The Official Medium Scale Bass Club

[Markshan]

It was a buck and a half well spent I think.

 

[BASS YODA]

Hi,

I am the author of this...

https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/mustang-bass-strings-links-tips-tricks-things/

As you know, the Fender Mustang Bass with string-through-body is a 30" short scale bass on which you must mount medium scale strings even if certain short scale and long scale strings also work.

We can consider that the Fender Mustang Bass is almost a medium scale bass...

I would like to add references and benefit from your experiences... Roundwounds, flatwounds, nickel, stainless steel, coated, which medium scale strings (or not) do you recommend, please ?

If you could specify the company, the brand, the reference, the gauges and the feeling (tension...), please...

(Personally, I'm looking for roundwound strings with maximum life (acid sweat) with low tension, I don't like that feeling of hard strings and string-through-body adds tension...)

Thanks a lot for your help.

May the Groove be with you.

 

[RodRy]

Here's a recent client's (@Kindness) conversion neck project.

I love how this turned out, so I though I'd share.

That's a beauty!

 

[RodRy]

I'm thinking it'll go from being a "Squire Jaguar Bass " to being a Squire Jag" with 3x1 tuners.

I have found that Sperzel bass turners and Gotoh GB350 Res-o-lite tuners are the lightest weight ones available. I've got them on a couple of my basses and they have both been very good tuners, and taken the weight out of my left hand.

 

[RodRy]

I have a 3" suede leather strap as well as 4" straps...it helps.

Agree that a good strap is a wonderful thing. I accessorize my basses with custom straps, most frequently from Coco Guitar Straps on Etsy. Invalid Link Removed
I ask her to make 3" wide versions of her normal guitar straps and I have loved every one of these.

 

[Markshan]

I have found that Sperzel bass turners and Gotoh GB350 Res-o-lite tuners are the lightest weight ones available. I've got them on a couple of my basses and they have both been very good tuners, and taken the weight out of my left hand.
View attachment 5294164 View attachment 5294168 View attachment 5294165 View attachment 5294166

Will either of those fill the holes left by those big Fender tuners? I found a set of generic 3x1 on eBay that are much lighter than standard Fender tuners and sized to those holes.
I've been eyeing up one of those Motion Bs. What is the other headstock?

Edit: actually I take it back, they are about the same weight as the Fenders, but the 3x1 will lose some weight from the shorter length and less lumber.

 

[RodRy]

Will either of those fill the holes left by those big Fender tuners? I found a set of generic 3x1 on eBay that are much lighter than standard Fender tuners and sized to those holes.
I've been eyeing up one of those Motion Bs. What is the other headstock?

Edit: actually I take it back, they are about the same weight as the Fenders, but the 3x1 will lose some weight from the shorter length and less lumber.

I used plastic bushings to fill in the gap between the Sperzels and the previous tuners (which were Hipshot light tuners) when I replaced the Hipshots on my Rob Allen Mouse.


The Motion B had pretty standard tuners which may have been Yamaha branded Gotohs, so they dropped right in place. If anything, my Motion (Jade) is now slightly body-heavy. Before and after pics:

I also had Jade rewired, since the old electronics had some broken pots. Plays very nice, sounds really good (very similar to a Jazz), and the 32.6" scale qualifies it for these pages. Realizing I don't have any glamor pictures of that bass, so I should do something about that. This pic is before I changed the control knobs to nicer looking ones. The Optima gold strings really completed the look and seem to have a long playing life.

 

[JohnMalay]

I used plastic bushings to fill in the gap between the Sperzels and the previous tuners (which were Hipshot light tuners) when I replaced the Hipshots on my Rob Allen Mouse.
View attachment 5295452 View attachment 5295453

The Motion B had pretty standard tuners which may have been Yamaha branded Gotohs, so they dropped right in place. If anything, my Motion (Jade) is now slightly body-heavy. Before and after pics:
View attachment 5295455 View attachment 5295456
I also had Jade rewired, since the old electronics had some broken pots. Plays very nice, sounds really good (very similar to a Jazz), and the 32.6" scale qualifies it for these pages. Realizing I don't have any glamor pictures of that bass, so I should do something about that. This pic is before I changed the control knobs to nicer looking ones. The Optima gold strings really completed the look and seem to have a long playing life.
View attachment 5295459

One of those has been on my list for a long time but always bumped by something else. Still looking.

