Anyone put a Mustang neck on a P of J body?

[Telenator]

The neck dive must end!
I love the short scale but cannot play a Mustang Bass on a strap while standing.
I have considered the other solutions but keep coming back to the same thing.
THE BODY IS TOO SMALL, TOO THIN, AND TOO LIGHT!!!
It's just an inherently bad design that Fender appears oblivious to and could fix by just making the body thicker or heavier.

Anyway, I'm considering two solutions to this issue because I can't play a longer scale, (arthritis,) and I'm just one of those people who has to fix these stupid things once and for all.

1) I modify a P or J Bass body to accept and tune with a Mustang neck.

OR...

2) I take a Mustang body and attach a 1/4" steel plate to the back of it way down by the lower strap button.

This Bass plays and sounds so good, I can't believe it's such a nightmare to play standing.

Anyone have any success with something like this?

 

[howlin]

Get a better strap.

 

[RomanS]

Lighter tuners (Gotoh Resolites, Hipshot), a longer screw and a couple of washers between the upper strap button and the body, and moving the lower strap button a bit towards the bass side - all that might help.

BTW, a Mustang neck won't fit a P Bass body, it is quite a bit more narrow at the heel.
What DOES fit is a Squier 32" medium scale Jaguar H neck - I put one of those on a P Bass body, heel width is the same, but you have to move the bridge about half an inch towards the neck.

 

[RomanS]

Oh, and BTW, which Mustang bass do you have? I tried a Squier CV60s Mustang bass at a store a while ago, and it was VERY heavy (more than an average P Bass).

 

[Jakedog]

A wide suede backed strap has always eliminated any neck dive I’ve ever had with any instrument.

 

[schmee]

I have a Squier VM Jaguar Bass that doesn't seem neck heavy and is very comfortable.
But I've thought the same thing in the past about getting a full size body but short scale neck. But I rarely play bass.

 

[Telenator]

Thanks guys.

As I said, "I have considered the other solutions but keep coming back to the same thing." It's neck-heavy and it sucks.

A different strap just grabs my shirt and bunches it up forward over my shoulder. Aggravating.
I just bought 4 lbs of sheet lead. I'm going to cut it to fit the body shape shrink wrap it. Then I'll stick it to the back of the body, near the lower strap lock.

The usual "fixes" people have recommended just don't work for me. I'm really surprised Fender/Squier doesn't do something about this.

Funny how a person can play an imbalanced instrument and never notice a problem until they play a balanced one. Then they wonder how they ever lived without it!

I have an audition tonight, and I just can't play this trainwreck on a strap. Gotta fix it. I'll report back.

 

[Jakedog]

Thanks guys.

As I said, "I have considered the other solutions but keep coming back to the same thing." It's neck-heavy and it sucks.

A different strap just grabs my shirt and bunches it up forward over my shoulder. Aggravating.
I just bought 4 lbs of sheet lead. I'm going to cut it to fit the body shape shrink wrap it. Then I'll stick it to the back of the body, near the lower strap lock.

The usual "fixes" people have recommended just don't work for me. I'm really surprised Fender/Squier doesn't do something about this.

Funny how a person can play an imbalanced instrument and never notice a problem until they play a balanced one. Then they wonder how they ever lived without it!

I have an audition tonight, and I just can't play this trainwreck on a strap. Gotta fix it. I'll report back.

You definitely don’t need a bumched shrit. That’s no bueno. Hope it works out for you.

 

[RCinMempho]

The obvious age-appropriate solution is to SIT DOWN. What is this geezers-gotta-stand-up baloney? Get a stool old codger.

 

[RCinMempho]

Have you considered fishing weights on your guitar cable?

 

[Jakedog]

Have you considered fishing weights on your guitar cable?

Maybe just drop a rope from the ceiling and tie a noose around the headstock to hold it up?

 

[ctmullins]

Lighter tuners help a lot. To a point.

The best solution for a body that size/shape is a headless conversion. In fact, the best solution for any instrument is a headless conversion.

 

[RCinMempho]

Maybe just drop a rope from the ceiling and tie a noose around the headstock to hold it up?

I used to do something similar, but I used fishing line so it wouldn't show. Then we played an outdoor gig with no rafters. That's when I discovered it was easier to tie the fishing line to the lead singer's ego. Worked every time.

 

[Telenator]

Success!
I bought 4 pounds of lead sheet and used about 3 pounds of it.
I made a large lead plate and covered it with duct tape.
Then I attached it with velcro.
Sits perfectly on the strap now. Photos later.
Out the door to an audition with toxic, eco-hazard bass!

 

[RCinMempho]

Be responsible. Use lead-less guitar straps.

 

[Telenator]

And this is what 3 lbs of lead looks like when it's velcro'd to the back of the bass.
I wrapped it in yellow duct tape so that any "wear-through" spots will show up.
The added weight actually seems to have improved the sound as well.
It's no heavier than a full size bass now, and it balances beautifully on a strap!

 

[NewTimerJH]

And this is what 3 lbs of lead looks like when it's velcro'd to the back of the bass.
I wrapped it in yellow duct tape so that any "wear-through" spots will show up.
The added weight actually seems to have improved the sound as well.
It's no heavier than a full size bass now, and it balances beautifully on a strap!

Good work around and neat work on it too

 

[hawk620]

Some notes found in Leo's workshop claimed he was gonna get around to that one day once lead became cheaper to buy.

 

[FlarbNarb]

How's about this? No toxic lead, no making the instrument heavier, no weird appendages. Just attach the small plate to the back of the of the horn and install the extension armor the strap when needed. The rest of the time it sits in the case. No major mod required. BootLegger guitar makes em.

 

[Telenator]

I completely solved the problem with this today: