Fender Mustang Club

[felis]

Not if there's a Mexican mustang for $999 already.

I considered that, but it's a signature model, and I'm not sure where those fall in the pricing scheme.
And after giving it some thought, I'm already cooling on the idea regardless of price.

 

[Mekana]

I’m glad the Mustang is included in the new offerings! Looks like the truss rod is accessible w/out having to take off the neck. That’s good. (Really don’t like having to take the neck off my CIJ to adjust.)

Can’t tell if it’s string through or not? That is an interesting bridge!

I am looking forward to hearing this bass! I really love my MIM PJs, so don’t see myself replacing them. But if the new Mustang pickup sounds as good as the JMJ, I wonder if I could swap out the pickup in my CIJ eventually...

 

[nonohmic]

Would be interested to see the back of the neck. That vintage tint on the CIJ is great.

 

[dmt]

View attachment 3218811

It’s been a while since Fender made a US Mustang bass but the new American Performer model is on the way.

Fender Launches New American Performer Series Models!

That’s wild — I was just walking home from work thinking about this exact bass: an alder sunburst MIA Mustang "MJ". Spooky!

The only problem is, I actually prefer the simplicity of one good pickup. Still, flexibility is hard to argue against — its not like you have to stray off the Mustang pickup if you don’t want to (though having an extra pickup does kind of beg one to incorporate it. I was just playing my SG bass last night and, per usual, spent a good amount of the time mucking around with the VVT settings. In contrast, with my MIJ Mustang (or my P), i just plug it in and play and am happy!). I dunno...

Anyway, I think this one looks great. Bridge is fine, imo, the pickup combo looks good visually, and it seems from the pic that it is a much more attractive burst than the burst finishes Mustangs have traditionally gotten

 

[dmt]

I wonder what the string spacing is at the bridge. Looks like the strings are slightly inside the middle of the outer pole pieces on the J pickup...

Basically, I wonder what the neck is like.

And if there’ll be any color options. And...

 

[BassJuju]

When I first looked at that photo I saw a regular P pup... clearly it isn’t. I have to admit that I was less than enthused about that particular P/J combination, but throw in the traditional mustang P pup and I dig it. I thought, I’d be game to give that a go! So, I wanted to reread the article in the original post, but the page is now gone from the music zoo site. Things that make you go hmmmm.... I have the JMJ mustang and it has a real beefy tone. I think I’ll just stay there, but you know... things can change.

 

[mongo2]

It's a little hard to put into words, but here goes - this refers to a MIJ re-issue with the mustang pickup, and the P pickup on the P/J Mustang.

The MIJ sounds to me a bit thumpier, with a more restricted range of frequencies, and not as 'hi-fi' sounding as the P on the P/J.

That's my experience as well. The Mustang pickup has a single pole per string and in that respect it's similar to the SCPB pickup which has a similar sound in comparisons I've done. IME, the 2 poles per string of the P bass pickup gives it a smoother and less constrained tone.

 

[felis]

.... In contrast, with my MIJ Mustang (or my P), i just plug it in and play and am happy!) I dunno....

Yes - when I play my MIJ, I'm very happy with it. When I play the P/J Mustang, I have a tendency to fiddle around with it more.
I like the regular Mustang pickup tone best.
I also really like the J tone on the P/J (I know most people don't).
The P on the P/J is fine and there's nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't really excite me.
So this new M/J seemed like it would be right up my alley. MIA is always an extra incentive too.

That's my experience as well. The Mustang pickup has a single pole per string and in that respect it's similar to the SCPB pickup which has a similar sound in comparisons I've done. IME, the 2 poles per string of the P bass pickup gives it a smoother and less constrained tone.

I knew there was a reason for it sounding a bit different, but don't know how these things are constructed.
Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Paulabass]

^ I've got a 1/4 pounder in the P position, and I never turn on the J. If it wasn't routed already, I wouldn't even have the J.

 

[dmt]

So, I wanted to reread the article in the original post, but the page is now gone from the music zoo site. Things that make you go hmmmm....

Looks like someone spilled the beans early, before Fender’s official unveil, so they were told to take it down

 

[Bass Boy]

Looks like someone spilled the beans early, before Fender’s official unveil, so they were told to take it down

Ya, I noticed the page is gone!

 

[Bobhmcs]

$1K or over and I'm out. Wouldn't even consider it.
Maybe that's a good thing - for my wallet anyways.

Well folks it appears that this discussion is for naught. Seems like all the sites that have been promoting the Performer Series have pulled their pages including Fender! I have checked all the major sites including ollyw's link and now the page cannot be found. It was interesting while it lasted. If I am wrong please let me know so I can find out what went wrong. Sorry for the negativity.

Bob

 

[Bobhmcs]

My apologies to DMT and Bass Boy your posts for some reason didn't show when I added mine.

Bob

 

[mongo2]

I guess they're trying to put the cat back in the bag.

 

[dmt]

Maybe they’re furiously busy filing down and rounding the corners on all those AP Mustang bass bridges before they put up new product photos and ship

 

[OllyW]

Well folks it appears that this discussion is for naught. Seems like all the sites that have been promoting the Performer Series have pulled their pages including Fender! I have checked all the major sites including ollyw's link and now the page cannot be found. It was interesting while it lasted. If I am wrong please let me know so I can find out what went wrong. Sorry for the negativity.

Bob

Looks like a few sites have jumped the gun and had their knuckles rapped by Fender.

This Canadian store still has them listed with Satin Seafoam Green, Aubergine, Arctic White and 3 Tone Sunburst as the colour options, all with rosewood fretboards.

I guess we'll have to wait for Fender's embargo to end before the full details emerge.

 

[dmt]

Looks like a few sites have jumped the gun and had their knuckles rapped by Fender.

This Canadian store still has them listed with Satin Seafoam Green, Aubergine, Arctic White and 3 Tone Sunburst as the colour options, all with rosewood fretboards.

I guess we'll have to wait for Fender's embargo to end before the full details emerge.

Interesting.

For those who, like me, didn’t otherwise know, "Aubergine" apparently means eggplant color (a darkish purple)

 

[felis]

That's my experience as well. The Mustang pickup has a single pole per string and in that respect it's similar to the SCPB pickup which has a similar sound in comparisons I've done. IME, the 2 poles per string of the P bass pickup gives it a smoother and less constrained tone.

Sorry to quote you again but you've got me really curious about that pickup. Are you referring to this one:

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and if so, did you try it as a replacement for a standard Mustang pickup?
Does it sound like a Mustang pickup, or is it noticeably different.

 

[mongo2]

Sorry to quote you again but you've got me really curious about that pickup. Are you referring to this one:

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and if so, did you try it as a replacement for a standard Mustang pickup?
Does it sound like a Mustang pickup, or is it noticeably different.

I compared my CIJ Mustang RI to my SCPBs with OEM pickups. They exhibit tonal characteristics particular to a single narrow pole per string pickup design.

 

[Bass Boy]

Looks like a few sites have jumped the gun and had their knuckles rapped by Fender.

This Canadian store still has them listed with Satin Seafoam Green, Aubergine, Arctic White and 3 Tone Sunburst as the colour options, all with rosewood fretboards.

I guess we'll have to wait for Fender's embargo to end before the full details emerge.

Interesting. Looks like about $1100-1200ish US equivalent.