NJE

I went into PMT today to try and convince myself I don’t want/need/like mustang basses. Sadly it didn’t work too well and I could be in trouble when finances recover. Anyway for the second time, I was struck by how tight the strings were, the tension was really high, not just more than I thought it would be, but almost uncomfortably tight to play. It was properly tuned and I am pretty sure it was wearing original strings. I was always under the illusion the short scales would have nice soft wobbly string tension and be easy on the plucking hand but this was just like playing my Stingray. Is something going wrong here or was I deluded about the feel of a short scale all along? I know it’s hard to comment without playing I’m just interested in peoples thoughts and experiences.

Joseph Kaye might be worth contacting https://www.josephkayeguitars.com/ His instagram account has lots of pictures of restorations including some old acoustics.

I think a lot of us have felt the same over the years. I had a long period where I barely touched a bass through university and just played excessive amounts of soppy, mopey drivel on acoustic guitar. I love acoustic guitar and always keep one freshly strung and ready to go at home. Enjoy your acoustic playing, go and get yourself a lovely acoustic with the money you get from bass gear sales and go and get a real cheap playable bass to our in the corner just in case.

Typical Fender, the instruments are out in shops before there is any official acknowledgement that they officially exist, they really are a useless bunch. In such a big corporation with such a huge amount of resources, why cant they find someone to update their website. The original link I found has disappeared but I have pinched this from a chap on Talkbass: "I asked about more details on the Yosemite pickups, he said that they don't have all the marketing info together since this series isn't supposed to be released until January. Retailers have been selling them when they're not supposed to and they're trying to get it all together faster, the customer relations dept hasn't even seen them yet" Here's the specs: Colors: (0198600300)3-Color Sunburst (Rosewood Fingerboard) (0198600380) Arctic White (Rosewood Fingerboard) (0198602302) Satin Lake Placid Blue (Maple Fingerboard) (00198602384) Penny (Maple Fingerboard) Gloss Polyurethane, Satin Polyurethane (302) Body: Alder Neck: Maple, Modern “C”, Neck Finish:Satin Polyurethane Fingerboard: Maple or Rosewood, 9.5” (241 mm) FRETS: 20, Jumbo Scale Length: 34” (864 mm) Nut: Synthetic Bone, 1.625” (41.3 mm) Hardware: Nickel/Chrome Machine Heads: Fender® “F” Light-Weight Vintage-Paddle Keys with Tapered Shafts Bridge: 4-Saddle Vintage-Style with Steel Saddles Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black Pickups: Yosemite™ Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Bridge), Yosemite™ Split Sin-gle-Coil Precision Bass (Middle) Pickup Switching: N/A Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup) Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Greasebucket™ Tone Circuit (Rolls Off Highs without Adding Bass) Strings: Fender® USA Bass 7250M, NPS (.045-.105 Gauges) Case: Deluxe Gig Bag, P/N 0991522000 MARKETING COPY: Born in Corona, California, the American Performer Precision Bass delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic Fender—along with new, player-oriented features that make it even more inspiring to play. The American Performer Precision Bass includes the Yosemite™ split-coil Precision Bass middle pickup and a growling Yosemite single-coil Jazz Bass bridge pickup, designed for rich, expressive tones. With flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and a shellac potting that lets the coils breathe while controlling feedback, Yosemite pickups produce dynamic sounds ideal for any musical situation. The American Performer Precision Bass also features Greasebucket™ tone circuitry that lets you shape your highs without adding bass, preserving your sound. The “Modern C”-shaped neck sports a 9.5”-radius fingerboard that’s comfortable for almost any playing style, along with 20 jumbo frets, allowing you to easily express yourself musically.

Ooh that penny finish looks lovely. There was a Fender CS precision around that had a similar finish.

Buffet is the best bit of the night for me normally 😄. Always wait until everyone else has been though, unless the organisers/venue lay out a selection of trays just for the band (which has happened a few times). We ate before we started playing once, massive trays of nibbles, scewers, sandwiches etc and massive plate of mixed cakes and tray bakes. That with the three bottles of champagne they gave us made for a very lethargic and bloated first set 😂

To give Fender a smidge of credit, they have tried something new-ish. The PJ Mustang seems to have done well and there is definitely a surge of interest in short scales. The feedback was probably that, a lot of mustang players obviously just want the classic pickup so they have tried to create something in the middle. The sad thing is that the J pickup just doesn’t balance that well with the mustang pickup. But what do I know, I actually really like the PJ mustang.... I think they could have tried a 51 single coil P pickup in the bridge or gone double mustang pickup even? I can see why they haven’t gone for a full USA Mustang, I don’t think there is a market for it when there are so many excelled MIJ ones around and they offer a nitro finished vintage looking 66 style mustang in the JMJ signature model. That is a cool bass at a decent price point and in my previous experience the USA models aren’t a big enough leap in quality or options to warrant the cost. If they were feeling super innovative they could have tried a mustang with modern tweaks like truss rod wheel adjustment, super light tuners, roasted neck cool colours, but would they have then got criticised for deviating too much from the classic formula? All I know is I want a PJ Mustang or a JMJ but this offering is not for me.

