Mustang Brotherhood & Similar

[DanDoesBass]

Hey everyone!

I don’t think this topic exists yet, so I thought I’d start one to showcase Mustangs and similar models – things like the Fender Musicmaster, Vincent Pony, Atelier Z Baby Z, and other Mustang-inspired basses.

This is really just a “show us what you’ve got” thread – what you love, what you’re not so keen on, what’s on your wishlist, and any rare finds you’ve come across.

Personally, I really got into Mustangs after the release of the Fender JMJ, and since then I’ve owned a few different Mustangs and their sister models.

So let’s see what you’re rocking!

[ezbass]

 

JMJ and Harley Benton wannabe.

[DanDoesBass]

1 minute ago, ezbass said:

 

JMJ and Harley Benton wannabe.

How is the Harley Benton? 

[DanDoesBass]

Here are a few I’ve owned over the years - still holding on to my JMJ.
I also own a Fender Mustang PJ II in white and have an Atelier Z Baby Z on order.

Over the years I’ve probably had 10–12 Mustang-shaped basses in total. Highlights (and lowlights!) include:

- A Firemist Gold Fender PJ

- A second 1978 Musicmaster in white (honestly pretty rough, definitely not my favourite)

- The natural-finish ’78 Musicmaster pictured below - one I really regret selling
- A couple of heavily modded Squier Broncos - One pictured below

So at the moment I’m down to three in the collection, but Mustangs just keep finding their way back to me.

[MichaelDean]

Here's my 76 Mustang. Lovely little bass. It's got an almost 40mm nut, so it's fairly chunky for a short scale. I've put Hipshot Ultralights on it because the original tuners were knackered, a stainless steel refret and it needed a refinish when I bought it, so I did a bad job of a white blonde nitro, complete with a black vinyl racing stripe decal and matching strap! All wear on the body is by me since refinishing it. It's been to Japan and back with me. I dont' have much call to use it right now, but I'm not sure I can part with it! It was my first Fender, and it just fits me.
 

 

And here's me (when I still had hair) playing it on tour in Japan back in 2012.

[DanDoesBass]

3 minutes ago, MichaelDean said:

Here's my 76 Mustang. Lovely little bass. It's got an almost 40mm nut, so it's fairly chunky for a short scale. I've put Hipshot Ultralights on it because the original tuners were knackered, a stainless steel refret and it needed a refinish when I bought it, so I did a bad job of a white blonde nitro, complete with a black vinyl racing stripe decal and matching strap! All wear on the body is by me since refinishing it. It's been to Japan and back with me. I dont' have much call to use it right now, but I'm not sure I can part with it! It was my first Fender, and it just fits me.
 

 

And here's me (when I still had hair) playing it on tour in Japan back in 2012.

Ohhhh I love this! What a sick finish! Have you had it long?

[LeftyJ]

Atelier Z Baby Z-4J represent! Easiest playing bass I own. The knobs have been replaced with Sadowsky-style aluminium knobs (Guyker) since this picture was taken, just like Atelier Z uses now (the old ones were the stock Bartolini knobs). Otherwise it's still very much the same. I believe the Baby Z (or any Atelier Z with the KTS titanium rods in the neck for that matter) isn't actually made by Atelier Z themselves but by Fujigen Gakki. Either way, it's a fantastic bass!

 

Controls are neck volume - bridge volume (pull for passive) - stacked bass/treble (boost-only). It's quite a powerful EQ that can add a lot of oomph and a pleasant zingy top end, while still sounding very musical. A passive tone control would have been nice, but is not a must.

 

It has a slight neck dive, but nothing that a good strap can't counter. 

 

I traded my 1981 Ibanez MC924 for it with a lefty friend of mine in the US, and I have zero regrets. The Atelier Z weighs about half as much as the MC924, and has a lovely narrow U-shaped neck that instantly felt familiar. The 17mm string spacing at the bridge took a little getting used to, but is not unlike some of the 5-strings I've owned so wasn't a huge switch. It's brilliant! If I ever find a lefty PJ version (with a reverse split coil) I don't think I could resist. 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by LeftyJ

[MichaelDean]

11 minutes ago, DanDoesBass said:

Ohhhh I love this! What a sick finish! Have you had it long?

I got it back in around 2010/11 I think. £500 on eBay!

