I think you are right about the pickup height needing to be adjusted. The tech at GC should have done that too, think he just raised the action a bit. I might see about doing that and giving it one more shot before writing it off completely because as I said, I want to love it but I just don't.
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New PJ Mustang at Summer NAMM
- Thread starter GhettoBrassGuy
- Start date
I think you are right about the pickup height needing to be adjusted. The tech at GC should have done that too, think he just raised the action a bit. I might see about doing that and giving it one more shot before writing it off completely because as I said, I want to love it but I just don't.
Sounds like maybe you should just return it, and use the Mikro you just got,
until something else shows up that you don't have to try to love.
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Didn't buy it. Bought the Mikro instead. Just giving my thoughts on it since I thought the first one I tried may have just been that particular bass. Advice like yours about adjusting the pickup height is welcomed and great. Thanks
The static is because the tape wounds do not complete the ground when your fingers touch the strings. Happens with most nylon wrapped/coated strings. The bass may not have the best shielding job, but nylon strings are inherently noisy and there isn't much one can do about it. I'd find an alternate string before messing with the innards.
It's not the perfect bass. It's a mustang. Mustangs aren't that sexy, but it's an interesting Fender offering and it's obvious a lot of people appreciate it.
When it first came out, I figured it for my perfect bass, but the body isn't as comfy to me as Jazz basses are, so I intend to make a short scale jazz build.
But... The bass is really well done and proves Mexico has upped their game. The bass is legit, and will serve many gigging and recording musicians stock.
Today I changed the strings on my Mustang from the factory round wound to Fender brand flat wound. My local store only had the long scale strings in stock, and since the original strings are long scale anyway, I bought and installed them. So far I like the flats a lot (insert your favorite round vs. flat debate here). To my untrained ear they sound clearer and less muddy rumbley (is that the right word?). With the round wounds, there was a lot of buzz and vibration from everything in my room hanging on my walls and sitting on book shelves. Now there is less vibration in the room. There is also more of a difference in the tone between the two pickups. The E string was a little tough to wind around the post as it is really long, and putting it on a short scale means you are winding a little of the meaty part of the string around the post. But I figured if Fender can use long scale strings from the factory, I can do it too. The other strings wound on with no problems. I think the intonation is a little off now. Or maybe it wasn't set up very well to begin with. Either way, using my snark tuner or my other plug-in type tuner, when an open string is in tune, the 12th fret note is a little sharp, according to the tuner. I'm not experienced enough to hear it by ear, or to know how to adjust it. And the way I play, it's not going to make much of a difference. Over all, I'm happy, but I'm still not a good bass player.
Are you sure the stock strings are long scale?
I like the sounds I'm getting from the stock strings,
but I might throw some flats on just to see how much it changes the sound.
I've had long scale flats on a Jag SS for about 3 years.
No problem, except for like you said winding the E string was a little hairy.
About intonation - if you read sharp, loosen the string and then turn the adjuster clockwise
so the saddle moves towards the bottom of the bass, and vice versa if you're flat.
If you're flat and have to move the saddle towards the top of the bass, when you're done,
leave the screwdriver in the slot and give it a little tap to make sure the saddle has actually moved.
Then re-tune, and check again. You'll probably have to do it a few times to get it right on.
Use the right size screwdriver and take care not to let it jump out of the slots.
Easier done than said.
I like the sounds I'm getting from the stock strings,
but I might throw some flats on just to see how much it changes the sound.
I've had long scale flats on a Jag SS for about 3 years.
No problem, except for like you said winding the E string was a little hairy.
About intonation - if you read sharp, loosen the string and then turn the adjuster clockwise
so the saddle moves towards the bottom of the bass, and vice versa if you're flat.
If you're flat and have to move the saddle towards the top of the bass, when you're done,
leave the screwdriver in the slot and give it a little tap to make sure the saddle has actually moved.
Then re-tune, and check again. You'll probably have to do it a few times to get it right on.
Use the right size screwdriver and take care not to let it jump out of the slots.
Easier done than said.
My 3 way switch seems to have crapped itself. Ordered a "closed" version because the adjustments I'm making to the tabbed version aren't helping.
The switch on my blue one has cut in and out since I got it. Mostly when I go the the J position.
Do you happen to have a picture of it, or a link to the one you ordered?
