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Petition for Fender Mustang

#61
Fender is all about nostalgia. Did they come up with an entirely new modern looking bass recently? Yes. And no. Mostly no. They came out with an old guitar design, tested the waters with Japan/Squier, found a market and now it's MIA model...

The Jaguar.

Fender doesn't care what their customers want? POPPYCOCK! If that were true they'd have long ago gone out of business. They care what most of their customers want all right, which is what sells. What most people are buying are nostalgic designs (albeit updated in some models but overall still nostalgic-looking).


As for the Mustang...

How to create demand for a 5oth Anniversary model of the Mustang?

Discontinue offering it (it wasn't selling well anyway) a year or two in advance. Make a limited production run of the Anniversary model — the ltd run guarantees they'll sell out of them as the short-scale junkies after being deprived so long snap 'em up for fear of never getting another.


Shorty3 said:
Hi All,
I am a new forum member, so I hope I am posting this thread in the right section.

I play mainly Hard Rock and classic 60's and 70's rock music.

I have a Squier Jaguar Short Scale which I really like, and a MIA Fender Precision 2014 three-color sunburst which for me is a real collectors item. I also own a cherry red Epiphone EB-0 2014 Made in Indonesia, which is a wonderful workhorse. All are strung with D'Addario Flatwound Chromes.
In the past I had a MIA Jazz bass, I do not know which year though, quality wise it was not at the level of the 2014 MIA Precision though.
I have to say that recently it seems to me that Fender have improved quality (or brought it back if you prefer). As a matter of fact, I find the 2014 MIA Fender P really top notch in terms of quality and tone, however I do prefer playing short scale.

So here is my proposal:

2016 will be the 50th anniversary of the Mustang bass (it was first issued in 1966), so I am thinking about all the people who like Fender basses to start a sort of internet petition to push Fender to reissue a MIA Mustang.

I know it sounds crazy, but here is my dream-Mustang bass:

Whole Made in the USA.
Fingerboard: Rosewood.
Stringing: BOTH Thru-body AND Topload (this should be a MUST as we may have more strings options to chose).
Pickup: Seymour Duncan High Output vintage sounding (Hand made in USA of course).
Strings: FLATWOUNDS!
Colors: I want a three-color sunburst with tortoise pickguard, and an all black one (black pickguard and black matching headstock). More color options would be wellcome.
Including: Flight Case, Fender Leather Strap, Fender Strap Locks, Fender polish cloth, and high quality cable.

That's it!

Anybody who would like to join this petition, please throw in your ideas.

Thanks in advance to everybody!
Click to expand...

mcarp555 said:
As you've seen, plenty of people to pour cold water on your dream. Maybe they're right - maybe Fender doesn't care, or they won't sell enough to make it viable. But one thing they are not, and that's mind readers. I get a lot of similar opposition when I suggest contacting guitar companies regarding left-handed versions of various models. Still, the important thing is to try. Otherwise, how will they ever know what the consumer is interested in? Maybe they're already considering it, and your petition will be the tipping point. Or maybe nothing will happen; at least then you know you've done something, rather than just sit on your hands and hope.
Click to expand...


Hey, it could work — the list of TBers wanting a new Deep Impact helped turn the Future Impact from being a "maybe" into a reality!

So add me to the petition.

Made in the USA. Wherever, so long as it's true to heritage – a decent bass for a good price. "Re-open" the Japanese factory...
Fingerboard: Rosewood. (Or similar type if it keeps costs down)
Stringing: BOTH Through-body AND Topload (I always like options/versatility).
Pick up: Seymour Duncan High Output vintage sounding (or Duncan-Designed will suffice, to keep costs down).
Strings: FLATWOUNDS! (EB Cobalt flats, puhlease)
Colours: That cool fake-faded CAR on the Johnny Marr Jag, looks like coppery-orange (MATCHING HEADSTOCK)
Including: '66 LOLLIPOP tuners.
 
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#62
I don't think I agree with that nostalgia tag, FF. Tons of people are still making new and vital music with them today. If they weren't working, people wouldn't still be buying them.
 
#63
I never said people weren't making new and vital music with P-basses and Jazzes and other Fender variations.
I don't know, but maybe you missed my point.​
I didn't say everybody buying Fenders are in nostalgia cover-bands :p
...Or maybe I misconstrued your point... Nonetheless rant follows!!

