Argument for the PJ: I am 5'5, can only comfortably play short/mid scale basses, and I want a Pbass sound without having to buy a bass thats too large for my frame. Identity crisis or not it's a solid solution until Fender US starts making short scale P's.
After playing a Gibson EB3 for a lot of years out of my Marshall stack, I retired for a number of years and sold all equipment I had after impairing the tendons in my hand and later losing the ball of my radial bone in my LH elbow. I tried playing off and on but was challenged. This was during my teen years. At the age of 68 and retired, I felt the need to get back into playing again and bought a Marcus Miller bass from Sweetwater. The long scale was quite uncomfortable playing and purchased a Mustang from Sweetwater along with a Bulgara amp in hopes of starting an old man band to play small clubs. I think out of the six choices mine was the Mustang PJ, also.
@OldDolio312 It depends on who you mean by "they" and what you mean by "short scale." Fender doesn't currently sell a true short scale P-bass. Squier by Fender offers a Mini-P Bass. However, the Mini has a much smaller body and a 28.5 inch scale rather than a 30 inch scale. The Mini is much smaller than a standard P-Bass and it's also noticeably smaller than a Mustang. Therefore, it's technically not a short scale bass. It's a mini-bass and many people seem to love them. Now, if you go outside of the Fender brand, you can find several high end and also some dirt cheap short scale P-bass style basses which are not mini size. They are true short scale P-basses, but they have nothing to do with the Fender brand.
@@skybluemarshall interesting, yeah I currently have the Ibanez GSRM20, after I realised the mistake I made buying a full scale (I’m like 5’3 with small hands), I love its 28” size but alas fender doesn’t make em in that size. Lookin to upgrade now and I’m not sure what to get, stuck between the American and PJ mustang, so if you have any suggestions, appreciate it
the bronco as a DIY platform is amazing! i got one for 150 last black friday and did a full refinish on the body and neck, and routed a bridge pickup and it SLAPS! so many options and a great mod platform to really experiment with.
I picked up my Squier Bronco on a whim in store and was super impressed with the build quality (no crunchy knobs, no sharp fret ends, good feel), wound up buying it. I REALLY like it. I have plans to replace the pickup (probably a hot rail so I don't have to do any body routing or pickguard replacement) and I would absolutely LOVE a video (or two, or three...) by you on modifying the Bronco. Awesome bass for the money. Plus, it's pink! :)
I love the sound of the P-Bass, but I reaaally liked the feel of the Mustang’s shorter scale length, as someone who primarily plays guitar. So the PJ Mustang got me really excited.
I made myself a short scale guy on accident since I just practiced the heck out of my fender 30 inch acoustic from the 1990's, playing quietly at home and now, short scale is just thing I want and kind of need it. I am kind of old to finally be getting the hang of Bass, but whatever age it does not matter. You might be 50 before you finally get it down, start playing the things you really want to play on the Bass. My challenge was playing the things in my head, they go faster than my hands.
I owned the Classic Vibe, and with your help, I replaced the pickups with Curtis Novak pickups and added Mustang Flats. I sanded the neck and felt like it made it closer (not exactly) to the JMJ. They are great basses!
I’m a MASSIVE Mustang fan, and having owned and/or played all off Fender’s Mustang offerings, and (IMO) believe it or not the best Mustang currently on the market isn’t a Fender. The day I got my Nash MB-63, I knew I’d found my primary/forever bass. I owned and rode a Suzuki 450cc motorcycle for 10 years. I loved that bike, and I often couldn’t afford to make repairs on a my car back then, so i had to ride that bike to work even through November. Living in the Northeast, it was rough! When I finally got a job that allowed me to upgrade, I got a reliable car and used Harley. Playing that Nash for the first time was just like my first ride on the Harley. I could feel the quality, the builds were solid.
I own a JMJ in blue myself. Apart from the unconvincing (and IMO unnecessary) body relic job, it really is great. I also played a Vintera II the other day and it was a great instrument. The fit and finish was spot on.
So appreciative of your analytics on Mustang basses. In fact, I’m waiting for a shipment of JMJs to arrive at my retailer in about 2 weeks to pull the trigger on a blue one. What test result I found remarkable was how the most expensive bass was not even a competitor to the JMJ and Vintera. Thank you for being a source of reliable information for the bass community.
RUclips just recommended me this video, and I'm blown away by your production, man. Everything in this video is well crafted. I own a Mustang PJ (pre-Player Series, but it's basically the same thing) and as my only bass, I love how versatile it is. But now I'm thinking about that Squier, and the Vintera as well. I mean, I'm mostly a keys/guitar player, so I don't need a lot of basses, but maybe owning a "true" Mustang is not a bad idea at all! Great content. Subscribed!
P bass pickups in a Mustang is for the exact reason you mentioned at the start of the video - you want the P bass sound, but injuries prevent you from playing a full scale bass.
American Performer Mustang is my main bass. Built great and has the best neck out of all my basses but I had to change the pickups due to the thinness you identified here. It’s got two Nordstrands in now and sounds fat
I just picked up a used JMJ as my first bass, and it is really inspiring me. I'm a huge fan of six string Mustangs too, so I was really excited to find one locally.
I have that exact Squier CV Mustang, same color and all. I bought it about last March and strung it with flats -- and that Mustang took me everywhere. I stumbled onto your video upon researching the Mustang, and your videos pushed me to get it. The comfort of that neck inspired me to keep playing bass, so damn good! I played my first gig with it at our school library, and stuck with it all the way to a huge local festival. One instrument can take you so far, and for me that instrument was my little Mustang. I just wanna say thank you Philip -- in a way, I wouldn't be in the same place musically if I hadn't stumbled into your content and bought that bass. Please keep making videos for us!
Truly is a great bass. I keep the Mustang on flats and I now have a Fender Jazz Bass with rounds. This setup covers everything I'll ever need to keep! @@bobgreen623
I have both JmJ and AP. The AP has “Greasebucket” tone circuit. It really isn’t active with volume turned up full. Back off volume and tone control is more active. Additionally, pickup height of front split pickup was too low on mine when I received it. After proper adjust must , tone was much fuller. With the combination of j pickup, tone is really nice and articulate.
One of the basses I have is a mid-2010’s Mexican Mustang PJ that the previous owner did custom relic work to, and in that same spirit I eventually decided to have it converted to fretless with flats on it. I really like how it turned out and how unique it is in my collection now, and since I have small hands, the short scale length makes it much easier than it otherwise would be to play in tune without frets. I do wish it had actual Mustang style pickups instead of the PJ configuration, but it’s still a ton of fun to play. Much love for mustangs, always punk as hell.
