metro area as large as NYC, there must be a few [of anything] at large.
~

Ha, actually found it on TB and bought it off someone in CA for a bit cheaper than average due to the lack of tuners.

The maple neck mustang basses rarely come up even in NYC, believe me I've been watching listings for years.

Hoping to see Fender do a Vintera 70s Mustang in the next couple years. They finally gave us production maple neck jazzmaster, jaguar and mustang guitars a few years ago, so it has me optimistic.

 

[Alvarpas]

Hey all.

This is a fender JMJ that I picked up recently.
I replaced the pick guard, set it up for BEAD tuning with Dunlop flats, and did a little massaging to the body.
View attachment 4551081 View attachment 4551082 View attachment 4551083

Super thumpy and plays real nice now.

these pics are of my 1974.
It having the body contours is the reason I felt the need to add them to the JMJ. View attachment 4551085View attachment 4551086 View attachment 4551087 View attachment 4551089 I bought it at the start of the pandemic and quickly fell in love.
It’s tuned standard with dr legends and just might be my favorite instrument to play out of everything I have.
A real treat!

i have a real nice p and a real nice j but the mustang really does something different, and tough to beat the ergonomics.
Especially on the couch, where I’ve done a majority of my playing the last year or two.

Hello, I have a Mustang too, and I'd like to tune my bass BEAD, what string gauges did you put on to do it? thank you.

 

[never-enough]

Hello, I have a Mustang too, and I'd like to tune my bass BEAD, what string gauges did you put on to do it? thank you.

the dunlops were a 5 string flatwound short scale set. 45-125

I used the 125, 105, 85, 65 and tossed the g string