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Which Mustang to ride?

M

MattBlue

Jun 4, 2019
12
8
#1
Hey guys,

I am Matt, new to this forum. I am not a native English speaker, so please excuse my mistakes.

I've been playing the guitar for about 10 years and now I would like to try the bass, just to get another perspective on things and for to become a better musician all in all.
Due to many reasons (size, weight, playability...) I decided to get a certain bass by Fender, the Fender Mustang Bass.
Question is:
Which model exactly should I get?
I want to buy new so there are 3 possible options:
1. Mustang Bass PJ, Made in MexicoInvalid Link Removed
2.The JMJ Road Worn Mustang Bass, Made in Mexico
3. American Performer Mustang Bass, Made in USAInvalid Link Removed
So 1 of these is made in USA - can I expect a noticeable better build quality from it?
Then The Mustang Bass PJ has a different nut width than the other two models: 1.5" instead of 1.625" - will that offer a better playability for me, considering that I have very small hands compared to all of my male friends? Can you tell me about the neck profiles on these models in general?

I am thankful for any input on this! :)

Matt
 
#2
I went with the CIJ Mustang several years ago and then the MIM Mustang PJ several months ago. All I tried had excellent build quality.

The neck profile of the MIJ is a bit thinner front to back than the PJ but both are 1.5" at the nut. Other original Mustangs and the JMJ I've tried are wider at the nut.

I've yet to see a Performer Mustang in a shop.
 
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#4
mongo2 said:
I went with the CIJ Mustang several years ago and then the MIM Mustang PJ several months ago. All I tried had excellent build quality.

The neck profile of the MIJ is a bit thinner front to back than the PJ but both are 1.5" at the nut. Other original Mustangs and the JMJ I've tried are wider at the nut.

I've yet to see a Performer Mustang in a shop.
Click to expand...

Hey there,
thank you, this is really helpful! I am sure your CIJ Bass is of fanatastic quality, I had a Fender Jaguar guitar once that was made in Japan - it was great. Unfortunately it is hard to find those instruments where I live (Germany).
Are you planning any mods for your PJ? I heared the toggle switch is often replaced...? How do you feel about the new bridge? How was the set-up from factory?
 
#5
MattBlue said:
Hey there,
thank you, this is really helpful! I am sure your CIJ Bass is of fanatastic quality, I had a Fender Jaguar guitar once that was made in Japan - it was great. Unfortunately it is hard to find those instruments where I live (Germany).
Are you planning any mods for your PJ? I heared the toggle switch is often replaced...? How do you feel about the new bridge? How was the set-up from factory?
Click to expand...

Don't feel bad the Japan made Mustang basses aren't easy to find here in the USA either.

I still use the original switch on the PJ. It seems to be functioning ok but I don't use it much because keep it on the P selection. I placed another threaded nut between it and the pickguard to lower it a bit and shortened the threaded end of a spare switch knob in order to make it more difficult to hit accidentally. So far so good.

I think PJ bridge works and looks fine...so does the original style bridge.

I immediately changed strings to my preferred tapewounds so I had to redo the setup. The factory setup was usable for me with the original strings.
 
#6
I have an MIJ Mustang too — oh no! The narrow neck on the MIJ is definitely nice and easy to play, but it has a vintage radius (7.25") fretboard, which means it’s rounder and thus a bit more of a reach to get one’s fingers around from under the neck up to the low notes on the E string. I have some wrist trouble, so that bothers me a bit (it’s absolutely fine for most people though — all Fender guitars and basses used to be 7.25" radius like that up until about the mid 1970s or so, and plenty of great music was made on those instruments, without a doubt!)

I love my MIJ, but I haven’t tried the others. From what I’ve read, a lot of people like the MIM, but many seem to do various mods, including pickup changes, to get it to where they want it. The American performer looks like a high quality bass in the Mustang format. Not so sure how much it even needs the J pickup, but its there if you want it. The JMJ seems the most widely loved except for one aspect — the pre-worn finish is not for everyone. If you like that look though (or if it doesn’t matter to you), that could be a good choice.

Regarding nut width, well, "small hands" is a term that could cover a lot of different hand sizes. I would say I have small hands, but my main bass is a Precision bass with a 1.625" nut width and I do fine on that due to its flat back of the neck (it’s pretty wide, but not fat in the back). I’ve met guys with smaller hands than me, and I’d say at some point it does become a consideration. Best thing to do is of course get a few Mustang basses in your hands and see which one(s) will work for you. Jazz bass (1.5" width) necks are faster playing, but bass isn’t necessarily about playing super fast anyway. Safest bet if you can’t try before buying might be the Mustang PJ as it has the 1.5" nut width and 9.5" fingerboard radius. Price is nice, too...

Oh, and Welcome to The Low End! I started on (and still play) guitar too, but bass is a whole new way to enjoy and make music. Coolest thing is it’s the same notes, so it’s easy to get started on; however, you end up developing a whole new mental approach to music (don’t worry, it’ll develop over time, you don’t have to become “Mr. Bass" all at once). I’m still working on it myself!
 
#8
Ive played all 3 and owned the the current MIM Mustang PJ, just never warmed up to it and sold it within a month. I think the JMJ is by far the best and its the closest feeling and sounding to what a real Mustang should be. The other two have J pickups added and sound too modern IMO. Get the JMJ.
 