Using flats changes the entire character of the sound. You can probably put flats on any of these basses and get the sound that it seems to me you prefer in this video. For instance, I have a Mustang pj and put la bella flats on it, and it sounds stellar. I just switched it back to rounds for the first time in 3 years, and it's a completely different instrument with a completely different vibe.
I agree. Played round-wounds on 78 p-bass for a decade before switching to flat-wounds. Yes, they (round) are brighter & more clacky & more percussive, but the tone is what I'm after.
I have the blue JMJ; as a guitar player with a home studio I wanted a short scale bass for recording purposes. I also have an American Special Jazz. The JMJ has become my “secret weapon.” Not only does it add a character & thump that is unique it’s so much fun to play. The flatwounds changed the game for me, I never would’ve considered them before the JMJ.
I bought the PJ here in Nashville a few years ago, and I’ve used it in the studio, and live situations. One of my favorite things about it is thanks to certain laws of physics, as a short scale bass, it doesn’t have the dead notes that exist on the g string, as are inherent on my long scale vintage basses.
Convinced me to get the Squier. Sounds good. I had a Bronco and actually really liked it. Feel like I need a good, affordable, short scale in my collection!
I own the JMJ and a Player PJ, and could pick them both out in the blind test, my favourite sounding blind was the Vintera. The PJ bass sounds great, using just the P pickup. I use it quite a lot. The Jazz pickup in it is next to useless, weak, uneven, quiet, it really brings nothing’s to the party. I like the p pickup though, it sounds like a decent P bass, which is why I use it, I get your argument about get a P bass (I have 2) but when I’m playing live, I don’t like to junp between short scale and regular 34 inch scale, so the Mustang that makes P sounds is great when I want that sound live and I am swapping from the JMJ. I really want to buy a Vintera now though
I “blind” voted for 3, 5 and 6. I picked up an American Performer Mustang B-stock for about $1k 18 months ago as my first bass coming from guitar after learning about Mustangs from Phil’s channel. At that time I could not find a Mustang locally and just went for it. I like blending the Performer’s pickups, the satin finish neck and have enjoyed my short time with it. I don’t like relic models so that ruled out the JMJ for me. Really enjoying Phil’s content, insights and the community he is building here. Well done!
I disagree with you on the PJ. For me, first and foremost, short scale is top priority for its playability, and having the ability to blend between J and P bass tones is pretty amazing. P and J basses are known for sounding incredible. Whats wrong with having both options in a smaller form factor? Not to mention the PJ stang's natural finish is by far the most beautiful instrument you tested.
These come from the factory with different strings. The JMJ comes with flats. I put flats on my Performer, which came with rounds and the sound improvement was amazing.
I thought #2 sounded the best, you can hear how well the American Performer is setup, it adds to the tightness along with minimal buzz, and the way it cuts through and articulates notes is pretty rich. I thought #4 sounded the worst, everything else honestly had a muddiness to the sound except for the performer.
1, 3 and 6 are my favs, just because they sound way more laid back than the other ones, which all have that tangy modern bass sound. oh my god the bronco was my favourite, that's actually so cool.
I recently picked up a VM Squire Mustang Bass, as a guitarist and a studio producer I absolutely love it - plays great, sounds fantastic and makes me want to keep playing and using it which is a win in my books.
I got a steal on a squier classic vibe mustang bass with a hard case, flatwound strings, and a full setup for the price of a new one. Can’t wait to try it after this video
Point of order so far at 8:20 The PJ has a place here for people that are recovering from a hand injury and can't play their full scale P-basses. It will give them back their distinct sound as opposed to a Mustang sound. I think it's similarity to an actual P-bass is it's strength, rather than a downside.
I bought one while healing from a broken wrist for that very reason. It was perfect for that purpose and is a mean little bass in its own right. Now that I’m healed and back to my full size P, I find myself interested in the Vintera or JMJ both for the unique tone and the slightly wider neck (1.625 at the nut vs the 1.5 of the PJ).
One detail you didn’t get into is body style. I didn’t realize I would not like the slab body until I got a JMJ. I actually returned it on that detail alone. Even with a short scale bass, I have a strong comfort preference for the later body contour. That’s how I ended up with my ‘70s Mustang. Luckily I got it before the price of ‘70s Mustangs went nuts! So for me, I’d proabaly have chosen the Vintera. It would be fun to compare it with ‘70s vintage!
My former American Performer sounded so so so much better with LaBella flatwounds; the stock .40-.95 Fender strings were disappointing. Overall, the AP Mustang was a great sounding bass having a variety of useful tones with that bonus J pickup. It scores well in versatility. The Vintera II looks terrific and sounds sweet. Would be curious to hear the 60s Vintera side by side.
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The best sounding bass I have is my Supro I with flat wounds. Super easy to play, and beautiful. I had a II and III but they are more than I need. I have the Vintera but it's my 4th or 5th favorite of what I own. It's my favorite on this list.
Great video. Just bought a Bronco for my daughter's 15th birthday, as she has decided she wants to learn to play bass. I love to tinker, so looking forward to seeing what you can do with one of them.
I really liked 1 and 4, I was really surprised that the Bronco was on that list lol. I actually own one that I put a Curtis Novak pickup in and now it sounds killer. The American one was kinda my least favorite, my favorite was the 4th which was apparently the JMJ.
Crazy, I like the PJ the best, but hey I am a P Bass Player so maybe I am just used to the tone. You ask why anyone would want a Mustang that sounds like a P Bass, if he or she could just take a P bass. True, but maybe someone like you has an injury, or generally smaller hands, and so has the opportunity to sound almost like playing a P bass with a short scale.
Thank you for such a good video. It helped me a lot to listen to all the mustang sounds in one clip with great sound quality. Is it possible for you to make another video that includes the sound of these mustang basses in a longer video (audio comparison only)? I was shocked by the Bronco, how cheap it is and how good it sounds. In contrast, during the blind test I chose the AM performer as having the softest and worst output of them all. I love the JMJ and am amazed at the smooth and warm sound of the Vintera ii. These would be my picks.
I was heartened to see that you and I agreed on the ranking by sound. Agreed also that the Performer is the big letdown. For that price I would expect something much more distinctive. The JMJ probably deserves its win overall. I would never buy one, because I cordially detest relic finishes. The Bronco is a cool cheap bass, and nowadays a good modding platform, but it isn't a Mustang. I think you may be looking at the Player PJ 'from the wrong end', as it were. It isn't a Mustang with Precision and Jazz pickups - it's a PJ with a short scale that happens to have a Mustang-shaped body. Again, not really a Mustang for people who actually want a Mustang; more for players want a a PJ-style, but who - for whatever reason - struggle with a 34" scale. The Squier would be my choice, with the Vintera second. If the Vintera were cheaper, it would be my first choice - even though I don't like the tacky stripes. But I can't really justify the extra cost of the Vintera, given the extreme simplicity of this one-pickup instrument. In fact, I struggle to see how any Mustang should cost more than $1,000.
