Fender Mustang Club

[cornfarmer]

It's a good neck. The finish is light/satin'y, probably on purpose, good fretwork as far as I can tell. The best part was the body/neck went together with no fuss or shims needed. The intonation was even close too, though it still needed adjustment and the saddles raised a bit.

 

[T McClure]

It's a good neck. The finish is light/satin'y, probably on purpose, good fretwork as far as I can tell. The best part was the body/neck went together with no fuss or shims needed. The intonation was even close too, though it still needed adjustment and the saddles raised a bit.

That's the beauty of these Mustangs. You can swap any neck you want with zero issues. I put a JMJ neck on a Squier Mustang body, and the fit was perfect.

 

[sleddogn]

Please do, with pics

Out to truck to get drill and bit and hand screwdriver, 90 seconds. Swapping old with new another 90 seconds, if even that long and bam its on. So far so good. I work in a wood shop and am going to have one of the guys who's good with finishes do a repair and touch up on the old hole. But am happy so far.

 

[sleddogn]

I used to own this a few years back, as usual, wish i hadn't sold it. Is a 78

 

[Jimmy Cote]

What strings are you guys using on your Mustangs?

Right now mine has D'Addario Tapes, but I have a Serek coming eventually, and I asked Jake to set it up with D'Addario Tapes. I'm worried the two basses will sound too similar — although I guess both are very different: Mustang is alter and rosewood with the '70s-inspired split coil pick up and the Serek will be mahogany and ebony with a B90 single coil pickup.

I need something brighter-ish, so the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats won't do. I'm worried Chromes will be too dark (and stiff). I can't seem to find anyone stocking medium-scale DRs...

 

[Sharko]

What strings are you guys using on your Mustangs?

Right now mine has D'Addario Tapes, but I have a Serek coming eventually, and I asked Jake to set it up with D'Addario Tapes. I'm worried the two basses will sound too similar — although I guess both are very different: Mustang is alter and rosewood with the '70s-inspired split coil pick up and the Serek will be mahogany and ebony with a B90 single coil pickup.

I need something brighter-ish, so the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats won't do. I'm worried Chromes will be too dark (and stiff). I can't seem to find anyone stocking medium-scale DRs...

I didn't think I would, but I love the fender 5250 rounds that come on the string-through mustangs. Not sure if it's the light gauge that helps, but they have an attack that stands out in a mix for me.

 

[T McClure]

What strings are you guys using on your Mustangs?

Right now mine has D'Addario Tapes, but I have a Serek coming eventually, and I asked Jake to set it up with D'Addario Tapes. I'm worried the two basses will sound too similar — although I guess both are very different: Mustang is alter and rosewood with the '70s-inspired split coil pick up and the Serek will be mahogany and ebony with a B90 single coil pickup.

I need something brighter-ish, so the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats won't do. I'm worried Chromes will be too dark (and stiff). I can't seem to find anyone stocking medium-scale DRs...

If you already have tapes, rounds are probably a nice change of sound. I've loved both D'Addario Nickels or GHS Boomers on my Mustangs.

When I bought a The Grand from Serek, he shipped it with DR Hi-Beam steel strings, and they sound awesome. I haven't tried a set on a Mustang yet, but I will at some point.

 

[Jimmy Cote]

I didn't think I would, but I love the fender 5250 rounds that come on the string-through mustangs. Not sure if it's the light gauge that helps, but they have an attack that stands out in a mix for me.

Maybe I shouldn't have dismissed them when I got the bass. Can't seem to find them anywhere in stock here in Canada.

If you already have tapes, rounds are probably a nice change of sound. I've loved both D'Addario Nickels or GHS Boomers on my Mustangs.

When I bought a The Grand from Serek, he shipped it with DR Hi-Beam steel strings, and they sound awesome. I haven't tried a set on a Mustang yet, but I will at some point.

For whatever reason I thought DR made medium-scale strings. I might try the hi beams. thanks!

 

[T McClure]

For whatever reason I thought DR made medium-scale strings. I might try the hi beams. thanks!

