CIJ Mustang bass... I like it a lot

[ilan]

Had some time to kill today so I tested a few basses in a store: CIJ Mustang, MIM Duff McKagan sig., MIA Jazz, MI? Gretsch Broadkaster, MIA 5-string P. All into an SWR Workingman 115 combo, flat.

The Duff was OK with the P pickup solo'ed; the J was nice - warm sounding and lightweight; didn't like the Gretsch (no character and nothing like my '64) and P5 (too harsh) -- but the Mustang... sounded PERFECT. All I like in a Fender bass. Pick, fingers, palm mute, it was all there.

The bass needed some setup (the neck had a slight curve, the nut was cut too high and the bridge saddles were way too high) but it sounded so good... and in that salmon pink-ish "faded" Fiesta, it also looked great.

Downside: I wish they made them with a tummy cut like 70's Mustangs.

The worst part... $1K price tag. MIJ stuff is so expensive here. Even if I get one off eBay... let's say $580, + about $200-300 shipping (ouch...), add 15.5% VAT on top of that and it's $900-1,000, and no warranty.

EDIT: Post #100... I'm a Full Member now!

[Chris P.]

Hi there, congrats being a full member:)

I like those basses too. I think the Fiesta is the same as on the MIM 50s P? I like the white one with tort guard better though. In Holland they cost the same as a 50s P so like 700 euros.

[Dave W]

I played one of the Mustangs last year, at first impression it sounded very good through a GK head and Ampeg cab. IIRC it was about $600.

[rockinrayduke]

I had one 5 or 6 years ago when I was still in San Antonio, it's fast, fun, comfortable and sounds pretty good. I'd take another one given a chance.

[rockinrayduke]

Found one on Craigslist yesterday, except for one dingy on the bottom it was mint. Would have preferred vintage white but it's the Fiesta red. 3 bills. Guy's son's first bass, and he's moved up to a big boy's bass now (Jazz) so he didn't play the Mustang anymore. I bought it, tweaked it and the fun begins anew!! 

[Dave W]

Now that's a deal. They're $580 new. Hell of a depreciation for one dent.

Now you can put about 20 more dents in, whack it with a chain, hit it with a blowtorch, drag it behind a truck and advertise it as a relic at twice the new price. 

[OldManC]

Hey Ray, if you get tired of it one day and I can dig up the scratch, I'd like to buy it off you for when one of my boys gets the itch. I played one at the banjo center the other day and thought it might make a great 'first' bass. They're 3 and 1 right now, so no hurry... 

[rockinrayduke]

You'll be the first to know GC.

[godofthunder]

 They have a white one a the local GC for 450, it's been hanging around for a while, I'm very tempted !

[drbassman]

Yeah, I like those white ones.  The fiesta red is kinda nice too.

[rockinrayduke]

I got some SS D'Addarios for mine, but with having to string through body the E string's winding sat right in the nut, causing a buzz. Shit. So, I just strung some long scale Slinkys through there and they work fine so there ya go. No need to buy actual short scale strings if you don't need to.

[Chris P.]

If I'm correct Fender also makes black and sunburst Mustangs now, besides the fiesta and white ones.

[hieronymous]

They've always produced a bunch of colors, including ones with racing stripes and natural with maple fingerboard - the question is, which ones are available outside of Japan.

Ishibashi website, for example

I bought my wife the vintage white one - it sounded great! I even dug up a soundclip (rounds, played with a pick, through Alembic F-2B preamp, maybe Electro-Harmonix Black Finger compressor):



We sold it when we moved back to the States from Japan - kind of regret it - I wouldn't mind having another one! I like the "yellowed white" at the bottom of the Ishibashi page...

[Chris P.]

In Europe the two 'new' Jag colours are available at last and the same is the case woth those two Mustang colours. If I'm correct.

I would love to have a competition striped green or red one, though.

[ilan]

I would love to have a competition striped green or red one, though.

Original Competition Mustangs were only LPB, CAR and orange (w/red stripes).