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Fender Mustang Club

#6,141
T McClure said:
You raise a good question on what the cost of refinishing a JMJ would be compared to your route.
Click to expand...
Something else I will add – I did toss around the idea of just refinishing the fiesta red one that I loved instead of going through the trouble of tracking down an entire replacement of the same model in a different color which felt a bit silly, but with the desirability of the MIJ Mustangs the red one sold almost immediately for the exact price I paid for the black one. Going down to the store and buying a rattle can would’ve been more an expensive way of “color swapping” not to mention the diminished value of an amateur home refinish compared to a rare non-US color variant (I know that some of my mods like the neck sand are also resale killers, but still!) If the buying/selling/trading game of TalkBass has taught me anything, it is that almost any bass can be acquired for “free” so long as you’re not afraid to incur a small amount of risk, and to be open to selling it down the road. That last part is the problem – it’s quite easy to justify purchases with this logic, but sales can still be painful!
 
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#6,142
LaBella flatwound 760-MUS strings acquired and restrung, now there's the sound I was looking for. In the process I checked out the cavities, I thought this little note under the pots was interesting:

IMG_20241220_175734820.jpg

I want to look for an alternate pickup arrangement since the spring-clip setup prevents me from altering the height adjustment, I'm checking out a thread about that If you've not seen the wiring of these things here's a couple more shots:

IMG_20241220_175711707.jpgIMG_20241220_175640721_HDR.jpg

All very simple and easily understood.
 
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#6,144
Totally new to short scales and want to try one out. Currently own Fender CS-P and AVRI J (w TI Flats).
1) Looking at a local used MJM Mustang (blue), no case, for $950. Good price? Anything I should look for when inspecting the instrument?
2) Also intrigued by the used Serek The Grand's listed here in the TB classifieds. Any thoughts?
 
#6,145
projectapollo said:
Totally new to short scales and want to try one out...
Click to expand...
Project Apollo,

1. Guessing you mean a JMJ Mustang. And guessing you'll be over the moon about playing this bass, esp with a set of labella 760F-MUS flats. It's a stellar combo. That price is okay for a used JMJ.
One thing you might watch for is the earliest copies of the JMJ had uneven string spacing at the bridge due to some kind of bridge saddle mismatch, which was fixed later.
BTW the JMJ is not sold with a proper case, and nobody makes a proper hard case for Mustangs (that I know of) but Serek sells one of the nicer padded soft cases for short scales.

2. I had a The Grand on long term loan and it might have just eclipsed the JMJ if not for being twice the price. On a perfect planet I'd have both. The built-in fuzz circuit is sort of a gimmick, but a very cool gimmick.

If you want to try a short scale and you can start with either of those basses, you're off to a celestial start. For me, that journey led to my precision being retired and the JMJ taking a permanent spot on the launch pad.
 
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#6,146
Kennoath said:
Project Apollo,

1. Guessing you mean a JMJ Mustang. And guessing you'll be over the moon about playing this bass, esp with a set of labella 760F-MUS flats. It's a stellar combo. That price is okay for a used JMJ.
One thing you might watch for is the earliest copies of the JMJ had uneven string spacing at the bridge due to some kind of bridge saddle mismatch, which was fixed later.
BTW the JMJ is not sold with a proper case, and nobody makes a proper hard case for Mustangs (that I know of) but Serek sells one of the nicer padded soft cases for short scales.

2. I had a The Grand on long term loan and it might have just eclipsed the JMJ if not for being twice the price. On a perfect planet I'd have both. The built-in fuzz circuit is sort of a gimmick, but a very cool gimmick.

If you want to try a short scale and you can start with either of those basses, you're off to a celestial start. For me, that journey led to my precision being retired and the JMJ taking a permanent spot on the launch pad.
Click to expand...
Yes, JMJ.....
Buying both? Now that idea is planted....... I just bought The Grand listed in the classifieds.
 
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#6,147
ahdw said:
View attachment 7104539

Finally "built" my perfect 'stang. I had fallen in love with a Fiesta Red CIJ model that I picked up on the TB classifieds earlier this year, but could not get used to the color. I saw a rare black MIJ domestic market color on Reverb for a decent price (in the ballpark of an average used MB-98/SD sale in the US, even after intl shipping) and pounced on it, only to discover that the thickly lacquered neck didn't quite play as nicely as my red one. I realized that with a few small tweaks I could dial this in as my optimal modded Mustang, so I did some things. My inspiration for these mods was the mid-1970s black on black 'stangs that I have always dug.

-Swapped the neck from the Fiesta Red over to the black body, and vice versa.
-Had my luthier sand the neck and install Hipshot lollipops.
-Replaced the stock pickguard with a 3-ply black/parchment/black one.
-Added a dark rosewood tug bar - just a cheap Chinese one, it arrived unfinished and is *very* dark after oiling it but will hopefully lighten a bit with time as it soaks in.
-I debated swapping the stock Duncan pickups for Nordstrand NM4s like I have in the Fiesta, but on A/Bing the two I actually preferred the sound of the Duncans these days. Maybe I'm crazy, I don't know. Left the pickups and wiring all stock for now as it seems to be fine enough for me. I might explore upgraded pots down the road.

