I'm thinking the standard Mustang bass bridge is the probably the ONLY bass bridge that would NOT fit the PJ. I could be wrong. It's been known to happen. The only high-mass string-through bass bridge I've been able to find is the American Standard mentioned above.
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Fender Mustang Club
- Thread starter FlyingPigSound
- Start date
I'm thinking the standard Mustang bass bridge is the probably the ONLY bass bridge that would NOT fit the PJ. I could be wrong. It's been known to happen. The only high-mass string-through bass bridge I've been able to find is the American Standard mentioned above.
Totally agree! If you're going to invest good money in a PJ (or any decent bass for that matter), why scrimp on protection for it? I'm not saying it has to be a Fender case, since there are plenty of aftermarket cases (cheaper) and can still adequately protect it. I once bought a Rickenbacker 360/12, and then looked at some plastic strap locks. The salesman at Sam Ash, whom I consider a friend, said: "Now you just spent $3000 on a guitar. You might as well not entrust it to a cheap strap lock!" Once I thought for a second, I agreed.
Olympic White PJ ordered! I don't think this one is going to stay stockThinking Fender high mass bridge, Lollar PJ pickups with Vol/Tone Vol/Tone stack knobs.
The high mass bridge makes a nice difference. I'll post pics of mine soon, I just got it on Craigslist 2 weeks ago and love it. It now has a high mass bridge, a hipshot on the e string, and dimarzio p/j pickups which have no noise and sound great. I liked the sound of the stock pickups but the noise from the J was not working for me. Labella flats on there now too, and I rolled the fingerboard edges and smoothed out the fret ends.
I've been doing a lot of sound gigs lately and haven't been able to gig with this yet but I'm looking forward to it.
What model Dimarzio are you using for the Jazz? Model J or Ultra Jazz? I was thinking about putting one of the newer Seymour Duncan Apollo jazz pickups in my PJ(when it gets here). After reading through another thread I'm thinking add a blend instead of the switch and leave the control plate vol/tone...
Howdy all! So I've had my Mustang for...about a year and a half. I've told others this story but it came in a one-ply box, completely disassembled and surrounded by pink styrofoam peanuts. You should have seen my face when I reached in, grabbed the headstock and there was no body attached! Luckily everything was there and I did get it put together and the intonation is decent, but it could still use a professional setup (I was broke for the entirety of 2018, lol), and I have been contemplating changing the bridge. The Jazz bass in my avatar has a Badass bridge (which for some reason I decided to do a few decades back). I stopped playing for a while and have only taken it up again for the last two years and am still really out of date when it comes to equipment these days. When you're talking "high mass bridge," is that your Badass type? And do you all have recommends of what a decent replacement bridge might be, and what I'd get out of that?
Here is photographic proof for my official club membership.
(it's the Polar Blue, which is gorgeous IMO but is hard to capture with a smartphone camera)
Here is photographic proof for my official club membership.
(it's the Polar Blue, which is gorgeous IMO but is hard to capture with a smartphone camera)Howdy all! So I've had my Mustang for...about a year and a half. I've told others this story but it came in a one-ply box, completely disassembled and surrounded by pink styrofoam peanuts. You should have seen my face when I reached in, grabbed the headstock and there was no body attached! Luckily everything was there and I did get it put together and the intonation is decent, but it could still use a professional setup (I was broke for the entirety of 2018, lol), and I have been contemplating changing the bridge. The Jazz bass in my avatar has a Badass bridge (which for some reason I decided to do a few decades back). I stopped playing for a while and have only taken it up again for the last two years and am still really out of date when it comes to equipment these days. When you're talking "high mass bridge," is that your Badass type? And do you all have recommends of what a decent replacement bridge might be, and what I'd get out of that?
Here is photographic proof for my official club membership.
View attachment 3410795
Welcome, Other Lisa. I see you like to add your own artwork to your instruments. Nice! I could ramble on about the benefits of changing over to a high-mass bridge BUT I will let the other, more qualified players give your their two cents, or a nickel, or a quarter's worth of advice. Some consider it a rather controversial issue since it gets into the unwieldy realm of defining quality of tone, etcetera. Enjoy whatever solution you decide on!
Just a sticker or two on the pick guard! The Jazz bass...yeah...I was young. It's a '76 and my nickname for it these days is "Behemoth."
Behemoth! I love it. I used to name my instruments, too. I had a Yamaha FG-300 6-string acoustic that (whom) I called "Lovely Lisa" and a black 70's Guild Starfire II bass that I named "Wicked Wanda". Mine had to have first and last names, ya know.
Fender makes a decent “higher mass” bridge that at least hides the string balls. They go for about $35. IMO Hipshot bridges are the best for the money, and you can find them used here in the classifieds if you’re patient. You want the Fender mount variety to avoid drilling new holes in the body. You can custom order a 17mm string spacing which gives you a little more room on the edges of the fretboard, but might be a problem if you still play your Jazz, which is 19mm. I have the B model on my MIM mustangs and the Vintage model on my Musicmaster. I recommend Bestbassgear for buying new. If funds are tight, I think you would get better value buying Hipshot replacement tuners and keeping the stock bridge. You would be amazed at how much easier setting and holding tune would be.Howdy all! So I've had my Mustang for...about a year and a half. I've told others this story but it came in a one-ply box, completely disassembled and surrounded by pink styrofoam peanuts. You should have seen my face when I reached in, grabbed the headstock and there was no body attached! Luckily everything was there and I did get it put together and the intonation is decent, but it could still use a professional setup (I was broke for the entirety of 2018, lol), and I have been contemplating changing the bridge. The Jazz bass in my avatar has a Badass bridge (which for some reason I decided to do a few decades back). I stopped playing for a while and have only taken it up again for the last two years and am still really out of date when it comes to equipment these days. When you're talking "high mass bridge," is that your Badass type? And do you all have recommends of what a decent replacement bridge might be, and what I'd get out of that?