Mojo is definitely something you must think about when buying a bass. When I was searching for a P-Bass, I stumbled upon a 2012 American Standard in incredible condition for a fair price, but when I played it, I thought it was just fine. Nothing wrong with it, but it felt a lot less inspiring than a particular Mexican P-Bass I'd played before. Ended up settling for a MIJ RI62 and I'm super glad I did. Sometimes, even though build quality is better, some particular basses just don't really match with you
Man, when I was a teen, I had a Squire Pbass, and I loved it, but had to sell it when I got divorced... since then I had a used Gary Willis Fretless (wasn't feeling it), Sold it, Got. Squire VI (too busy, too many strings, liked the "Spaghetti Western tone" though, I just couldn't get used to the feel of it, sold it) Got a very cheap used PJ Squire... pretty sure it's electronics were no good, resold. Got a 5 String MIM Jazz, really liked it at first, and liked the sound, but ultimately that 5th string just got in my way... so a month ago I saw a used 4 String 19v Active/Passive MIM PJ at my local shop, took it off the wall, played it, finally felt like right, felt like I was back in highschool again. Traded that 5 string and bought that PJ, and I have been so happy with it. It's so weird how musical instruments are like people. Some of them just don't get along with you, and then sometimes you meet one and you feel like you've known them for years.
The only thing I can really see all across the web is that Squier models are literally kickin' asses to a lot of more expensive basses out there. The reason is the raising quality of the instruments at an affordable price. I agree the player PJ is nonsense. Great video!!👍🏼
Paused the video where you said. 3, by a landslide. 2 and 5 were the only no-gos for me. 1, 4, and 6 would probably shine in different musical contexts, but 3 had the best combination of low-end punch and mid-range articulation, to my ears.
The JMJ had a throaty mid-range that I didn’t prefer solo’d, but cuts nicely in the mix. The Vintera had the opposite problem for me. Lots of great low-end roundness solo’d, but got lost in the mix a little.
My favorites were the Classic Vibe and the PJ. If I were going for a traditional Mustang sound, I would pick the Classic Vibe. If I were just picking based on my own sonic preferences, it would be the PJ. I agree with you that the American Performer sounded the worst. I wasn't as fond of the JMJ as you were. The pickups almost sounded "overdriven" to me. That's a cool sound. But I'd rather start with a clean sound and be able to add the grit later. The Vintera looked the coolest. But I thought the pickups didn't have enough top end. It almost sounded like you had the tone knob rolled back.
I own both a Classic Vibe and a PJ... and those are the ones I liked the best in the blind test. I like how balanced and defined the Vintera sounded. I am thinking of adding a bronco to my stable.
The BIG PROBLEM with the Vintera, as far as I can tell from the video and the photos on Sweetwater, is that there is no easy access to the trussrod. That's right, you have to remove the neck to adjust the trussrod. The same is true, BTW, for the Japanese-made Hybrid Mustang (not included in this review). Stay away from the Vintera unless you're happy to remove the neck every time you want to adjust your trussrod.
5 and 6 were my favourite for different reasons. Gun to my head I'd go for 6. After the reveal; makes so much sense about number 5 as that is my preferred sound (although I forgot there was a mustang with that pickup in this lineup!). 6 just sounds great though, so open and maliable. The JMJ suddenly sounded better when I knew what number it was, go figure xD
I purchased an American performer mustang a few months ago, and I really like it. I do feel like it needs some better strings, but it is very well built and comfortable.
I'm a young bassist I did nearly everything to share to get my entry in for the squier bass I hope I win I haven't had a bass in a long time due to money problems so thanks for the contest Philip Conrad for giving me a chance to win I love your videos ive watched for a long time
Adding this comment before the ‘reveal’. I don’t know if it’s a primacy/recency thing memory-wise, but I gave a dead heat to 1 and 6. I’ll decide one way or the other on the coolness factor. Okay, I’ll go with the Vintera! Cool episode, Philip.
I just purchased a Player II in Hialeah Yellow. Neck with rounded edges feels great, but I will say I am on the fence to return it within the 30 day return policy. I prefer the sound of the Squier CV, Vintera, or JMJ. I only use flats after trying them on my P's and 08' Am STD Jazz. I had an original CV P that i got rid of foolishly as it was one of my top 3 P basses I ever played. Oh what to do on the Mustang...
Hi Philip, great video! The way I interpret the Mustang with P bass pickups is similar to what happens with guitars. If you like the look and feel of a SG you can get it with humbuckers, one or two P90’s. Nonetheless, I also think the JMJ is the winner. Cheers.
I'd probably buy the CV, but I really, really loved pretty much everything about the Vintera. So I'd play the CV and secretly lust after the Vintera. 'Cause racing stripes add roughly 4.28% more tone. :)
I actually saw you gigging with JMJ on Rhett's channel and decided to try one out. Turns out to be the instrument I've been looking for forever. Just feels perfect. My only knock is that the top fret markers are so small that peeking is not a viable option on a dark stage. Might be the last bass I'll buy lol. In your comparison, I did like the PJ a lot as well - so I played your test riff through my rig and I recovered. So, for contest purposes - I choose #4!
Thanks! This was great I own a P Bass, Left handed and I love it! Waited for 40 years to have it! With that being said, I enjoyed learning about these basses. The roking Rabbi.
After like 30 years of owning a Bass and playing maybe half that time, seriously for the last several years, the best advice I can give young or new players, work on repetition and speed because you don't have to do much besides stay in a small box or area on the fretboard. If you watch someone like Nick Campbell he plays so fast where, he does not have to go far. It's not how many scales you can play, it's how fast and how much pocket do you have to mess with. How well can you play the same pattern, over and over or the same octave, many songs share the same exact notes, so you need to play them different each song. Speed and pocket go together. Just work on your rhythm every day and speed drills. I worried too much about other things before, like scales and now I don't think about scales at all. I think about fills like a drummer, or a solos like a keyboard or a horn or guitar player. Blues is it's own scale, by the way. I hear a lot of syncopations when I play or I slap especially on a acoustic bass, I need to keep time so there's a lot of ghost notes and taps and things happening, I do it by necessity and it's better to not think about it because it ends up sounding good in the mix anyways. It sounds better with a hollow bass. There's this cat Remco, he's really good at that and he plays a warwick alien acoustic. I use my Mic, I position it down and it picks up my Bass and I get volume like that. It sounds better than the fishman, imho. I would try it if you're a acoustic player, a must have in the studio is a good mic. I would like to get a good mic pre amp, like a focusrite isa 1 but the thing is so outdated, still good. That would be worth the 4-500$ for the DI and mic amp for at home for me, cause I can use both. The other option would be a effects processor like a line 6, but I don't use effects much and I can add them later in post anyways, so I would say forget it. The ISA helps you get the sound dialed in before it gets to post, or to your signal chain on your interface. Then there's very little to do in post, just clean it up or whatever you need to do. Now, I use amp simulations in my interface software and Abelton. I figured I would save some money on the interface and pick up a analog preamp someday. The M-Box studio is just a lot cooler interface than the M-Audio lol, but the M-Audio works fine for converting audio, it's the exact same conversion rate as the 900$ interface for less than half the money, the preamps are better on the M-box ?. I am not sure they even compare to a dedicated preamp box like the ISA 1. I would take the old school analog tone any day over a digital preamp, or you could run your amp into your interface and that might be good as well. I see some great players plugged into a 300$ interface, nothing else but...they deserve a little more.