Its this one. More like traditional pot leads. This past week I was getting the J pup intermittently and then it would crackle and cut out while playing.
Musiclily Metric 3-Position Sealed Box Toggle Pickup Selector Switch for Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Guitar, With Cream Black Dual Tips Amazon.com: Musiclily Metric 3-Position Sealed Box Toggle Pickup Selector Switch for Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Guitar, With Cream Black Dual Tips: Musical Instruments
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Thanks - I bookmarked it in case it cuts out completely.
I'm going to pop it open and have a look,
but there's probably not much to be done about it besides get a new one.
Maybe I'll write to Fender about it. It should be under warranty, unless they've
got a switch exclusion in the fine print or something.
I'm going to pop it open and have a look,
but there's probably not much to be done about it besides get a new one.
Maybe I'll write to Fender about it. It should be under warranty, unless they've
got a switch exclusion in the fine print or something.
FWIW, the sonic blue one I played at GC the other day had the same issues with the switch. I thought it was the cord at first but then realized pretty quick that it was the switch every time I changed pick ups. This one came straight from the box in the back too, it hadn't even been sitting on the floor for someone to mess up
I put some short scale Labella Deep Talkin' Bass strings that I had laying around on mine. They seem a bit too "deep talkin'" for me. May change it to new chromes I have. If all else fails I'll go back to the stock strings. Nothing particularly wrong with any of the strings I've tried. Just looking for the right ones to use with my particular amp/cab.
I've got a spare set of these:
D'Addario ECB81M Chromes Flat Wound Electric Bass Strings Light Medium Scale
If they're not way too long, I might try them out just to check out the change in sound.
They also make that type in short scale, but I forget the number/name.
I'll probably stick with the rounds though, because I really like the way it sounds now.
D'Addario ECB81M Chromes Flat Wound Electric Bass Strings Light Medium Scale
If they're not way too long, I might try them out just to check out the change in sound.
They also make that type in short scale, but I forget the number/name.
I'll probably stick with the rounds though, because I really like the way it sounds now.
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I've got a spare set of these:
D'Addario ECB81M Chromes Flat Wound Electric Bass Strings Light Medium Scale
If they're not way too long, I might try them out just to check out the change in sound.
They also make that type in short scale, but I forget the number/name.
I'll probably stick with the rounds though, because I really like the way it sounds now.
The Chromes I bought were ECB81S (45|100) Regular Light Gauge. They were the only short scale strings in the place so the decision was easy. We shall see........Think I got the LaBella short scales from one of the online places that JUST sells strings.......allegedly.....
Brio - an update. First - I don't know if you're comfortable doing this, or if you might void your warranty, but I popped it open and took a look.
The switch has a plastic shaft in the center. When you operate it, it opens and closes metal flaps/plates on either side that the wires are attached to. This makes/breaks contact with the pickups.
The switch sits in a somewhat narrow slot. It looks like if it's not lined up straight with the slot it can prevent the metal from pushing open. And if the round nut loosens up, it's possible that the switch could turn when you work it.
The switch needs to be lined up with the slot and then the round nut tightened.
Anyways, I made sure no wires were touching, gave it a shot of contact cleaner, and so far - so good. It hasn't cut out, lost volume, or given me any other problems, and I've worked it quite a bit. Hope it stays that way.
Hard to describe. I hope that made sense. I'm attaching some pictures that may help.
The solder work was better than I was expecting, but there was a lot of rough wood in the routed areas, and some loose wood chips on the bottom that I vacuumed out.
Edit - maybe there was a small piece of wood or sawdust in the switch - IDK.
Also, I figured I'd give those flats a try. The E string has about 1/2 turn on the peg that doesn't have the silk on it. The rest look normal.
Those are medium scale and available to order at the big box stores.
They really knock a lot of the 'zing' off the sound. Mellows it out quite a bit. I just gave them a quick whirl, but I'm going to leave them on for a while to get a better impression of how they work with the bass. I'm putting a pic up of those too.
The pics - you've really got to see it in person and watch it operate to get a feel for what it's doing, and also for how it needs to fit.
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Should be no problem.
From what I hear, Sweetwater will check it out and make sure it's OK for you.
It's a really great bass.
The bass in the above post was hanging on the rack at Guitar Center and was probably returned. I got a discount on it.
For me, it was a simple fix. But if someone else gets a new one with switch trouble, I'd recommend returning it.
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