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Fender Vintera Mustang vs. other cheap Mustangs.

OhDee

OhDee

May 14, 2017
86
106
#1
Hey yo id like to see what other people think on this one.
I played a new Mexican vintera Mustang the other day in a store (2 in fact) and thought they were really really good.
When comparing to Japanese mustangs I've played and also "PJ" mustangs... I felt the vintera was better. I never tried the JMJ but I can assume the vintera is more or less the same guitar with poly finish and pau fiero ? Anyways I was impressed with them and not impressed at all with the American performer or even Japanese made mustangs I've tried in the past. Might have just been 2 very good units .

Thoughts? Experiences?
 
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#4
Just because they're all called 'Mustang' doesn't mean they're all the same.
It takes a bit of digging through a fair amount of specs to pick out specific differences though.
Getting your hands on one and giving it a run through might give a better idea if it's the right fit for someone than the specs do.
 
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#5
dmt said:
What did you like about it better than the Japanese ones?
Click to expand...
More resonant and bright. Very solid feeling. The Japanese ones I tried all seemed to feel a bit toyish. It's also part of the mustangs heritage I guess... certain people probably love the shorter sustain and thumpyness... but those vintera played like really good p bass, very bright and sustainy with a lot of depth in the sustain not just a flat lifeless sustain. I assume flats and spunge can be applied for those who do want more traditional mustang punch but the build quality impressed me a lot.
 
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#8
MagnusGudberg said:
Just got mine to day in sea foam green and i love everything about it. The c shaped neck has a really nice feel , right between the jmj and pj. Personal my fav of all the mustangs i have played.
Click to expand...

How's the low E string on the Vintera? It was chorusy and unfocused sounding on my CIJ, even after setup. If a mustang bass was an option in the Fender Mod Shop, I'd be all over it.
 
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#10
I have just ordered a Vintera Mustang and looking forward to trying it. From the reports on here it seems good. It's all a matter of opinion but I have an American Performer Mustang and love it. It seems so different to other ones I have tried. I have had about six over the years and found a lack of bottom on some and I don't get on with flats. This one I have put D'Addario EXL160M Medium scale strings and the sound is great with plenty of bottom end. I will do the same with the Vintera.
 
#11
I bought a Vintera Mustang Bass last Saturday and I can't be happier!

first of all, I've tried it (the exact same model) back in July and I loved it because of the thick neck and large nut (41mm, like the Precision), and the sound was awsome.

I've had two Japanese from '98 and '99 and I've always felt them like "toys", with thin an narrow neck, cheap hardware and unusable truss rod (couldn't get the neck straight with 45-100... only down from 40-95).

this Vintera felt "like a real bass", with a tick neck, Hipshot tuners, quality hardware...

so, I didn't buy it because the price was high, €799, but then a friend of mine decided to buy it in September :D we tried it together:

last Friday he called me and told me that he wanted to sell it :D just €600 with original strings and a set of Chromes 45-100 (long scale).

here's a 30 second video recorded with the phone yesterday:

I'm totally in love with this bass, I've searched for a good Mustang for years, went with two Japanese crap and tried some vintage "heavy price tag" models I couldn't afford, and now I found the right model.

3,7kg, thick neck, quality hardware, nice sounding pickup, vintage frets, a wonderful fretboard (with some oil, it became dark and warm), beautiful colour...

what else should we need?

here some pictures after the oil treatment: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XCMgTDxSbaEz7taA7

now I'm looking for a Justin Meldal Johnsen signature :D
 
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#13
CPB2019 said:
Congrats! My son loves his seafoam green, but more interestingly (given that he’s only 10 years old), his bass teacher has a hard time putting it down after he picks it up.
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I can imagine it! it has serious balls, and it feels like a standard bass, not like old shorties that felt like small toys.

the neck is also finished like heaven, with smooth frets and no flaws at all... yesterday during the rehearsal with the band I found myself looking at it during the pauses between every song :D
 
#16
Mustangs are not cheap. $549 for the MIM P&J. $949 for the Vintera. $999 for the JMJ. $900 and up for the old MIJs. American Performer $1,199. Two grand and up for a late 60s & 70s Mustang.
 
#17
Bix said:
Hi @Pier_ - that looks awesome. I have one on order, should arrive in the next few days. What oil did you use on the fretboard?
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Just olive oil from the kitchen, it’s my go to oil since many years.

@felis , I used to think the same te first time I bought a Mustang years ago...
then I has issues with the neck, found out that the tuners were crappy and tried higher quality instruments.

now the japanese Mustang (but also many japanese fenders) to me are just low/mid quality instruments, not worthy the high price as new (back then) and used now.

this Vintera is like a Custom Shop to the Japan
 
#18
Pier_ said:
Just olive oil from the kitchen, it’s my go to oil since many years.

@felis , I used to think the same te first time I bought a Mustang years ago...
then I has issues with the neck, found out that the tuners were crappy and tried higher quality instruments.

now the japanese Mustang (but also many japanese fenders) to me are just low/mid quality instruments, not worthy the high price as new (back then) and used now.

this Vintera is like a Custom Shop to the Japan
Click to expand...


Just a hunch, but I suspect that in the future you will say the Vintera Mustang is

" just low/mid quality instruments, not worthy the high price as new (back then) and used now".
 
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#20
I’m considering the Vintera....is the neck a C or a D? I like slim C and I’m afraid I won’t like the shape. I can handle the wider nut, but I don’t want a bat. I had a ‘76 Mustang and sold it because of the neck shape. However, I have a ‘78 Musicmaster and have no trouble with that neck.
 

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