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Review Summary
2019-08-09T16:30:36
Great bass for the price. Super fun to play. I may not take it to a ton of gigs, but it will see some live action. Best short scale have played.
Francis K.
2019-08-09T08:44:10
The Fender Mustang PJ Bass is exactly what I was looking for. I primarily play guitar, but wanted a bass to fill out recordings at home and add to jams. The old mustang pickups didn’t do it for me, but the PJ config with proper P Bass and J Bass pickups is great. There’s a ton of sonic versatility with the pickup switching. The short scale works better for me coming from guitar as well. This thing thumps. If you’re not used to a short scale be advised you’re getting a little different sound because of the lower string tension, but you can dial in rock style P tones, and more harmonic J tones Easily. All this in a price point that doesn’t break the bank is pretty killer. Added bonus, mine had a flamed maple neck (luck of the draw) that combines with the pearl surf finish to really catch the eye. Things to be aware of: It will need a setup. All guitars and basses should be setup by a qualified guitar tech or luthier. Not everyone at this price point knows that. I had to file fret ends.
Brent P.
2019-08-06T19:18:45
Great sound, great looks, great everything. Love this bass.
Steve D.
2019-07-31T08:24:46
A great little bass. I’ve wanted one for a long time and finally got the best price from Adorama. It was even set up and plays well right out of the box.
Stephen O.
2019-05-14T08:29:08
Very happy with this purchase. Great sound, great fit, great finish, and great price!
Andre P.
2019-05-02T07:11:13
I purchased this bass Feb 2018. I love the sound feel and how it is lighter than most basses. Adorama is a register Fender dealer so when I was having problems with it I was a able to get it repaired locally under warranty. The switch just died during a song then was okay for about a month then again! I would advise getting it in the shop before your warranty expires to replace that faulty switch!
JANET B.
2019-02-28T07:30:35
Do yourself a favor, and buy this bass. Classic Fender tones, and an amazing finish - the pearl on top of the surf green is beautiful! Adorama's customer service is impeccable, and you'll be happy you took them up on this offer. Just do it...hit that add to cart button now, and than me later!
Stephen N.
2019-02-27T13:36:27
Very well made, feels like a high quality instrument. Took it for set up, the guy said it’s perfect the way it is :). Can’t beat the price as well. Same bass in different color is almost $200 more everywhere else. Bass actually looks way better “in person”. I am a Guitar player, so short scale is perfect for me. Nice tone, great feel and playability. Definitely recommended
PAVEL T.
2019-02-26T11:33:10
Great bass for a great price. Couldn’t believe have good this deal was. Adorama shipping extremely fast and the bass arrived in perfect condition
George W.
2019-01-20T15:27:45
I was quite bummed out when I received this with very high action. Neck relief was way too high too, almost 1 mm? After two rounds of setup (incremental truss rod adjustments), the difference is night and day. I don't recall having so much fun with an instrument for a while now. Been playing a full-scale bass for years now, and only recently discover short scales are a thing. Being a guitarist first and foremost, this thing is incredibly easy to play after being used to long stretches and movements on a bass. Fit and finish is fantastic, this is a quality instrument. There are 3 tiny spots near the bridge, of what appear to be errant drops of lacquer, but they don't concern me. Mexican Fenders tend to have these things from the factory. There were some other scuff marks and dried goo of some kind that I was able to clean and polish off completely. Neck relief is still a bit more than Fender's recommendation (not sure if short scale requires high relief actually, since it came with so much neck bow from the factory), but I think I'm going to stick with what I have for now.
Zen H.
2018-12-31T04:57:50
Love this bass. I have several basses including an American deluxe Jazz Bass and I like this one better.
Daniel G.
2018-09-09T03:34:04
I used this guiter..really good working
habib
2018-08-29T12:16:32
Great bass its a short scale but with the shape of the body it doesn’t look or even feel short and stubby like some others.
Geremy C.
2018-08-28T10:07:09
This is a great bass for any player looking for a small scale bass with a big sound. The PJ configuration and modern design make it a great substitute for the original vintage Mustang basses.
Daniel S.
2018-08-13T04:49:40
The Mustang is excellent!
Ronald S.
2018-05-16T12:56:38
I'm very happy with my purchase. I've been playing a P bass (Lakland) for the last decade and felt like taking a chance and trying something else out. Glad I did. I did some slight truss rod and saddle adjustment, then set the intonation (A and D were slightly out. No problem getting the action where I wanted it. Thing plays great. The strings have a different feel than long scale, easier to bend due to the tension change. The short scale is new to me and a lot of fun. Light weight. Finish seems flawless. Color is rocking. I don't have any problems with noise at the 3 way switch as some have reported. I did double check it's alignment in the cavity when I had the pickguard off. I decided to replace the jazz bass pickup as it wasn't really keeping up with the neck pickup. I installed a Bartolini 9J-L1. Well, it sounds great ....... now the P pickup is being overshadowed..... so, the fine tuning continues. It's a labor of love as I'm having a blast with this bass.
John G.
