[SWLABR]

These are Fenders short scale basses right? Are there more? Whats the fundamental difference between the two? I know they are cheaper (actually affordable!) than vintage precisions and jazzes, but are they actually worth having as a players instrument, and not just for collectors?

Who owns one, and uses it?

[Dave W]

Both short scale (30") with 19 frets, same body and neck form, narrower than usual string spacing, Strat-sized neck pocket - 2 3/16" wide vs. 2 1/2" for the P and J. The Mustang was the "deluxe" model with a high quality bridge and a specially designed P style pickup. The Musicmaster was the "student" model with a cheaper 2-saddle bridge and a 6-pole Strat guitar pickup. I've seen pics of stripped Musicmaster bodies with many narrow pieces glued up.

Neither of them ever sounded very good to me, but of the two, I definitely prefer the Mustang.

The Coronado and Bass VI were also short scale -- some sources say the Coro was long scale but I owned one and it's definitely not. I'd take another Coro over a Mustang any day.

[jules]

Originally Posted by Dave W

I definitely prefer the Mustang.

yeah, me too - particularly in blue or orange competition finish (thats the stripes on the body) http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/Mustang.php

Theres also the Bronco, but that really is a beginner bass, and probably the least desireable (but then again most affordable) Fender bass

I've not tried a Coronado bass (I've got a six string Corondo II though) and it is most certainly on my (ever expanding) want list!

[Thijs]

The thing about the Fender shortscale's is that they don't have a proper sustain and 'dephtness'. The sound from it is very thin and a bit hollow in my opinion...
I owned a musicmaster for a couple of months but got rid of it for that reason. Could not use it in practice with the band.

I have a Fender PB '73 (swamp ash body) and when you hear the difference between those, you'll never search a SC Fender again.

Off course it's a matter of money at the end of the day.

[eb2]

The Bullet bass was a shorty as well, and helped Fender get rid of some old Mustang pups when they dumped that and the Musicmaster from the lineup. The Bullet Deluxe was 34" scale.

The Musicmaster used guitar pups with 6 poles hidden under the cover. The bodies were most often made of laminated scrap, which is why they usually have solid colors. When a Musicmaster is described as having a custom color it really isn't the case as they were hiding the construction. Lots of Sonic Blues, Blacks, Olympic White, LPB.

The Mustang was a well-done shorty. It was the only shorty actually designed by Leo Fender, which is why it has some Sting Ray features mixed in with the overall Pish flavor. It is a punchy bass, and it does pop up over the years with pro bands. There are some interesting pictures of Noel Redding and Chas Chandler with a Mustang in a recording studio, so there must be a few tracks on Axis with one.

[jules]

Originally Posted by eb2

There are some interesting pictures of Noel Redding and Chas Chandler with a Mustang in a recording studio, so there must be a few tracks on Axis with one.

yeah that is interesting. I know bill Wyman recorded with one too

Theres a pic of Noel using it here
http://www.univibes.com/noelreddinggear.html


Theres a good Hendrix recording history page here
http://www.rockmine.com/Hendrix/Chronolo.html

Unfortunately nothing is listed for Oct 23rd 67, so its difficult to say what he was recording - but like you say, something from Axis

[eb2]

That is a really cool bit of info. I saw the Oct 6 date with Stevie Wonder on the BBC. Is seems to suggest they did a broadcast with him, no? Lost I wonder, and hope not. I would love to hear that.

[jules]

Originally Posted by eb2

That is a really cool bit of info. I saw the Oct 6 date with Stevie Wonder on the BBC. Is seems to suggest they did a broadcast with him, no? Lost I wonder, and hope not. I would love to hear that.

no its not lost - i've got them on the double CD 'BBC sessions' (which is absolutely fantastic by the way)

The Stevie Wonder stuff is fairly unmemorable - Stevies on drums, and its just an off chance jam really, but some of the other tracks rank up there with his best. It doesn't have the careful planning of some of the electric ladyland stuff, but probably more of the explosive spontaneity that only happens live

If you like Hendrix, you should definately get this - not for the SW stuff, but for everything else

[eb2]

I got behind on my Hendrix. I had the Rykyo BBC cd and never got around to getting the updated one. I never got the South Saturn Delta either, as I heard the mixes were not better than the Cry Of Love ones from a few years before. I did the same with the Elvis Costello CDs. I love those first few albums and bought them all on Rykyo, but when they switched to Rhino and became two CD sets I threw my hands up. I got an EB3 to fix and all.

Good thing is that they all are starting to show up used, so maybe I can squeeze in a few.

[stony]

hi i have a 1972 blue comp mustang i bought new and i think it sounds great......Roger Glover says he used a comp mustang bass to record all of .deep purples' fireball album ....the remastered cd comes with a book with photos of it.....i think it sounds great on the album