New Pawn Shop Mustang

[Bongolation]

I had ordered a set of La Bella 760FL flat-wounds

Let me know how they fit the E and A.

 

[stevene44]

Let me know how they fit the E and A.

Bongo:

I haven't yet switched to the La Bellas, happy with the stock Fender round-wounds.

If you're wondering about fitment, the 760FLs are spec'd for the Mustang - correct length for the 'Stang's through-body and tall headstock.

See here: Invalid Link Removed

stevene44

 

[Bongolation]

If you're wondering about fitment, the 760FLs are spec'd for the Mustang - correct length for the 'Stang's through-body and tall headstock.

If true, it'd almost be worth the $40 just to stare at it and marvel.

It's astounding how rare it is to find flats that actually fit everyday basses like Fender toploader Ps & Js, much less specialty basses like shortscales. :scowl:

 

[stevene44]

I did install the La Bella's - perfect fit (standard EADG tuning):

Nice tension. I was able to lower the action slightly, very comfortable for my left hand (occasionally visited by Mr. Arthur Itis...)

Not quite the mid's of the standard Fender round-wounds, of course, but sweet sounding to my ear with a bit of treble on the tone knob.

If interested, make sure to order La Bella 760FL (.043 - .104), packaged for the Mustang SS bass.

stevene44

 

[Aladinsane1969]

After jonesing for one of these bad boys for a few months, I found one on Fleabay last week in great condition (cosmetically flawless except for a small ding on the top edge) for $525 shipped with a Fender hardshell case. I had just gotten home from a trip where I played an acoustic show (well, the guitars were acoustics ;-) )with my '65 Reissue Jazz Bass plugged it into my Acoustic B15, and when I plugged the Mustang in I was shocked by the almost total lack of high end in the tone. Even with the tone knob all the way up, it was bottom-end city to the max, and I would definitely have to re-EQ the amp to get a tone I'd be happy with—something I've never really experienced with the other basses I've owned over the years. I've yet to try it through my Mesa Boogie Walkabout, so I'm wondering what will happen there. Have any of you experienced that with your Mustangs? I plan on taking it to my usual guy for a setup in the near future, and I know he'll go through the electronics in the process to make sure nothing's wrong, but I just thought I'd throw it out to you guys to see what your experiences have been as well.

 

[Stranger Danger]

After jonesing for one of these bad boys for a few months, I found one on Fleabay last week in great condition (cosmetically flawless except for a small ding on the top edge) for $525 shipped with a Fender hardshell case. I had just gotten home from a trip where I played an acoustic show (well, the guitars were acoustics ;-) )with my '65 Reissue Jazz Bass plugged it into my Acoustic B15, and when I plugged the Mustang in I was shocked by the almost total lack of high end in the tone. Even with the tone knob all the way up, it was bottom-end city to the max, and I would definitely have to re-EQ the amp to get a tone I'd be happy with—something I've never really experienced with the other basses I've owned over the years. I've yet to try it through my Mesa Boogie Walkabout, so I'm wondering what will happen there. Have any of you experienced that with your Mustangs? I plan on taking it to my usual guy for a setup in the near future, and I know he'll go through the electronics in the process to make sure nothing's wrong, but I just thought I'd throw it out to you guys to see what your experiences have been as well.

Mine has plenty enough top for me. Ya gotta remember, we play bass not treble.

Maybe try some new strings? Steels?

 

[Aladinsane1969]

Mine has plenty enough top for me. Ya gotta remember, we play bass not treble.

Maybe try some new strings? Steels?

Umm...yeah...trying not to sound like a dick here, but I've been playing for over 25 years, and in that time I've owned a half-dozen basses, so I'm pretty familiar with what one sounds like with the tone knob pegged—and this one sounds nothing like any other bass I've owned (a Music Master, a Squire P, a P-bass Lyte, an American Standard J, a Noel Redding LE '65 Reissue Jazz and a Jaguar).

So you're saying yours has the same amount of top end as your other basses when plugged into your amp with the same settings? If so, then there's definitely something fishy going on with mine.

 

[Chef]

All the basses you list, none of them have that Fender humbucker, which is not a terribly bright pickup, especially compared to anything single coil.
I haven't played one of these, but I'd expect it to be a darker bass, especially when compared with a J bass.
I'd expect you'd need fairly different amp eq settings to compensate for that pickup.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Umm...yeah...trying not to sound like a dick here, but I've been playing for over 25 years, and in that time I've owned a half-dozen basses, so I'm pretty familiar with what one sounds like with the tone knob pegged—and this one sounds nothing like any other bass I've owned (a Music Master, a Squire P, a P-bass Lyte, an American Standard J, a Noel Redding LE '65 Reissue Jazz and a Jaguar).

So you're saying yours has the same amount of top end as your other basses when plugged into your amp with the same settings? If so, then there's definitely something fishy going on with mine.

No worries I've owned more basses than that in the last 18 months.

No, short scale basses don't have as much top end as long scale basses and they never will.

I always pretty much leave my amp settings flat. Do you have the amp flat?