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#9
mbell75 said:
Ive played all 3 and owned the the current MIM Mustang PJ, just never warmed up to it and sold it within a month. I think the JMJ is by far the best and its the closest feeling and sounding to what a real Mustang should be. The other two have J pickups added and sound too modern IMO. Get the JMJ.
Click to expand...
Crucial for me is playability - how do the 3 models compare regarding to that particular aspect? How do you see the difference in nut width?
 
#10
I've been seriously looking at mustang basses myself! I play a P bass but find myself wanting something a bit easier to get around on as I'm on the short side.
The band I'm in now detunes 1/2 step so I am worried how the bass will react to detuning.
The American Performer Mustang has me most interested due to it being versatile.
 
#13
All those are fine if spiffed up to taste. Get the one you can afford, and don't get hung up on specs. Do get a better, and thicker, pair of strings, and have the nut modified to accept them. Better strings are the key to making a short scale sound and feel like a "big boy bass." I run .109s on mine at minimum, and .111s on my American Performer. And also get your frets dressed and leveled. Those things will make any one of those basses feel like million bucks.

FWIW, I have the American Performer, which I got to have a round-wound alternative of the same basic bass as my '76 Musicmaster Bass. I like the bass, but I feel it was overpriced. If it had come with a hard-shell case, the price would be much closer to being in line with the whole package (though still a bit high, considering that it's probably the same exact bodies as the MIM Mustang PJs). It came with a super cheap thin Fender branded long-scale bass bag. "Deluxe" my ass; it's embarrassingly bad. The frets are quite nice (though the ends could still be rounded some more to my taste). The board is a great purplish color. The guard is ugly as sin, and has to go IMO.

The JMJ I tried was great, and cheaper, but I won't do the fake aged thing; it's just terribly cheesy and lame to me. It looks horrible to me. I don't like the color either. I might sell the American Performer and get a JMJ yet, but I would strip and refinish it immediately, and replace the hardware, plastics, and guard with new, pristine pieces. Expensive proposition, with a huge resale loss down the road. At that point, I almost might as well just get an all original old one, and watch it appreciate as I play it. One other thing about the JMJ: it comes with flats, and decent ones at that (IMO), though they could definitely be thicker. IMO, it is the closest of the three in terms of the quality, sound, and feel matching up with the price. It just has a lame and ugly finish and hardware.

I have played many Mustang PJs, and have liked them. But I also feel that they are overpriced. For that money, I'd rather just spend a bit more and get a used MIJ reissue. Better quality of build, and it being a reissue, it has a much better appearance, and loses the unnecessary and unattractive J pickup. The MIM PJs need the fret and nut work more than the other two you mentioned IME. That said, the black one with a maple neck (exclusive from Chicago Music Exchange) is a real beauty, and I am quite tempted by it, despite all this...and despite the fact that I have my suspicions that the neck is actually just a Squier Bronco neck perhaps dressed, outfitted, and finished a little more nicely.

FWIW, smaller hands do not necessarily mean that a narrower nut width is better for you. It's better for some things, but not for others. I have somewhat short fingers (but wide palms), and I own, like, and make use of basses with the following nut widths: 1 1/2", 1 5/8", 1 11/16", 1 3/4". I have my preferences (wider), but in the end, I don't ever struggle to adapt to one after playing another.

FWIW, TMK there has never been a "proper" Mustang Bass neck reissued, i.e. one with a round-lam board. That's a real shame, and another mark against the JMJ, which should have reissue specs. One other thing. Fender lists the JMJ with the same 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets of the American Performer...but the one I played felt like it was clearly 7 1/4" with 6230 ("vintage") frets. And remember that I have the American Performer, which does have the 9 1/2" radius and medium jumbo frets, so I should know what they feel like. Weird.
 
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#14
I find the JMJ very comfy in terms of playability. It you want a vintage feel and sound, go for that one. If you want more flexibility, go with the others. I love the neck and find it very easy to play. It's probably the nicest Fender neck I have played.

It is way easier to play than my Precisions. It sounds similar Precision, but more focused.

It's a blast to play. I can't comment on the USA performer. I did not like the MIM P+J.
 
#15
I'm another with a CIJ. Those are truly outstanding basses.The JMJ is probably closest to it, but has the wider neck. I don't think you can go too wrong with any of them. Really depends on how picky you are about neck dimensions and if you feel you need the J bridge pickup.
 
#16
I don't think you would even noticed the difference in nut width.

The MIJ Mustang is approx half the price of the JMJ or the American Performer. Also, the Mustang bass is a 30” short scale. Nothing wrong with that, just pointing out.
 
#17
MattBlue said:
Crucial for me is playability - how do the 3 models compare regarding to that particular aspect? How do you see the difference in nut width?
Click to expand...

They are all basically the same IMO. Slab bodies with no contours, uncomfortable to me which is the main reason I don’t own one. I don’t like Jazz nut widths, another reason I prefer the JMJ.
 
#18
I could dig having any of them, but the M/J pickup combo does not appeal to me as much as a PJ or a single M. Only wish I could get the JMJ in black. So I'd probably get the PJ, hot rod it with a set of Geezers. Or maybe DiMarzio Model PJ's to supercharge it.
 
#19
I have played my mim p/j a Lot and gigged it a lot. It plays great. I found a deal on some gotoh style very nice tuners and swapped them with the factory ones. I put Bartolini P and J set in it, and I replaced the switch with a blend knob.

But, I would still like the bass if it were stock, but I love it now.

The non-contoured body has never bothered me. I mean, it's tiny.

Oh yeah, get some racing stripes. Plays a bit faster now when in the home stretch. ;)
 
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