CIJ Mustang bass... I like it a lot

Started by ilan, August 11, 2008, 01:09:28 PM

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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

#3
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...  :mrgreen:

rockinrayduke


godofthunder

 They have a white one a the local GC for 450, it's been hanging around for a while, I'm very tempted !
Maker of the Badbird Bridge, "intonation without modification" for your vintage Gibson Thunderbird

drbassman

Yeah, I like those white ones.  The fiesta red is kinda nice too.
I'm fixin' a hole where the rain gets in..........cuz I'm built for a kilt!

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

Quote from: Chris P on October 15, 2008, 02:51:29 PM
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).