• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fender Mustang Club

#1,202
Bobhmcs said:
Finally I agree with you completely about that switch and I would join the ditch the switch club in a heart beat if I could. But my severe RA doesn't allow me to use the stacked knobs properly. I replaced the switch with a Switchcraft short stem that has more pull to it so when hit it doesn't move as easily as the stock one that IMHO was made from tooth picks and tin foil.
Bob
Click to expand...
I'd agree, and I considered keeping the switch, and going with something like you did. Better quality, and shorter shaft. In the end, I decided I wanted to be able to blend the pups, and have individual tone controls, so I went with the 62 Jazz VTVT set-up.

I'd still suggest to anyone interested to at least convert the pots to 500k, and go with something more reasonable for the tone cap...Like a .047 instead of the stock .1. When I did that to an older Jazz bass I had with the VVT controls, it really did open up a wider range of tones from that bass. It had the same result with the Mustang, but the change to the VTVT control set-up probably adds a variable.

I've also wondered if anyone here has done any playing with the phase of the pickups? If I could find the space under the control plate, I'd put a small phase-flip toggle switch in-line from the bridge pup. Perhaps between the jack and the nearest controls. There might be room for that in mine, but it would be a mighty tight fit with all I have going on in there now for a DPDT switch.

When running both pickups, it seems like there's a bit of a mid-range scoop when adding in the bridge pickup. I wonder what flipping the phase of that would sound like.?. I may experiment over this weekend if I can find a small enough switch.

Dave O.
 
#1,203
daveobieone said:
I've also wondered if anyone here has done any playing with the phase of the pickups? If I could find the space under the control plate, I'd put a small phase-flip toggle switch in-line from the bridge pup. Perhaps between the jack and the nearest controls. There might be room for that in mine, but it would be a mighty tight fit with all I have going on in there now for a DPDT switch.

When running both pickups, it seems like there's a bit of a mid-range scoop when adding in the bridge pickup. I wonder what flipping the phase of that would sound like.?
Click to expand...
Put a .01 uF capacitor in-line with the Jazz pickup; it'll eliminate the issue and deliver a richer blended tone. If you hardwire it, the Jazz pickup won't sound quite as full soloed, but it you put the cap on a switch, you can engage it when you're blending the pickups and disengage when you're soloing the bridge pickup.
 
#1,205
fermata said:
Put a .01 uF capacitor in-line with the Jazz pickup; it'll eliminate the issue and deliver a richer blended tone. If you hardwire it, the Jazz pickup won't sound quite as full soloed, but it you put the cap on a switch, you can engage it when you're blending the pickups and disengage when you're soloing the bridge pickup.
Click to expand...
Cool idea! Hadn't given that a thought. Sort-of Rickenbacker-like. I think my 4001 has a cap in series with the bridge pickup. That I can easily fit in. Could perhaps even go in the pickup cavity. I doubt I'll ever wish to solo the bridge, so leaving it in-line shouldn't be a big deal. Just use it for a little "spice".
Thanks!
Dave O.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fermata
#1,206
Bobhmcs said:
Hi all,
Well 30 mins after my last "I'm Back" post I received a call that my brother in Texas had a heart attack and was medivac'd to the heart center in Dallas. So I was on the next plane to the town he lives in to help out. So that's why I haven't been on. But he survived and is doing well and once again I am back.
This time I took the PJ with me because he is a guitarist we played a bit together and a funny thing occurred. When I plugged in at his place there was a noticeable snap, crackle, and pop when pressure was applied between the switch and the volume control. Since I had the switch and pick ups replaced I of course thought it was the wiring connections. My brother heard me making an appointment with his local GC for repair and started hollering at me to stop ran in grabbed the PJ and started wiping my Pickguard Planet replacement and suddenly the snap crackle and pop was gone. All I could say to the repair tech was "Uh never mind" and hung up the phone. I was dumbfounded. The tech was talking rewiring shielding and possible parts with a minimum of 3 hours labor. My brother fixed it with a 4 cent dryer sheet. Then we sanded the back until the sheen was gone, shielded the back with copper, re-insulated all connections slapped her back together and now she is permanently shielded and dead silent! Notice though I did not say completely shielded. That's all we could do with the limited time I had left. All for the use of a 4 cent dryer sheet. He explained that the sheet trick would only last 3 to 5 days. But it sho made my bass smelt purdy!
Apparently this is a well known issue with new pickguards on new guitars. Not as much with the 3 ply but notorious with single ply.
So to make a long story longer as a thank you for me coming out and helping he took me over to a well known country musician/actors house and I got to plunk along with those 2. No it wasn't Honky Tonk Man but we did a little Guitars, Cadillacs.
Great to be home. Hope the sheet story can be of help.
Bob
Click to expand...

Good info on the dryer sheet trick. I’ve heard of it before, but that was a good reminder. In fact, it now helps me make sense of something I read semi-recently by a guy who was having problems with his SG.

Anyway, I’ve put copper shielding on the back of all mine that have had noise issues, but the dryer sheet thing could come in handy if one of the others starts acting up.

Glad your brother recovered, and nice to hear you had some great jams
 
#1,207
I wanted to have a short scale bass, so I went back to a Fender Mustang PJ.

Ng8dAgX.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Uncle K, lowplaces and 6 others
#1,215
halfwound121 said:
My four Mustangs.... MIM P/J, new USA, 1976 USA, and Squier VM. Mods to the MIM include Lace pickups, custom pick guard, and Hipshot bridge and tuners. Can I get a number please?View attachment 3280531 View attachment 3280525View attachment 3280526View attachment 3280530
Click to expand...

Ohmigosh, what a lovely string! How do you choose between 'em come gig-time?!?

upload_2019-1-12_15-24-30.png


Welcome to the range!

@halfwound121 = #60

[picture is of David Govedare's sculpture 'Grandfather Cuts Loose The Ponies,' near the Columbia River in Washington state]
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveobieone, MCF, halfwound121 and 3 others
#1,217
  • Like
Reactions: MCF and halfwound121
#1,218
BassJuju said:
Nice collection. I dig the Auberjine USA. How do you like it? I wish it didn’t have the Jazz pup, but alas it does.
Click to expand...
Kind of agree...it’s doesn’t really fit the traditional image, but it sounds great and makes the bass more versatile. I like it a lot, especially the neck, although the MIM neck is nice too (except the cheap tuners it comes with.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: HD007

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back