Fender Mustang Performer Bass (USA)

imalrightjack

Any thoughts on these?  Hovering over for home recording, as short scale appeals.

Thanks!

ICBM

They should have used a Jazz *neck* pickup - then the polepieces might at least have lined up with the strings. Doh.

Or better, not fitted it at all.

Still, I suppose you could always rout one out for a Stingray pickup...

4string

ICBM said:

Still, I suppose you could always rout one out for a Stingray pickup...

That is a rather startling idea. We have a prototype 79 Stringray humbucker kicking around the workshop. It may have found a home - now to purchase (another) bass.

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

They should have used a Jazz *neck* pickup … Or better, not fitted it at all.

Why not commission Ash at Oil City to custom build one of his Overkill pickups with the appropriate pole spacing?

mike257

Have only briefly played them, as a bassist I don't love the short scale. I have to say though, I've mixed a fair few bands who were playing them and I've almost never been satisfied with what I've got out of them tonally, which has been enough to put me off further exploration. 

mbe

@mike257 , anything in particular regards short scale mix dissatisfaction?

MattBanshee

A modern Mustang bass is just a Precision for children.

mike257

mbe said:

@mike257 , anything in particular regards short scale mix dissatisfaction?

Dissatisfaction with the scale itself is due to me being a bass player with a hand like a bunch of bananas and feeling like I've no space to move!

Tonally, I've always found them to be a little lacking in deep low end, and be more thin and middy than I'd like. Works in some contexts, but I've definitely had to wrestle quite heavily with it from a mix perspective to get the depth and weight that would spill forth effortlessly from a P or J. 

ICBM

I used an original '73 Mustang Bass for a while recently after I broke my arm and couldn't reach the far end of my Rick properly. Compared to the Rick, it did have slightly less low-end, but otherwise it was much fatter and punchier than I expected, and in fact not very different from the Rick bridge pickup with the 'vintage' bass-cut cap about halfway bypassed (I have a rotary control to do that, rather than a switch). I did put fairly heavy long-scale strings on it - which works because they go through the body as well - rather than the ones it's supposed to have. I don't really know if that made a difference, but I suppose it might have done. If anything what it lacked wasn't bottom end, it was note definition, especially E to F# on the low string... they sounded a bit 'blurred' compared to the Rick.

My suggestion of the Stingray pickup was partly inspired by Alan Lancaster - he has a humbucker in his Mustang, although it's in the normal middle position and I think it might be a Wal pickup, although I've never been able to find out or see a clear enough picture to identify it. I'm not a fan of the Jazz bridge pickup at all really... for me its main function is to cancel the hum from the front one . But the idea of a mini-Stingray struck me as interesting in its own right.

rpr

Musician do a shortscale Stingray  https://www.music-man.com/instruments/basses/short-scale-stingray. £700ish
The G + L Fallout bass is nice -  big price jump tho..maybe they'll do a Tribute version sometime
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/191106350868008--gl-usa-fallout-bass-british-racing-green-with-white-racing-stri

Schnozz

Yes for gigging and no for recording IMO.

Creed_Clicks

These Mustang basses sure do look good. Though they sound like regular size PJ basses, which I suppose is what they are supposed to sound like. The Gibson, bad and all as some say it sounds, is something I'd angle for. It definitely sounds different!

Kristo

My short scale Jazz is now listed in the classifieds. I found it a lot more versatile than the Mustangs I’ve had.