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Fender Mustang Club
- Thread starter FlyingPigSound
- Start date
^^^^ This. I just got my first Mustang, so right now I'm kind of dazzled with how easy it is to play. But I'm well-versed in the perils of serial monogamy when it comes to instruments. You're always gonna want something that's lighter and smaller, even if it's not your #1 instrument. My #1 guitar is a baritone. #2 is a standard-size that I tune low. At least every few months, I start getting aches and pains from practicing and bending strings on the big guitar and I switch back to the regular guitar. It's great. I always used to own one guitar which I'd miss after I moved on.
Alright gents talk me down. I'm thinking of selling my Mustang and other mid level instruments for a higher level 'the one'.
I came to the Mustang from a Precision largely because on a 34" scale I cannot go from fret 1 to 4 without shifting but on the Mustang I can. That hasn't changed of course but it is less of an issue now that I have more time playing.
As to why I'm even considering returning to a long scale... down tuning to D standard, drop D and half step down as well as higher fret access. But am I just setting myself up to being right back here again in six months when I come to the same decision as last time?
Have you tried 32" scale? I play 32" scale with the band and tune to drop D with no problems.
Alright gents talk me down. I'm thinking of selling my Mustang and other mid level instruments for a higher level 'the one'.
I came to the Mustang from a Precision largely because on a 34" scale I cannot go from fret 1 to 4 without shifting but on the Mustang I can. That hasn't changed of course but it is less of an issue now that I have more time playing.
As to why I'm even considering returning to a long scale... down tuning to D standard, drop D and half step down as well as higher fret access. But am I just setting myself up to being right back here again in six months when I come to the same decision as last time?
IMO, "the one" is great and all that, but you’ll still want the old Change o’ Pacer. Something light and relatively cheap and fun is always nice to have on hand.
Actually, investing too much in one instrument, while not wrong or bad, well, it can weigh on your mind. I have some expensive-for-me instruments, and I’m glad I have them, but like i have a J-200 acoustic guitar that got damaged due to low humidity one winter. My most beloved acoustic and one of my favorite instruments. I’m glad I’ve owned it as it was my dream acoustic and it gave me a lot of enjoyment, but now it’s kind of ruined (still playable but no longer magical) and there’s no way I’m going to pay to replace it with another J-200 at this point in my life. It really bums me out just thinking about it. Meanwhile, more mid-priced, more replaceable instruments are also useable and enjoyable and carry a lesser mental load. Just some thoughts; I’m not saying to not get that dream bass. But keep something freer on hand, too
This is what I'm finding. My two PJ Mustangs are pretty similar. The blue one has a Seymour Duncan STK-J2b in the bridge position. This is their 'hot' stack J pickup. I hate to think what the regular pickup sounds like. It might be hot, but it still seems weak, somehow. The dummy coil seems to rob the pickup of playing dynamics and treble. It sounds very blah. It does its job, in terms of cancelling noise!
My white PJ has a Dimarzio Model J in the bridge, which is a much more musical pickup.
My “the one” was the Ric 4003w I bought last year. Beautiful guitar, but since I got the Mustang the Ric has pretty much stayed in its case
Fair point, though on paper 32 sounds a great idea, but until I got the chance to try one out I’d not want to risk it
I bought a mustang pj couple of months ago, what pickup replacements would have a more beefy low end? Has any one found/tried a fretless neck?
I'm considering changing the stock pickups on my pj as well. There are some comments and reviews in this thread and also here...
Upgrades for Fender Mustang PJ bass
AERO pickups are on my short list.
AERO PICKUPS - Religious Tone Experience
@Axstar
You wrote..
"My white PJ has a Dimarzio Model J in the bridge, which is a much more musical pickup."
Do you still have the stock P pick pickup in that bass ? If so, how does it sound combined with the stock P pickup ? (Switch center position)
You wrote..
"My white PJ has a Dimarzio Model J in the bridge, which is a much more musical pickup."
Do you still have the stock P pick pickup in that bass ? If so, how does it sound combined with the stock P pickup ? (Switch center position)
Fretless would probably have to be a conversion of a fretted neck. Not a big problem as there isn't binding, and these aren't exactly valuable basses! No doubt the Stratosphere guy has been parting these basses out already, so a second neck wouldn't be impossible to find.
I find the stock P pickup to be pretty beefy, but I always wanted a Dimarzio Model P in one of mine. This is a beefy pickup. I don't think you can charm more low end out of these basses unless you move over to flats. I find there is more than enough low end on tap from these basses as it is. The Dimarzio just makes the lows and mids sort of richer and pre-canned for rock band music.
Played a jazz gig (keys, guitar, flugelhorn, drums, Mustang) last night at a spectacular estate on Lummi Island here in Northwest corner of corner of the USA, beautiful cool weather, great eats (Dungeness crab, steak, etc... "feed the band first!" etc... heaven), and thought I'd post proof I actually play this gorgeous beastie...
Sorry, no action shots... just couldn't bring myself to trust my phone to the lawyers we were entertaining.
The Tangerine Dream Mustang is wonderful. Band dug the sound outdoors through my MarkBass 102P (all the presence I needed in a large open area at 1/3 gain & vol), really liked the Mustang's ability to change tone from one tune to another when necessary with just a touch of the pup blend knob and separate tone control. The Lindy Fralin pup set is killer, at least to my aging ear. Beef when needed, edge when needed, sweet voice in the upper ranges for solos when required. No hand pain after 3 hours....
It's a keeper.
Flo
Sorry, no action shots... just couldn't bring myself to trust my phone to the lawyers we were entertaining.
The Tangerine Dream Mustang is wonderful. Band dug the sound outdoors through my MarkBass 102P (all the presence I needed in a large open area at 1/3 gain & vol), really liked the Mustang's ability to change tone from one tune to another when necessary with just a touch of the pup blend knob and separate tone control. The Lindy Fralin pup set is killer, at least to my aging ear. Beef when needed, edge when needed, sweet voice in the upper ranges for solos when required. No hand pain after 3 hours....
It's a keeper.
Flo
Now *that's* funny. I think we've all been there at least once... or thrice, or 19 times... *ahem*
Still the advice to Solude is good. Keep your Mustang & try out something else as well. As for "the one", I have two (polygamous? oy!) - a 4001 and the CIJ Mustang. Neither began as a quest for "the one", it sort of happened organically. i.e. I bought them not knowing they would become "it" for me, but years of playing solidified their spot at the top of my bass tree, so to speak.
Good luck in your quest!
GT
Have you witnessed the E string at the nut and saddle ?Spent some time this week retooling my sim setup and getting my action basically as low as the stock bridge allows and things are looking up. If I drop the strings another .5mm the low E saddle will be on the bridge
Are there any maple-board neck replacements available for the P/J Mustangs yet? I haven't measured the neck pocket, maybe a Warmoth would fit... Anyone have any input?
Ideally, I'd want something with a "vintage tint" and clear coat on it but I'd explore other maple options. Just not really a rosewood guy anymore.
Ideally, I'd want something with a "vintage tint" and clear coat on it but I'd explore other maple options. Just not really a rosewood guy anymore.