Here is photographic proof for my official club membership.
View attachment 3410795
Good luck!
Totally agree with this about the tuners. I’ve had my MIM pj for two years; primarily take it for practicing when I’m traveling for business. The tuners are the place to start, IMO. Everything else is fine on mine. If I played mine everyday, I’d upgrade the tuners. Right now it’s not a priority but I’ll get around to it...someday.
Howdy all! So I've had my Mustang for...about a year and a half. I've told others this story but it came in a one-ply box, completely disassembled and surrounded by pink styrofoam peanuts. You should have seen my face when I reached in, grabbed the headstock and there was no body attached! Luckily everything was there and I did get it put together and the intonation is decent, but it could still use a professional setup (I was broke for the entirety of 2018, lol), and I have been contemplating changing the bridge. The Jazz bass in my avatar has a Badass bridge (which for some reason I decided to do a few decades back). I stopped playing for a while and have only taken it up again for the last two years and am still really out of date when it comes to equipment these days. When you're talking "high mass bridge," is that your Badass type? And do you all have recommends of what a decent replacement bridge might be, and what I'd get out of that?
Here is photographic proof for my official club membership.
View attachment 3410795
Welcome to the corral, OtherLisa!
@OtherLisa = #70
FYI, I swapped out the stock bridge on my PJ for a Hipshot Kickass bridge. Not sure about tone or sustain changes it might have effected, as I picked it for primarily for its adjustability (adjustable string spacing, saddle inserts). I used it to set my string spacing just slightly wider across the fretboard.
That said, with its TI flats and Lindy Fralin pups, Mustang Molly (yeah, I name mine too), will hold a note nearly as long and strong as my good ol' PBass strung with the same TIs (30" vs 34" is not quite a fair match in that regard). Tone? Sounds great to me, but I doubt I (or most folks for that matter) could tell the difference in sound if the old bridge was put back. And cosmetically, I think it looks better than the original. YMMV.
My Pawn Shop Mustang bass strings through the body, so I thought they all did. I wonder if that bridge is available for purchase...?
This is the bridge that came on my Fender Adam Clayton Signature Jazz Bass. I recently added it to my Squire Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass when I had it refinished. It's another solid option.
https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Ameri...s+bass+bridge&qid=1557422270&s=gateway&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Ameri...s+bass+bridge&qid=1557422270&s=gateway&sr=8-3
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I went with the Model P and J set. The bridge pickup is still weak sauce, but I've done my best! With the P and J pickups both on you get a passible Jazz Bass scooped tone.
I went with the Fender Badass-style bridge on mine. I currently have Chromes on this bass and it sounds terrific. Even better, I can fling it into a gig bag and stick it in the back of my car and go places with it without worrying too much. Next month I might smuggle it down to London in a suitcase, with the neck off the body. It is a robust wee bass!
Thanks for all the great information! And the number! I need to add that to my sig line.
As for the Jazz bass...first, it's a beautiful bass and it sounds awesome. I am not nearly a good enough player to do it justice to be honest. I took a 17 year break and though I've come a long way in recovering what chops I once had, I do find it tougher to play than the Mustang (and my recently acquired Squier VM Jaguar SS). Second...it is HEAVY. That's why I call it "Behemoth" these days...And oddly enough, I am playing more than I did when I used to play it. My late 80s/90s band was showcase/originals and we rarely did more than one set. This current band is mostly originals but we do some covers too and sometimes do three set nights (most of our gigs seem to be two sets). I can't really at this point in my life see playing the Jazz for an entire night. It's hard for me to find a comfortable practice position for it now -- wonky shoulders so I actually prefer to practice standing up -- and yeah. Heavy.
I'll never part with it -- it represents a huge chunk of my life and I do love it -- but it's no longer my everyday bass.
I wish I still had the bass I traded/sold to buy it -- a Music Master. But given that I paid $325 for that Jazz bass, I can't complain. Too much.
As for the Jazz bass...first, it's a beautiful bass and it sounds awesome. I am not nearly a good enough player to do it justice to be honest. I took a 17 year break and though I've come a long way in recovering what chops I once had, I do find it tougher to play than the Mustang (and my recently acquired Squier VM Jaguar SS). Second...it is HEAVY. That's why I call it "Behemoth" these days...And oddly enough, I am playing more than I did when I used to play it. My late 80s/90s band was showcase/originals and we rarely did more than one set. This current band is mostly originals but we do some covers too and sometimes do three set nights (most of our gigs seem to be two sets). I can't really at this point in my life see playing the Jazz for an entire night. It's hard for me to find a comfortable practice position for it now -- wonky shoulders so I actually prefer to practice standing up -- and yeah. Heavy.
I'll never part with it -- it represents a huge chunk of my life and I do love it -- but it's no longer my everyday bass.
I wish I still had the bass I traded/sold to buy it -- a Music Master. But given that I paid $325 for that Jazz bass, I can't complain. Too much.
Love the refinish on the Jaguar!
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I don’t know of an aftermarket replacement for the string through Mustang bridges. Fortunately, yours looks to be in good shape.
Mine's in perfect shape, yeah. I was just wondering if it's available for purchase for anyone who wanted to put it on theirs.
