Fender Mustang Club

[never-enough]

My 74 mustang has the cutouts and after playing my JMJ for a while I realized how important they were to me. The slab body felt very uncomfortable to play, especially sitting down.
I’ve never gotten along well with telecasters either and barely play my Les Paul’s too, much prefer my strat and sg.
the ergonomics just work better for me.

since the JMJ has a “relic” finish I didn’t care so much about adding more paint and just added a few stripes to blend between the paint and wood. Reminiscent of the competition mustang a bit.
It’s much more comfortable for me to play now.

The cutout is important to me. I really feel the lack on the Mustang to the degree that I think about taking a belt sander to it. If I was better at refinishing, it would be a no brainer for me.

 

[ElCrowg]

My 74 mustang has the cutouts and after playing my JMJ for a while I realized how important they were to me. The slab body felt very comfortable to play, especially sitting down.
I’ve never gotten along well with telecasters either and barely play my Les Paul’s too, much prefer my strat and sg.
the ergonomics just work better for me. View attachment 4865378 View attachment 4865379
since the JMJ has a “relic” finish I didn’t care so much about adding more paint and just added a few stripes to blend between the paint and wood. Reminiscent of the competition mustang a bit.
It’s much more comfortable for me to play now.

I love this. I've fully thought about doing the same thing. It hadn't occurred to me to do the gold competition stripes, though- looks sweet!
I love the tortoise guard, btw. I'm doing the same to mine, unfortunately, I order my pickguard from Florida right before hurricane Ian came through, but it's supposed to get here tomorrow.

And now, the real question: since you are obviously cool with modding a bass and not leaving it stock- why leave the CE and other sticker thing on the neck plate? Those were the first things I removed.

 

[never-enough]

I love this. I've fully thought about doing the same thing. It hadn't occurred to me to do the gold competition stripes, though- looks sweet!
I love the tortoise guard, btw. I'm doing the same to mine, unfortunately, I order my pickguard from Florida right before hurricane Ian came through, but it's supposed to get here tomorrow.

And now, the real question: since you are obviously cool with modding a bass and not leaving it stock- why leave the CE and other sticker thing on the neck plate? Those were the first things I removed.

thanks, I did end up pulling those stickers.
I swapped the pickguard and did the routing pretty quickly after getting the bass.
its set up for BEAD.
Sounds really fat, really fun to play.

 

[ElCrowg]

View attachment 4865573

thanks, I did end up pulling those stickers.
I swapped the pickguard and did the routing pretty quickly after getting the bass.
its set up for BEAD.
Sounds really fat, really fun to play.

That thing is a beauty. I dig it.

 

[HelpImaRock]

View attachment 4865573

thanks, I did end up pulling those stickers.
I swapped the pickguard and did the routing pretty quickly after getting the bass.
its set up for BEAD.
Sounds really fat, really fun to play.

Ooh, what strings are you using for BEAD?

 

[never-enough]

Dunlop flatwounds, medium scale. I bought a 5-string set that runs .45-125.

 

[Djadja]

My 74 mustang has the cutouts and after playing my JMJ for a while I realized how important they were to me. The slab body felt very uncomfortable to play, especially sitting down.
I’ve never gotten along well with telecasters either and barely play my Les Paul’s too, much prefer my strat and sg.
the ergonomics just work better for me. View attachment 4865378 View attachment 4865379
since the JMJ has a “relic” finish I didn’t care so much about adding more paint and just added a few stripes to blend between the paint and wood. Reminiscent of the competition mustang a bit.
It’s much more comfortable for me to play now.

I'm glad someone else has done this. I don't expect the grain on my Squier will be nearly that nice but still...

 

[Djadja]

My Serek LZN B90 pup arrived yesterday. I waiting to hear back from my tech for an appointment to get the routing/installation done.

In the meantime, I used the Mustang in church this morning and I really don't care for the stock pup at all so I'm feeling good about the direction I'm going.

 

[Djadja]

dropped the Mustang and the Serek with my tech today. I'm not sure how long it will be with him but generally he is quick. He is a bit hesitant about cutting the pickguard though and warned me it "may not look perfect."

 

[LennyJ]

Not a heavy duty case, but…
Douglas BGC-200 3/4 BK Short Scale Bass Case Fits Fender Mustang

Got one - not a bad case

 

[LennyJ]

Well picked up this JMJ in a trade deal.

Playing last night with some vinyl for different stripes.

 

[El Trueno]

Well picked up this JMJ in a trade deal.

Playing last night with some vinyl for different stripes.

View attachment 4869145

Looks good with the racing stripes. Subtle but nice.

 

[LennyJ]

Looks good with the racing stripes. Subtle but nice.

Thanks - with the road worn body, I did not want to go the angle like the original. Thanks again

 

[mrpackerguy]

Not enamored with the pickup on my '67 Mustang. Present, but not beefy enough. What drop in replacement would you recommend? I put a Novak drop-in replacement in my '71 Musicmaster and love the tone. I was thinking maybe Lollar? I had a Nash 63 Pbass with a Lollar and loved that sound.

 

[LennyJ]

Not enamored with the pickup on my '67 Mustang. Present, but not beefy enough. What drop in replacement would you recommend? I put a Novak drop-in replacement in my '71 Musicmaster and love the tone. I was thinking maybe Lollar? I had a Nash 63 Pbass with a Lollar and loved that sound.

Try the Nordstrand - I like it in my JMJ

 

[BassmanM]

Well picked up this JMJ in a trade deal.

Playing last night with some vinyl for different stripes.

View attachment 4869145

Very nice! How do they compare?

 

[LennyJ]

Very nice! How do they compare?

I like the feel of the maple neck - but the board on the rosewood neck. Like the overall feel of the American Performer, but the pickups setup on the JMJ.

Do not like the bridge on the performer, may change it with a Hipshot Kick Ass?

All in all, both basses are nice - but would like to match them together to see what would come out.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Not enamored with the pickup on my '67 Mustang. Present, but not beefy enough. What drop in replacement would you recommend? I put a Novak drop-in replacement in my '71 Musicmaster and love the tone. I was thinking maybe Lollar? I had a Nash 63 Pbass with a Lollar and loved that sound.

Just a suggestion, I put a Sentell Bullet/Mustang bass pickup in my Squier Mustang bass body. Really has a good sound that cuts through. It's the 2nd I purchased from them, very communicative and quick turnaround. I'm not affiliated with them, just a very satisfied customer.

 

[LennyJ]

Just a suggestion, I put a Sentell Bullet/Mustang bass pickup in my Squier Mustang bass body. Really has a good sound that cuts through. It's the 2nd I purchased from them, very communicative and quick turnaround. I'm not affiliated with them, just a very satisfied customer.

View attachment 4869393

View attachment 4869394

Can We see more of that finish - I would like to know more, really nice

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Can We see more of that finish - I would like to know more, really nice

Long story short. When my son was a senior in high school he repainted my Fender Musicmaster bass as an art project. Loosely based on Clapton's "crash" from the Concert for George.

Forward to last year and our older daughter wanted to paint one of dad's guitars. So I bought the parts and build the Mustang-parts caster. The body originally was seafoam green. The art was based on a graffiti design she saw and photo'd on a train car. Paw prints are one each for the 2 grand-pups we had at the time, have 4 now.

I put Bronco necks on both because they're very slim and comfortable for my old arthritic hands. The same daughter that painted the Mustang body made custom headstock stickers too.

I love the basses and the connection to 2 or our kids makes them extra meaningful. None of our kids were musical but all 3 had artistic talent. Who knows, if I play long enough maybe the younger daughter will jump in at some point and I'll have 3.

Thanks for asking!