Jaguar vs Mustang

[great bleudini]

Hey everybody! I currently own a CIJ Jaguar bass (sunburst) and it is everything I could ask for. The only thing thing that I could change is that after three sets and going into the 4th my back is starting to feel the pain. I have recently joined a surf band and the thoughts of a Mustang bass have been running through my head. I hope a short scale bass would help with the set 4 stretch. I really love the neck and the action of my Jaguar. How would a Mustang compare? There are different options from the Vintera to the ones with PJ pickups. I like the vintage look better, but they are more expensive. Do the Mustangs have a fast neck? How do the classic pickups sound compared to a jazz bass? Any insights you can help me with are greatly appreciated.

 

[Rocket Queen]

 

[maturanesa]

The Mustang would have a looser feel on the strings, less harmonics, easier to play and not versatile like a jaguar. Mustangs looks tiny and even worst with regular size pickups. I would give a shot to a hollow body, they are commonly super light, better looking and with more frets

 

[GretschWretch]

The Danelectro Hodad/Rumor is fairly light and certainly has that "surf" look.

 

[great bleudini]

Thank you!

 

[ghostdog93]

I have a 2011 Squier VM Jag Special, and a 2011 Squier VM Mustang. Two totally different animals. No pun intended.

The Mustang is my go-to bass, and has been for a while now. The short scale string tension took a bit of getting used to, but I don't even notice it now. It has the original "Duncan Designed" pickups in it, and to my ears, it sounds like a Mustang should. Warm and wooly. The neck is fine, it works and all that, but it's not what I would call fast. Mine feels a little chunky, but not in a bad way. The short scale makes for a much reduced reach, which is something I really like.

Of course, string selection is a bit of a hassle with the bridge. LaBella makes a good selection of strings particularly for this bass. Mine is currently strung up with some medium scale D'Addarios and sounds great. The offset body isn't that much physically smaller than the Jaguar, but it feels tiny in comparison. My main complaint with the Mustang is the lack of a forearm contour. Slab body for the vintage vibes, I get it, but it's sometimes uncomfortable if I'm playing sitting down for a long while.

The Jag is a P/J, so I can't comment on how that sounds compares to your CIJ. The P pickup solo with the tone rolled off sounds quite a bit like the Mustang. After playing the Stang for the past few years, the standard scale Jag feels big, like I'm wearing a sweatshirt two sizes too large. It is, however, pretty darn comfy, and once I've re-adjusted to the 34" scale, it feels good.

If I were to buy another Mustang, I would definitely consider the Fender Player II. Non-string through bridge, P/J pickups, lots of nice bottom end. I've had hands on these a few times and I really like them. Or, if you're going for the vintage vibe with standard Mustang pickups, the Vintera II is a sweet little bass.

 

[Pep]

I’ve owned a Mustang and I currently have Squier Jaguar H Series. I’m partial to the Jaguar only because of the 32” scale neck. 30” never felt comfortable.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Necks aren't fast, players are. Gospel players run wild on those 35" 6-string MTD's.

The Mustang is gonna sound very different. Less overtones. Tubby. That may be a feature, not a bug, depends on what you like. You can get tub out of a 34" bass, but you cant get much snap and punch out of a shorty. But people love em.

 

[kevrex]

I have an mij Jaguar and had a player mustang. the neck on the mustang was great, but for some reason, i didn't like playing it standing up. not sure why, but it just felt wrong. plus it only had 19 frets, and there were times when that really annoyed me. it wasn't bad by any stretch, but not right for me. the jag ain't going anywhere. ever.

 

[antfarm]

You could just get an inexpensive Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Bass and find out yourself whether the Mustang is for you. I love mine, and the neck is rather thin, which may translate to being fast.

 

[prndltech]

I’ve never had a jaguar to compare… but I love my Nash MB63. It weighs 7 lbs and it sounds HUGE! I’m a fan of the original style pickups, and the sound it makes with labella flats and a pick is one of my favorites. No one has ever complained when hearing it in a mix. A mustang is definitely a vibe all its own!

 

[micguy]

Do the Mustangs have a fast neck?

I find all short scale, 1 1/2 inch wide necks to be very slow - for those of us with big hands, a big neck is a fast neck, and a skinny neck is a slow one, because it crams our fingers together, which slows things down considerably.

Mustangs have skinny necks - most of them are 1 1/2, though a few are 1 5/8 (which is still really skinny for me).

 

[NorthTexasBass]

I have owned a Mustang PJ and a JMJ and they are both excellent.

Th JMJ has a nice chunky neck with a 1.625 nut so it's different than other Mustangs. I love that neck and the pickup is outstanding. It sounds more like a p bass than a p bass. The neck may not be for everyone though.

The PJ was just a good solid bass with a surprisingly good stock P pickup. J was a little weak but moving it very close to the strings made it pretty solid.

 

[Mosthigh]

I have a MIJ Jaguar and find it comfortable enough, although it needs a strap while sitting. I tried a MIJ Mustang and really loved the zippy neck on it, plus it's certainly lighter, but I don't think it has the sonic presence, or the 'oomph' of a Jaguar. For a surf band, though, I'd say either would be fine.

Next to the vintage ones, the MIJ/CIJ Mustangs are probably the best and most sought after, (some even prefer these over vintage). Prices have steadily rising, though.

 

[great bleudini]

For anybody interested I got the Fender Ventera ii Mustang bass with the racing stripes. It's a gorgeous bass. I played one show with it and it is way easier on my back. I love the neck. It's very similar to the Jaguar. I'm not sure how to describe it but the Jaguar has more overtones (?) in the sound. the Mustang is more clear and punchier but at the same time thinner. I might raise the pickups. I can't say one is bette than the other, they are both fantastic in their own way. With the Mustang I need to adjust my playing position with my right hand. With a regular bass I usually play over the bridge pickup. With the short scale bass it sounds real thin where my hand usually is. I need to scoot it closer to the pickup for a richer sound.

 

[Iridescentone]

Any Mustang GT would probably smoke any XKE, but the Jag wins in the "looks" dept.

 

[nonohmic]

I’ve owned a Mustang and I currently have Squier Jaguar H Series. I’m partial to the Jaguar only because of the 32” scale neck. 30” never felt comfortable.

Yeah i love the feel and look of mustangs, but 30" is just too cramped. 32" is the best.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

For anybody interested I got the Fender Ventera ii Mustang bass with the racing stripes. It's a gorgeous bass. I played one show with it and it is way easier on my back. I love the neck. It's very similar to the Jaguar. I'm not sure how to describe it but the Jaguar has more overtones (?) in the sound. the Mustang is more clear and punchier but at the same time thinner. I might raise the pickups. I can't say one is bette than the other, they are both fantastic in their own way. With the Mustang I need to adjust my playing position with my right hand. With a regular bass I usually play over the bridge pickup. With the short scale bass it sounds real thin where my hand usually is. I need to scoot it closer to the pickup for a richer sound.

you might want to consider replacing the stock pups with NM4s. i've found them to be a good upgrade on my CIJ mustang.

not sure what tuners the Ventera ii has fitted, but i replaced the stock gotohs on my CIJ with hipshot lollipops and as well as looking cooler they also took a few grams off the headstock making it a little more well-balanced when playing standing up.