Mustang Bass One Piece At A Time?

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:07 pm

I want a Mustang Bass though I can't really afford one. I thought about going for a Musicmaster instead, but it's a Mustang I really want. Not a Squier or a Japanese one, either - a proper old American one.

I found it fairly easy to scare up the parts for a six-string Mustang, and saved myself about half the cost of buying an old one ready-made in the process, but I never see anyone selling Mustang Bass parts. Not that I've looked too hard, but the parts have definitely been on my radar when browsing the classifieds both here and elsewhere.

Has anyone on here successfully got a Mustang Bass together from parts? Did you save any money over buying a complete one?

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:39 pm

you can get a musicmaster neck for like $150. it'd be easier to just look for a RI or convert a vintage musicmaster.

the only thing different is the pickguard, control plate, and bridge. be prepared to shell out more time and money to assemble one from parts than to just buy one outright.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:07 am

Yeah, I figured a Musicmaster neck (or donor bass) might be easier to find. The thing you may be overlooking is that the price of Mustang Basses has really shot up on this side of the pond, helped by their comparative rarity over here - I was really wondering if anyone in the UK had built one and roughly how much it cost them.

I reckon I'd be hard-pressed to find a vintage Mustang Bass for less than $1k (in US terms) over here, which is why I'm considering the Partstang option.

Rushkoff · Post by **Rushkoff** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:32 am

UlricvonCatalyst wrote: I reckon I'd be hard-pressed to find a vintage Mustang Bass for less than $1k (in US terms) over here, which is why I'm considering the Partstang option.

I'd love a stang bass myself, I completely get what you mean! I'm sure I seen a vintage white one in Strung Out guitars one day and it was gone the next day. They're gold dust.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:17 pm

a friend I used to play with bought one for 700 â‚¬ or so. It missed a string ferrule and strings. It was competition red, a 1970 I guess. He sold it half a year later because he gothimself a second kid and said he got nearly double of what he paid. Crazy. I rarely ever see them in parts, though. Sometimes a body or neck, but bridge and pickups? Wasn't astro selling a refinished one some weeks ago?

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:02 pm

Building a Partstang is all about being patient. If a MM body will do the trick, then the trick should be fairly do-able (though it's a bit of a shame to mess with a bass that's already perfectly good in its own right. Maybe I'll end up getting a MM bass with a view to modding and decide I love it as is, who knows.

There was actually a guy selling a perfect donor bass on Glasgow Gumtree within the last month, but sadly he was looking for way too much for it. Maybe it'll come back around at a realistic price eventually.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:22 pm

Okay, so based on the under the hood pics on this ad, a Musicmaster body would need to be routed to accommodate Mustang pickups, non?

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:54 pm

Why not upgrade a Bronco bass? I love them.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:57 pm

seen Astros Bass? http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45330

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:12 pm

kypdurron wrote:seen Astros Bass? http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45330

your dream comes true
except for shipping and customs, my neighbour!

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:12 pm

UlricvonCatalyst wrote:Okay, so based on the under the hood pics on this ad, a Musicmaster body would need to be routed to accommodate Mustang pickups, non?

yeah, it's basically a strat pickup that's in them (with six pole pieces, believe it or not). i had one exactly the same as that and, to be honest, it was horrible. but nickD has an early 70s one and it's lovely.

but anyway, astro's is a good price, and has a lovely ash body hiding under there if you didn't fancy the orange.

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UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:25 am

Thanks for the tips, but Astro's is not for me. The biggest advantage of a parts build for me is that I'd be able to chip away at it rather than having to shell out all at once.

h8mtv wrote:Why not upgrade a Bronco bass? I love them.

As far as I can tell Broncos are pretty rare over here. Don't think I've ever seen one in the flesh, with four or six strings.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:04 pm

I only know this one http://www.dawsons.co.uk/squier-bronco- ... e-neck-red

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:32 am

or refin that orange stang would be cheaper than build one?

i had my 74 musicmaster bass for 600â‚¬. Body and Neck are pretty close to the mustang.

BearBoy · Post by **BearBoy** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:44 pm

Not 100% sure what your budget is but there's a 1978 Mustang Bass on eBay.co.uk at the moment for Â£799 BIN. Seller's in Glasgow so you could probably save on the postage and get to check it out.

I have no link to the seller, just thought you might be interested.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:37 am

Get on THIS. Just add a body. A snip at Â£240, and local.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:02 pm

Thomas wrote:Get on THIS. Just add a body. A snip at Â£240, and local.

Yeah, I've seen that one, but thanks all the same. Got a severe cashflow problem at the minute, so my Mustang bass dream is on hold indefinitely.