5 is my favorite sounding EDIT: I assumed it would be the AM Performer, but it was the Player PJ. I think I gravitated towards it because it sounded a lot like a P-bass and I'm a huge P-bass guy. If I were to get one though I'd go with a JMJ, because if I'm getting a Mustang I'm getting a proper one (and it was my second favorite).
I chose #2 and #6. They both spoke to me. But in a month I would more than likely hear them differently. Zesty video and I really enjoyed it. Fun watching you battle your thoughts. Must be kind of overwhelming receiving so many basses at one and yet having to send them back. Thankee.
A lot of thoughts on this video. First, my girlfriend's youngest now has a bronco style bass copy. I fixed it up off of tips from a Rhett video. Now I purchased a line 6 hx stomp from sweetwater. Within my 4 hour playing session I used his bass and found a super good setting for bass in no time. Now I hear all of these basses and I think I might go broke with a new toy of another mustang bass. I guess my p bass will have to do for now. Lastly your playing is so in the pocket and highlights small difference between all 6. Thank you.
i just scored a 30" Jag bass from a pawn shop. the neck is so lovely. i gotta play short scale for maximum reach cos my fretting hand only has 3 working fingers
For the Bronco, we have to give it a chance. It's not really a Mustang, it has a different character. With a little work, you can get a very good little bass. There are very good pickups from Seymour Duncan. Just give him a chance.
I felt like 2 was clearest, 6 was muddiest, 1 3 4 and 5 were about the same but with increasing output levels and decreasing clarity. Visually, all I want is a black/white/rosewood Mustang without a jacked up finish. The JMJ is so close, yet so far.
My top three sounds were actually 6,5, and 1. I like the PJ because it's three in one. I find that appealing. But I love that you did this shoot out! Cheers
The problem with choosing not to turn on the bridge pickups on the PJ and AP in order to create a level field, is that you're then invalidating the cost score as you've omitted some of the very features those instruments demand a premium for. Also it's a bit odd that you would choose to run the JMJ with different strings because that's how it was intended to sound, yet not apply that logic to the PJ and AP.
I understand what you are saying. Keep in mind the JmJ is a signature instrument set up with a specific set of strings. For me to change those strings, it would be changing that bass from the stock option which didn’t feel right, and keep in mind I had to return it. As far as the J pickup goes, I stand by the fact it wouldn’t be a fair comparison to incorporate that pickup position into the blind shootout. We may not agree but I respect your opinion and I appreciate you watching my video 🤘
I don't think that my ears are good enough to differentiate them all well enough. If I had two pick two that I liked the least (before checking the results) then it would be numbers 2 and 6. I think I maybe liked 1 and 3 the best? 4 also sounded great to me. [EDIT]So I liked the Squires and the JMJ the best, I guess! If I ever look into getting a Mustang I'll try some of those out.
@@philipconradmusic Thanks for the reply. I love your and Shull channel. I'm guitar player from Ukraine and 34" bass is too big for me, although I'm 1.82cm. I'm thinking of buying short scale bass. Fender mustang or Marcus Miller U5. I've heard Sire makes those budget bases pretty good. Wish you all the best!
I've played bass 20+ years, and have shockingly never owned a P bass (I hate them.. we can debate on a different thread). To no one's surprise, I found myself some sessions where the P was absolutely required. Came across a Mustang PJ and it fit the bill and everyone was happy. IMO, it sounds different than an actual P, but I'm also not surprised Phill scored it so low.
I had the Player PJ and was heavily leaning towards trading it in for the JMJ as I absolutely loved the sound of it. This video finalized my decision. Now just patiently waiting for the JMJ to arrive 😍
I voted for 3. Amazing how great Squiers sound these days.
same
same
same
Argument for the PJ: I am 5'5, can only comfortably play short/mid scale basses, and I want a Pbass sound without having to buy a bass thats too large for my frame. Identity crisis or not it's a solid solution until Fender US starts making short scale P's.
+ 1 on this
After playing a Gibson EB3 for a lot of years out of my Marshall stack, I retired for a number of years and sold all equipment I had after impairing the tendons in my hand and later losing the ball of my radial bone in my LH elbow. I tried playing off and on but was challenged. This was during my teen years. At the age of 68 and retired, I felt the need to get back into playing again and bought a Marcus Miller bass from Sweetwater. The long scale was quite uncomfortable playing and purchased a Mustang from Sweetwater along with a Bulgara amp in hopes of starting an old man band to play small clubs. I think out of the six choices mine was the Mustang PJ, also.
They do make short scale ps don’t they?
@OldDolio312 It depends on who you mean by "they" and what you mean by "short scale." Fender doesn't currently sell a true short scale P-bass. Squier by Fender offers a Mini-P Bass. However, the Mini has a much smaller body and a 28.5 inch scale rather than a 30 inch scale.
The Mini is much smaller than a standard P-Bass and it's also noticeably smaller than a Mustang. Therefore, it's technically not a short scale bass. It's a mini-bass and many people seem to love them.
Now, if you go outside of the Fender brand, you can find several high end and also some dirt cheap short scale P-bass style basses which are not mini size. They are true short scale P-basses, but they have nothing to do with the Fender brand.
@@skybluemarshall interesting, yeah I currently have the Ibanez GSRM20, after I realised the mistake I made buying a full scale (I’m like 5’3 with small hands), I love its 28” size but alas fender doesn’t make em in that size. Lookin to upgrade now and I’m not sure what to get, stuck between the American and PJ mustang, so if you have any suggestions, appreciate it
the bronco as a DIY platform is amazing! i got one for 150 last black friday and did a full refinish on the body and neck, and routed a bridge pickup and it SLAPS! so many options and a great mod platform to really experiment with.
*Have you tried to put a Mustang control plate on it?*
Where can we see that bass?
