Fender Mustang Club

[Mr66StangBass]

But it definitely has the shadow of the large 'BASS' that once was there, so I doubt that. My first reaction to this was, it's ugly. But it's growing on me, albeit only slightly. No hurry. And again, removing it may also leave a shadow at the end.

This was a score indeed. I found it on Craigslist and paid 36% of the lowest priced '66 Dakota Red Mustang Bass on Reverb. I thought that was a decent deal. I had no idea it was one built in the first few weeks of production, just that it was in original condition down to each screw. Sans the decal.

 

[ElCrowg]

But it definitely has the shadow of the large 'BASS' that once was there, so I doubt that. My first reaction to this was, it's ugly. But it's growing on me, albeit only slightly. No hurry. And again, removing it may also leave a shadow at the end.

This was a score indeed. I found it on Craigslist and paid 36% of the lowest priced '66 Dakota Red Mustang Bass on Reverb. I thought that was a decent deal. I had no idea it was one built in the first few weeks of production, just that it was in original condition down to each screw. Sans the decal.

I mean, if it's too ugly for you, I'll take it off your hands. I'll even offer 37% of the lowest priced '66. lol!

 

[2cooltoolz]

Fender was known to do it that way; at least on this '66 12 string!


F

 

[Mr66StangBass]

Well, you've convinced me not to touch it, at least for now.. But what would explain the BASS, it seems weird they would have that with the end decal that also says Electric Bass, and also without the Fender Mustang decal in front of it. And to confirm what was earlier said about Fender not overspraying decals until later, in the right exact light I can make out the oval outline of the BASS sticker sitting on top of the nitro and can't find any similar decal traces to the left where the Fender Mustang decal would have been or any signs of light shadowing. So either it was there and they did a better job of removing the Fender Mustang decal, and was also made of a material where light was not as blocked as on the BASS decal to not cause shadowing or it never there.
Who the heck knows.

 

[RobOnBass]

Maybe it was a bronco or musicmaster neck at some point and someone matched it to the mustang body? Maybe if trogly could black light it he’d see more of the shadow of the old decal!

 

[G-Dog]

Fender was known to do it that way; at least on this '66 12 string!

Fender always has, and still does, do it that way on the "hockeystick"XII headstocks.

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And even on the 8x4 XII headstock!

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But the "non-hockeystick" XII headstock just don't look good, IMO.

.​

 

[Mr66StangBass]

Hey, great idea on the blacklight! It clearly shows the outline of the BASS sticker. And there are definitely small but visible decal glue remnants where the Fender Mustang sticker would have been, confirming this was originally like the 2nd pic. Thanks again for your patience and mild interest.

 

[birdswthvertigo]

I found another example stamped on the same date as @Mr66StangBass ’s 66. Fender Mustang Bass 1966 - 1969 | Reverb

It had a diff placement of the fender decal.

 

[Mr66StangBass]

Birds, that's the production decal, but they didn't arrive before the first few weeks of production. For only that first several weeks, they pieced together a Fender Mustang decal with a cut-off BASS V decal, as shown above in that 2nd pic. The one you shared is the real production ones that arrived a few weeks in and they cutover to those. They have the small lines to the left of all the letters. The BASS V BASS had no small lines.

 

[RobOnBass]

A quick show and tell of my Mustangs. The American Performer has a WD pickguard, Labella flats and volume, blend, tone pots. On the Vintera II I’ve just removed the tug bar. Oh and Schaller strap lock buttons on both.
The Am Perf is lighter, but the Vintera has slight neck dive where as the Am Perf is well balanced. I like the rolled fret board and darker rosewood of the Am Perf and the satin finish of the neck.
They sound quite different of course with the flats and rounds, so cover all my needs.

 

[Mr66StangBass]

Here is a picture of my son's 60s Vintera and my 1966 Mustang Bass. Both fine instruments. The main noticeable difference is the beefiness of the neck Leo designed for this bass. It must make up over half the weight and is almost 3mm thicker than the repro. For anyone interested, I thought I'd take some comparative measurements. Let me know if there are others desired.



1966 60s Vintera
Weight 7# 10 oz 8# 1 oz
Body Thickness 1.52" 1.65"
Headstock Thickness . 695" .56"
Neck Width @ Body 2.12" 2.17"
Neck Width @ Nut 1.58" 1.63"

 

[ped]

For some reason modern mustangs have more body behind the bridge which is really annoying. I’d buy a modern one as a backup but it would bug me for them to be so similar but slightly different.

 

[Kennoath]

Is it just a slightly different design of bridge, but the saddles in the same place?

 

[birdswthvertigo]

Is it just a slightly different design of bridge, but the saddles in the same place?

The actual body on modern mustangs is bigger. And the bridge is also further forward. Look closer and you also find a different horn shape. Depending on if you’re looking at Japanese or Mexican there’s even a slightly bigger difference as well. Vintage were smaller in size and the bridge closer to the edge. Don’t get me started on the difference in headstock shape and nut width….

 

[birdswthvertigo]

Is it just a slightly different design of bridge, but the saddles in the same place?

To follow on…the saddles will be further forward on the screw generally speaking on the vintage models. Simply to keep intonation accurate. With Modern basses the saddles come further back.

 

[ped]

Yup also the shorter horn is slightly more curved towards the neck and the longer horn more pointy. Don't know why they changed it.

 

[Mr66StangBass]

A few more showing placement differences.

 

[2cooltoolz]

A few more showing placement differences.

I hadn't realized the Vintera Mustang basses used the Hipshot "lollipop" tuning machines. I went to the site, and apparently the Vintera ii uses the standard MIM machines.

 

[Jscriv]

Hello! After some dabbling with squier broncos a bit I set out to assemble a mustang that I like that wasn't offered. Nothing wild, just a vintera body and a player series neck. Awesome bass. But it leaves me with a question I'd assume best asked here:

Is there a replacement bridge with the ability to top load strings so actual short scale strings can be used???

 

[klattman]

Hello! After some dabbling with squier broncos a bit I set out to assemble a mustang that I like that wasn't offered. Nothing wild, just a vintera body and a player series neck. Awesome bass. But it leaves me with a question I'd assume best asked here:

Is there a replacement bridge with the ability to top load strings so actual short scale strings can be used???
View attachment 5332569

I haven’t seen one. I have thought about drilling holes in the plate to enable top load but instead I just went with medium scale flats or long scale rounds (I haven’t had a problem breaking too-long rounds at the tuning post but flats that are too long can be problematic).