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Fender Mustang Club

#6,425
Hi,

I'm building a mustang bass based on a modified one I played once, with a tone that absolutely blew me away.

It had a Bart stingray pickup butted up against the pickguard, and a badass bridge - probably to allow the pickup to fit.

Anyway. Could one of you do me a massive favour, and measure the distance from the back of the pickguard, to either the 12th fret or the nut.

If the specs aren't all the same, it was a CIJ.

Thanks in advance
20260419_072936.jpg
 
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#6,426
I know there have been several threads about Mustang pickups and I saw one from 2020 with some sound clips and I have watched Jonathan Wong's videos.

I play in a cover band and we do everything from Van Morrison, Motown, to The Stones and I prefer to use the tone knob and cover all of it with 1 bass.

I purchased a 2024 version that came with a Lollar installed and the original in a box. The Lollar was lower output than I hoped for and not particularly inspiring for me. I installed the Squier stock pickup and it was slightly better to my ears but again not inspiring.

The sound clips from 2020 don't include a Novak but the Nordstrand and the Squier stock sound very similar.

The Wong videos include the Fat Novak and Nordstrand and again they sound very similar.

LowEnd Lobster has a video with a parts Mustang that has the not fat Novak and its got that tone I love but she has mutes and Labellas and I won't have mutes and will play round wounds (SIT Powerwound nickels 105's)

All that said does anyone have experience with the Novak not fat version installed in a Squier Mustang that could provide some comparison insight as to the output and personality of the Novak compared to the stock pickup? I'm looking for a full deep low end for the R&B and some good low mids for the rock stuff -
 
#6,427
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#6,428
don21480 said:
LowEnd Lobster has a video with a parts Mustang that has the not fat Novak and its got that tone I love but she has mutes and Labellas and I won't have mutes and will play round wounds (SIT Powerwound nickels 105's)

All that said does anyone have experience with the Novak not fat version installed in a Squier Mustang that could provide some comparison insight as to the output and personality of the Novak compared to the stock pickup? I'm looking for a full deep low end for the R&B and some good low mids for the rock stuff -
Click to expand...
I;m surprised to hear that about the Lollars. I've never played one, but they have such a solid reputation in these parts.

I'll give this a go. Keep in mind I use flats, but I do have the Novak (not fat) installed in a Squier body. I feel like the basic characteristics probably transcend string type. My opinion pretty much mirrors Jonathan Wong's. Even though he is comparing the Novak fat to a Duncan, the Novak Not Fat sounds bigger than the stock Squier in every way. I don't hate the original pickup, it just that it's... not above average? to my ears. The Novak has huevos, and if thats what youre looking for, I dont think you will be disappointed. Plenty of bottom. And it's clear. I linked the video as he describes it probably better than I can... I'm not sure huevos is a legit techical audio term... :)

BTW I also agreed with his comparison to the Nordstrand, but at that point it's a matter of taste. I have replaced the pickups in two Squiers and both the Nordstrand and the Novak blow the stock pickup out of the water. As always, IMO & YMMV.

 
#6,429
@SpyderX - thanks for your insight - very helpful for sure! I think its that I'm not looking for a traditional mustang sound but something with more heft and thickness (huevos) so the Lollar seemed uninspired to me but might be just the ticket for someone else wanting the more traditional mustang tone. I actually decided to go rouge and ordered a Novak H22 gold foil for the Mustang! I watched some videos of that pickup in various basses and it's got what I want! If it does not pan out as expected I'll follow your lead for the Novak not fat -
 
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#6,430
don21480 said:
@SpyderX - thanks for your insight - very helpful for sure! I think its that I'm not looking for a traditional mustang sound but something with more heft and thickness (huevos) so the Lollar seemed uninspired to me but might be just the ticket for someone else wanting the more traditional mustang tone. I actually decided to go rouge and ordered a Novak H22 gold foil for the Mustang! I watched some videos of that pickup in various basses and it's got what I want! If it does not pan out as expected I'll follow your lead for the Novak not fat -
Click to expand...
Gold foil feels like a nice choice - I've read good things about those in short scales.
 
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#6,433
don21480 said:
@SpyderX - thanks for your insight - very helpful for sure! I think its that I'm not looking for a traditional mustang sound but something with more heft and thickness (huevos) so the Lollar seemed uninspired to me but might be just the ticket for someone else wanting the more traditional mustang tone. I actually decided to go rouge and ordered a Novak H22 gold foil for the Mustang! I watched some videos of that pickup in various basses and it's got what I want! If it does not pan out as expected I'll follow your lead for the Novak not fat -
Click to expand...
Keep us updated! I have been thinking of putting Novak gold foil GT-v very similar to one on Nick Campbell’s MM. Novak can make bass version of it
 
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#6,435
Off the top of my head, here are a couple of older acts and a couple of current ones:

The Rolling Stones
Talking Heads - she used a Mustang a lot, including on Psycho Killer
Wet Leg - bassist plays a JMJ
The Last Dinner Party - bassist uses a PJ Player (II maybe) Mustang
 
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#6,438
T McClure said:
Off the top of my head, here are a couple of older acts and a couple of current ones:

The Rolling Stones
Talking Heads - she used a Mustang a lot, including on Psycho Killer
Wet Leg - bassist plays a JMJ
The Last Dinner Party - bassist uses a PJ Player (II maybe) Mustang
Click to expand...
I checked out Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party. The Last Dinner Party really didn't do much for me but Wet Leg... I'm uh, yeah - she's hot
 
#6,439
Froski said:
NBD, now what do I use it for? She's purdy, definitely feels different from a 34 inch scale. I prefer the 34 inch scale but wanted a short scale in the quiver now I've got to figure out where in the musical spectrum it'll fit for me. Who are some known mustang players that I can hear in a band setting? View attachment 7489754
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Nice looking bass!

If any one album inspired me to get my Mustang, it was After Laughter by Paramore. JMJ plays some killer parts, and the bass completely drives most of the songs in my opinion.
 
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