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Fender Mustang PJ or Epiphone Embassy PRO?

#2
They are very different... The Fender will probably be more versatile but I personally LOVE the Embassy Pro. The pickups in that thing are INSANE. Really aggressive. They kinda distort but in a very cool way. They're reissues of the old style Thunderbird pickups, which of course may or may not be what you're looking for.

The Fender is probably the safest choice here but the Embassy by far the COOLER one if you're looking for a snarling, aggressive beast of a bass. Just make sure you don't get one of the Embassy basses with the bridge mounted slightly too far towards the neck. There was an entire batch of these about a year ago and they were impossible to intonate correctly. I would recommend trying before buying if possible. But I would generally say the same about ANY Fender too.
 
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#3
Haha, I'm in the same predicament as you. The Embassy PRO sounds cool af, but they're out of stock in the major webstores and I'd hate to have an old one with the bridge problems. Them being out of stock (and maybe some colours discontinued?), but still ready to order makes me think some things might be upgraded next year. Maybe the Embassy is gonna be one of those Epi models that gets an US counterpart announced at NAMM?. So my current strategy is to wait for a couple of weeks until I know more about the Epiphone 2020-2021 line-up. :)
 
#4
Deleted member 271037 said:
They are very different... The Fender will probably be more versatile but I personally LOVE the Embassy Pro. The pickups in that thing are INSANE. Really aggressive. They kinda distort but in a very cool way. They're reissues of the old style Thunderbird pickups, which of course may or may not be what you're looking for.

The Fender is probably the safest choice here but the Embassy by far the COOLER one if you're looking for a snarling, aggressive beast of a bass. Just make sure you don't get one of the Embassy basses with the bridge mounted slightly too far towards the neck. There was an entire batch of these about a year ago and they were impossible to intonate correctly. I would recommend trying before buying if possible. But I would generally say the same about ANY Fender too.
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Thanks for your reply! That's partly why I'm finding this difficult - I'm a guitarist wanting to start playing bass properly so thought the Mustang might be a good option, but I also do want a more powerful bass and I'm not sure about spending more on something that's a safe option. I've seen a lot of people loving the Embassy. Yeah I'm looking at where I can try them but because the Embassy is quite hard to find it's good to get some feedback first.
 
#5
Naviiin said:
Haha, I'm in the same predicament as you. The Embassy PRO sounds cool af, but they're out of stock in the major webstores and I'd hate to have an old one with the bridge problems. Them being out of stock (and maybe some colours discontinued?), but still ready to order makes me think some things might be upgraded next year. Maybe the Embassy is gonna be one of those Epi models that gets an US counterpart announced at NAMM?. So my current strategy is to wait for a couple of weeks until I know more about the Epiphone 2020-2021 line-up. :)
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Yeah that is something I'm worried about so I think I'd have to check with the supplier first if I was going to get one.

That's a very good point - I might have to do the same! Thanks
 
#6
rubbbersoul said:
Thanks for your reply! That's partly why I'm finding this difficult - I'm a guitarist wanting to start playing bass properly so thought the Mustang might be a good option, but I also do want a more powerful bass and I'm not sure about spending more on something that's a safe option. I've seen a lot of people loving the Embassy. Yeah I'm looking at where I can try them but because the Embassy is quite hard to find it's good to get some feedback first.
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The short scale Mustang will probably feel a lot more familiar to you as a guitarist. All my guitarist friends prefer short scale basses. But if you're converting to bass full time you might as well get used to long scale.

The Embassy is a pretty extreme sounding bass though. Very cool but very aggressive. It's basically a low budget vintage style Thunderbird with a different shape (well, kind of...). If you're going for long scale you might want to consider a cheap P-bass or J-bass too, if you want something a bit more "allround". Whether the Embassy is a good choice will depend a LOT on what style of music you play IMO. A P-bass or J-bass will work for pretty much anything.
 
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#7
I'm a fan of both the Mustang and the Embassy Pro styles but the Embassy Pro is a long scale so the shortscale Mustang won out for me. If the Embassy Pro were a shortscale I would have one of those too. I am considering the shortscale Eastwood Newport.
 
#8
Mustang will fit most traditional music styles well (might not be the ultimate death metal bass or slap bass, but basically wherever a P bass would fit). Besides the name recognition, the tone is the reason Fender basses are so popular - the tone just seems to fit right.

Speaking of Precision basses, that would be a good one to consider too. But the Mustang with its short scale is easier to pick up and play, especially coming from a guitar perspective.

Meanwhile, you seem intrigued by the Embassy Pro, so that could be a good way to go, too. Basically, the one that gets you jazzed (oops, did I say Jazz?) to pick it up, practice and play and learn is the one to get. If the Embassy Pro is tripping your trigger, go for it. It’s affordable, the people who buy them seem to like them (can’t recall anyone saying they didn’t like theirs), it’s a somewhat unique classic , and if it turns out it doesn’t fit everything you end up wanting to do, it will probably still have its niche down the line - could be a lifelong keeper.

If it were me, I’d get a Mustang (heck, I did - my MIJ Mustang is a lifelong keeper), but I’ll admit that checking this Embassy Pro video out just now has me kinda G.A.S.ing for one a bit, lol:
Just not sure I need another long scale bass (except for my Precision, I’m leaning short scale anymore), but those pickups are intriguing and the Embassy Pro body would seemingly eliminate the neck position/diving issues of the Thunderbird. Could be a cool Gibsony complement to my little herd, who knows. Basically an old school Thunderbird, except in a body that makes ergonomic sense.

Well, it looks like we have the same problem - too many intriguing choices!

Good luck. Either one should be good to get started on! Eventually, after learning to play and gradually trying out basses at stores and friends’ basses, etc., you’ll start to find out what works best for you/what you want in a bass. For now though, the main thing is simply to get started on a decent instrument (everything works, can play in tune and hold a comfortable setup) that gets you inspired. Whichever one trips your trigger is the one to get
 
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#9
Sounds like it's going to be your only bass, and you're just getting into the bass world. I'd go with the Mustang out of those two, without a question. Way more versatile for different genres. That said, unless you're really set on a short scale, I agree with SFSorrow--I'd seriously consider a decent Pbass.
 
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#10
Can’t speak to the Embassy, but I’m really fond of my Mustang. I find the P pickup really powerful and the scooped sound with the J added in gives great versatility. The funny thing is that my only beef with it is that the bridge is a little far forward such that the winding on the E string is on the saddle when properly intonated. I’d still recommend it, though.
Good luck!
 
#11
I played both in the store, I just bought the mustang pj last month. Ive been playing 25 years and have had a lot of instruments come and go. The embassy felt poorly made, the mustang is the most solid sub $700 bass I ever played. Most importantly the mustang slayed in rehearsal with a full band.it Might push my mij precision out of the daily driver position
 
#13
I’ve had a few different basses over the past few years, but now am solely using an AP Mustang, with a PJ as back up. They both have great power and tone: short scale doesn’t mean lower quality output. Plus are comfortable for long sets and convenient to transport when I combined with a compact amp rig.
 
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#14
Hevy T said:
I'd love to put those embassy pro pickups into a jazz!
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Definitely. Or a Mustang, or, well, pick your favorite bass. I kinda want those pickups in my life, though it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Embassy Pro.

Of course the Thunderbird would be the coolest, but the size/shape/weight/neck-dive/reach-out-to-the-nut of the T-bird all add up to mean it’s not gonna be for me
 

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