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Short Scale thougths

@NorthTexasBass, is the JMJ Mustang's neck profile thickish?
If you have the numbers (thickness of the wood at (nut side of the) first fret and 12th fret) I would appreciate it.

I gave these numbers for my TMB30: .85" at 1st fret, 1.01 at 12th. That would be nice.

People will say "chunky" in reference to nut width alone, but the profile thickness - harder to measure - is probably more important with regard to dead/weak spots. Good example, Vintera 50s P - wide nut but profile is not thick.

It is chunky from front to back, it feels thicker than my Am Pro II P-Bass. I can't find the exact measurements, but in the JMJ thread on his forum there is quite a bit of info on the neck. This post and the few after it get into this. JMJ Signature Road Worn Mustang!
 
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I have around eight short scales now , it was a Dano Longhorn that first got me . My favourite might be the Gibson DC Jr , but there are a ton of options , at most price points . I tend to pass on Fender shaped things now despite being an old Pbass guy .
 
So I want a short scale (only cause I don't have one). I don't know a whole lot about them (hence the post) and I'm looking for inputs on which would suit ME best.

- I am getting older .... so lighter is better
- I'm a P-Bass fanatic really
- I do like thicker necks, but its not a show-stopper
- I do like nice rosewood on the neck. Just the look of them "gets" me.
- I appreciate inexpensive. But if it feels/looks cheap, I won't have it.

I "think" I want a Squire Mini-P and (maybe) upgrade the strings, pickups later. Maybe even paint it. So not only fun to play but a hobby item. Now that's only $200. But the fingerboard does look "inexpensive".

Then I see the Mustang Bass'. Especially the USA models that "LOOK" more impressive but are 6x the price. Now cost isn't a real issue, so long as I perceive quality.

So I "like" the mini-P idea.... But I fear that it won't meet my quality standard. Now I've never held either of these. I'm going out Monday to do that. I was just looking for inputs from people who already traveled this path..... Thoughts???
Get the mini Squier Jaguar with the humbucker in the sweet spot. It's pretty awesome.
 
You can buy a Harley Benton short scale P-bass for $88.00 online , really nice bass. On the other end is the Fender Mustang line $750-$1300 . I just recently started playing short scales exclusively , the Fender JMJ Mustang and a Harley Benton and both are fantastic .
 
If you like P's, then a Mustang seems like a good choice. Only the pricey American ones come with Rosewood, however.

How bout this as an alternative: G&L Tribute Fallout Short Scale Bass Guitar - Olympic White

For a little more than the G&L, but still less than the American Fender, Reverend has you covered with the Sentinel, Dub King, and Wattplower - all of which are basically kickass short P's of various flavor.
 
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The JMJ Mustang has a great chunkyish 1.625" neck that I absolutely love. And the pickup is outstanding. It sounds more like a P-Bass than a P-Bass. All of the low end with no boominess, and it really cuts through a mix. Try one if you can.

+1 here. I’ve owned MANY SS basses, high end and dirt cheap, and this made me sell my other expensive ones. It’s a great bass. The profile does in fact seem to be thicker, by the way. JMJ all day!
 
I really want an EBMM short scale regardless of price, but I had a question. Does it sound like an old school passive Stingray? I don't need or want a pre amp just the passive Stingray sound in a 30 inch scale. If so Ill save up the money.

I am not exactly a Stingray expert so I can't really answer that question honestly. The people who know Stingrays say it is though. Some members on here that are very well respected certainly say so, so I think the answer is yes. This bass is by far the best bass I have ever owned, including my EBMM 20th anniversary 4H bass. It is super lightweight and well-balanced and sounds great. Well thought out all over, little details like the tuners being in closer to the headstock to make the bass just that much smaller. The passive boost and true single coil are amazing. Can't say enough good about this bass (except I will probably put some sort neck pickup in there some day, maybe not though, it sounds that good)

I had TI's on it until about an hour ago and it may have been the greatest tone I have ever had from my basses. I was missing that roundwound sparkle and beauty though so am trying some GHS Balanced Nickels. The TI's may end up going back on though because they just sounded that good. Or they may go on short scale Jag P/J. Who knows?

Also is there such a thing as an "old school passive Stingray"? I thought until recently there were pretty much all active. BTW I am with you on the passive thing. My last "Stingray" was active/passive and it spent the vast majority of its time in passive mode.

Anyways, if you can get one go for it. Since they are rare chances are you can sell it for whatever you paid if you buy used.
 
My Squier SS Jaguar does a decent P imitation but my Mustang is better at it for me. The Jag has a less chunky neck profile which feels very good to me.
For sure not my best sounding P bass, still has the stock pickups. Although I recently discovered it actually sounds way way better with the P pickup rolled off a bit and just raising the volume downstream somewhere. Way more P bassy like that. I don't know if I will ever run that bass again with the volume all the way up.
 
Rosewood isn't some kind of magical wood, it's just been extremely common in musical instruments for the last century (until CITES temporarily put a screeching halt to a lot of it!). Most of the lighter-colored 'rosewood-substitutes' will turn quite a bit darker after they have been oiled a couple times with some suitable fretboard conditioner...
 
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So I want a short scale ... so I "like" the mini-P idea.... But I fear that it won't meet my quality standard ... looking for inputs from people who already traveled this path..... Thoughts???

I love short scales, and have moved to them exclusively now. I played the mini-P and it felt small and cheap, like a kids bass. Others don't feel that way about them - but I do. YMMV.

The Mustang PJ (Mexico) is a good choice for someone that favors P basses. They look good, they sound good, they're not too expensive, and the quality is good. I've owned a couple of them and they were both good. A few comments on them though:
(1) For me, the J pickup was useless. I never used it.
(2) People complain that the pickup selector toggle switch is bad. I had one that was janky, but I just opened it up and sprayed contact cleaner on it, and it worked great thereafter.
(3) Fender does not seem to be doing good factory setups on the ones I've owned and played in stores. Be prepared to set it up to your liking (of course this more or less applies to all basses). I will say that they setup nicely and hold setup well. No issues.
 
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