Mustang bodies & necks: Who wants some?

[e-flat]

I've looked for aftermarket Mustang parts for years with no luck. After contacting one of the major aftermarket body & neck manufacturers, I received a reply which indicated that there's simply not enough interest in this style of bass to warrant the R&D costs.

So I figured I'd start this simple poll in order to gauge interest.

If high quality Mustang bodies & necks were available in various tone wood combinations, would you be interested in building a Mustang bass?

 

[mongo2]

Several years ago I bought a Mustang shaped body made of very light Paulownia from Guitar Mill and used it to replace the very heavy body on my MIJ Mustang bass. I had to do some woodwork on it but it worked out fine.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I've looked for aftermarket Mustang parts for years with no luck. After contacting one of the major aftermarket body & neck manufacturers, I received a reply which indicated that there's simply not enough interest in this style of bass to warrant the R&D costs.

So I figured I'd start this simple poll in order to gauge interest.

If high quality Mustang bodies & necks were available in various tone wood combinations, would you be interested in building a Mustang bass?

Would really depend on cost and wood selection.

The issue I run into a lot of the time with parts bass builds is it's often a lot cheaper to mod a production bass than it is to build something.

Selection for me really just comes down to is the product going to be anything drastically different from production models? Maybe a wenge neck?

 

[dmt]

Hmm. I'd never thought about an aftermarket parts Mustang, but I do actually have this idea of putting together a somewhat unique Mustang by modifying an American Performer. The Fender name on the headstock wouldn't be crucial for this idea though, so putting it together through non-Fender parts could be fine. However, if it weren't going to say 'Fender' on the headstock, I'd definitely want the total price to come in noticeably (though not necessarily dramatically) lower than for modifying an American Performer (which itself over-stretches my imagined budget, which is why I haven't acted on this idea yet. There's no emergency, so I could just wait until I see an AP come up used. But on the other hand, that could be a while...).

So, for me, "yes", but only at a price point. You mentioned 'high quality' and 'various tonewoods', so we might not be on quite the same wavelength. For my own needs here, I'm talking good quality, but no exotic woods or anything of "exquisite refinement", etc. Just a basic alder body, a maple neck, rosewood fingerboard (yep - my idea is for a fretless). A lot of Mustangs are/were slab-bodied, so one with contour "comfort carves" or whatever they're called could be a nice option.

If finishes were to be available, for what I have in mind, I'd be fine with a polyurethane finish.

Anyway, just an idea I've been playing with in my mind, but that's one data point for you. Good luck!

 

[gln1955]

Warmoth offers a lot of options for their short scale J and P bodies and SS necks. I'd build a SS P and not worry about a Mustang body. It would be nice though if Warmoth made short and medium scale necks with the Fender licensed headstock.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Honestly, now that there are short P and J variants available, I'm significantly less inclined for a Mustang.

 

[mongo2]

Honestly, now that there are short P and J variants available, I'm significantly less inclined for a Mustang.

Same here. I recently converted a DIY SCPB and J to shortscales using SX SS J necks and I'm thinking of building a single single coil pickup SS J with a slab body using aftermarket parts.

 

[Ostie]

Hmm.....I just committed to buying a Mustang PJ. I'm not much of a modder/builder, so I would not be inclined.

 

[Bodeanly]

It's really easy to find Mustang stuff, so I would only be inclined if the colors/ finishes were custom, like flakes and sparkles and stuff.

But if I just want a neck or a body, they're usually on reverb and stratosphere. I do not mind paying a higher price for OEM.

 

[sleddogn]

a loaded jmj neck at stratosphere is 349 ouch

 

[ole Jason]

It would depend on the options for me. I have zero interest in maple necks but I'd definitely be interested in more exotic options. A wenge neck Mustang would be awesome.

 

[jd56hawk]

You mean others than the ones available through Stratosphere?​

 

[dmt]

Perhaps a bit off topic question, but two people have mentioned being interested in a wenge necked Mustang and the OP mentioned "various tonewoods", so it's in line with that: What's the attraction of wenge for a neck on a Mustang?

Just curious as the thought would have never even occurred to me

 

[Jscriv]

I feel like this something for warmoth to jump on. Offer different pick up routes. Would be pretty cool. I'd build one out

 

[Nephilymbass]

Perhaps a bit off topic question, but two people have mentioned being interested in a wenge necked Mustang and the OP mentioned "various tonewoods", so it's in line with that: What's the attraction of wenge for a neck on a Mustang?

Just curious as the thought would have never even occurred to me

My thinking is it has to have something else to offer that stands out to be a viable product. Pickups and hardware differences are easy mods. I've been eyeballing mustangs for a while to have as a small oddball bass I can use with flats or for piccolo bass. Not so much a gigging bass because most of my gigs require 5 string. but more of a studio tool/home bass. With the Mexican mustangs being priced as low they are and considering parts basses don't generally have much resale value id want something that makes it stand out from the crowd and what I pictured was a white mustang with a wenge
Neck with ebony fingerboard and black hardware.

 

[Swingin]

I'd totally be interested.

 

[MattZilla]

R&D costs? That company must barely be staying afloat. Good for them that they're sticking to their dream rather than packing it in and going into real estate.

 

[Rib 13]

Who wants Mustang basses?

Probably Sally..........

 

[e-flat]

Good input guys, thank you!

 

[e-flat]

My thinking is it has to have something else to offer that stands out to be a viable product. Pickups and hardware differences are easy mods. I've been eyeballing mustangs for a while to have as a small oddball bass I can use with flats or for piccolo bass. Not so much a gigging bass because most of my gigs require 5 string. but more of a studio tool/home bass. With the Mexican mustangs being priced as low they are and considering parts basses don't generally have much resale value id want something that makes it stand out from the crowd and what I pictured was a white mustang with a wenge
Neck with ebony fingerboard and black hardware.

These kind of options (exotic woods, wide range of pickup routes, etc) would be great.
And then the guys with more tame or vintage tastes could also order standard body woods like alder w/ stock pickup routes to build their dream '66 Mustang.

I also understand where people are coming from when they say "just buy existing Fender bass or parts & mod" but I've always enjoyed finishing my own guitars in nitro or acrylic lacquer & it's nice to have a clean slate to work with.