Got a 2018 Fender Mustang PJ Bass last summer. Had a 2014 Fender Precision Bass. Yeah, it conventional wisdom would say it looks like I stepped down but I don't see it that way. I have small fingers. I found the Precision too much guitar, had problems with a full 34" scale. This Mustang fits me much better. And Fender went all out to put Precision and Jazz Bass pickups in it. I play through an Ampeg BA-115 and am very pleased with what I've got. Just wondering what you guys think. Thanks in advance.
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Fender Mustang PJ Bass
- Thread starter Allatoona Rebel
- Start date
This is my favorite bass at the moment!! I heard one a year ago and decided to get one for my self. As my hands get older, I am preferring short-scale. I have since run into several others with this same bass - and loving them!
I made the following changes - (upgrades?)
1. T.I. Flats - My favorite string! Sounds 90% like my MIA P with LaBella flats.
2. Changed the J pickup to a Fender Noiseless. I was sometimes getting some hum pickup.
3. Replaced the 3-way switch with a Blend pot. Much better. I find that I always play with it a little to one side or the other of 50/50
4. New pickguard - the original one was just too boring
5. Added a Mute switch mini-toggle next to the output jack. I do this on all my basses to allow me to kill the output without changing settings.
6. Nice short-scale hard case from Rondo Music. Better than the Fender one and cheaper, too!
I made the following changes - (upgrades?)
1. T.I. Flats - My favorite string! Sounds 90% like my MIA P with LaBella flats.
2. Changed the J pickup to a Fender Noiseless. I was sometimes getting some hum pickup.
3. Replaced the 3-way switch with a Blend pot. Much better. I find that I always play with it a little to one side or the other of 50/50
4. New pickguard - the original one was just too boring
5. Added a Mute switch mini-toggle next to the output jack. I do this on all my basses to allow me to kill the output without changing settings.
6. Nice short-scale hard case from Rondo Music. Better than the Fender one and cheaper, too!
Having a blend potentiometer sounds like a real good idea! I use flats too. D'Addarios. Not a huge fan of round wound strings. The flats give me the 60's Motown tone which I prefer. I don't have a dedicated case for my Fender Mustang bass, been using a Coffin Case which came with a used Epiphone EB-0 I got several years ago. I hardly play the EB-0 anymore. Best wishes!
Actually I just picked one up this past weekend! I have been playing it for ages at my local store and finally decided to go for it. I traded in my Squier Jag for it and it was a great upgrade for me. However the pick guard has to go I am just not sure what to replace it with...
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone that shared the adorama link. Ordered this on Monday and it arrived yesterday. $399 all in. Love the color. Plays pretty well straight out of the box.
I’m trying to fall in love with mine. I got it in 2016 but just haven’t connected with it (I’ve had it posted for sale online for about 6 months). Tonight was the first time playing it in a band situation (I needed to play something light due to back issues), and I really wasn’t that impressed. Part of it is the strings, I think. I normally prefer flats (usually TIs) but my band’s music calls for a little brighter sound, so I strung it with nickel rounds (D’Addarios) yesterday and took it to rehearsal (I also replaced the switch with a Switchcraft, much better now).
The ‘Stang lacked the punch I normally get with my P bass, but I really think it was the brand new rounds on it (I was getting a weird ‘chorus’ sound). I think I’ll put the TIs back on and give it one more try next rehearsal (though I also just bought an Ibanez TMB100 I’m dying to play at practice as well). If next rehearsal goes well, I’ll take it off the market and think about some upgrades (new pguard and bridge for starters). I may also try some Chromes on it - while I love the feel/sound of TIs the Chromes would give me a better slap sound that I occasionally need. Hope it works out sonically, cuz it’s fun to play.
The ‘Stang lacked the punch I normally get with my P bass, but I really think it was the brand new rounds on it (I was getting a weird ‘chorus’ sound). I think I’ll put the TIs back on and give it one more try next rehearsal (though I also just bought an Ibanez TMB100 I’m dying to play at practice as well). If next rehearsal goes well, I’ll take it off the market and think about some upgrades (new pguard and bridge for starters). I may also try some Chromes on it - while I love the feel/sound of TIs the Chromes would give me a better slap sound that I occasionally need. Hope it works out sonically, cuz it’s fun to play.
I tried several Mustang PJs before I found one that sounded like the P basses I'm familiar with.