I picked up my Squier Bronco on a whim in store and was super impressed with the build quality (no crunchy knobs, no sharp fret ends, good feel), wound up buying it. I REALLY like it. I have plans to replace the pickup (probably a hot rail so I don't have to do any body routing or pickguard replacement) and I would absolutely LOVE a video (or two, or three...) by you on modifying the Bronco. Awesome bass for the money. Plus, it's pink! :)
I love the sound of the P-Bass, but I reaaally liked the feel of the Mustang’s shorter scale length, as someone who primarily plays guitar. So the PJ Mustang got me really excited.
I made myself a short scale guy on accident since I just practiced the heck out of my fender 30 inch acoustic from the 1990's, playing quietly at home and now, short scale is just thing I want and kind of need it. I am kind of old to finally be getting the hang of Bass, but whatever age it does not matter. You might be 50 before you finally get it down, start playing the things you really want to play on the Bass. My challenge was playing the things in my head, they go faster than my hands.
I picked #6 . Cool and smooth low end. It was the only bass that wasn't "mid range" heavy.
I owned the Classic Vibe, and with your help, I replaced the pickups with Curtis Novak pickups and added Mustang Flats. I sanded the neck and felt like it made it closer (not exactly) to the JMJ. They are great basses!
I’m a MASSIVE Mustang fan, and having owned and/or played all off Fender’s Mustang offerings, and (IMO) believe it or not the best Mustang currently on the market isn’t a Fender. The day I got my Nash MB-63, I knew I’d found my primary/forever bass. I owned and rode a Suzuki 450cc motorcycle for 10 years. I loved that bike, and I often couldn’t afford to make repairs on a my car back then, so i had to ride that bike to work even through November. Living in the Northeast, it was rough! When I finally got a job that allowed me to upgrade, I got a reliable car and used Harley. Playing that Nash for the first time was just like my first ride on the Harley. I could feel the quality, the builds were solid.
Great insight. I love my Nash J. Thanks for sharing!
I own a JMJ in blue myself. Apart from the unconvincing (and IMO unnecessary) body relic job, it really is great. I also played a Vintera II the other day and it was a great instrument. The fit and finish was spot on.
I agree with your assessment….I’d save and buy a JMJ if they came out without the Road wear
So appreciative of your analytics on Mustang basses. In fact, I’m waiting for a shipment of JMJs to arrive at my retailer in about 2 weeks to pull the trigger on a blue one. What test result I found remarkable was how the most expensive bass was not even a competitor to the JMJ and Vintera. Thank you for being a source of reliable information for the bass community.
Thanks so much!
RUclips just recommended me this video, and I'm blown away by your production, man. Everything in this video is well crafted. I own a Mustang PJ (pre-Player Series, but it's basically the same thing) and as my only bass, I love how versatile it is. But now I'm thinking about that Squier, and the Vintera as well. I mean, I'm mostly a keys/guitar player, so I don't need a lot of basses, but maybe owning a "true" Mustang is not a bad idea at all! Great content. Subscribed!
P bass pickups in a Mustang is for the exact reason you mentioned at the start of the video - you want the P bass sound, but injuries prevent you from playing a full scale bass.
American Performer Mustang is my main bass. Built great and has the best neck out of all my basses but I had to change the pickups due to the thinness you identified here. It’s got two Nordstrands in now and sounds fat
I just picked up a used JMJ as my first bass, and it is really inspiring me. I'm a huge fan of six string Mustangs too, so I was really excited to find one locally.
I have that exact Squier CV Mustang, same color and all. I bought it about last March and strung it with flats -- and that Mustang took me everywhere. I stumbled onto your video upon researching the Mustang, and your videos pushed me to get it. The comfort of that neck inspired me to keep playing bass, so damn good! I played my first gig with it at our school library, and stuck with it all the way to a huge local festival. One instrument can take you so far, and for me that instrument was my little Mustang. I just wanna say thank you Philip -- in a way, I wouldn't be in the same place musically if I hadn't stumbled into your content and bought that bass. Please keep making videos for us!
I got a Squier CV as my second Mustang, it's a great bass! I love the way it sits in the mix, and it has a P-like (almost) thump and twang.
Truly is a great bass. I keep the Mustang on flats and I now have a Fender Jazz Bass with rounds. This setup covers everything I'll ever need to keep! @@bobgreen623
I have both JmJ and AP. The AP has “Greasebucket” tone circuit. It really isn’t active with volume turned up full. Back off volume and tone control is more active. Additionally, pickup height of front split pickup was too low on mine when I received it. After proper adjust must , tone was much fuller. With the combination of j pickup, tone is really nice and articulate.
Stainless steel strings and a good setup go a long way on these APs
One of the basses I have is a mid-2010’s Mexican Mustang PJ that the previous owner did custom relic work to, and in that same spirit I eventually decided to have it converted to fretless with flats on it. I really like how it turned out and how unique it is in my collection now, and since I have small hands, the short scale length makes it much easier than it otherwise would be to play in tune without frets. I do wish it had actual Mustang style pickups instead of the PJ configuration, but it’s still a ton of fun to play. Much love for mustangs, always punk as hell.
Using flats changes the entire character of the sound. You can probably put flats on any of these basses and get the sound that it seems to me you prefer in this video.
For instance, I have a Mustang pj and put la bella flats on it, and it sounds stellar. I just switched it back to rounds for the first time in 3 years, and it's a completely different instrument with a completely different vibe.
I agree. Played round-wounds on 78 p-bass for a decade before switching to flat-wounds. Yes, they (round) are brighter & more clacky & more percussive, but the tone is what I'm after.
I also had a gnarly hand injury and am buying my first mustang bass. This was just the absolute best video. Thank you for doing this!
I have the blue JMJ; as a guitar player with a home studio I wanted a short scale bass for recording purposes. I also have an American Special Jazz. The JMJ has become my “secret weapon.” Not only does it add a character & thump that is unique it’s so much fun to play. The flatwounds changed the game for me, I never would’ve considered them before the JMJ.
It’s a great bass! Glad to have you here. Thanks for watching!
I bought the PJ here in Nashville a few years ago, and I’ve used it in the studio, and live situations. One of my favorite things about it is thanks to certain laws of physics, as a short scale bass, it doesn’t have the dead notes that exist on the g string, as are inherent on my long scale vintage basses.
Convinced me to get the Squier. Sounds good. I had a Bronco and actually really liked it. Feel like I need a good, affordable, short scale in my collection!
