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New PJ Mustang at Summer NAMM

Hi, I don't know if this question already popped up but: would it be possible to replace the split coil pickup with a Mustang pickup (namely the Nordstrand one)? I understand that the strings spacing is different, but I would love to have the original Mustang tone and (somehow) looks!
Actually, this is the only thing that's stopping me from getting a Capri Orange PJ...
 
Hi, I don't know if this question already popped up but: would it be possible to replace the split coil pickup with a Mustang pickup (namely the Nordstrand one)? I understand that the strings spacing is different, but I would love to have the original Mustang tone and (somehow) looks!
Actually, this is the only thing that's stopping me from getting a Capri Orange PJ...

You could fit a conventional Mustang bridge to sort the spacing, but that would then necessitate drilling the body for through-body stringing, and maybe there is some additional routing under that bridge design?

I owned a MIJ Mustang bass and the pickups were weak sauce. I bolstered mine with neodymium magnets, simply to squeeze a bit more power out of the pickups. I looked at the Nordstrand pickups, but they were expensive and apparently made the bass sound like a P bass. If that is the case, why go down the route of a new pickguard, set of pickups, new bridge (potentially?), simply to get back to square one? For aesthetic purposes you could put closed pickup covers on the P pickup to get a bit closer to the Mustang mojo?

I'm not trying to be a downer. I've thought about the various mods you could do to these new PJ Mustangs. I liked the one I tried, simply because it didn't have the weak thump/twang of my old MIJ Mustang and sounded really authoritative for a shortscale bass.
 
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You could fit a conventional Mustang bridge to sort the spacing, but that would then necessitate drilling the body for through-body stringing, and maybe there is some additional routing under that bridge design?

I owned a MIJ Mustang bass and the pickups were weak sauce. I bolstered mine with neodymium magnets, simply to squeeze a bit more power out of the pickups. I looked at the Nordstrand pickups, but they were expensive and apparently made the bass sound like a P bass. If that is the case, why go down the route of a new pickguard, set of pickups, new bridge (potentially?), simply to get back to square one? For aesthetic purposes you could put closed pickup covers on the P pickup to get a bit closer to the Mustang mojo?

I'm not trying to be a downer. I've thought about the various mods you could do to these new PJ Mustangs. I liked the one I tried, simply because it didn't have the weak thump/twang of my old MIJ Mustang and sounded really authoritative for a shortscale bass.

No need to apologize, I don't have that much experience with Mustangs, that's why I asked you people. It's not only aesthetics, it's a combination of that and of the Mustang pickup sound that (at least to my ears) differs from the PJ: its split coil sounds more rich and full, while the mustang (at least to my ears) has that old school vibe that i kinda like.
I could just get a CIJ or wait for the new JMJ but 1) here in Italy we don't know when we'll get the JMJ yet 2) the CIJ resell for some stupid money, and I don't have the funds now!
 
The Mustang PJ are back in stock, One for each colour, and I've spent some time trying them.
First of all, the Capri Orange is BEAUTIFUL, the official pics do it justice and I love it. The Sonic Blue and Olympic White are a bit difficult to tell apart, but not that much.
All.of.them had the switch issue but after fiddling with it a bit it started working perfectly.
Out of the four, one of them had a bridge pickup that was weak, and I mean REALLY weak, like in broken weak: no bass and when you rolled down the tone it became mute. From what I've gathered from this thread this is a common issue and it has nothing to do with pickup height but with manufacturing problems.

All in all I quite like them. Still... I don't know if I will buy one. I still like the old Squier VM more maybe, I think it's more faithful to the Mustang tone.
 
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Lucked out on the pickups with mine, I was expecting a pick up change in order but it sounded good. Only bad thing is the wiring and switch. I used to order off of eBay a solder less wiring harness for my other basses but it seems none are made for the pj mustang. Love it with flats.
 
Bought another Mustang in Sonic Blue yesterday. Zzounds gave me a 15% discount to match MF's holiday offer, so it was too hard to pass on. Anyway, has anyone tried the D'adarrio flat wounds (blue thread) on theirs? I had DR Hi-Beams on my last one, but was thinking of trying something different.
 
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Bought another Mustang in Sonic Blue yesterday. Zzounds gave me a 15% discount to MF's holiday offer, so it was too hard to pass on. Anyway, has anyone tried the D'adarrio flat wounds (blue thread) on theirs? I had DR Hi-Beams on my last one, but was thinking of trying something different.
I have Chromes on mine and they sound great (blue silk flats.) I have them on most of my basses.
 
Just saw this... the Aggies made the sound 'crisper' (more defined)- I didn't notice much else different. I actually sold it because I can't get accoustomed to SS (tried a few).
Bought another Mustang in Sonic Blue yesterday. Zzounds gave me a 15% discount to MF's holiday offer, so it was too hard to pass on. Anyway, has anyone tried the D'adarrio flat wounds (blue thread) on theirs? I had DR Hi-Beams on my last one, but was thinking of trying something different.
Since it's not a through body bridge their standard short scale length is perfect.
 
D'Addario Chromes sound great on my Mustang PJ. You might want to try one gauge down from your round wounds as the tension will be similar. So I like Chromes 40-95. That set may not come in short scale but mine are just long scale cut short and they work fine. They don't have that round wound ring, but they have attack and midrange presence that work in all kinds of situations.
 
D'Addario Chromes sound great on my Mustang PJ. You might want to try one gauge down from your round wounds as the tension will be similar. So I like Chromes 40-95. That set may not come in short scale but mine are just long scale cut short and they work fine. They don't have that round wound ring, but they have attack and midrange presence that work in all kinds of situations.

The Chromes I was looking at were 45-100, the DR Hi-Beams I had were 45-105.
 
I'm pretty happy with La Bella nickle wounds. They were really bright at first but they're mellowing out nicely now. I may try Pressurewounds next though, the string squeek can be pretty prominent with them (yeah yeah, technique).
 
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