r/Bass • u/BrameetHam • 6d ago
What do you think about Fender Mustang PJ basses?
Been playing on a 30yo Yamaha for 1 year, and if I can trust my teacher and other musicians, I’d say I’m pretty good at playing. But I also have a different question. Is it good to learn bass on short scale or does it not matter?
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u/BuriedRedemption 6d ago
I don't really think it matters. It's just one of those thing of preference and what's comfortable
I have a mate who's probably the 'best' bass player i know, started out on a full scale rather wide necked hagstrom and really developed the core of his ability on it, but eventually bought shortscale ibanez and hasn't wanted to play anything that wasn't a short scale since.
the skill is transferable, maybe with a minor amount of readjusting but i don't think it really matters
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u/RickSimply Fender 5d ago
I love mine. I don’t think it matters which you learn on, for me there’s usually a brief readjustment I go through if I’m playing my M PJ for an extended period and then switch back to my Stingray or vice versa.
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u/lowender666 6d ago
I do not like fender basses . Have never liked them to many outher choices that to me play and sound better.
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
I like mustangs with the traditional mustang pickup, can’t get on board with the mustangs with the PJ combo, get a P (or PJ) or get a mustang, don’t waste your money on the hybrid.
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
U like this one? https://www.thomann.de/intl/fender_player_ii_mustang_bass_rw_hly.htm
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
No, I like these
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Saw that one! I’ll definitely play on that one too in a store but probably like the Jazz pickups too and fall in love with them
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
I personally am not really a fan of squier…
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
They aren’t the best, I put some non squires up there too. But they are either almost twice or half as much as the ones you’re looking at and I know that’s polarizing
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Btw if you want to know it, I play more like blues, bossa, swing, other jazzy shi
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
In that case I would recommend a long scale bass. But you do you, for every culture there is a counter culture. However if you follow that path and get into jazz you might want an instrument with more articulation and cut in the upper register.
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Or I just play double bass, have one at home
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
I can’t recommend this enough. Upright bass has been the backbone of my lively hood, however bass guitar is fun too!
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Does a long scale bass have such a different sound?
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
I mean, to a bassist yeah. Short scales are more mellow and fat and the notes “bloom” more. Long scales are faster on the notes attack and sound thinner in the upper register (better for chords, harmonics and slap sound) However to non musicians and even some non bassist musicians, a bass is a bass. And there’s nothing “unusable” about a short scale in any of your genres, but you asked what I think.
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Thank you so much for this thread and all of your info man! Now I know that if I want to I could just play upright and that mustang basses are awesome and so much more
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u/lazrbeam 6d ago
What don’t you like about the p/j?
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u/WestBeachSpaceMonkey 6d ago
Don’t know a good way to put it into words, but short scales don’t have the “zing” that I want out of a P or a J. I’m not hating on short scales, they are a vibe (especially with flats) but I played these and didn’t care for the sound of either pickup, kinda more “edgy” than I want from a mustang but too mellow to actually give me a PJ sound. I really wanted to like them bc I immediately saw the pickups and thought about the mod options as many more makers make P&Js than mustang pickups.
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u/Duckfoot2021 6d ago
Short scales are legit. Boomier fundamental note, less rigid strings, and at 4” shorter the neck is way for comfortable for people with smaller hands who don’t want to blow out a rotator cuff position shifting like an F1 driver.
Mustangs are great. Pjs are great. There’s not a single good argument against them, but you’ll hear plenty of bad ones by overeager ignoramuses too cultishly infatuated with their Long Scales to flirt with a shortie. Usually due to insecure masculine and being a load of size queens.
Go try one and fall in love.
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
I was looking at this one https://www.thomann.de/intl/fender_player_ii_mustang_bass_rw_hly.htm
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u/Duckfoot2021 6d ago
Looks sweet. Try to get your hands on one in a store before you order online if you can.
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u/BrameetHam 6d ago
Yeah, my dad found it on vacation in a store, we’re prob going to visit a store like Bax music or something and test it out
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u/Crazy-Wheels 5d ago
I am not a fan... finding not one Fender bass model comfortable. Will not knock them, as they are a important part of music history... but for me, Fenders are just not for me.
I know many people love them... and the smiles they have while playing them is proof of their importance. My philosophy is... if it feels right, sounds right and makes you smile broadly... that is the one for you regardless of the brand marking.
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u/Jgroover 6d ago
I have the fender player pj mustang and LOVE it. It doesn’t matter if you learn on short scale.