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Fender Mustang Club

#501
Florinda4 said:
Not a clue on a better switch, though I know some guys went that route. A good guitar tech should be able to recommend. Honestly, when my guy suggested the blend knob I didn't even hesitate. Even with the stock pups I think the ability to control their blend would make the sound much more adjustable, especially re the bridge pup, which on my Mustang was a weak companion in its stock setting to the neck pup.
Click to expand...

Well I promised to update as to the upgrades on my PJ and here goes. The installation is tomorrow. That is the soonest my tech was available .
1. Got a sweet deal on a Duncan set of Quarter Pound PJ pickups. SPB-3/SJB-3
2. Hipshot 5K400 High Mass Bridge
3. Switchcraft Short Frame 3 Way Toggle
4. D'Addaio XL Nickel Round Wound light strings 45 to 100 I already had these.
AND,,, A Marshall 120w Amp Head with a Marshall 4X12 Speaker Box
I think that's it. I will send Pics as soon as it is done.
This is a result of all of the recommendations from TB members like all you, willing to be patient with a inexperienced old sailor like me. Tyvm to one and all.
Until next time
Bob
 
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#502
Had a Mustang years ago. Just picked up a new PJ. Had to add racing decal, changed to stacked knobs and did away with the selector switch. But dead notes everywhere. Took it to my fav luthier and .. used it at a loud outdoor festival Saturday. It was great.
Right now it's just my Jazz (s1 switch) and
mustang.jpg
Mustang at gigs.
 
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#505
p-time bass guy said:
Had a Mustang years ago. Just picked up a new PJ. Had to add racing decal, changed to stacked knobs and did away with the selector switch. But dead notes everywhere. Took it to my fav luthier and .. used it at a loud outdoor festival Saturday. It was great.
Right now it's just my Jazz (s1 switch) andView attachment 3055365 Mustang at gigs.
Click to expand...
So where did you get that great racing stripe? Do they come in black?
 
#509
symbolic_acts said:
in the middle of switching out the pickups for dimarzios. Wired it up just fine but like an idiot I drove the screw on one of the P pickups way deep and now i stripped it. Gotta find some pliers now and buy a new screw
Click to expand...

Classic. The screws on my "Original ‘62 Precision Bass Pickup" are brutally stripped (seem to be made of some extra soft metal like tin or something, lol), but I always manage to somehow get them on or off "one last time" by pressing into the reamed-out screw head with full Herculoid strength (especially tricky when simultaneously backing the screw out) and much swearing...
 
#510
dmt said:
Classic. The screws on my "Original ‘62 Precision Bass Pickup" are brutally stripped (seem to be made of some extra soft metal like tin or something, lol), but I always manage to somehow get them on or off "one last time" by pressing into the reamed-out screw head with full Herculoid strength (especially tricky when simultaneously backing the screw out) and much swearing...
Click to expand...
thankfully i knew someone that had a vice grip pliers which did the trick.

introducing the new orange and vanilla sherbet mustang. so dang cool to look at. Sounds pretty swell too.

WIN_20180621_13_17_33_Pro.jpg
 
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#513
eccles77 said:
I`m going to get myself one of these babies. Is the 3 way switch rubbish? I will be gigging this so may change the switch out or go for concentric knobs.
Click to expand...

I have two of them and both the switches cut out when flipping to the J only setting.
They'll cut back in after a bit of jiggling. But I'd like to change the switch out for stacked knobs like this guy did:
Fender Mustang Club
Probably won't get around to it right away though.
 
#514
felis said:
I have two of them and both the switches cut out when flipping to the J only setting.
They'll cut back in after a bit of jiggling. But I'd like to change the switch out for stacked knobs like this guy did:
Fender Mustang Club
Probably won't get around to it right away though.
Click to expand...

IMHO&E I have found that it is usually depending on individual instruments. I tried 3 different Mustang PJ's at our music store and they all seemed just fine. So I chose the white and mint one and after a short time the switch started cutting out and added a buzz and crackle when switching to the bridge pickup. I began researching this issue on Google and TB where I found some complaints like mine and other statements saying they had no problems. I have replaced mine with a Switchcraft Short Frame 3 Way Toggle and it fix that issue just fine. There was a Major difference in quality and manufacturing of the 2. The original switch was much lighter and seemed flimsier than the Switchcraft.
The idea of a blend knob seems in my mind to be the ultimate fix but unfortunately due to RA and Parkinsons I no longer have the feeling and finesse to use the blend.
This is just one person's input. I hope helps
Good luck
Bob
 
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#515
felis said:
I have two of them and both the switches cut out when flipping to the J only setting.
They'll cut back in after a bit of jiggling. But I'd like to change the switch out for stacked knobs like this guy did:
Fender Mustang Club
Probably won't get around to it right away though.
Click to expand...

I have that same issue. I think it's wire interfering with the switch. When it happens, I flip the instrument upside down and jiggle it a little and the problem goes away. I'm actually not that fond of the J pickup anyway (it hums) so I rarely use it.
 
#516
Here are the results of the upgrades for my Mustang PJ and are BEYOND desire and expectations.

The Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup set (SPB-3/SJB-3) provided the sound and feel that I was looking for. The upgrade is not a replacement for my '72 Precision but it does come alot closer than any of the Stock PJ'S that I test drove. They have a punch and thump that can turn heads. Also I can turn my Marshall system down to appropriate levels (from 6 to 3) as to not over power the rest of the equipment in the group which was my biggest dilemma.
The Hipshot Highmass bridge provided suprising results. First, setting the intonation and action with brand new D'addario XL Nickel Round Wounds took all of 5 minutes. Plus a suprising result was that the new bridge relieved what little neck dive there was by having just that little extra weight to counteract the extra on the headstock. This was the first time I have performed standing. What a rush!
Finally the Switch. That replacement Switchcraft Short Frame removed all hiss crackling and snap that was there previously.

The bottom line to all of this work and outlay is that I now have a instrument with all of the playability, and functionality that I was looking for to relieve the physical limitations that the Severe RA and Parkinsons have inflicted, with the sound and feeling that I was used to.

As I told a friend recently, If I can get back a little of what I once had by installing $200 worth of upgrades instead of paying three grand for a custom made instrument it would be a win/win result.

Here are the looks after the upgrade and replacements.
20180622_063741.jpg
 
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#518
dmt said:
Classic. The screws on my "Original ‘62 Precision Bass Pickup" are brutally stripped (seem to be made of some extra soft metal like tin or something, lol), but I always manage to somehow get them on or off "one last time" by pressing into the reamed-out screw head with full Herculoid strength (especially tricky when simultaneously backing the screw out) and much swearing...
Click to expand...

Hilarious! Most of my repairs are accompanied by enough swearing to make a drill sergeant blush too.

GT
 
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