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Fender Mustang Club
- Thread starter FlyingPigSound
- Start date
Has anyone replaced the stock pickup on a Pawn Shop Mustang with either a split-coil Mustang pickup or a P-bass pickup?
One small screw hole for each tuner was necessary.
I just got a JMJ Mustang bass today and am blown away by it. I'm not a big fan of the road worn thing, but it feels really nice in your hands and its liberating to have a bass that I don't have to be careful with! It looks better in person than in pics. I was going to replace the pearl pickguard with black, but the pearl one just looks right.
I didn't like the thumb rest on the top side. It got in my way so I moved it to the location below the strings. The pickguard was pre-drilled for it, but not the body. So I had to drill the holes. No big deal, took 2 minutes.
One of the knobs was loose. Tightened it up and good to go. Mine was a floor model so it may have gotten loose by people over cranking it. Probably not Fender's fault.
The Fender flats that it came with sounded great. But they're a little too loose for me, I like more tension in my strings. I changed the strings to Labella Flats. I used the 760F-MUS that are specifically designed for short-scale with string thru the body. They sound and feel great.
The action was a little high for me, even more so after I changed to the higher tension La Bella strings. A quick adjustment to the saddles and the action is right where I like it, at about 1.5mm at the 12th fret. No truss rod adjustment necessary, which is good because I would have had to take the neck off to adjust it.
Intonation is very close. Close enough that I didn't touch it.
How does it sound? Very much like a P-bass except that the tone knob has a lot more effect than on my P. This thing thumps with powerful low end, but has a punchy mid-range too. It has a little bit of that funny sound that short scales make on the low E string when played on higher frets. Its a lot less than other short-scales I've played, but I do hear it. Overall it sounds really really good.
BUT, then I used it to practice some songs along with Youtube recordings and its just F'ing amazing in the mix. I just can't believe how good it sounds in the mix with other instruments. Better than my P-Bass, better than my Thunderbird, better than my Jazz, better than my Peavey, better than anything I've ever played! I've heard others say this about this bass, but didn't pay too much attention. But wow, it really sits in the mix well. Its amazing.
I had a Mustang PJ for a while but sold it. The JMJ Mustang absolutely blows away the Mustang PJ.
I can't say enough good things about this bass
I didn't like the thumb rest on the top side. It got in my way so I moved it to the location below the strings. The pickguard was pre-drilled for it, but not the body. So I had to drill the holes. No big deal, took 2 minutes.
One of the knobs was loose. Tightened it up and good to go. Mine was a floor model so it may have gotten loose by people over cranking it. Probably not Fender's fault.
The Fender flats that it came with sounded great. But they're a little too loose for me, I like more tension in my strings. I changed the strings to Labella Flats. I used the 760F-MUS that are specifically designed for short-scale with string thru the body. They sound and feel great.
The action was a little high for me, even more so after I changed to the higher tension La Bella strings. A quick adjustment to the saddles and the action is right where I like it, at about 1.5mm at the 12th fret. No truss rod adjustment necessary, which is good because I would have had to take the neck off to adjust it.
Intonation is very close. Close enough that I didn't touch it.
How does it sound? Very much like a P-bass except that the tone knob has a lot more effect than on my P. This thing thumps with powerful low end, but has a punchy mid-range too. It has a little bit of that funny sound that short scales make on the low E string when played on higher frets. Its a lot less than other short-scales I've played, but I do hear it. Overall it sounds really really good.
BUT, then I used it to practice some songs along with Youtube recordings and its just F'ing amazing in the mix. I just can't believe how good it sounds in the mix with other instruments. Better than my P-Bass, better than my Thunderbird, better than my Jazz, better than my Peavey, better than anything I've ever played! I've heard others say this about this bass, but didn't pay too much attention. But wow, it really sits in the mix well. Its amazing.
I had a Mustang PJ for a while but sold it. The JMJ Mustang absolutely blows away the Mustang PJ.
I can't say enough good things about this bass
Has anyone tried this bag with the mustang bass? Is it any better than the Fender Urban short scale bass bag?
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They finally did something. About time. I use a Mono M80, I believe it is, electric guitar case. It fits the mustang perfectly.
ETA: I just checked it out. I'll keep the Mono case. Much more secure and much more protection.
I haven't had a chance to try the JMJ yet.
I do have a few Mustangs though. With a Mustang pickup, and also with a P/J pickup.
I think there's a fundamental difference between all 3 types of pickups,
Precision, Jazz, and Mustang, and some are more drawn to one type over the others.
A bass that has a Mustang body with a P/J pickup combo is going to sound different
than a Mustang body with a Mustang pickup in it - no way around that.
There are also a lot of differences between the variations of each type.
A quick look at the specs of some of the available P or J pickups will show this.
Good you like your JMJ. I really hope I get the chance to try one someday.
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I bought one for my Mustang. Didn't think much of it. It cost $60 and if it didn't say "Fender" on it it would have been $19.95. Put it in the closet in case I ever decide to sell the Mustang. Use my Gator Transit and let it flop around...
Could you please post a photo of your mustang in the FBSS-610?
I wonder if the FBSS-610 is intended to be a replacement for the Urban Short Scale Bass Gig Bag
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It has been out of stock everywhere for some time, and folks seemed to like that one. Either of these has GOT to be better than the oversized thing my JMJ came with!
One pic is bass laying on top of case. Another is a side view. Another is a shot of the bass in the case. The case does not open completely as the zipper doesn’t extend all the way across the bottom. I was told that this was the replacement for the Urban. It’s very thin and would only be good for scuff protection. Nat at all pleased with it.
that's an adorable pickguard 
i have that fender urban case thing for my mustang, it feels good to wear but its hilariously thin, basically zero protection
i have that fender urban case thing for my mustang, it feels good to wear but its hilariously thin, basically zero protection
The photos look very much like the quality of gig bag that came with my JMJ. There is no way I would take anything anywhere in that. I was very paranoid taking it home and it's a road worn bass.
I know, I'm the odd one, and I know this costs more, but my piece of mind was worth every penny. Do what you will with this info.
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I know, I'm the odd one, and I know this costs more, but my piece of mind was worth every penny. Do what you will with this info.
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Pick guard is from Decoboom.com, very cool stuff there and great service. Not cheap but worth it IMO! I’ve bought from them twice. About the case for the Mustang, I understand that one of the gator guitar cases fit it nicely at around $150. I love my Gator Transfer series case for my 34” scale basses!that's an adorable pickguard
i have that fender urban case thing for my mustang, it feels good to wear but its hilariously thin, basically zero protection
Orders of magnitude better than the Fender case I bought
Orders of magnitude better than the Fender case I bought
I agree...the Fender gig bag I bought is more of a dust cover
.