2018-05-15T10:47:43
Did not expect adorama to carry such a deal on an amazing bass. It was hassle free the shipping was easy and free. I’m a huge fan of adorama and will definitely be using them for my next major camera purchase as well. Never knew they carried so much stuff outside of the camera world. Also their customer service is excellent and fast.
MATTHEW P.
2018-04-12T08:36:06
Very nice bass, with both PU's you get enormous sound
john g.
2018-03-13T08:57:35
I love this Bass, has great sound. the color is a special edition so it's gonna be worth a bit more in some years. adorama was spot on with the customer service.............
NICK C.
2018-03-08T15:01:59
If you are looking for a great playing short scale bass this could be the one. It played well out of the box but after a setup, I couldn’t put it down. Neck is in good shape, no sharp frets, neck is straight, as in no twisting. The Fretboard is nice to look at with the Pau Ferro wood. Everything feels solid. The sound is, to me anyway, the standard Fender p bass I was expecting while the switch is in the neck position. When the switch is in the middle position or in the bridge position... static. As some of you know, this model is notorious for bad switches. For those who don’t know, these basses are notorious for bad switches. I knew this going in but I got a great deal so I took a chance. If I had paid full price I would be asking for service under warranty. But since I don’t want to hassle with shipping and boxing, etc. I will just fix it my self and enjoy what I have. If it wasn’t for the switch, this would be a 4 or 5 star review. If you just want a short scale bass with the p bass thump and don’t care about the bridge pup or are willing to deal with a bad switch then do not hesitate, these are great players
William H.
2018-03-06T08:48:57
May be this should have been my first bass since it gives a good flavor of both P and J Basses - a good balance. I love playing it so far and love the sound more than my basic fender P bass. Also love the sea form color and look of the mustang bass - looks classy!
Thomson M.
2018-02-27T10:38:08
I received the bass guitar sooner than I expected and in perfect condition! It looked and played better than I expected. The price and service from Adorama can not be beat!
Jody C.
2018-02-23T10:48:52
I'm by no means a professional, but I see no problem taking this to any kind of gig - beginner to pro. It's lightweight and comfortable for my smaller hands. The limited edition color is beautiful. The sound that comes from it (after changing the strings to chromes) booms and i don't feel left behind while playing with others. I enjoy the PJ configuration, though the J pickup can be a little anemic. My only negative is that I wish this had a rosewood fretboard, but due CITES, I can't really knock off a star for that. Even maple would have been nice, though.
Torri L.
2018-01-23T15:18:01
I love it. Great price for what seemed to be an ugly color. Looks much better in person. Kind of a pearl with metal flake. Neck & body are substantial. Plays great, wide range of very good tones
ronald R.
2018-01-04T23:42:00
I purchased this Bass on sale, and for what I paid, I am extremely happy. First off, the instrument that I received had excellent build quality and a flawless finish. No sharp or protruding/sharp frets, imperfections in the fret board, no misaligned hardware, no imperfections in the wood/finish, etc. The PJ pickup configuration adds a ton of tone versatility from controls on the bass alone. Primarily being a guitar player, the short scale and lighter weight of the Mustang are attractive features to me that make me feel a bit more at home playing a bass. Now on to what was not so great about this instrument and what I was able to do to remedy the issues. First off, I immediately noticed that whenever I switched the pickup selector switch while plugged into an amp, it made a fairly loud pop noise out of the amp. Second, the stock pickups did not seem to have very much sustain/responsiveness and just sounded a bit weak and lacked tonal depth. It is always difficult to describe the sound/feel of an instrument to someone else, but these pickups just felt like they had very weak output and sounded pretty flat to me. I am not one of those people who just HAS to replace the pickups every time I buy a guitar and have only done so on a few occasions. Being truly unhappy with the sound of the stock pickups, I decided to swap out the pickups with a set of Seymour Duncan PJ Quarter Pounds as I had read good things about them online. I also ordered a new pickup selector switch to try to fix the pop. When I opened the bass up, I found that the white wire coming off of the Jazz bridge pickup was hanging loosely on the pickup selector switch, but not soldered like it should have been. I am amazed that it hung on and that the pickup worked at all. This may explain why other reviewers have complained about the Jazz pickup not working. All other connections were soldered correctly, but I was a little bit surprised and disappointed to see such an rookie mistake on a Fender product, even if it is a Mexican made Fender. After installing the new pickups and new pickup selector switch with just 4 easy solders, it was a n absolute night and day difference. The pop was gone and the instrument now sounded and played as good as it looked. The new pickups added so much more depth, and output/responsiveness and just flat out sound great and feel great to play! For $ in parts and an hour or two of work, this can be a very functional and great sounding/feeling bass! I use to play an older Japanese made Mustang bass that belonged to a friend, and after these upgrades/fixes, I would say that this is even better. If you are willing to take these extra steps, I would highly recommend this Bass, especially if it is on sale again. However, if you are not willing or able to do these things, I would steer clear. I would likely not have taken a star off for the pickups since this is more of a budget priced instrument however, the missing solder and the popping switch are just flat out quality control issues. Don't get me wrong, I am super happy that I purchased this bass! Just want to help share my experience with other buyers so they know what they may be getting themselves into. Best of luck!
