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Fender Mustang Club

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.

I'd love to see the Aubergine, but alas no photo. Still, in the absence of the vintage pickup, I'd probably pass. Fascinating to say the least.
 
I guess they're trying to put the cat back in the bag.

As I understand it, and this is 3rd hand info, it appears that the announcement for the Performer Series Mustang is a Major ooooooops! Someone jumped the gun. It was supposed to be under wraps until the North American Music Manufacturer's show, in January as a surprise. I wouldn't want to be that guy! All reference of the Performer Series have been pulled including at the Fender site. In my short term on this planet I have witnessed a number of ooooops! Vietnam, Watergate, the pre announcement of the 1987 HD Heritage Softail, the pre announcement of Windows 10 etc. I know this isn't on those levels but it will be fun to watch what comes of it.
Thanks to all

Bob
 
I was looking around and saw this image for the new Performer Mustang Bass range. I like the colours. I'm guessing the redesigned bridge is so it lines up better with the J pickup. I was hoping Fender would just release new, non-relic colours for the JMJ, but it's hard to argue against more versatility.
American Performer Mustang.jpeg
 
I love my USA Fender Precision. It looks great, sounds great, and feels like an extension of my body.
Did I mention I love my P bass? Its a great bass but ...

Oh, also I have a Gibson T'Bird which I love almost as much, maybe more some days, than the P bass. Its a gigantic monstrosity of a bass and I love it. It sounds incredible and looks very cool. Its also a great bass but ...

I get frustrated because certain lines I want to play, when they're down the neck like in G, just aren't as fast or smooth as I want because I have to really stretch or shift my hand. I've worked really hard at it and have gotten much better, but it always bothers me that its so difficult. Then there's the occasional hand pain.

Every time I went into my local Sam Ash I would pick up the Mustang PJ and play it and was always amazed how easy it was to play. I could fly through those difficult lines without a thought. And it sounded pretty good. Not the same as my P or TBird, but pretty good. And I liked the feel of the neck - not overly glossy or sticky. Smooth and feels good in the hand.

So I finally bought it. I decided the only fair way to get used to this short scale bass is to hang the others up on the wall, and only play the Mustang for the next couple months. I'm really liking it. Its very fast, I mean really fast, and so easy to play. Its also light and feels good hanging on a strap. The sound is different than I'm used to, but I'm learning to get what I like from it. This bass could become my #1 player.

I've heard the comments about problems with the pickup selector switch. And mine was noisy right out of the box. I took off the pick guard to get to the switch and gave it a good spray with contact cleaner and the noise is gone. Its an easy fix and I recommend it to anyone with a noisy switch.

I changed the strings to chrome flatwounds and they sound great!

I gave it a setup. A small truss rod adjustment and lowering the saddles. Now the action is low and no fret buzz at all, just like I like it.

Mods? Of course! I modify every bass I own. I guess I just like to tinker with my basses, plus it makes them my own. I added a Fender Precision bridge cover (ashtray cover). It looks great and gives the bass a different look. The color is the sonic blue (looks green not blue to my eye) with mint green pick guard. I'm not liking the mint green pick guard so I ordered a black one. It should arrive in the next day or two.

The fretboard is Pau Ferro of course. Its a little lighter than I'd like, but it still looks good. I like the grain lines in it.

I considered buying the JMJ Roadworn version because it has such great reviews and sounds incredible in some YouTubes I listened to. But in the end I wasn't ready to drop $1000 on a bass I wasn't sure I'd play. If this PJ turns out to be the #1 like I think it might, I might consider adding the JMJ sometime in the future.

Anyway, just wanted to share my Mustang PJ experience and will post pics once the new pick guard is on it. Happy thanksgiving everyone.
 
I love my USA Fender Precision. It looks great, sounds great, and feels like an extension of my body.
Did I mention I love my P bass? Its a great bass but ...

Oh, also I have a Gibson T'Bird which I love almost as much, maybe more some days, than the P bass. Its a gigantic monstrosity of a bass and I love it. It sounds incredible and looks very cool. Its also a great bass but ...

I get frustrated because certain lines I want to play, when they're down the neck like in G, just aren't as fast or smooth as I want because I have to really stretch or shift my hand. I've worked really hard at it and have gotten much better, but it always bothers me that its so difficult. Then there's the occasional hand pain.

