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Guitarist is (again) looking for a bass..

Discussion in 'The BASS Place' started by Jeru, Jan 7, 2020.

  1. Jan 7, 2020 #1
    Jeru

    Jeru Tele-Holic

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    I play mostly guitar, but enjoy playing bass and jam on at least a monthly basis
    with folks where I'm switching between six and four strings.

    For years I had a cheapo Hohner P/J. A couple of years ago I sold it and bought
    a MIM Mustang P/J (which I should not have sold). I did sell it, in the interest of
    chasing the feel and sound of my brother's CIJ Mustang bass that he refinished,
    tummycut and (Curtis) Novak'd. I bought a Fender JMJ-Sig Mustang, which was
    GREAT except the neck was too thick for me to comfortably play. Sent it back
    within the 30-day (retail) window.

    SO -- I'm on the hunt.

    I think I want to stay short-scale. I'm not a huge dude, and I don't play bass
    professionally -- so tone-wise, 'good enough' is good enough.

    I'd love to find a mustang bass of some sort. People don't seem to be selling
    their MIJ/CIJ fenders (at least on Reverb and CL), and when they do they really
    want a pretty penny for them.

    Suggestions..?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Jan 7, 2020 #2
    Bassman8

    Bassman8 Tele-Holic

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    I'd wait out another Mustang PJ through an open box/blemish deal unless you want a particular color or neck and find a replacement P pickup with characteristics as close to the Novak pickup as you can get. Trying out some different strings could help sound color too.

    I didn't realize the JMJ necks were that thick.
     
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  3. Jan 7, 2020 #3
    Jeru

    Jeru Tele-Holic

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    Good thought.

    Funny thing about the JMJ -- I didn't expect the neck to be so thick either.
    I'm in the City of Chicago, and I went to three stores trying to play one.
    Ended up just calling the nice man at Sweetwater and taking the chance
    on one. Tried to love it, but my bro's CIJ is way more comfortable for me.
     
  4. Jan 7, 2020 #4
    jonnyfez

    jonnyfez Tele-Afflicted Silver Supporter

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    I picked up a vintage Danelectro shorthorn bass last year for low money. It's a LOT of fun to play.
     
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  5. Jan 7, 2020 #5
    blowtorch

    blowtorch Telefied Ad Free Member

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    I love my Squier Vintage SS Modified Jag-bass
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2020
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  6. Jan 7, 2020 #6
    blowtorch

    blowtorch Telefied Ad Free Member

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    ...even moreso with this affixed to the back fin
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2020
  7. Jan 7, 2020 #7
    Obsessed

    Obsessed Telefied Silver Supporter

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    +1 My wife the bass player, has gone through most of the short scale basses out there and her Mustang P/J is by far her favorite. I must agree even though I traded a guitar amp for one of her other short scale basses.:oops: I sneak in a few basslines on her Mustang when she is away.;)
     
  8. Jan 7, 2020 #8
    Controller

    Controller Friend of Leo's Silver Supporter

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    I got the same one, nicely put together for the price.
     
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  9. Jan 7, 2020 #9
    nomadh

    nomadh Tele-Afflicted

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    My other guitarist that turned into our bass player and got one of these. He and the whole band loved it.
     
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  10. Jan 7, 2020 #10
    VintageSG

    VintageSG Friend of Leo's Ad Free Member

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    Ibanez Mikro. Well made, fun to play, great tonal variety.
     
  11. Jan 7, 2020 #11
    jvin248

    jvin248 Poster Extraordinaire

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    Look for a MIM Mustang P/J perhaps? ;)

    I'd suggest finding a used Yamaha, Ibanez, or Washburn (Samick). I have a Washburn XB-100 I paid $40 for and routed from P into JPJ with a Strat 5-way switch (you know, a guitarist playing bass). I had gotten a second one later that I fixed up and gifted to a friend for his son to play.
    I also have a Yamaha I got that one of the prior owners had pulled the frets and filled the slots with wood filler to make it fretless, it was popular and traded around a lot (people think a fretless bass or guitar could be fun but the reality of poor tone rapidly wears the novelty off). I put in stainless steel frets and it's a great player.

    In general I'd avoid the MIJ/CIJ stuff as a fad. Also, there is so much product variation from the factory it's too easy for people to build fakes or pass partscasters off as factory original. So you will always wonder and could get stuck with something you really didn't want.

    Setup will be key on any you get, so budget time or cash for that.

    .
     
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  12. Jan 7, 2020 #12
    Jeru

    Jeru Tele-Holic

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    Yeah, I feel like a dummy for selling mine. That said, I sold it for like $50 less than I paid for it,
    so playing it for 2-3 years cost basically nothing, and I've got those funds to (re)purchase the
    right thing once I figure out what that is.

    I bet that Mikro is nice -- Ibanez makes good stuff and the instrument-for-the-coin ratio
    on inexpensive instruments is getting bonkers.

    Thanks all -- keep posting please..! (C'mon, it beats WORKING)
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2020
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  13. Jan 7, 2020 #13
    Ryan0594

    Ryan0594 Tele-Holic

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    I got a 2019 FSR Fender Mustang PJ and couldn't recommend it enough! Neck is lovely, small, and easy to play! Huge tonal variation. Brilliant look and feel. It's the finest instrument I own!
     
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  14. Jan 7, 2020 #14
    Obsessed

    Obsessed Telefied Silver Supporter

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    My wife had the Mikro for quite some time. Good bang for the buck and I must say an impressive range of good tones, but a huge and I mean HUGE step down from the Mustang. My wife had to go through quite a few, because of quality issues too. To be fair, I'm not much of a bass player other than developing basslines for my own songs and learning a bunch of cover basslines for practice, but my wife has gone through basses like some here with guitars ... like candy.:rolleyes:
     
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  15. Jan 7, 2020 #15
    Jeru

    Jeru Tele-Holic

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    Appreciated, OB.
     
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  16. Jan 10, 2020 #16
    oceanblue

    oceanblue Guest

    I went with an Ibanez TMB30, and very happy with it! Running it through a Rumble 100.
     
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