RE: chorusing sound...have you established a good witness point at the saddles and nut and are the pickups sufficiently far away from the strings?
i owned a red P/J mustang for a little over a year, and i really loved the sound. unfortunately it hurt my shoulder to play sitting down - the shape of the lower bout was a problem for me although i can't imagine why - and it was too heavy for me to play standing up due to rotator cuff issues.
the first time i tried a mustang, i was in pasadena GC, and i played it through an ampeg and fell in love. i played it through that ampeg for the entire time we were at GC (my husband was auditioning guitar amps), and tried some more at various stores till i was convinced i needed that bass. and while i've played them through lots of amps, i liked it best with my rig at home and through a variety of ampegs.
you know how much i love that tone? i have now bought mustang P/J pickups, 250k tone pots to match the mustang's and am putting all the mustang guts into a bass that's lighter weight and more comfortable for me. i already have a cap of the right value and a replacement switch, as the switch in my mustang was crackling and had ordered the switch just before i sold the bass. so soon i'll have an ibanez body and neck with the soul of the mustang P/J
the first time i tried a mustang, i was in pasadena GC, and i played it through an ampeg and fell in love. i played it through that ampeg for the entire time we were at GC (my husband was auditioning guitar amps), and tried some more at various stores till i was convinced i needed that bass. and while i've played them through lots of amps, i liked it best with my rig at home and through a variety of ampegs.
you know how much i love that tone? i have now bought mustang P/J pickups, 250k tone pots to match the mustang's and am putting all the mustang guts into a bass that's lighter weight and more comfortable for me. i already have a cap of the right value and a replacement switch, as the switch in my mustang was crackling and had ordered the switch just before i sold the bass. so soon i'll have an ibanez body and neck with the soul of the mustang P/J
I had things pretty balanced the way I wanted when running TIs (I dropped the P and raised the J) and didn’t have this effect. I’ll go back and check the connections at the nut and saddles. I’m thinking it’s the bright new rounds because the ‘chorus’ sound I’m hearing is best described as a shimmering harmonic that appears after the fundamental decays. I had the stock rounds on it for a few days before I replaced it with these new nickel rounds and didn’t have this effect.
Up to you but one the first thing I do after installing new strings is take a minute to establish good witness points at the nut and saddles to avoid the type of chorusing-like sound you mention.
Yes Sir! I think you figured it out, and answered your own question. Flat wounds do make a very noticeable difference in this particular bass guitar. Now, it is still a short scale and they will sound a bit different than a full size; that being said, your ears may be better than mine. I spent 44 years working on jets and despite my best efforts, I wasn't always able to always protect my ears properly. So, you may be able to identify more difference between a PJ and a Precision. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Fender P-bass. I loved mine, it was just more than I could comfortably handle. Nothing like a Precision Bass, the only one that even comes close IMHO is a Rickenbacker 4001 or 4003, and you're getting into serious money with them. Best Regards! JJC
Has anyone had a chance to play the Squier VM Mustang? I recently saw one for sale (used), didn’t realize they existed. I have a VM PJ that plays and sounds great, so am wondering if the Mustang is of similar quality.
The price on it was probably 2x what it would have sold for originally....
The price on it was probably 2x what it would have sold for originally....
I have a VM Mustang that is currently wearing half rounds. I love it. I want to get another bass, but nothing really sounds right to me. I can use it in pretty much any type of music and it just sits right in like it's supposed to be there, well except for my playing at times. I've used it for Rock and country and Michael Jackson ..you get the picture.
Closest I've played that I like is an Ibanez SR650 in natural, but they quit making that color and the Yamaha BB434/425. I also like the Mikro basses, but have the desire to go back to a 34" scale.
What was the price? The VM Mustang sold for $279.99 when new, from 2011 to 2013.
There's a new Squier Classic Vibe Mustang that should be available sometime in the next few months for $349.99
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I think I paid 250 or so... was a while back. If the CV were available at that time I would likely have got that instead, although I like the maple neck on my VM which is not an option with the new CV.
OK - sorry 'bout that. I thought you were asking about the VM Mustang price.
I have a VM Mustang. Can't compare it to the Squier VM P/J though. I don't have one of those.
The Mustang is pretty decent for what it cost. They don't come up real often though.
Probably better/easier to snag a CV Mustang when they become available.
Don't make the mistake I did and start looking for one after they're discontinued - that's a PITA.
I guess the thread got derailed. If you want a Mustang and can afford one of the Fender P/J's, they're really nice, and offer several benefits compared to the Squires.
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I’m happy with the VM, and prefer the mustang pickup over a PJ setup. Not looking for another, but what do you consider to be better about the PJ?
