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Fender Mustang PJ upgrades

#82
Hi all,

I have a Mustang PJ on the way from Adorama from the excellent $400 deal for my daughter. I also happen to have a PJ set of EMG pickups I can scavenge from her current Ibanez Mikro. I'm trying to figure out how I should wire up the EMG's in the Mustang in light of the limited control situation (2 pots+switch, as compared to my current VVT wiring in the Mikro). I was thinking perhaps I could go with two stacked knobs, with one knob for each pickup controlling volume and tone. Or I could do a stacked VV knob, and then a master tone (or eq or whatever). Any guidance or experience you could share?
 
#83
Donald Dale said:
Hi all,

I have a Mustang PJ on the way from Adorama from the excellent $400 deal for my daughter. I also happen to have a PJ set of EMG pickups I can scavenge from her current Ibanez Mikro. I'm trying to figure out how I should wire up the EMG's in the Mustang in light of the limited control situation (2 pots+switch, as compared to my current VVT wiring in the Mikro). I was thinking perhaps I could go with two stacked knobs, with one knob for each pickup controlling volume and tone. Or I could do a stacked VV knob, and then a master tone (or eq or whatever). Any guidance or experience you could share?
Click to expand...

If you want stacked knobs - usually having one for each pickup (V+T) is the way to go, like on Fender's Flea Jazz Bass.

I replaced pickups on my PJ Mustang (to Seymour Duncan SPB-2 and STK-J2B) and find simple stock controls (master V, master T, 3-way switch) flexible enough as I don't need to blend any of parameters too accurately.

Also if you're leaving stock pickguard - it has a hole for 3-way switch, that you won't need after adding stacked knobs.
 
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#84
Donald Dale said:
Hi all,

I have a Mustang PJ on the way from Adorama from the excellent $400 deal for my daughter. I also happen to have a PJ set of EMG pickups I can scavenge from her current Ibanez Mikro. I'm trying to figure out how I should wire up the EMG's in the Mustang in light of the limited control situation (2 pots+switch, as compared to my current VVT wiring in the Mikro). I was thinking perhaps I could go with two stacked knobs, with one knob for each pickup controlling volume and tone. Or I could do a stacked VV knob, and then a master tone (or eq or whatever). Any guidance or experience you could share?
Click to expand...

I have the two Stacked knobs so I can set the volume for each Pickup where I like it. I still use the 3-way toggle
switch to select the P or the J or both.
 
#86
Donald Dale said:
Thanks for your reply. Do you put both volumes on the same stacked knob?
Click to expand...

I have it as volume tone for one pickup. The top knob is volume the bottom knob for tone. The bottom tone knobs work on both pickups. So I have .047uf 100v Tone Capacitor on one and I have .033uf 100v Tone Capacitor on the other. Note if using the toggle switch you'll have to wire the pickups to it. Then run the wire from the toggle to the stacked pot.
This helped me with wiring it up.
https://p4.zdassets.com/hc/theme_assets/549136/200076499/019-0209C_SISD.pdf
 
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#88
Marial said:
It there a problem with aesthetic modifications?

The mint guard on my red fretless is going to be replaced with a tort guard. I am not aware of any functional purpose for changing a pickguard. I changed the pickup covers on my sonic blue fretted MPJ with white covers.
Click to expand...

Which white pickup covers did you use? The covers I've found are too big.
 
#89
Scott Baiowulf said:
the stock MIM pickups were super weak and the J was so quiet as to be nearly useless. the Quarter Pounder and the Aluma-J work better together than I expected, they sound really evenly matched, but I have to keep the J really close up to the strings to make the output even. The Aluma-J is totally silent on it's own which is nice, and is really bright sounding, but I usually keep them both on. The strings are D'Addario 50-105 nickelwounds, which have always been my favorites.
Click to expand...
Did you ever think about dropping in the Alum P?
 
#92
codiak said:
I like the way that looks. I see there are a couple Fender Hi Mass bridges on eBay for around $25-$30. Are those legit or are the Hi Mass bridges usually more expensive?
Click to expand...

If I were going that type of bridge - the Hipshot KA is a much better design and about the same price.
 
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#93
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#97
Fender Custom Shop pickups
CTS pots & switch
Chrome switch tip
Chrome knobs
Fender high mass bridge
Fender J bass bridge cover (I really loved how the high mass bridge sounded but hated the look)
Labella flats
 

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#100
Kev1955 said:
I upgraded mine as follows: EMG Geezer Butler PJ set, Babicz bridge, Hipshot HB 10 tuners, and use Labella 760FX-S flatwounds. Really happy with the tones.View attachment 3309014
Click to expand...
Kev1955 said:
I upgraded mine as follows: EMG Geezer Butler PJ set, Babicz bridge, Hipshot HB 10 tuners, and use Labella 760FX-S flatwounds. Really happy with the tones.View attachment 3309014
Click to expand...

Sweet! The pickups look like they are aguilar. How cool a Zero Mod Thumb Rest.
 

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