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I did a thing! American Performer Mustang ordered!

MustangMan78

MustangMan78

Supporting Member
Mar 20, 2021
186
340
Douglassville, PA
#1
As my name implies, I love Mustangs. Being a guitarist, there’s just something about the 30” scale that feels “right” to me. I’ve tried playing 34” scale basses and it just doesn’t work. I’ve been wanting a backup bass (as well as something with a J pickup) now that I’m playing out regularly, so today I ordered the American Performer in arctic white. I’m probably going to eventually swap the Mustang split pickup out for a P, then I will have the option of all three single coil pickup types between my two basses. My 60s reissue will become my backup bass once this one arrives. At this point, I have no estimate yet on a delivery date from Fender. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner rather than later!
 
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#3
Interesting that you had to order. Both my local GC and a local mom and pop have then in stock (at least they did last week). Both were set up well and sounded great! I would like to buy one myself, but I probably should sell something first. Make sure you give it a very thorough inspection before you start putting any miles on it. One of the examples had some finish flaws (it was that surf green color) that you would not expect in a relatively expensive instrument.
 
#4
I like Mustangs too
IMG_20190725_142724085_2.jpg
 
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#6
rpt50 said:
Interesting that you had to order. Both my local GC and a local mom and pop have then in stock (at least they did last week). Both were set up well and sounded great! I would like to buy one myself, but I probably should sell something first. Make sure you give it a very thorough inspection before you start putting any miles on it. One of the examples had some finish flaws (it was that surf green color) that you would not expect in a relatively expensive instrument.
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I’ll definitely scrutinize it. Sam Ash is my local store and they don’t have any in stock. That’s where my account is so I can get the no interest payment plan.
 
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#10
MustangMan78 said:
As my name implies, I love Mustangs. Being a guitarist, there’s just something about the 30” scale that feels “right” to me. I’ve tried playing 34” scale basses and it just doesn’t work. I’ve been wanting a backup bass (as well as something with a J pickup) now that I’m playing out regularly, so today I ordered the American Performer in arctic white. I’m probably going to eventually swap the Mustang split pickup out for a P, then I will have the option of all three single coil pickup types between my two basses. My 60s reissue will become my backup bass once this one arrives. At this point, I have no estimate yet on a delivery date from Fender. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner rather than later!
Click to expand...
I put a Nordy Mustang pickup under the covers on my short scale bass, along with a Seymour Duncan stack J-neck (bar instead of individual poles) as a bridge pickup to balance. The Nordy has a little more wire and dual poles per string, so the pickup is a hybrid between a P and a Mustang. Great, big, round, tone. And make sure you put a set of GHS Balanced Nickels on it; God's gift to short scale bass players, as I have posted many times their attributes in other threads.
 
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#16
funkinbottom said:
Nice. Love the arctic white. I'd like to have a Mustang, but these days I'm a 5 string guy. I wonder if they will ever do Mustang 5er?
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I highly doubt it. I’d think that low B would be pretty floppy on a 30” scale. Plus, Mustang has always been a student model, which I’d say definitely doesn’t extend into the 5 string realm.
 
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#18
I've sampled many Short Scales. Although I've never held a Mustang I didn't like.... Not all Mustangs are alike. The American Performer is my favorite - by far. But yer gonna need one with roundwound and one with flats.
 

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#19
DrBnz said:
I've sampled many Short Scales. Although I've never held a Mustang I didn't like.... Not all Mustangs are alike. The American Performer is my favorite - by far. But yer gonna need one with roundwound and one with flats.
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I'm probably going to put flats on my 60's reissue. Also have a set of nylon tapewounds I might try on there. I've always questioned how they would hold up to frets, however.
 

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