 

[Stranger Danger]

All the basses you list, none of them have that Fender humbucker, which is not a terribly bright pickup, especially compared to anything single coil.
I haven't played one of these, but I'd expect it to be a darker bass, especially when compared with a J bass.

It can be manipulated with amp settings, strings and technique but yeah Chef you've basically nailed it.

 

[Stranger Danger]

The flip side is that the high notes have a lot more heft to them. I just love this bass.

 

[K2000]

After jonesing for one of these bad boys for a few months, I found one on Fleabay last week in great condition (cosmetically flawless except for a small ding on the top edge) for $525 shipped with a Fender hardshell case. I had just gotten home from a trip where I played an acoustic show (well, the guitars were acoustics ;-) )with my '65 Reissue Jazz Bass plugged it into my Acoustic B15, and when I plugged the Mustang in I was shocked by the almost total lack of high end in the tone. Even with the tone knob all the way up, it was bottom-end city to the max, and I would definitely have to re-EQ the amp to get a tone I'd be happy with—something I've never really experienced with the other basses I've owned over the years. I've yet to try it through my Mesa Boogie Walkabout, so I'm wondering what will happen there. Have any of you experienced that with your Mustangs? I plan on taking it to my usual guy for a setup in the near future, and I know he'll go through the electronics in the process to make sure nothing's wrong, but I just thought I'd throw it out to you guys to see what your experiences have been as well.

Maybe the height of the pickups needs to be adjusted? That's an un-educated guess.

 

[Stranger Danger]

These are very nice. I got to try a sunburst locally and fit and finish were great. Tone was very EB-0 esque, even more so than Gibsons SG bass, IMO. The thick neck almost makes it feel like a jazz with the short scale. Seriously considering one of these. It was a very comfortable neck and shape overall, but I didn't get to see how it balanced on a strap. I imagine not bad though, given the size. Nice tinted neck too. These are easily on par with or even better than their Japanese counterpart, quality wise. I would have preferred the truss adjust at the heel to keep with the vintage look, but the overall look trumps that. Fender nailed getting this bass to look like it has always been part of the lineup. I think the scale works well with the humbucker and was always part of what I suspected was the EB-0's secret ingredient for its thunderous lows. The pickup retains some serious growl though, and essentially (tone wise) is a giant P bass pickup on steroids with somewhat deeper lows and that signature "throatiness" P pickups are known for. Me likey.

This is an excellent description of the tone.

 

[Aladinsane1969]

All the basses you list, none of them have that Fender humbucker, which is not a terribly bright pickup, especially compared to anything single coil.
I haven't played one of these, but I'd expect it to be a darker bass, especially when compared with a J bass.
I'd expect you'd need fairly different amp eq settings to compensate for that pickup.

Thanks, Chef – that's what I was asking. As usual, you the man.

 

[Aladinsane1969]

So I was finally able to get my 'Stang in to my luthier, and man, do I ever love it now! He strung it 45–105 for me, adjusted everything accordingly and lowered the pickup a bit beneath the bottom strings (that was the problem) and wow—it sounds beautiful and plays like butter. It was the first one he's seen, and he was really impressed with the build quality, fit and finish. This one's a keeper!

 

[Stranger Danger]

I'm selling a '65 RI Mustang case in silver tolex with orange plush interior if anyone's interested, pm me.

 

[VincentB]

Here's my Fender Pawnshop Mustang bass. I have swapped out the plastic stock pieces for nicer solid chrome parts. Upgraded parts include: Knobs, thumb rest, Lebella flats for mustang bass. This baby sings!

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I bought one the same as below today, what a lovely little bass, excellent build and finish and perfect set up out of the box, Fender have really upped their game making these basses, I looked at one white, one red and sunburst and all 3 were very nicely built .
I love the short scale as I have tiny hands and fingers and find my P neck a bit big and sometimes get cramps and aches in my fingers after a few hours, what a surprise the pick up is, very nice tone and wide ranginge of tones, excelent, very pleased with it

 

[Aladinsane1969]

Here's my Fender Pawnshop Mustang bass. I have swapped out the plastic stock pieces for nicer solid chrome parts. Upgraded parts include: Knobs, thumb rest, Lebella flats for mustang bass. This baby sings!

Wow, nice glamour shots. I especially like its school picture at the end there.

I dig those chrome bits, too. I actually removed the tug bar from mine; to me, it's useless and made it's short-scale body look cluttered (it doesn't bother me at all on my '65 reissue Jazz bass). I need to find some shorter screws to plug up the holes when I get a chance.

 

[Aladinsane1969]

I bought one the same as below today, what a lovely little bass, excellent build and finish and perfect set up out of the box, Fender have really upped their game making these basses, I looked at one white, one red and sunburst and all 3 were very nicely built .
I love the short scale as I have tiny hands and fingers and find my P neck a bit big and sometimes get cramps and aches in my fingers after a few hours, what a surprise the pick up is, very nice tone and wide ranginge of tones, excelent, very pleased with it

So what color did you pick???

Mine needed a setup—mostly because I wanted heavier strings and the pickup was too high beneath the bottom strings—but yeah, it was pretty close to perfect when I got my hands on it as well.