[DanDoesBass]

4 minutes ago, LeftyJ said:

Atelier Z Baby Z-4J represent! Easiest playing bass I own. The knobs have been replaced with Sadowsky-style aluminium knobs (Guyker) since this picture was taken, just like Atelier Z uses now (the old ones were the stock Bartolini knobs). Otherwise it's still very much the same. I believe the Baby Z (or any Atelier Z with the KTS titanium rods in the neck for that matter) isn't actually made by Atelier Z themselves but by Fujigen Gakki. Either way, it's a fantastic bass!

 

Controls are neck volume - bridge volume (pull for passive) - stacked bass/treble (boost-only). It's quite a powerful EQ that can add a lot of oomph and a pleasant zingy top end, while still sounding very musical. A passive tone control would have been nice, but is not a must.

 

It has a slight neck dive, but nothing that a good strap can't counter. 

 

I traded my 1981 Ibanez MC924 for it with a lefty friend of mine in the US, and I have zero regrets. The Atelier Z weighs about half as much as the MC924, and has a lovely narrow U-shaped neck that instantly felt familiar. The 17mm string spacing at the bridge took a little getting used to, but is not unlike some of the 5-strings I've owned so wasn't a huge switch. It's brilliant! If I ever find a lefty PJ version (with a reverse split coil) I don't think I could resist. 

 

Looking forward to getting mine! Mine is the PJ configuration.

 

That natural finish though! 😍

 

sounds like a good trade if you ask me! 

[DanDoesBass]

1 minute ago, MichaelDean said:

I got it back in around 2010/11 I think. £500 on eBay!

Damn!!!! What a killer price! 

[ezbass]

50 minutes ago, DanDoesBass said:

How is the Harley Benton? 

Really good and not just for the money. The bridge pickup is underpowered compared to the P pickup, but that’s not unusual. I’ve been considering putting an EMG GZR set in it and selling the JMJ.

[DanDoesBass]

14 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Really good and not just for the money. The bridge pickup is underpowered compared to the P pickup, but that’s not unusual. I’ve been considering putting an EMG GZR set in it and selling the JMJ.

Yeah, almost every bass I have owned with a bridge J pickup has been underpowered. (with stock pickups)  

Oh really. Thats a big move. 
Well do let me know if you decide to make that decision. 😏

[Chiliwailer]

This bass was a real saviour during a period when I couldn’t play a long scale, but was playing a lot. 
 

1971 Musicmaster, cost me £250 in 2004. When I got it the pickup, pickguard and bridge were changed and it had a natural varnish finish. I soon after added a Jazz pup, and Mustang tuners. 
 

Later it had a new bridge, pickguard and sunburst respray shortly before I sold it to a guy who also bought my ‘78/9 Sabre that I always wanted back…
 

Sold this Musicmaster when I was able to use a P Bass again and needed some cash. Great bass, really loved it, ideally would have kept it for nostalgia and odd times of playing it. The neck was divine 🤤

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Chiliwailer

[toneknob]

My JMJ as featured on Mustang gig bag thread (https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/329743-mustang-bass-dimensions-for-gig-bags/)

 

)

 

 

[DanDoesBass]

5 hours ago, toneknob said:

My JMJ as featured on Mustang gig bag thread (https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/329743-mustang-bass-dimensions-for-gig-bags/)

 

)

 

 

😍😍😍

[HeadlessBassist]

I’ve had three Mustangs this year. I still have the 2023 American Performer in ‘Aubergine’ which I’ve almost sold a couple of times, but secretly I’m glad it’s still around. It’s strung with cut down Elixir 40-95’s (Fender put 40-100 on as standard) and plays & sounds phenomenal.

 

I also had one of the Vintera II’s in “Competition Burgundy” for a while, which was a fine bass, but I didn’t like it as much as the American Performer. It came with Labella Flats which sounded very dull and had far too much tension, so I changed them for a set of Thomastik Jazz Flats I had. Better, but still don’t particularly like flat wound strings. (Don’t shoot me!)

=

 

And for about five minutes I had one of the Player series Cherry Burst P&J’s. This was the biggest disappointment. Yes, it sounded huge, but it sounded like any given P&J full sized Precision. Not at all like a Mustang. There was none of that short scale delicacy to the sound.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by HeadlessBassist