Fender Mustang Club

[BassAgent]

Just realised I never replied to that, @Just Wrong. They are two very different basses: the JMJ's body is a tiiiiny bit bigger, and the neck a bit fatter. It sounds more growly than the 73. The 73 is smoother in every way: the body is smoother (it might even be a bit thinner), the neck is slimmer and the sound is a bit fatter, with less attack. That might also be a bit due to the different strings: the JMJ has the original long scale Fender flats, the 73 has LaBella Mustang flats. I am corrently on tour with both and have played the 73 most of the time. It fits the Northern Soul vibe I need a bit more. And I like the neck better.

 

[ped]

Just realised I never replied to that, @Just Wrong. They are two very different basses: the JMJ's body is a tiiiiny bit bigger, and the neck a bit fatter. It sounds more growly than the 73. The 73 is smoother in every way: the body is smoother (it might even be a bit thinner), the neck is slimmer and the sound is a bit fatter, with less attack. That might also be a bit due to the different strings: the JMJ has the original long scale Fender flats, the 73 has LaBella Mustang flats. I am corrently on tour with both and have played the 73 most of the time. It fits the Northern Soul vibe I need a bit more. And I like the neck better.View attachment 7214939

That’s scarily close to my setup!!

 

[KenSmithFan]

This forum is the last place I ever thought I'd post something! I played Ps, Js and PJs for 30 years and then switched to Lakland 35"
scale basses for the next 25 years. I never had any interest in a Mustang, seemed like a toy.

I hadn't been gigging much on bass guitar since the pandemic, but I recently picked up
a regular BG gig. After 4 hours on the Lakland, my shoulders and hands were toast! I knew I had to try to
find something easier and lighter to get through a long gig.

Didn't want to invest a lot so I checked out a Gretsch short scale and Bronco. The Gretsch seemed well made and is very playable,
the Bronco is surprisingly nice to play, although the ones at Guitar Center had terrible fret sprout. I bought a Paranormal SS and returned it
right away, terrible for me ergonomically.

I then took a chance and ordered a Squier CV Mustang from Sweetwater and after spending time with it and tweaking the set up for the past week, I'm really digging it! 1.5 lbs lighter than my Laklands, and so much easier to get around on. The fit and finish is excellent and I'm impressed and look forward to taking it for a spin at next week's gig. Now thinking about flats...

You’re singing my song. I had no use for them until I got one. Now I have two.

 

[edmidlifecrisis]

This forum is the last place I ever thought I'd post something! I played Ps, Js and PJs for 30 years and then switched to Lakland 35"
scale basses for the next 25 years. I never had any interest in a Mustang, seemed like a toy.

I hadn't been gigging much on bass guitar since the pandemic, but I recently picked up
a regular BG gig. After 4 hours on the Lakland, my shoulders and hands were toast! I knew I had to try to
find something easier and lighter to get through a long gig.

Didn't want to invest a lot so I checked out a Gretsch short scale and Bronco. The Gretsch seemed well made and is very playable,
the Bronco is surprisingly nice to play, although the ones at Guitar Center had terrible fret sprout. I bought a Paranormal SS and returned it
right away, terrible for me ergonomically.

I then took a chance and ordered a Squier CV Mustang from Sweetwater and after spending time with it and tweaking the set up for the past week, I'm really digging it! 1.5 lbs lighter than my Laklands, and so much easier to get around on. The fit and finish is excellent and I'm impressed and look forward to taking it for a spin at next week's gig. Now thinking about flats...

I get it, and many times want to go in that direction, too. My full scale P and J's just get heavier and heavier! So does my Sire J. I have a short scale Epi Rumblekat, which is a nice weight and size relief. I sometimes gig with it. I also have the little Gretsch but I don't like the feel or the sound, so that's out. But I like solid bodied basses. I bought a Bronco on sale, replaced the pickup and worked on the neck, it's nice and surprisingly playable.

But you all are forcing me to try a Mustang, now, if I can find a light one.....

 

[KenSmithFan]

But you all are forcing me to try a Mustang, now, if I can find a light one.....

Resistance is futile.

 

[Makten]

I'm considering buying a Mustang, but I need to sort out some questions first. Hope you can help me:

• Are there any (recent) models except for the JMJ that has nitro finish?
• How much do the necks differ? I want the thickest possible, but it may be narrow.
• Is the Vintera (II) more or less identical to the JMJ except for non-reliced poly finish and a different pickup?
• Has there ever been a CS Mustang?

