I've never seen one like that, but I like it a lot. Were the mustang basses ever made with those pickups stock? He says that the electronics are all original, and it looks like a pretty clean job. Regardless, I'm watching this and if the price doesn't skyrocket, I'm grabbing it. I've been looking for a good shortscale bass for a while, but it's hard to find Mustang basses with maple necks. (I much prefer maple for bass)
Well, I've been looking at a new bass for a while, and I've been stuck between a P-Bass and a Mustang. I like the sounds of a Precision, but I really want a shortscale since I am much more comfortable with the smaller neck and like to experiment with chords and such. This seems to be the best of both worlds for me.
I've never really been good at pricing gear, but in the link he says 1k-1.2k, which I think it a little ridiculous. I see 70's Mustang basses end in the $800 range all the time, but there are a few exceptions here. The natural/maple configuration is a lot more rare than most other finishes, and the P-Bass pups add another wild card factor. If they are indeed original like he says (which I doubt) then the value would go up, since it's even more rare of a setup. If it's a mod, then the vintage mojo bullshit points all go down the drain, and it's "worth" considerably less.
But I could care less. It's a perfectly good looking bass that I will likely use a lot... so I'll probably bid as high as $800, because that's how much money I have to move around right now, and the bass that this would replace would sell for about the same.
Mr.Ripley wrote:If I were to buy it I would make sure to ask for some pix of the guts as these are usually routed out with pick axes and look horrible underneath.
+1. I wouldn't go above $500, personally.
scandoslav wrote:i heard these are wank when it comes to metal
Mr.Ripley wrote:If I were to buy it I would make sure to ask for some pix of the guts as these are usually routed out with pick axes and look horrible underneath.
Ahh, good point. I'll ask him about that.
stewart wrote:the original guard would have been black if it's a '76.
I was thinking about that. I did a little photoshopping, too, and it looks way better that way.
MaMo wrote:+1. I wouldn't go above $500, personally.
We'll see how it goes. Depending on the quality of the routing, I'd be willing to go higher because I know that I would use it a lot, and I don't buy things very often at all. Now that I've got a great Telecaster, I feel completely satisfied with my electric guitar rig. I've been happy with my bass for a long time, too, but I'd like to replace it with a shortscale that I know will make me happy for a long time.
Ha, good call. I trust most of the guys here, but there have been quite a few suspicious new faces - not that I'm one to talk. We'll see if another shortscaler posts a new guitar thread with a certain familiar looking bass a week from now.
Honestly, I don't take it seriously enough to care all that much, though. If I lose it I lose it. Something else will come along.
The Mustang basses were never sold by Fender with P bass pickups, that's definitely a mod. It looks like a DiMarzio pickup, with the adjustable pole pieces. I had one of those in my P-bass when I bought it, I swapped it out because it sounded farty.
The Mustang bass pickup is essentially the same as a stock Precision one (yes, I know the P bass has more pole pieces), so the sound difference will be minimal if even noticeable. I guess the only advantage is that you have more options if you decide to put a boutique pickup in there.
Looks sweet... I wouldn't pay anywhere near the $800 range like you said though. The Music Go Round by me had a '78 in transparent wine red for $599 with a maple neck, and it was all stock. I bought my '78 musicmaster bass for only $300 on craigslist with the original case and in amazing condition... so there is no way I would pay that much for a 70's mustang or musicmaster bass... unless it was a competition mustang bass.
Isn't the mustang bass split pickup supposed to be similar to the P-bass one? I've yet to experience playing a P-bass, but me and the Mustang bass are good friends. I've only seen one band live aside from Swing Hailey who has performed using a shortscale bass, but I love them so much! I gots... 4. My only problem with the Mustang bass is, and please excuse my poor attempt to talk "gear", it doesn't quite hit the lows like a full-scaled bass. It sounds great on a tube amp, but there is a major difference in volume when I plug in a bass with different pickups. The Squier Musicmaster is worse, but the Eastwood map is something else- 3 distinct tones of kind of a thin, tele-like sound, a medium well blended one, and low. I like it because it looks so cool, it's seafoam green, and it's like having 3 basses in one. My loudest shortscale bass though is the Univox and it's fucking LOUD. Those pickups are amazing. I've been using it more often than the Mustang bass because it sounds better, but what I love most about the Mustang bass and why I keep going back to it is that the neck is so comfortable. I love the gloss finish (MIJ) and it's so thin!
Thanks, roach. I thought you'd know a thing or two about it. And thanks to everyone else for all the help and warnings. We'll see how it goes down in a couple days, I guess.
I've been looking at these for a while, and I've tried them out plenty. I really like the sound I've gotten from it out of just about any amp, and they're the most comfortable bass I've played.