Every time I went into my local Sam Ash I would pick up the Mustang PJ and play it and was always amazed how easy it was to play. I could fly through those difficult lines without a thought. And it sounded pretty good. Not the same as my P or TBird, but pretty good. And I liked the feel of the neck - not overly glossy or sticky. Smooth and feels good in the hand.

So I finally bought it. I decided the only fair way to get used to this short scale bass is to hang the others up on the wall, and only play the Mustang for the next couple months. I'm really liking it. Its very fast, I mean really fast, and so easy to play. Its also light and feels good hanging on a strap. The sound is different than I'm used to, but I'm learning to get what I like from it. This bass could become my #1 player.

I've heard the comments about problems with the pickup selector switch. And mine was noisy right out of the box. I took off the pick guard to get to the switch and gave it a good spray with contact cleaner and the noise is gone. Its an easy fix and I recommend it to anyone with a noisy switch.

I changed the strings to chrome flatwounds and they sound great!

I gave it a setup. A small truss rod adjustment and lowering the saddles. Now the action is low and no fret buzz at all, just like I like it.

Mods? Of course! I modify every bass I own. I guess I just like to tinker with my basses, plus it makes them my own. I added a Fender Precision bridge cover (ashtray cover). It looks great and gives the bass a different look. The color is the sonic blue (looks green not blue to my eye) with mint green pick guard. I'm not liking the mint green pick guard so I ordered a black one. It should arrive in the next day or two.

The fretboard is Pau Ferro of course. Its a little lighter than I'd like, but it still looks good. I like the grain lines in it.

I considered buying the JMJ Roadworn version because it has such great reviews and sounds incredible in some YouTubes I listened to. But in the end I wasn't ready to drop $1000 on a bass I wasn't sure I'd play. If this PJ turns out to be the #1 like I think it might, I might consider adding the JMJ sometime in the future.

Anyway, just wanted to share my Mustang PJ experience and will post pics once the new pick guard is on it. Happy thanksgiving everyone.
Like you, I’m a Tbird and Pbass guy. Love them. I got the Sonic Blue Mustang when they first came out and GC had them on sale at $449. More for nostalgia than anything else. I had a Mustang in the seventies, but stupidly sold it. My PJ has a Rosewood fb. It’s really nice, but I hate the tuners so I’m finally going to replace them. It setup easily; I have it at low action and the neck is fast. But not as fast as my Gibby Bird, an old Ibenez Ergodyne I have or a nice Peavy Foundation I recently picked up. I travel with it and it’s a great couch bass for noodling around on while watching TV. I’m gassing for the JMJ, but will wait for the new Performer Series before deciding if I really need another Mustang.
 
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I play 'Take a walk on the wildside' emulating the two bass lines into a hybrid line I can play myself. It has some really weird intervals that make my hand want to cramp up. Last night I played it on my Mustang...much easier.
This interval is a bitch on a 34" scale.

View attachment 3223240
Extremely difficult song to master to sound like the original. I’m impressed. Maybe post a video to show us how you play it. I’m interested to see your take on it I get frustrated trying to learn it.
 
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Extremely difficult song to master to sound like the original. I’m impressed. Maybe post a video to show us how you play it. I’m interested to see your take on it I get frustrated trying to learn it.
I cheated a bit. I do FOH for Prakash John, who did not record it, but played it on the road with Lou Reed. He showed me a couple of tricks. He has also done it with Will Lee on the other bass.
RE: sending a video. I'm still struggling a bit with it, specially since I'm singing it. When I get it to flow 100% perhaps I will.
 
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What do you hate about the tuners and what are you going to replace them with?
They are not precise enough IMO. I’m not sure what I’m going to use; there are posts here on TB
about options. It’s the only change I’m going to make after having it for coming up on two years. I think the bridge is ok, I really haven’t had an issue with the switch and I like the pickups enough that I don’t feel the need to upgrade them. And the fretwork on mine is fine, so I haven’t done any filing on the ends, and I’m pretty picky about fretends.
 
I was looking around and saw this image for the new Performer Mustang Bass range. I like the colours. I'm guessing the redesigned bridge is so it lines up better with the J pickup. I was hoping Fender would just release new, non-relic colours for the JMJ, but it's hard to argue against more versatility. View attachment 3223114

WHAT? REALLY? ARE THEY SERIOUS!!!!! NO NO NO!

