Kamikaze Mustang PJ?

[abarson]

I was at a blues jam last night and one of the members offered for me to play his very new sonic blue Fender Mustang PJ bass (not Squier). I happily jumped on stage, slung the strap over my shoulder and had to immediately engage fu to prevent the headstock from hitting the floor. I've never experienced that much neck dive before! I quickly put it back in its stand and ran out to grab my Tobias. Didn't play a note on the 'stang.

Is this amount of neck dive typical in Mustangs?

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Seems unusual, the examples I've played didn't neck dive. Maybe it was wearing one of these?

 

[oatsoda]

Maybe a slippery shirt / strap thing? Mine hangs fine.

 

[mongo2]

Mine dipped a bit so I added a slightly drilled out strap button on the far top neck plate screw. Using that strap button cured the dipping. The bass balances much better and there is less torsion on my left shoulder.

 

[Lulu583]

I tried a Fender Mustang Bass at GC because I’m looking for a lighter/smaller bass after struggling with my 10# J Bass. I was surprised at the neck dive on the thing! The weight was great but the dive really bugged me after 2 minutes playing with it. Some people say their Mustang is perfectly balanced and others complain about the dive. Does anyone have experience testing out several different Mustangs at a store and noticing a big balance difference? Maybe I need to try out a bunch of Mustangs to find one that’s we’ll balance for me.

 

[Lulu583]

Mine dipped a bit so I added a slightly drilled out strap button on the far top neck plate screw. Using that strap button cured the dipping. The bass balances much better and there is less torsion on my left shoulder.

Can you show a picture of that?

 

[mongo2]

Can you show a picture of that?

I don't have pix of mine but it's just like the back of an Epiphone EB0 except the strap button is on the treble side neck screw.

Here's a couple of pix of the back of an Epi EB0 I found on the 'net. I hope they help.

I now use the same method on all my bolt-on basses.

 

[Lulu583]

Thanks! That helps!

 

[mongo2]

Does anyone have experience testing out several different Mustangs at a store and noticing a big balance difference? Maybe I need to try out a bunch of Mustangs to find one that’s we’ll balance for me.

I tried quite a few Mustang PJs and owned a couple before settling on my black LE version. I noticed a difference in comfort with neck profiles between the nut and first fret and also tone but not weight. They all weighed about the same and had a bit of neck dive on one of the wide leather straps the store had on display but no diving for the floor.

 

[mongo2]

Thanks! That helps!

You're welcome.