I own the JMJ and a Player PJ, and could pick them both out in the blind test, my favourite sounding blind was the Vintera. The PJ bass sounds great, using just the P pickup. I use it quite a lot. The Jazz pickup in it is next to useless, weak, uneven, quiet, it really brings nothing’s to the party. I like the p pickup though, it sounds like a decent P bass, which is why I use it, I get your argument about get a P bass (I have 2) but when I’m playing live, I don’t like to junp between short scale and regular 34 inch scale, so the Mustang that makes P sounds is great when I want that sound live and I am swapping from the JMJ. I really want to buy a Vintera now though
I “blind” voted for 3, 5 and 6. I picked up an American Performer Mustang B-stock for about $1k 18 months ago as my first bass coming from guitar after learning about Mustangs from Phil’s channel. At that time I could not find a Mustang locally and just went for it. I like blending the Performer’s pickups, the satin finish neck and have enjoyed my short time with it. I don’t like relic models so that ruled out the JMJ for me. Really enjoying Phil’s content, insights and the community he is building here. Well done!
Love the shirt! Athens, GA gang!
I disagree with you on the PJ. For me, first and foremost, short scale is top priority for its playability, and having the ability to blend between J and P bass tones is pretty amazing. P and J basses are known for sounding incredible. Whats wrong with having both options in a smaller form factor? Not to mention the PJ stang's natural finish is by far the most beautiful instrument you tested.
These come from the factory with different strings. The JMJ comes with flats. I put flats on my Performer, which came with rounds and the sound improvement was amazing.
I thought #2 sounded the best, you can hear how well the American Performer is setup, it adds to the tightness along with minimal buzz, and the way it cuts through and articulates notes is pretty rich.
I thought #4 sounded the worst, everything else honestly had a muddiness to the sound except for the performer.
1, 3 and 6 are my favs, just because they sound way more laid back than the other ones, which all have that tangy modern bass sound. oh my god the bronco was my favourite, that's actually so cool.
Yeah the bronco was a big surprise!
Great video, I feel like the score card gave it a Wes Anderson vibe and the track was wonderful. Whole thing makes me want a shorty.
I recently picked up a VM Squire Mustang Bass, as a guitarist and a studio producer I absolutely love it - plays great, sounds fantastic and makes me want to keep playing and using it which is a win in my books.
After the first play through, I like 3 and 5 the best.
I’ve owned a JMJ and I agree 100% I loved the flats also. The relicing was just the right amount 👍🏻
I got a steal on a squier classic vibe mustang bass with a hard case, flatwound strings, and a full setup for the price of a new one. Can’t wait to try it after this video
I liked the bronco tone. It’d be fun try different single coils in it. A lot easier to swap and setup than most bass pickups.
Point of order so far at 8:20
The PJ has a place here for people that are recovering from a hand injury and can't play their full scale P-basses. It will give them back their distinct sound as opposed to a Mustang sound. I think it's similarity to an actual P-bass is it's strength, rather than a downside.
That’s a good point. What I’m realizing is I really wish Fender made a mini P bass.
I bought one while healing from a broken wrist for that very reason. It was perfect for that purpose and is a mean little bass in its own right. Now that I’m healed and back to my full size P, I find myself interested in the Vintera or JMJ both for the unique tone and the slightly wider neck (1.625 at the nut vs the 1.5 of the PJ).
One detail you didn’t get into is body style. I didn’t realize I would not like the slab body until I got a JMJ. I actually returned it on that detail alone. Even with a short scale bass, I have a strong comfort preference for the later body contour. That’s how I ended up with my ‘70s Mustang. Luckily I got it before the price of ‘70s Mustangs went nuts! So for me, I’d proabaly have chosen the Vintera. It would be fun to compare it with ‘70s vintage!
That’s a good point Will! Vintera was the most comfortable body shape by far. Thanks for watching man!
My former American Performer sounded so so so much better with LaBella flatwounds; the stock .40-.95 Fender strings were disappointing. Overall, the AP Mustang was a great sounding bass having a variety of useful tones with that bonus J pickup. It scores well in versatility.
The Vintera II looks terrific and sounds sweet. Would be curious to hear the 60s Vintera side by side.
Bought the Bronco for my daughter for Christmas. Did a little work on it, frets, nut, awesome!
I've got the PJ in Sienna sunburst and maple fingerboard - bought it very much for the look of it. Love how it compliment a Negroni drink. :)
Nice!
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The best sounding bass I have is my Supro I with flat wounds. Super easy to play, and beautiful. I had a II and III but they are more than I need. I have the Vintera but it's my 4th or 5th favorite of what I own. It's my favorite on this list.
Wow, I did not guess number 1 as that bass at all! I really liked number 2 and 3. 3 might have even sounded better than number 2 for me. Great video.
Awesome video! I own a Vintera mustang from the first series and it’s a great bass. Sounds very good, well built and really comfortable to play.
Wow! I thought for sure number 2 would've been the Bronco as it sounded the thinnest. Great video, thanks!
The sonic bronco is a fantastic mod platform...hipshot bridge and tuners, bone nut, lace sensor red with a good wiring harness in mine...now it rocks
There are very good pickups from Seymour Duncan
@@Arcade1959 No doubt, alot of pros swear by seymour duncan and for good reason
I bought one of those cheap rail hum buckers from Amazon and it sounds gnarly in an awesome way!
Great video. Just bought a Bronco for my daughter's 15th birthday, as she has decided she wants to learn to play bass. I love to tinker, so looking forward to seeing what you can do with one of them.
3 has the vibe for me .
I really liked 1 and 4, I was really surprised that the Bronco was on that list lol. I actually own one that I put a Curtis Novak pickup in and now it sounds killer. The American one was kinda my least favorite, my favorite was the 4th which was apparently the JMJ.
i completly agree but i think the american performer is probably a good bass but it's just not what you want from a mustang
Crazy, I like the PJ the best, but hey I am a P Bass Player so maybe I am just used to the tone. You ask why anyone would want a Mustang that sounds like a P Bass, if he or she could just take a P bass. True, but maybe someone like you has an injury, or generally smaller hands, and so has the opportunity to sound almost like playing a P bass with a short scale.
I love the sound of the vintera so much. so clean, so tight. so much mojo
strictly sound, 6, then 3 to me
Thank you for such a good video. It helped me a lot to listen to all the mustang sounds in one clip with great sound quality. Is it possible for you to make another video that includes the sound of these mustang basses in a longer video (audio comparison only)? I was shocked by the Bronco, how cheap it is and how good it sounds. In contrast, during the blind test I chose the AM performer as having the softest and worst output of them all. I love the JMJ and am amazed at the smooth and warm sound of the Vintera ii. These would be my picks.
I was heartened to see that you and I agreed on the ranking by sound. Agreed also that the Performer is the big letdown. For that price I would expect something much more distinctive.
The JMJ probably deserves its win overall. I would never buy one, because I cordially detest relic finishes.
The Bronco is a cool cheap bass, and nowadays a good modding platform, but it isn't a Mustang.