Sting has been using his 57 precision for over 25 years and and apparently uses a Jazz in the studio that he has had since he first started out in Last Exit

Jack Stratton talks a little about the new bass in this video about at about 26.12. Hes quite vague and the issue of general release seems to be mostly focussed on how EBMM do business and how it may be slightly at odds with how Vulfpeck operate. Interesting.... https://youtu.be/2FLmIvY_aHE

I have had a set on at least one bass for over ten years now and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. I just love the soft slinky feel of the strings, and the tone just last so long. They are well worth the investment if your body chemistry ‘kills off’ other strings. I did a price comparison to another brand and in the same period I had one set of Elixirs on, I would easily have been through four sets of the other brand which would have cost me a chunk more than the Elixirs. Just as a side note, I can highly recommend D’Addario NYXL strings too, great feel, brighter tone out of the gate than Elixirs, and I have had a set on my stingray since August last year. Yes they have lost a bit of zing but they still sound good, feel good, and no signs of any corrosion, which for me is unheard of. They aren’t even advertised as a long life string either!

I have been through so many basses but there is just something about the Stingray that just keeps sucking me back in. like others have said they are just snappy and precise sounding and can sound so big. There are some stupidly cheap ones around secondhand even some really nice special models that are a lot cheaper than a new one if your in a budget.

I’m hankering for a solid PJ bass but I bet this is a Jazz neck which my fat hands can’t cope with.

Here’s more info on the PJ: https://innovationsmusic.com/product/fender-american-performer-precision-bass-maple-fingerboard-penny

Yeah I thought the same, why not stick something like a MusicMaster pickup in the bridge?

Looks like Fender have a new range coming out, and so far the main bass offerings are these Mustangs. Not sure if I like them, the colours are cool though.

Green with envy, I absolutely love the look of these and really need to try one. I played a PJ Mustang in PMT a while ago and it was the most fun I have had on a bass in years. I was flying all over the neck with a big smile on my face. I need to see whether its the novelty or whether a short scale is going to be a good idea for me. The JMJ just looks so classic and would have to be what I go for if I delve into short scale.

Sounds like my ideal gig, well paid, food, not using my own car and I don’t have to actually remember anything.

I set mine much the same as other folks on here, drive is off, gain at around 10-11 o clock, EQ never far off 12 o clock depending on the room and master at about 11 o clock. Im using a active bass without the pad button pushed in and mine doesn’t clip much at all, if ever and it’s perfectly clean. What bass and pedals and cab are you using, because it sounds to me like your driving the input a bit too hard if you can’t get clean tones.

I use Fenders free tuner in my phone for my acoustic guitar and bass when I am being lazy, works well so I can’t complain as it was free.

I loved my Mono padded strap, lovely and soft and distributed the weight well. Sadly the little fabric/leather bit that goes over the strap button tore and left the strap useless. I have never had a strap do this in about 20 years, so I replaced it with a comfort strap which doubles over on the strap button and holds really well. shame really because I loved my mono strap, it felt lovely.

I have OBBM speaker cables but for guitar leads I have them made but designacable, purely because I always have different coloured leads, red, blue, green etc so nobody I play with can ever accidentally pick up or use one of my nice cables when their crappy branded ones from the high street inevetibly die. Top quality parts from deaignacable much like OBBM, silent neutrik with Vanne Damme cables for me.

I had a Harley Benton sunburst fretless jazz and it was brilliant for my needs. It was well made (tighter neck pocket than an old USA Fender I owned once) had good pickups and was just pure joy to play, especially when it only cost me £125. I sold it recently but there is one second-hand on here for under £100. The only reason I sold it was that I no longer have any application for it with various bands folding and taking breaks. My aim is still to replace it with a Harley Benton Precision.

Great stuff, sounds like a great trip, are you picking anything up?

I heard mumblings on talkbass that he wouldn't do a PJ, but will he not put a P neck on a Jazz either? what a pity if so, I can cross them off my list.