Mustang basses... any fans?

[Alanko]

Chris P, thanks for the likes on Instagram!

[Highlander]

... just looks too small if you're above average size.

6' 1" and I'm still over 200lbs...

[Chris P.]

I always think it's strange that it's normal to see a guy of my height/weight with a guitar, but changing from a long scale bass to a short scale seems strange.

I saw a Stones concert on TV yesterday. I'd forgotten that Darryl plays some comp stripe Mustangs too.

[Highlander]

It's like playing a headless... my Hohner Jack is a 34" scale but looks like I'm playing a guitar...

[Chris P.]

Just curious. Any experiences with the Mustang PJ anyone?

[Dave W]

I've only been to one store since it came out, they had the new Mustang and Duo Sonic guitars in stock but not the bass.

[Chris P.]

I saw them at the NAMM. They feel good, but too much noise to hear 'm. I like the colours and the mint green pickguard, I still dislike the smaller bridge and PJs but it's growing on me a bit....

[Dave W]

The local store I mentioned now shows two in inventory, in white and sonic blue. If they're still there next time I'm in the area, I'll plug one in.

EDIT: they're already out of stock.

[copacetic]

The P/J Mustang had absolutely no appeal to me at all. So when at the local GC picking up a TC tuner, I saw  one hanging on the wall (sonic blue w/mint green pickguard) amongst some of the new G&L, Rickenbacker and Music Man offerings, none of which had any level of enticement at this point of the game. So for some reason I picked the Mustang off the wall and plugged it into a GK210 combo. It was slightly heavy for its size (most Mustangs and Music Masters usually were and are, so no big surprise there) but not obnoxiously so. So twiddling between the P and J combinations was actually quite interesting as there were definitely the usual characteristics of the 2 but somehow this being a short scale something was a little more pronounced. Not sure if it was the pickups themselves but the tones were thick & big. This is a short scale solid body that surprisingly grew on me. I decided to get going. The thing stayed on my mind and well you know, had to snag it and it was still there a week later. I'm working on a project where my chosen instruments are a '74 Gibson Les Paul Signature, Hofner 500/1 and a Fantastic Carlo Robelli (Rickenbacker 4001 shape). However waiting impatiently in the corner is that little Mustang bastard.

[Pilgrim]

Those little Mustang-bodied basses grow on you, real fast. I have a Bronco with a Gretsch 2202 pickup in it, and it's a sweetheart. More than once it has gone out to play, and the more expensive basses have stayed home.

[copacetic]

I know what you mean. Somehow I always felt they were almost toy like and we're lesser versions of their two predecessors. They are fully loaded contenders and this version speaks for itself and made me think twice and it's alright.

[Dave W]

The Mustang body size is fine for a short scale bass but the new P/J Mustangs look odd to me with of the size of the pickups on that body. Maybe it's just because I'm used to the smaller original Mustang pickup. OTOH the sound samples I've heard online do sound really nice. I'll have to try one out.

[copacetic]

Purely from an aesthetic angle, eventually I'll get around to changing the black pickup casings to cream/ivory colored ones. Otherwise, with those famous last words "it's a keeper".

[Rob]

I like Pil's Mods.
Chrome pup, chrome V8 just looks perfect.

[Dave W]

I finally was able to play a P/J Mustang yesterday. Fit and finish were very good, there was a small filled void in the neck near the headstock which shouldn't ever affect anything since the neck grain was straight. The P pickup was thick and deep, don't know which series it comes from. The J didn't impress me, but I've never liked J pickups in the bridge position anyway. The three way switch lets you turn it off, which is good. If I ever bought one, I'd pull it and leave the cavity empty just on general principle. 

The saddles were too high but there was planty of room to lower  the action. It does have the same Strat-width neck pocket as the originals and it's 1 1/2" wide at the nut. But instead of narrower spacing at the bridge like the originals,  it has a standard Fender bridge with 2 1/4" spacing. 1/1/2" to 2 1/4" is borderline for me with a long scale bass -- I prefer 1 5/8" -- but it felt even odder with a short scale neck. Too much of a flare in too short a distance. No doubt it won't be a problem for most players.