As it stands, this is the best playing and looking Mustang that I can possibly fathom for my own personal preferences. The satin finish on the neck combined with the already great ergonomics of this bass make it almost feel like a chore to pick up any of my other basses. It has ruined me.

Side note - it did occur to me that I essentially recreated a JMJ in a very roundabout and not very cost effective fashion, but the factory relic job on that model is not for me and I already knew how much I dug the MIJ ones so I am very happy with how this adventure turned out :)
Click to expand...
Having done a bit of Mustang research, I'm assuming the necks on your red/black CIJ's that you swapped are 7.25" radius?

If so I think that's a significant difference between this and you re-finishing a JMJ, since they have the 9.5". I don't think there exists a classic Mustang body with a 9.5" neck and normal, non-relic finish (if Fender would just do this already they'd get all my money). I've toyed with the idea of re-finishing a JMJ for this exact reason but I know that would tank the resale value.

If I were to go modding today instead of refinishing, I'd probably throw one of the Player II Mustang necks on a Vintera or CIJ body to get close. I love how those new PJs feel but just love the classic Mustang look.
 
#6,150
I was looking at a listing for a 70s Mustang, but the first thing that jumped out at me was the way the strings don’t run perfectly parallel down the neck. They end up too far to the left and even appear to be over to the left sides of the pickup as well.

Is this a bridge issue or caused by how the neck is bolted in? It looks like something that would be noticeable as you move up the neck.


IMG_0424.jpeg
 
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#6,153
Kennoath said:
Is the H22 just plain surface mounted, with no spacers or routing? And what's it sound like compared to the stock bridge pup?
Click to expand...
Thanks!

No additional routing was needed for the H22. It’s basically sitting on top of the existing Jazz pickup route. I did also use a 1/16” riser I bought from Curtis with the pickup. I may fill the old Jazz route with a wood block and epoxy to give the H22 mounting screws more material to grip, but that isn’t strictly necessary.

The H22 sounds hotter, warmer, and woolier than the original Jazz pickup. More character. It’s a very good match for the BS-DS.
 
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#6,154
Morningside said:
Thanks!

No additional routing was needed for the H22. It’s basically sitting on top of the existing Jazz pickup route. I did also use a 1/16” riser I bought from Curtis with the pickup. I may fill the old Jazz route with a wood block and epoxy to give the H22 mounting screws more material to grip, but that isn’t strictly necessary.

The H22 sounds hotter, warmer, and woolier than the original Jazz pickup. More character. It’s a very good match for the BS-DS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info @Morningside. Sorry to bug you with another possibly dumb question...

A mustang split pup lets you adjust the pup height under each string to match the radius and get a balanced output. With a "flat" pup like the H22, is the output balanced between strings?
 
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#6,155
Kennoath said:
A mustang split pup lets you adjust the pup height under each string to match the radius and get a balanced output. With a "flat" pup like the H22, is the output balanced between strings?
Click to expand...

The H22 sounds very well balanced to me. Also note that on the American Performer, the H22 is replacing a Jazz pickup in the bridge. So you're replacing one more-or-less "flat" pickup with another. (I know Jazz pickups are slightly adjustable, but not very.)

It's the BS-DS in the neck that replaces the split Mustang pickup. The BS-DS has individually adjustable pole pieces.
 
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#6,158
MIM JMJ

I purchased a JMJ last year, and while it sounds great and plays great and is generally a lot of fun to own, it is by far the most neck-divey of all my instruments. It came with Hipshot HB7 tuning machines, but I would love to replace them with something lighter -- preferably significantly lighter.

I have no idea what machines could replace these, and I don't want to drill the headstock because I will just end up destroying it. Anyone have ideas on lightweight drop-in replacement machines that are lightweight?

Google was no help, so am hoping someone has been through the agony already. Cheers.
 
#6,159
MochaFiend said:
MIM JMJ

I purchased a JMJ last year, and while it sounds great and plays great and is generally a lot of fun to own, it is by far the most neck-divey of all my instruments. It came with Hipshot HB7 tuning machines, but I would love to replace them with something lighter -- preferably significantly lighter.

I have no idea what machines could replace these, and I don't want to drill the headstock because I will just end up destroying it. Anyone have ideas on lightweight drop-in replacement machines that are lightweight?

Google was no help, so am hoping someone has been through the agony already. Cheers.
Click to expand...

- Fender Key Bass Deluxe New Mod Taper Long Set Model : 0992006000 (American Performer)

- Fender Key Bass HB7 Chrome C/S Model :0081219000 / 0081219020 (Vintage / JMJ / Vintera)

- Fender Tuners GB600 HC Chrome Model : 0095604000 (PJ)

- Gotoh GB1 / GB10 (Japan / PJ)
GB10 - G-GOTOH
https://g-gotoh.com/images/pdf/GB10-Dim.pdf

- Hipshot HB7 (Vintage / JMJ / Vintera)
https://hipshotproducts.com/collect...s/hb7-bass-tuning-machine?variant=43376480264
https://docs.hipshotproducts.com/20710_HB7_TUNING_MACHINE_DIMENSIONS.pdf

- Hipshot HB10 (Gotoh GB1 / G10 style / Japan / PJ)
https://hipshotproducts.com/collect.../hb10-bass-tuning-machine?variant=43376337160
https://docs.hipshotproducts.com/21010.PDF
Invalid Link Removed
...

May the Groove be with you.
 

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