Silly as it is, I want "vintage" specs but not necessarily very accurate. The Squier VM looks really good but I think I want an alder body this time.
And yes, I've been thinking of buying a mid 70's one, but they are too expensive for what they are (edit: in Europe, they are much cheaper in the US). I highly doubt they are one bit better than a modern Mexican made. More mojo though, of course. Which should not be underestimated.

The only thing preventing me from getting the JMJ, is that the relic job looks fake. I do mind relics, but I could still accept it if it looks proper. The JMJ doesn't.

Edit: Oh, and I absolutely don't want P or J pickups on it.
Edit 2: And the second hand market here in Sweden is more or less non existant for Mustangs, so no CIJ's or similar to be seen.

 

[T McClure]

Are there any (recent) models except for the JMJ that has nitro finish? No. The JMJ is the only one they make in nitro.

How much do the necks differ? I want the thickest possible, but it may be narrow. The JMJ has the chunkiest neck of the various Mustang models.

Is the Vintera (II) more or less identical to the JMJ except for non-reliced poly finish and a different pickup? They have a decent amount of small differences. The Vintera II is unique from the other Mustangs being sold now because it’s the only one with the belly cut and forearm contour. All of the others (JMJ included) are slab bodies. The Vintera also has a gloss neck instead of the JMJ having the road worn nitro. The nut widths are the same, but the Vintera has a somewhat thinner neck than the JMJ and also the 7.25” fingerboard radius compared to the JMJ’s slightly flatter 9.25”.

Has there ever been a CS Mustang? It’s not in their catalog, but apparently, they will do it. It would be a special one off probably from their most expensive builders, so expect to pay a crazy price in line with what the vintage stuff is going for now or more than even the Olinto Mustangs. I don’t know if anyone has ever ordered one, or if the CS just sets a price high enough to scare anyone away from doing so.

 

[Sharko]

Has there ever been a CS Mustang? It’s not in their catalog, but apparently, they will do it. It would be a special one off probably from their most expensive builders, so expect to pay a crazy price in line with what the vintage stuff is going for now or more than even the Olinto Mustangs. I don’t know if anyone has ever ordered one, or if the CS just sets a price high enough to scare anyone away from doing so.

Sarah Barthell from Phantogram has a custom shop mustang bass, it’s silver sparkle with a matching headstock. Likewise Mikey Way from My Chemical Romance had one, silver sparkle with black competition stripe, black headstock, and a humbucker (I think an EMG guitar humbucker). His signature model from Squier is based on this but isn’t the same

 

[JesterR]

Is the Vintera (II) more or less identical to the JMJ except for non-reliced poly finish and a different pickup? They have a decent amount of small differences. The Vintera II is unique from the other Mustangs being sold now because it’s the only one with the belly cut and forearm contour. All of the others (JMJ included) are slab bodies. The Vintera also has a gloss neck instead of the JMJ having the road worn nitro. The nut widths are the same, but the Vintera has a somewhat thinner neck than the JMJ and also the 7.25” fingerboard radius compared to the JMJ’s slightly flatter 9.25”

And do not forget, that JMJ has CS Seymour Duncan pickups vs just stock MIM Fender stuff on Vintera.

 

[T McClure]

Sarah Barthell from Phantogram has a custom shop mustang bass, it’s silver sparkle with a matching headstock. Likewise Mikey Way from My Chemical Romance had one, silver sparkle with black competition stripe, black headstock, and a humbucker (I think an EMG guitar humbucker). His signature model from Squier is based on this but isn’t the same

Those are good examples. I also remember seeing a fancy one they built for a charity event. But I more meant I don't know that I've seen one that was ordered by someone who isn't a decently known bassist. If someone has done so, it would be interesting to know how it turned out and what they think.

 

[Makten]

Are there any (recent) models except for the JMJ that has nitro finish? No. The JMJ is the only one they make in nitro.

How much do the necks differ? I want the thickest possible, but it may be narrow. The JMJ has the chunkiest neck of the various Mustang models.

Is the Vintera (II) more or less identical to the JMJ except for non-reliced poly finish and a different pickup? They have a decent amount of small differences. The Vintera II is unique from the other Mustangs being sold now because it’s the only one with the belly cut and forearm contour. All of the others (JMJ included) are slab bodies. The Vintera also has a gloss neck instead of the JMJ having the road worn nitro. The nut widths are the same, but the Vintera has a somewhat thinner neck than the JMJ and also the 7.25” fingerboard radius compared to the JMJ’s slightly flatter 9.25”.