People are buying them because they do work, and will still be buying them in future and coming up with new musical styles etc. And Fender will be right there to sell people their nostalgia fix.

You can't honestly say that Fender doesn't capitalise on the Millennium swing towards nostalgia (from 60's/'70s muscle-cars to retro fashion fiascos – old is 'in') when Fender's re-issuing every momentous bass they made. Try to find a vintage Jazz bass online and your search will turn up very few Jazzes made back in the day, but you'll get lots of basses made in the last 5 or so years, such as this brand new made this year so-called "1960 Journeyman Relic Jazz Bass®".

1552100805_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


If Fender isn't capitalising on nostalgia, then it would't offer basses as anything other than new. Yet you can get a "Closet Classic" that's never seen a closet let alone be in one for the last three decades, or a "NOS" that actually isn't NOS at all, or you can go whole hog nostalgic and get a "Heavy Relic".

Want a '63 Fender Tube Reverb®? Your wish is Fender's command:
0217500700_amp_frt_001_nr.png


'59 Bassman® amp? Sure no problem, Fender just whipped up its latest batch, so if you can't find one in stores they'll be shipping new ones soon:

2171000010_amp_dtl_007_nr.png




Care for a Vintage Modified '70s®?
0306702505_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


OH! Sorry! You prefer the " '77" Vintage Modified...
0307702500_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


Here, get you guitarist friend a belated Christmas gift, a nice vintage (reissue) '65 Deluxe Reverb® or a '65 Princeton® or a '65 Super Reverb®...
0217400000_amp_frt_001_nr.png
2172000000_amp_frt_001_nr.png
0217600000_amp_frt_001_nr.png


Back to Basses...

American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass®
0191020800_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


Prefer block markers? Okay, this American Vintage '74 Jazz Bass® fits the bill
0191030800_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


'60s Jazz Bass®
0131800306_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


'70's Jazz Bass®
0132000300_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


Classic Series '60s Jazz Bass® Lacquer
0140065700_gtr_frt_001_rr.png

Road Worn® '60s Jazz Bass® — This one's extra special, it gets two registered trademarks!
0131810340_gtr_frt_001_rr.png


Don't like jazz? Then how 'bout an American Vintage '58 Precision Bass®, or an American Vintage '63 Precision Bass®, or a '50s Precision Bass®, Classic Series '50s Precision Bass®, Road Worn® '50s Precision Bass®? ...

No, clearly Fender is NOT capitalising on nostalgia... :spit:

I'm okay with that. I want a reissue '66 Mustang Bass®... :smug:
 
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#64
Feral Feline said:
Fender is all about nostalgia. Did they come up with an entirely new modern looking bass recently? Yes. And no. Mostly no.
Click to expand...
Fender is dammed if they do, dammed if they don't. When they do try a new design, everybody bitches about it. People keep buying Jazzes & Precisions, so Fender keeps cranking them out. Then they get accused of never providing anything new.
 
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#68
mcarp555 said:
Fender is dammed if they do, dammed if they don't. When they do try a new design, everybody bitches about it. People keep buying Jazzes & Precisions, so Fender keeps cranking them out. Then they get accused of never providing anything new.
Click to expand...

Nah. Didn't the pawnshop series sell well? (I know they sold me on several!) And they will always sell the classics. Trying new variations or entirely new product lines shouldn't effect the traditional products, right?
 
#69
VincentB said:
Nah. Didn't the pawnshop series sell well? (I know they sold me on several!) And they will always sell the classics. Trying new variations or entirely new product lines shouldn't effect the traditional products, right?
Click to expand...
It affects the bottom line, which has a way of making itself known company-wide if you don't stop the bleeding.
 
Last edited:
#72
There's a small, but vocal minority of people here who prefer short scales.
Of that small amount, there's an even smaller amount who prefer Mustangs.
There's a lot of short scale basses available now.
In the overall scheme of things, I think those who prefer Mustangs are a miniscule percentage.
 
#75
77stingray said:
Saw this on reverb just now - the only one that seems to be priced reasonably. There was one at elderly music recently for $1200 and it is gone.

Fender Mustang 1971 | Reverb
Click to expand...

OK, which one of you was the Lucky Buyer of the above?! It sold yesterday. If someone here bought it, I'd be curious to know if the quality on these older ones is good. I'm hoping to get an MIJ reissue soon :)
 

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