I just looked. They make short scale, which is what Jake put on the Grand, but they don't make medium scale. If your Mustang is a string through only, these DRs won't work. Sorry.

 

[BuhoNevado5]

Maybe I shouldn't have dismissed them when I got the bass. Can't seem to find them anywhere in stock here in Canada.


For whatever reason I thought DR made medium-scale strings. I might try the hi beams. thanks!

Hey Jimmy,
If you like the tapes on your mustang and want to change things up, i would recommend asking Jake to put on either the DR Hi-Beams, or the Sunbeams, which are mellower than the Hi's, but not as mellow as flats or tapes.

I had a Serek Midwestern built in 2020 and actually just sold it a couple months back, because i wasn't playing out enough to warrant having such a sweet and costly bass, but i would regularly switch out between Hi-Beams, LaBella Flats and the Sunbeams, depending on the project and song (if it was a recording session). Mine had a B90 in the middle position and a Curtis Novak ES-BSx in the neck position, which was super mellow.
Trying to find short scale strings to fit the Serek will be easier than finding a medium scale string that you like for the Mustang.

That being said, i recently purchased, and have yet to try them out, a couple sets of LaBella's Mustang strings for my Vintera II. I bought their Pure Nickel Rounds ((760PN-MUS)and the Super Polished (760SP-MUS) sets, straight from LaBella in NY. These are all made specifically for the string through body Mustangs. Once this set of new Hipshot tuners arrive, i will switch out the flats for one of these to test out and can report back, as to which i prefer, or at least, what i like and dislike about each of them.

 

[Jimmy Cote]

Hey Jimmy,
If you like the tapes on your mustang and want to change things up, i would recommend asking Jake to put on either the DR Hi-Beams, or the Sunbeams, which are mellower than the Hi's, but not as mellow as flats or tapes.

I had a Serek Midwestern built in 2020 and actually just sold it a couple months back, because i wasn't playing out enough to warrant having such a sweet and costly bass, but i would regularly switch out between Hi-Beams, LaBella Flats and the Sunbeams, depending on the project and song (if it was a recording session). Mine had a B90 in the middle position and a Curtis Novak ES-BSx in the neck position, which was super mellow.
Trying to find short scale strings to fit the Serek will be easier than finding a medium scale string that you like for the Mustang.

That being said, i recently purchased, and have yet to try them out, a couple sets of LaBella's Mustang strings for my Vintera II. I bought their Pure Nickel Rounds ((760PN-MUS)and the Super Polished (760SP-MUS) sets, straight from LaBella in NY. These are all made specifically for the string through body Mustangs. Once this set of new Hipshot tuners arrive, i will switch out the flats for one of these to test out and can report back, as to which i prefer, or at least, what i like and dislike about each of them.

You bring a good point about keeping the tapes on the Mustang, but my plan is to play the Serek at home and in the studio and the Mustang at band rehearsals and gigs so I won't be as heartbroken if something happens to my bass on a gig.

I love tapes, and I want at least one of the two basses to be strung with tapes, but I find them just a tad too dark for the band.

I'll try to see if I can find Sunbeams. I used to love those on my Jazz bass.

Keep us posted about the La Bellas!

 

[Froski]

What strings are you guys using on your Mustangs?

Right now mine has D'Addario Tapes, but I have a Serek coming eventually, and I asked Jake to set it up with D'Addario Tapes. I'm worried the two basses will sound too similar — although I guess both are very different: Mustang is alter and rosewood with the '70s-inspired split coil pick up and the Serek will be mahogany and ebony with a B90 single coil pickup.

I need something brighter-ish, so the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats won't do. I'm worried Chromes will be too dark (and stiff). I can't seem to find anyone stocking medium-scale DRs...

How did your Mustang take to tapes? Did you get any hum?

 

[PNC7]

For those who have gotten to play the MIJ/CIJ Mustangs, how do they hold up compared to the newer Squier CVs? It feels like the main difference is the 7.25" radius on the old ones which to me feels like a downside on full scale basses but might be more fun on a short scale?