Has there ever been a CS Mustang? It’s not in their catalog, but apparently, they will do it. It would be a special one off probably from their most expensive builders, so expect to pay a crazy price in line with what the vintage stuff is going for now or more than even the Olinto Mustangs. I don’t know if anyone has ever ordered one, or if the CS just sets a price high enough to scare anyone away from doing so.

Thanks! Seems like the JMJ is the most reasonable choice. Too bad with the chainsaw relicing though.

Vintage Mustangs start from roughly double the price of the JMJ and are probably not as good instruments. Or at least that's what I try to tell myself. OTOH they will only gain value over time.

 

[T McClure]

Thanks! Seems like the JMJ is the most reasonable choice. Too bad with the chainsaw relicing though.

Vintage Mustangs start from roughly double the price of the JMJ and are probably not as good instruments. Or at least that's what I try to tell myself. OTOH they will only gain value over time.

Honestly, I barely notice the relicing on the blue one. It stands out more on the black one because there's more contrast.

Yeah, I've recently had the chance to play six or so different vintage Mustangs. All were beat up in ways to make the prices shocking. One was a red one priced at $5k where the back of the neck didn't have a single smooth spot and felt the same as a pencil a child had chewed up. Playing those made me appreciate my JMJ so much more.

And you got me curious about the CS route, so I got an answer. Since it's not a standard offering, to get one, you'd have to place a Master Built order. The price for it would be $7-8k USD.

 

[Just Wrong]

Is it common for Mustangs to have a noticeably louder E string? I didn’t notice this on the three JMJs I’ve tried, but the E string of the Vintera II I played was definitely louder. I brought it up with the store clerk, but at first he denied it. I asked if he could lower the pickup under the E string, but it seemed like he just lowered the entire bass side (including the A string), which didn’t help. Then he said it was probably because the E string is thicker

ChatGPT said it was a common complaint on short-scale basses, but I don't have that problem on mine...

Is it likely a setup issue? Or the pickup?

 

[T McClure]

It's a setup thing. You can lower Mustang pickups at a bit of an angle much the same way you can the bass side of a P pickup. There's also a chance the E string was too low compared to the others.

 

[Sharko]

Is it common for Mustangs to have a noticeably louder E string? I didn’t notice this on the three JMJs I’ve tried, but the E string of the Vintera II I played was definitely louder. I brought it up with the store clerk, but at first he denied it. I asked if he could lower the pickup under the E string, but it seemed like he just lowered the entire bass side (including the A string), which didn’t help. Then he said it was probably because the E string is thicker

ChatGPT said it was a common complaint on short-scale basses, but I don't have that problem on mine...

Is it likely a setup issue? Or the pickup?

Setup issue. Nothing to do with scale

 

[PNC7]

How much do the necks differ? I want the thickest possible, but it may be narrow. The JMJ has the chunkiest neck of the various Mustang models.

Wouldn’t the Vinteras actually be chunkiest because they have the same nut width AND the 7.25” fretboard radius?

My Reverend which is full scale but with a nice flat 12” radius seems less chunky to me than a Vintera which feels more like a mini baseball bat.

 

[drewphishesp]

Just got a squier cv 60s and love it but not so sure I love a 1.5 nut width used to a p bass nut. Anyone know of a replacement neck for them? Or anyone have a 1.62 or similar mustang neck they'd want to trade

also what size pickups to replace them in therE?

 

[shadven]

are those candy apple red?

I think so.

 

[shadven]

I'd like to share some thoughts for anyone considering a mono case.

This version is for hollow body guitars. Unlike the electric version, the length is perfect for a Mustang.

View attachment 7191772

But..

the body tends to wiggle from side to side. I wanted a kind of spacer without increasing the total height.

View attachment 7191773

View attachment 7191776

View attachment 7191775

It doesn't move around in the case anymore. fits like a glove!

View attachment 7191774

I’ve heard that the Mono Stratocaster cases fit the Mustang Bass pretty well. But, I’m a little reticent to buy one.

 

[Voyevoda]

I have had my American Performer Mustang for about a week, it feels and sounds great! Also I got mine new for about $1050 and now they are up to $1580