Finally they stop the so called “Mint Green" pickguard and then turn around and produce a whole PJ of that color?! Aarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh! Oowwwwwwwwww!!! I can't believe this. Baby Puke Green LIVES! My mother had hand towels that color in the 50’s!

Sincere apologies to the fans of “Mint Green". But if you had done as many Pacific crossings in the Navy as I, you would agree with me completely. During heavy seas a slick of that color trailed behind every ship in the fleet.

Ok I am stepping down and putting my soapbox away. I firmly believe Warmoth's custom body sales will soar through the roof.

Finally I once again apologise to those fans of the ummm “Mint Green" color for my outburst but it's just not me.

-Bowing and shaking my head with that I can’t believe it look-

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving all!!!!


Bob
 
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Sincere apologies to the fans of “Mint Green". But if you had done as many Pacific crossings in the Navy as I, you would agree with me completely. During heavy seas a slick of that color trailed behind every ship in the fleet.
They're calling that colour Seafoam Green apparently. Which from what you say is a surprisingly accurate description. I'm actually a fan of Surf Green guitars, and this looks pretty close to that, so I'd be tempted by that one. But I clearly don't have the same associations with the sea as you do. Mine are more about sunny beach holidays :)
 
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I thoroughly understand and meant no offense. There are a few on this thread who would wonder if I was OK if I didn't say any thing. It was only IMHO. That is all.

Again have a happy Thanksgiving

Bob
 
I thoroughly understand and meant no offense. There are a few on this thread who would wonder if I was OK if I didn't say any thing. It was only IMHO. That is all.

Again have a happy Thanksgiving

Bob
No offence taken at all. I find it fascinating how people can have such different reactions to the same thing. Keeps the world interesting. When Ford started out making cars he thought all that mattered was whether they worked. "You can have any colour you want as long as it's black". Luckily car manufacturers changed their minds or we wouldn't have all those classic Fender guitar colours :)

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving. I'm not American, but feel a connection to Thanksgiving as turns out one of my ancestors was born on the Mayflower, and was there at the first one. Apparently he complained his Mom didn't put enough marshmallow on the sweet potato. Okay, I may have made that last bit up.
 
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No offence taken at all. I find it fascinating how people can have such different reactions to the same thing. Keeps the world interesting. When Ford started out making cars he thought all that mattered was whether they worked. "You can have any colour you want as long as it's black". Luckily car manufacturers changed their minds or we wouldn't have all those classic Fender guitar colours :)

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving. I'm not American, but feel a connection to Thanksgiving as turns out one of my ancestors was born on the Mayflower, and was there at the first one. Apparently he complained his Mom didn't put enough marshmallow on the sweet potato. Okay, I may have made that last bit up.

Like Bob, I don't like that green. But, then again, I don't like sweet potatoes either! Being a Canadian and living in the US, I celebrate both. Another reason to give thanks is good enough for me :thumbsup::thumbsup:. Happy Thanksgiving to all :).
 
The seafoam green is the one that’s calling to me.

I always liked the way the pastel Fender’s looked, but my music was somewhat aggressive (nothing heavy, just edgy rock) and a nice sunny pastel just didn’t seem like it would bring up the right mood at all, at least outside of the house.

As the years have gone on I’ve mellowed out a bit though, and all my instruments are either white, sunburst (2), "heritage cherry" (2) or black (1). Kinda jonesing to finally get me one of those pastels I’ve always liked, and this seafoam green one could do the trick.

I’ll spare your eyes from a Jazz in this thread, but Fender’s new "buttercream" Fender Jazz also appeals to me along those lines, though it’s not exactly a pastel.

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
The seafoam green is the one that’s calling to me.

Regarding color, I'm a fan of Olympic White and and not so much a fan of Sonic Blue, Torino Red, Orange or Seafoam Green. I bought an Oly PJ about a week ago but I later found some playability niggles that I wasn't happy with and subsequently tried a Sonic Blue PJ they had just put out in the same shop that didn't have those issues so I exchanged the Oly for the Sonic. It's only been a couple of days but the color of the Sonic is growing on me.
 
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