I think you may be looking at the Player PJ 'from the wrong end', as it were. It isn't a Mustang with Precision and Jazz pickups - it's a PJ with a short scale that happens to have a Mustang-shaped body. Again, not really a Mustang for people who actually want a Mustang; more for players want a a PJ-style, but who - for whatever reason - struggle with a 34" scale.
The Squier would be my choice, with the Vintera second. If the Vintera were cheaper, it would be my first choice - even though I don't like the tacky stripes. But I can't really justify the extra cost of the Vintera, given the extreme simplicity of this one-pickup instrument. In fact, I struggle to see how any Mustang should cost more than $1,000.
I bought a Squier CV and upgraded it with the pickup, pickguard, pots, control plate and knobs from a JMJ. It quickly became my go-to!
Sounds like a perfect combo!
Mojo is definitely something you must think about when buying a bass. When I was searching for a P-Bass, I stumbled upon a 2012 American Standard in incredible condition for a fair price, but when I played it, I thought it was just fine. Nothing wrong with it, but it felt a lot less inspiring than a particular Mexican P-Bass I'd played before.
Ended up settling for a MIJ RI62 and I'm super glad I did. Sometimes, even though build quality is better, some particular basses just don't really match with you
Man, when I was a teen, I had a Squire Pbass, and I loved it, but had to sell it when I got divorced... since then I had a used Gary Willis Fretless (wasn't feeling it), Sold it, Got. Squire VI (too busy, too many strings, liked the "Spaghetti Western tone" though, I just couldn't get used to the feel of it, sold it) Got a very cheap used PJ Squire... pretty sure it's electronics were no good, resold. Got a 5 String MIM Jazz, really liked it at first, and liked the sound, but ultimately that 5th string just got in my way... so a month ago I saw a used 4 String 19v Active/Passive MIM PJ at my local shop, took it off the wall, played it, finally felt like right, felt like I was back in highschool again.
Traded that 5 string and bought that PJ, and I have been so happy with it. It's so weird how musical instruments are like people. Some of them just don't get along with you, and then sometimes you meet one and you feel like you've known them for years.
Bass #3 sounds great!!
The only thing I can really see all across the web is that Squier models are literally kickin' asses to a lot of more expensive basses out there. The reason is the raising quality of the instruments at an affordable price. I agree the player PJ is nonsense. Great video!!👍🏼
Paused the video where you said. 3, by a landslide. 2 and 5 were the only no-gos for me. 1, 4, and 6 would probably shine in different musical contexts, but 3 had the best combination of low-end punch and mid-range articulation, to my ears.
The JMJ had a throaty mid-range that I didn’t prefer solo’d, but cuts nicely in the mix. The Vintera had the opposite problem for me. Lots of great low-end roundness solo’d, but got lost in the mix a little.
Súper uau! The sound that convinded me the most was the Bronco. Secindly the JMJ 😂
Nice!
My favorites were the Classic Vibe and the PJ. If I were going for a traditional Mustang sound, I would pick the Classic Vibe. If I were just picking based on my own sonic preferences, it would be the PJ.
I agree with you that the American Performer sounded the worst.
I wasn't as fond of the JMJ as you were. The pickups almost sounded "overdriven" to me. That's a cool sound. But I'd rather start with a clean sound and be able to add the grit later.
The Vintera looked the coolest. But I thought the pickups didn't have enough top end. It almost sounded like you had the tone knob rolled back.
Tempted to put a set of the JMJ pickups in a Squier.
I own both a Classic Vibe and a PJ... and those are the ones I liked the best in the blind test. I like how balanced and defined the Vintera sounded. I am thinking of adding a bronco to my stable.
The BIG PROBLEM with the Vintera, as far as I can tell from the video and the photos on Sweetwater, is that there is no easy access to the trussrod.
That's right, you have to remove the neck to adjust the trussrod. The same is true, BTW, for the Japanese-made Hybrid Mustang (not included in this review).
Stay away from the Vintera unless you're happy to remove the neck every time you want to adjust your trussrod.
You need to try some of the made in Japan Fender Mustangs. They are Amazing.
They blow these out of the water!
Really split between 2 and 5 for sound. Both are excellent.
Aaand it's just that I like J bridges, I think. Lol.
And every one of them will feel and sound better with a set of LaBella Deep Talkin' strings.
5 and 6 were my favourite for different reasons. Gun to my head I'd go for 6.
After the reveal; makes so much sense about number 5 as that is my preferred sound (although I forgot there was a mustang with that pickup in this lineup!). 6 just sounds great though, so open and maliable. The JMJ suddenly sounded better when I knew what number it was, go figure xD
Well said! Thanks for watching
@@philipconradmusic Loving the vids man, thanks for doing it!
I purchased an American performer mustang a few months ago, and I really like it. I do feel like it needs some better strings, but it is very well built and comfortable.
Nice!
1 has a cool vintage/retro sound, and 4 is the best overall with a nice, even sound
I'm a young bassist I did nearly everything to share to get my entry in for the squier bass I hope I win I haven't had a bass in a long time due to money problems so thanks for the contest Philip Conrad for giving me a chance to win I love your videos ive watched for a long time
Adding this comment before the ‘reveal’. I don’t know if it’s a primacy/recency thing memory-wise, but I gave a dead heat to 1 and 6. I’ll decide one way or the other on the coolness factor. Okay, I’ll go with the Vintera! Cool episode, Philip.
You are very lucky to have a wife that supports your video footage. Mine doesn’t :(
I just purchased a Player II in Hialeah Yellow.
Neck with rounded edges feels great, but I will say I am on the fence to return it within the 30 day return policy. I prefer the sound of the Squier CV, Vintera, or JMJ.
I only use flats after trying them on my P's and 08' Am STD Jazz.
I had an original CV P that i got rid of foolishly as it was one of my top 3 P basses I ever played.
Oh what to do on the Mustang...
Hi Philip, great video! The way I interpret the Mustang with P bass pickups is similar to what happens with guitars. If you like the look and feel of a SG you can get it with humbuckers, one or two P90’s. Nonetheless, I also think the JMJ is the winner. Cheers.
I'd probably buy the CV, but I really, really loved pretty much everything about the Vintera. So I'd play the CV and secretly lust after the Vintera. 'Cause racing stripes add roughly 4.28% more tone. :)
Plus, they make the bass way faster in a drag race!
3 and 6 are really good
I actually saw you gigging with JMJ on Rhett's channel and decided to try one out. Turns out to be the instrument I've been looking for forever. Just feels perfect. My only knock is that the top fret markers are so small that peeking is not a viable option on a dark stage. Might be the last bass I'll buy lol. In your comparison, I did like the PJ a lot as well - so I played your test riff through my rig and I recovered. So, for contest purposes - I choose #4!
