Shortscale: Mustang vs P vs SG

[west al]

I've played both Mustangs, and SG basses over the years, and I have decided the SG style is it for me. Sound, and playability goes to the SG. I love the SG body style as well.

 

[kevs1]

Anti thanks, the bridge, you the the J pickup? By itself kind of weak? The P one is better? (you'd replace with bridge with..?) i

Im not sure I care about super low. On my current 9lb MIM P, I love it but man, that low E strings get so, I often can't even hear it. (the Mustang coming will supposedly be close to 7lb.)

bTW I have a non bass buddy who loves SG, and Hofners, but I would think those two would for a pro bass players as their 3rd or 4th one to spice things up, concur?

This will probably be my only bass they pay for fun or who knows one day ( I have 3 electric guitars, 335, Strat, and Custom LP)

 

[kevs1]

I've played both Mustangs, and SG basses over the years, and I have decided the SG style is it for me. Sound, and playability goes to the SG. I love the SG body style as well.

View attachment 4273116

Thanks West, just saw you post right after posting about SG below.. but you are Pro bassist, and SG is your main? I think looks cool and sound cool, but when played in store, did not have quite, creamy sound of Fender.. Lower (almost froggy) and bit harsher... so that's why I think perhaps SG would be a 3rd or 4th bass if I was Pro Bass player. Photo no bridge pickup up? or maybe don't see it.

 

[west al]

Thanks West, just saw you post right after posting about SG below.. but you are Pro bassist, and SG is your main? I think looks cool and sound cool, but when played in store, did not have quite, creamy sound of Fender.. Lower (almost froggy) and bit harsher... so that's why I think perhaps SG would be a 3rd or 4th bass if I was Pro Bass player. Photo no bridge pickup up? or maybe don't see it.

Stores don't always allow the best sound of any instrument. Strings on a bass separate the great to the fair bass as well. My choice on the SG style bass, D'Addario ETB92S Nylons. I also did play the Mustangs with the D'Addario Nylons strung as well.

 

[Antisyzygy]

Anti thanks, the bridge, you the the J pickup? By itself kind of weak? The P one is better? (you'd replace with bridge with..?) i

Im not sure I care about super low. On my current 9lb MIM P, I love it but man, that low E strings get so, I often can't even hear it. (the Mustang coming will supposedly be close to 7lb.)

bTW I have a non bass buddy who loves SG, and Hofners, but I would think those two would for a pro bass players as their 3rd or 4th one to spice things up, concur?

This will probably be my only bass they pay for fun or who knows one day ( I have 3 electric guitars, 335, Strat, and Custom LP)

Yeah a Mustang PJ is a pretty useful instrument as a one-and-done I'd say. It hits a lot of variety there. You have your fat P sound for most groove work, then the scooped P+J to cut through the mix a bit more.

The J bridge pickup by itself is too crisp and clanky for my ears. If you can blend in some neck pickup it helps fatten it up.

With a 3-way switch I prefer that all positions be usable by themselves without much EQ'ing required. I feel like the standard Jazz bridge pickup doesn't work so well for that goal on a P+J. The P sort of overpowers it and leaves the J sounding weak.

You can raise the bridge pickup up closer to the strings, and lower the P pickup, to get some balance but then the bridge pickup is even more crisp sounding and requires, IMO, the tone to be rolled off a bit.

Anyway, if I were to make a Mustang PJ my main player it'd be something I'd have to resolve for myself. The best idea I'd have is to put a hotter J in there so you get sort of a honky bridge tone out of it that's useable for some styles. It should help the balance too but you would also sacrifice some highs in the P+J switch setting. For me that's fine, for others maybe not.

Some others might prefer a hum-cancelling J bridge because with a P+J you will get some hum from the bridge pickup. I don't personally care about the hum though, it's usually not bad if you shield the bass cavity.

Some people like that single coil J bridge sound solo'd though so it's partially personal preference. It does sound a lot better with some low tension flatwounds.

 

[kevs1]

Thanks again, I'm not sure with PJ you can hear each picup individually or not? And yes, your saying J too weak to be useful, or answer no, P overpowers the blend always?

Funny same thing with STrat, right? People like the twangy bridge least generally and creamy neck the most....

But upi recommend raising bridge, or if getting a new J pickup, can you please send couple links if order preference? And stings, west mentions, I still have ones on my heavy mim P that came with it. That so important to change up?

"but you would also sacrifice some highs in the P+J"
Would one not get more highs since new pickup is hotter?

"shield the bass cavity." I have no idea what that is , but just mention that to my local luthier to do? thanks!

 

[Antisyzygy]

Thanks again, I'm not sure with PJ you can hear each picup individually or not? And yes, your saying J too weak to be useful, or answer no, P overpowers the blend always?

Funny same thing with STrat, right? People like the twangy bridge least generally and creamy neck the most....

But upi recommend raising bridge, or if getting a new J pickup, can you please send couple links if order preference? And stings, west mentions, I still have ones on my heavy mim P that came with it. That so important to change up?

"but you would also sacrifice some highs in the P+J"
Would one not get more highs since new pickup is hotter?

"shield the bass cavity." I have no idea what that is , but just mention that to my local luthier to do? thanks!

Yeah you can hear both pickups individually but I guess on a bass you want that "meat" underneath supporting the groove. You fill in the low-end after all.

A J-bridge pickup solo'd sounds weak compared to that tone most bassists are after. It works on a Jazz bass because you have another pickup just like it to blend in at the neck position.

There are people that make it work though. I've just found it hard to slot it in the mix when you're playing with others but it's totally audible, just missing some meat.

The bridge has less string amplitude anyway so it helps to have a hotter pickup balance things out with the neck pickup. Typically bridge pickups are wound hotter than the neck to compensate, however, when you add the P in the mix on a PJ the mismatch in volume and bass frequency strength is noticeable. P pickups are hotter than J pickups typically.

Add to that the 3-way switch and you'll notice switching from neck to bridge produces a volume drop to your ears. My personal preference for 3-way switches is to have a useable sound in all positions without needing to tweak other knobs, your mileage may vary.

Raising the bridge pickup up helps but it also makes the high-end even more pronounced. That might be what you want to try first cause it could work just fine for your needs.

Also lowering the P pickup a bit might help as well. It will make the sound a bit muddier but you have a PJ so you can always switch to the middle or bridge for more highs.

For a bridge pickup (if you choose to do a replacement) probably something like a Seymour Duncan "Hot" Jazz, or maybe the Quarter Pounder if you're after more of a scoop. Either one should fill in the low-end a bit. Make sure it fits the slot there as Im not sure if they use a neck or bridge sized pickup on the Mustang PJ.

 

[kevs1]

Seymour Duncan "Hot" Jazz, or maybe the Quarter Pounder if

Thanks Anti, have you tested this or pretty darned sure those 3rd party oneswill get that bridge to be louder and nicer than the one on the Mustang? ie more usable as a solo pickup.

and for strings, the Fender supplied are good?

 

[kevs1]

Forgot to ask Anti, is guitar center or sam sam ash is there a Bass to hear the Jazz bridge where I could hear difference from weak Mustang P/J bridge ? Any large Jazz will do it? or maybe other brand Bridge to compare?.. Obviously no Seymour Duncan in stores to compare, thanks