 

[felis]

For those who have gotten to play the MIJ/CIJ Mustangs, how do they hold up compared to the newer Squier CVs? It feels like the main difference is the 7.25" radius on the old ones which to me feels like a downside on full scale basses but might be more fun on a short scale?

I sold my MIJ and still have the CV. Just personal preference, they both are good.
I like the CV's radius and truss rod adjustment better.
They have different pickups, but both sound good. Depends what you're looking for.

 

[PNC7]

I sold my MIJ and still have the CV. Just personal preference, they both are good.
I like the CV's radius and truss rod adjustment better.
They have different pickups, but both sound good. Depends what you're looking for.

Yeah if only the radius was 9.5" instead. I really want something MIJ just to have one in the collection at some point though!

 

[Froski]

Out to truck to get drill and bit and hand screwdriver, 90 seconds. Swapping old with new another 90 seconds, if even that long and bam its on. So far so good. I work in a wood shop and am going to have one of the guys who's good with finishes do a repair and touch up on the old hole. But am happy so far. View attachment 7502609View attachment 7502610View attachment 7502611

I just ordered one. That A string buzz... I also ordered a rosewood thumb rest. I don't want or need one for my Precision or Jazz basses but with the Mustang, I'm wishing I had one there. Now if only I could find a template to make sure I mount it in the right place

 

[Outshined91]

Hi all! Long time TB member and Mustang owner here. I have a modded Player MIM P/J with Nordstrand pups that I picked up from TB-er some years ago and it's always been my go to. I've recently been looking at vintage Mustangs and would love to get one but don't know much about them/the market, do's/don'ts, etc. I'm looking in the $2k-$3k price range so maybe original 1960s basses are out of the budget but would still be interested to learn about them.

Wondering if someone could give me a quick crash course on what are the good years from 1960s-1980s (or even 1990s?) and also answer a specific question I have, which is are there any 1970s Mustangs that have a nitro finish or are all Mustangs 1970-1979 poly finished?

Thanks!

 

[LeighOnSea]

Hi!
Is there a list of mustang versions, current and pretty recent? - I don't have silly money for vintage.

I have a Sire U5 with Tonerider The Duke pups and La Bellas on that I love but am hankering after a Mustang.

What level would I have to go in at to surpass (subjective I kno) the U5? More or less.

Thanks very much

 

[Froski]

Hi!
Is there a list of mustang versions, current and pretty recent? - I don't have silly money for vintage.

I have a Sire U5 with Tonerider The Duke pups and La Bellas on that I love but am hankering after a Mustang.

What level would I have to go in at to surpass (subjective I kno) the U5? More or less.

Thanks very much

I'd like to try a U5 to see how it compares to the Mustang. Unfortunately there's no vendors that stock them here. If I want to try one, I'd have to buy one. I like my Mustang, I think it's a keeper but next to my favorite Jazz bass (a Player II), there's no comparison. I'm choosing my Jazz bass all day long. I'd like another Mustang to string with tape wounds but I think if I decide on a second one, I'll be doing it as a parts bass or a Squire CV

 

[T McClure]

Hi all! Long time TB member and Mustang owner here. I have a modded Player MIM P/J with Nordstrand pups that I picked up from TB-er some years ago and it's always been my go to. I've recently been looking at vintage Mustangs and would love to get one but don't know much about them/the market, do's/don'ts, etc. I'm looking in the $2k-$3k price range so maybe original 1960s basses are out of the budget but would still be interested to learn about them.

Wondering if someone could give me a quick crash course on what are the good years from 1960s-1980s (or even 1990s?) and also answer a specific question I have, which is are there any 1970s Mustangs that have a nitro finish or are all Mustangs 1970-1979 poly finished?

Thanks!

The biggest thing to notice is the change from the slab body to one with forearm and belly contours. You'll see those on the 70s Mustangs before they went back to a slab shape in 80 or 81.

For whatever reason, some of those later 70s Mustangs could get heavier. I'm not sure why, but keep an eye out for that.