 

[etoncrow]

My medium scales: Birdsong Corto Bass, HY5 & Mesquito:




Edit: I've also got a Roscoe SKB3005, a German Warwick Corvette Std 5, a Warmoth P and an Azura Bugbass. The Birdsong's have been my go to basses for over fifteen years. I can get any sound I desire from them.

 

[CostaMoses]

Here's a recent client's (@Kindness) conversion neck project.

I love how this turned out, so I though I'd share.

What a dream! I'd love to hear sound samples and learn more about the build if you/your client are up for posting. I searched for a NBD thread from Kindness but didn't see anything.

 

[Aiden1382]

Here's a recent client's (@Kindness) conversion neck project.

I love how this turned out, so I though I'd share.

That neck looks beautiful especially with that sea foam green body. Btw, not sure if you explained this in a previous post but I'm interested to find out…Why your 32" necks more expensive than Fender 34" replacement necks? Thank you.

 

[Markshan]

That neck looks beautiful especially with that sea foam green body. Btw, not sure if you explained this in a previous post but I'm interested to find out…Why your 32" necks more expensive than Fender 34" replacement necks? Thank you.

Isn't that kind of like asking why a burger made at an independent bistro might be more than a Big Mac?

I trust you are aware that "Genuine Fender" replacement necks are made in Mexico now?

 

[J Posega]

That neck looks beautiful especially with that sea foam green body. Btw, not sure if you explained this in a previous post but I'm interested to find out…Why your 32" necks more expensive than Fender 34" replacement necks? Thank you.

Economy of scale. Most companies making replacements are doing it by the hundreds, not tens or dozens.

 

[Aiden1382]

Economy of scale. Most companies making replacements are doing it by the hundreds, not tens or dozens.

Isn't that kind of like asking why a burger made at an independent bistro might be more than a Big Mac?

I trust you are aware that "Genuine Fender" replacement necks are made in Mexico now?

Sounds like I offended you which was not my intention. I was genuinely curious. Thank you anyway.

 

[Aiden1382]

Economy of scale. Most companies making replacements are doing it by the hundreds, not tens or dozens.

Thank you

 

[BTL]

That neck looks beautiful especially with that sea foam green body. Btw, not sure if you explained this in a previous post but I'm interested to find out…Why your 32" necks more expensive than Fender 34" replacement necks? Thank you.

Thank you!

Technically, they're not more expensive. My necks are made in the USA and are priced about on par with what you would pay for a Fender American Bass neck with machines. I'm very proud to be able to offer a unique, top-quality, American-made product that competes directly on price.

 

[RodRy]

That neck looks beautiful especially with that sea foam green body. Btw, not sure if you explained this in a previous post but I'm interested to find out…Why your 32" necks more expensive than Fender 34" replacement necks? Thank you.

While I cannot directly answer your question (I really don't know the difference in price) I can say that the neck I purchased from Brad Lowe is very high quality: good fretwork, straight, level, well finished. The price was quite fair, and he was easy to deal with and stands behind the quality of his products. I can highly recommend him if anyone is interested in a replacement neck. No, I don't get kickbacks or discounts for recommendations. (Do I?)
Now I just need to get started on that project!

 

[BTL]

What a dream! I'd love to hear sound samples and learn more about the build if you/your client are up for posting. I searched for a NBD thread from Kindness but didn't see anything.

That's a discontinued Mighty Mite body that I routed out under the pickguard to enable easy pickup swaps. Patrick has pickguards loaded with the TV Jones Thunder'Blade and the Guild BiSonic. TV Jones sound clips are here:

Thunder'Blade Bass Pickups | TV Jones

 

[Markshan]

Sounds like I offended you which was not my intention. I was genuinely curious. Thank you anyway.

Not offended, just surprised. First, in this particular example, it seems obvious to me. Second, I just find it bad form in general to question an artist about price openly. There are so many factors that can go into pricing, some of which they may not be comfortable discussing in an open forum. I would suggest to anyone that a pm is the proper venue for an interested party to make such inquiries.

 

[Glennbassmann]

My 83' RB600 medium scale basses....