MATT T.
2018-01-04T12:23:30
This bass is nicer than expected! Whatever Fender has done with their new automated factories has really improved the product quality to be amazingly good. This is my second Fender bass from Mexico in the last couple of years and they are spectacular to see, hold and play! Perfect fit and finish. This new Mustang has the best of 2 worlds - the P bass thump and the J bass growl. I would prefer a Blend control instead of the 3-way switch, but that is a mod for later. I was quite impressed with the sound when I heard one of these at a show a few months ago, and now I am still impressed. This little guy has quite some punch that I would not expect from a short scale and the neck is extremely comfortable and easy to play. I have not gigged it yet but expect it will perform really well. The real proof is what it sounds like during a performance. Wish list - blend control, nicer cast bridge (Just for looks) and a better hard case at a reasonable price. The reviews on the available case are dreadful. All in all - Well done Fender - and the deal I got from Adorama was a no-brainer.
JON S.
2018-01-02T10:09:56
I contacted Adorama for a price match with Guitar Center. Not only did Stanley K match the price, but he reduced it significantly. Adorama is the only place carrying this special color in this model. Lot of tone and very bright with the stock strings, but install a pair of LaBella flat wounds on it, and it is near perfect. With the flats it becomes super smooth and fast with that real low end punch. I highly recommend this bass to anyone requiring a good short scale bass.
WILLIAM S.
2017-12-11T01:57:56
The color was stunning in a special edition seafoam green. However it arrived with the a dead pickup in the jazz position so it was returned.
WALKER C.
Alder
Gloss Polyester
Mustang Bass
Maple
Satin Polyurethane
Modern "C" Shape
30" (762mm)
Pau Ferro
9.5" (241.30mm)
19
Medium Jumbo
Synthetic Bone
1.5" (38.10mm)
White Dot
Standard
3/16" Hex Adjustment
Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass
Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
Master Volume, Master Tone
3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickups, Position 3. Middle Pickup
PJ
4-Saddle Standard
Nickel/Chrome
Fender Vintage-Style
3-Ply Mint Green
Vintage Style Black Plastic Jazz Bass
4-Bolt
Fender USA, NPS, (Gauges .045 - .105)
Great looks and Great Play
By John G.
I'm very happy with my purchase. I've been playing a P bass (Lakland) for the last decade and felt like taking a chance and trying something else out. Glad I did. I did some slight truss rod and saddle adjustment, then set the intonation (A and D were slightly out. No problem getting the action where I wanted it. Thing plays great. The strings have a different feel than long scale, easier to bend due to the tension change. The short scale is new to me and a lot of fun. Light weight. ...
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Perfect for any occasion
By Torri L.
I'm by no means a professional, but I see no problem taking this to any kind of gig - beginner to pro. It's lightweight and comfortable for my smaller hands. The limited edition color is beautiful. The sound that comes from it (after changing the strings to chromes) booms and i don't feel left behind while playing with others. I enjoy the PJ configuration, though the J pickup can be a little anemic. My only negative is that I wish this had a rosewood fretboard, but due CITES, I can't really ...
View full Review
Versatile Sound, Classic Style
Since its original release in 1964, the Mustang Bass has been one of Fender's most enduring bass designs, finding its way into the hands of bassists ranging from The Rolling Stones to My Chemical Romance. This updated version of the short-scale underground hero adds the power of our venerable P Bass and J Bass pickups to the traditional Mustang design for flexible, thunderous bass tone with smooth playing feel and slick visual style.
30" scale length; "C"-shaped maple neck
One P Bass split single-coil middle pickup, one J Bass single-coil bridge pickup
9.5"-radius Pau Ferro fingerboard with 19 medium jumbo frets
Four-saddle bridge; four-bolt neck plate; vintage-style tuning machines
Master Volume and Tone controls; three-way pickup switch
Short Scale
This Mustang Bass features Fender's classic short scale length (30") for pronounced playing comfort for students and beginners, smaller players and anyone who enjoys the easily reachable range of a short-scale bass.
"PJ" Pickup Configuration
Bassists will appreciate the tonal versatility of the "PJ" pickup configuration, with a seismic split single-coil Precision Bass middle pickup and growling Jazz Bass bridge pickup.
Modern "C" - Shaped Neck
This instrument features a modern neck designed for comfort and performance, with a contemporary "C"-shaped profile (the shape of the neck in cross section), 9.5" fingerboard radius and medium jumbo frets.
Three-Way Pickup Switch
This Mustang Bass features a three-way toggle pickup switch, giving you either the bridge or neck pickup alone or both.
Four-Saddle Hardtail Bridge
This model features a hardtail four-saddle bridge for solid tuning stability, precise intonation and increased sustain.
Engraved Neck Plate
This Mustang Bass features a special neck plate engraved with a Fender "F" logo - a classic design element for Fender instruments.