MIJ Mustang Bass vs new Squier Mustang Bass or Jag Bass SS

letsgocoyote · Post by **letsgocoyote** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:52 am

So I sold my subpar Epi SG bass... just didnt like it so much. So I am in the market for a new bass.

The new Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special Short Scale looks nice, and the price is great! (169 USD) Not a fan of the black headstock but still. I'd probably get a black one. But of course they announced the new Squier Mustang Bass as well, which i htink is going to be 279 bucks. thatd be sorta rad but i wish it wasnt maple fretboard. i currently play a red 65ri mij mustang so itd be cool to have a mustang bass. BUT when i was visiting a friend a few hours away i stopped into a shop that had a nice used MIJ fiesta Mustang Bass for 429 which is a very tempting price. but even at a good price i dont know whether I want to spend that much. but its mij, good price, and red to match my mustang guitar.

what would you do, as a guitar player wanting a bass for noodling on?

P.S. Also thought about the old Squier Bronco bass. those are cheap and nifty

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:22 am

i want the mustang, but alas am turned off by the maple fretboard and the price.

i want one of those jaguar basses with the single bridge humbucker. dunno about the neck though.

as a guitar player who just wants a bass to noodle around on, i bought the sx shortscale jazz bass for like $110, and it's awesome. plays like a guitar.

good luck in your search.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 5:59 am

I'm in the mindset that I want a mustang bass next too! I think I want to play the squier before I make a decision, but I know that I love the japanese Fenders, in terms of look, feel, and sound, so that's my top choice right now. I would love to find a fiesta red one and $429 sounds like a damn good price! I see white ones all the time for around $450.

letsgocoyote · Post by **letsgocoyote** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:45 am

dang, im soreyl tempted by that MIJ mustang bass

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:12 am

I got my MIJ Mustang Bass for about $450 or so, I think. I spent another $150 on getting an Aero pickup for it, but I don't regret that. Now I have a sharp looking bass that sounds like no other bass and plays very well.

Look, you can get the Jag Bass and it's a nice bass and all, but if it's the Mustang Bass you want, nothing else will do. I have a Bronco Bass I generally prefer to the Mustang Bass in terms of playability and tone but I still am prouder of my Mustang Bass for some odd reason.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:27 am

I've been thinking about getting a Jaguar SS bass to noodle on, mainly because i'm a guitar player who plays Jazzmasters and I figured that it would feel most like a JM to play. I'd look at upgrading the pickups though at some point.

letsgocoyote · Post by **letsgocoyote** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:48 pm

i think i will let it simmer... if that MIJ is still there next time i visit my friend, then thats what will happen!

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:51 am

letsgocoyote wrote:i think i will let it simmer... if that MIJ is still there next time i visit my friend, then thats what will happen!

Even though, I haven't been able to play a squier mustang bass yet, judging by the other VM line basses, I would say the MIJ Fender will be the best of the basses you're looking at. Not to say that the Squiers are bad by any means, just that the MIJ Fender is awesome, and they can be found for not too much more than the Squier Mustang will cost.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:53 am

I have a feeling that the Squier will be no worse, since it apparently has the same pickup.

So you've got to ask yourself, what do you prefer? A razor thin neck with 7.25" radius and glossy finish and rosewood fretboard and vintage style frets, or a slightly chunkier neck with 9.5" radius and satin finish and maple fretboard and larger frets?

The smallness of the MIJ Mustang Bass neck really must be stressed. It is thinner and narrower than a Mustang guitar neck.

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:49 pm

I bought a Squier Bronco bass. Swapped the pickup for a lace sensor and made it look a bit nicer with a Musicmaster style pickguard and now it rocks. If the Squier Mustang had been out at the time I probably would've gone with that, but it's not worth upgrading too now, the bronco plays great.

aen · Post by **aen** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:18 pm

Im interested in that Squier Mustang bass, too.
The new squier jag basses have that bullshit pale-as-the-grave ultra thin cheap shit finish on the neck. Can't even handle them without getting an upset stomach.

The Japanese mustang bass is fan-fucking-tastic. I wrote a lot of sweet riffs on one. I sold it to get a Jazz bass, cause we switch instrument sin my band, and the other dude wouldnt play the mustang, and I wouldnt play his unplyable G&L tele bass with 3" action. and we both liekd the jazz bass.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:38 pm

DanHeron wrote:I bought a Squier Bronco bass. Swapped the pickup for a lace sensor and made it look a bit nicer with a Musicmaster style pickguard and now it rocks. If the Squier Mustang had been out at the time I probably would've gone with that, but it's not worth upgrading too now, the bronco plays great.

I'm glad the Lace worked out for you, then!

ac88 · Post by **ac88** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:34 pm

my friend's new squier jag bass, for science:

MattK · Post by **MattK** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:19 pm

Wow, they got that right.

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:16 am

honeyiscool wrote:
DanHeron wrote:I bought a Squier Bronco bass. Swapped the pickup for a lace sensor and made it look a bit nicer with a Musicmaster style pickguard and now it rocks. If the Squier Mustang had been out at the time I probably would've gone with that, but it's not worth upgrading too now, the bronco plays great.
I'm glad the Lace worked out for you, then!

Yeah it sounds good, thanks again.