Can you pleaae try the G&L Fallout basses both tribute and Made in Fullerton?
Your videos are great man! Thank you!
Thanks! This was great I own a P Bass, Left handed and I love it! Waited for 40 years to have it! With that being said, I enjoyed learning about these basses. The roking Rabbi.
After like 30 years of owning a Bass and playing maybe half that time, seriously for the last several years, the best advice I can give young or new players, work on repetition and speed because you don't have to do much besides stay in a small box or area on the fretboard. If you watch someone like Nick Campbell he plays so fast where, he does not have to go far. It's not how many scales you can play, it's how fast and how much pocket do you have to mess with.
How well can you play the same pattern, over and over or the same octave, many songs share the same exact notes, so you need to play them different each song. Speed and pocket go together. Just work on your rhythm every day and speed drills. I worried too much about other things before, like scales and now I don't think about scales at all. I think about fills like a drummer, or a solos like a keyboard or a horn or guitar player. Blues is it's own scale, by the way.
I hear a lot of syncopations when I play or I slap especially on a acoustic bass, I need to keep time so there's a lot of ghost notes and taps and things happening, I do it by necessity and it's better to not think about it because it ends up sounding good in the mix anyways. It sounds better with a hollow bass. There's this cat Remco, he's really good at that and he plays a warwick alien acoustic.
I use my Mic, I position it down and it picks up my Bass and I get volume like that. It sounds better than the fishman, imho.
I would try it if you're a acoustic player, a must have in the studio is a good mic. I would like to get a good mic pre amp, like a focusrite isa 1 but the thing is so outdated, still good. That would be worth the 4-500$ for the DI and mic amp for at home for me, cause I can use both.
The other option would be a effects processor like a line 6, but I don't use effects much and I can add them later in post anyways, so I would say forget it. The ISA helps you get the sound dialed in before it gets to post, or to your signal chain on your interface. Then there's very little to do in post, just clean it up or whatever you need to do. Now, I use amp simulations in my interface software and Abelton. I figured I would save some money on the interface and pick up a analog preamp someday.
The M-Box studio is just a lot cooler interface than the M-Audio lol, but the M-Audio works fine for converting audio, it's the exact same conversion rate as the 900$ interface for less than half the money, the preamps are better on the M-box ?. I am not sure they even compare to a dedicated preamp box like the ISA 1. I would take the old school analog tone any day over a digital preamp, or you could run your amp into your interface and that might be good as well. I see some great players plugged into a 300$ interface, nothing else but...they deserve a little more.
5 is my favorite sounding EDIT: I assumed it would be the AM Performer, but it was the Player PJ. I think I gravitated towards it because it sounded a lot like a P-bass and I'm a huge P-bass guy. If I were to get one though I'd go with a JMJ, because if I'm getting a Mustang I'm getting a proper one (and it was my second favorite).
I chose #2 and #6. They both spoke to me. But in a month I would more than likely hear them differently. Zesty video and I really enjoyed it. Fun watching you battle your thoughts. Must be kind of overwhelming receiving so many basses at one and yet having to send them back. Thankee.
A lot of thoughts on this video. First, my girlfriend's youngest now has a bronco style bass copy. I fixed it up off of tips from a Rhett video. Now I purchased a line 6 hx stomp from sweetwater. Within my 4 hour playing session I used his bass and found a super good setting for bass in no time. Now I hear all of these basses and I think I might go broke with a new toy of another mustang bass. I guess my p bass will have to do for now. Lastly your playing is so in the pocket and highlights small difference between all 6. Thank you.
i just scored a 30" Jag bass from a pawn shop. the neck is so lovely. i gotta play short scale for maximum reach cos my fretting hand only has 3 working fingers
Less fret noise with #6 has much to do with why it’s the best sounding to me.
Some of the necks on them feel really great.
Agreed!
I have a Vibe Tele and it seems like a great value. I am excited to see what you do with that Squire.
For the Bronco, we have to give it a chance. It's not really a Mustang, it has a different character.
With a little work, you can get a very good little bass.
There are very good pickups from Seymour Duncan.
Just give him a chance.
I have a pj mustang but steve harris / antiquity pickup configuration and turned the switch into a blend knob, also flats. it sounds pretty cool
Fun shootout. Number 3 sounded best to me, but certainly not by a landslide! 1 and 6 came in close for me.
I felt like 2 was clearest, 6 was muddiest, 1 3 4 and 5 were about the same but with increasing output levels and decreasing clarity.
Visually, all I want is a black/white/rosewood Mustang without a jacked up finish. The JMJ is so close, yet so far.
My top three sounds were actually 6,5, and 1. I like the PJ because it's three in one. I find that appealing.
But I love that you did this shoot out! Cheers
Thanks for watching!
The problem with choosing not to turn on the bridge pickups on the PJ and AP in order to create a level field, is that you're then invalidating the cost score as you've omitted some of the very features those instruments demand a premium for. Also it's a bit odd that you would choose to run the JMJ with different strings because that's how it was intended to sound, yet not apply that logic to the PJ and AP.
I understand what you are saying. Keep in mind the JmJ is a signature instrument set up with a specific set of strings. For me to change those strings, it would be changing that bass from the stock option which didn’t feel right, and keep in mind I had to return it. As far as the J pickup goes, I stand by the fact it wouldn’t be a fair comparison to incorporate that pickup position into the blind shootout. We may not agree but I respect your opinion and I appreciate you watching my video 🤘
I don't think that my ears are good enough to differentiate them all well enough. If I had two pick two that I liked the least (before checking the results) then it would be numbers 2 and 6. I think I maybe liked 1 and 3 the best? 4 also sounded great to me.
[EDIT]So I liked the Squires and the JMJ the best, I guess! If I ever look into getting a Mustang I'll try some of those out.
they all sound great. I can't choose only one)
Right??
@@philipconradmusic Thanks for the reply. I love your and Shull channel. I'm guitar player from Ukraine and 34" bass is too big for me, although I'm 1.82cm. I'm thinking of buying short scale bass. Fender mustang or Marcus Miller U5. I've heard Sire makes those budget bases pretty good. Wish you all the best!
Thanks! Good luck
I've played bass 20+ years, and have shockingly never owned a P bass (I hate them.. we can debate on a different thread). To no one's surprise, I found myself some sessions where the P was absolutely required. Came across a Mustang PJ and it fit the bill and everyone was happy. IMO, it sounds different than an actual P, but I'm also not surprised Phill scored it so low.
I love Mustang Basses too-the only bass for me. I vote for 3.
I had the Player PJ and was heavily leaning towards trading it in for the JMJ as I absolutely loved the sound of it. This video finalized my decision. Now just patiently waiting for the JMJ to arrive 😍