Fender Mustang

[Willie Detroit]

I just bought a new American Fender Mustang. The strings that came on it are not as clear and crisp as I would like, the E string in particular. Is this inherent to the short scale? Any suggestions on strings that might provide a cleaner sound?

 

[Just Wrong]

I just bought a new American Fender Mustang. The strings that came on it are not as clear and crisp as I would like, the E string in particular. Is this inherent to the short scale? Any suggestions on strings that might provide a cleaner sound?

The shorter scale definitely does not help make the sound clearer as in more defined compared to a longer-scale bass.

Sweetwater explains it better than I could:

Short-scale basses have a massive sound with a fat low end unique from long-scale basses, and it can excel at filling in a mix.

Here’s why: each note played on bass (or any instrument, for that matter) includes a series of harmonics that are predictable ratios of that note. The volumes of these harmonics give an instrument its unique tone, or timbre. When the string length changes, the character of those harmonics (and their volumes) change.

This is easily demonstrated on any stringed instrument. For instance, play an E on the 12th fret of the low E string. Then, play the same note on the 7th fret of the A string. While the pitches are the same, the timbre is different. The E played on the 12th fret of the low E string is darker than the E played on the A string, which is due to the shorter length of string resonating in that position. So, because of their reduced scale length, short-scale basses are inherently darker and, arguably, richer in tone than long-scale basses.

Or Guitar World:

The length of string ringing out is shorter so the harmonics are more tightly packed in. Harmonics are the subtle additional notes that ring out, as well as the main, or fundamental, note that you’re playing – they actually contribute quite a lot to the whole voice of an instrument. Short scales will also have fewer top-end overtones, contributing to this warmer sound overall.

I'm no expert it comes to "bright" strings, but my guess would be to try stainless steel rounds.

 

[Pier_]

try lighter gauges, maybe steel.

IMHO the Mustang sounds better with 40-95 strings.

 

[michael_t]

I just bought a new American Fender Mustang...

Are you talking about the American Performer Mustang with the top-load bridge? Or, is yours the traditional thru-body Mustang?