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Fender Offset Mustang Bass PJ | Fender

Fender Offset Mustang Bass PJ | Fender

Introducing Fender Offsets | Fender

Introducing Fender Offsets | Fender

Description
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.

Powered by a time-tested pair of pickups, the Mustang Bass PJ is packed with flexible tone that can match any sonic requirement. A punchy split single-coil P Bass middle pickup is joined by a growling Jazz Bass neck pickup in an unbeatable pairing that combines the best of both sonic worlds. Master volume and tone controls, along with a conventional three-way pickup switch get you to all available sounds. Not only is the 30” scale more comfortable for smaller hands, it reduces string tension, creating a looser playing feel that lends itself to nimble playing styles while adding a fat, “blooming” quality to the lower notes and sweetening the higher notes. Topped by a 9.5”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 19 medium jumbo frets, the “C”-shaped maple neck is comfortable for all playing styles.

This bass’ smaller body easily fits those with smaller frames while maintaining Fender’s classic stylistic appeal, and is also great for energetic stage performances thanks to its light weight. In a nod to its roots, this modernized instrument includes vintage-style Fender tuning machines and a vintage-style disc string tree, along with a four-bolt neck plate and standard four-saddle bridge—all finished in gleaming chrome. A classic instrument, upgraded with features for the modern bassist, the short-scale Mustang Bass PJ is sure to please with its flexible sound, easy playing feel and slick style.
Fender Mustang PJ Bass Pau Ferro Fingerboard Olympic White
Fender Mustang PJ Bass Pau Ferro Fingerboard Olympic White
Fender Mustang PJ Bass Pau Ferro Fingerboard Olympic White
warning

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Specs
Neck
  • Shape: C
  • Wood: Maple
  • Neck joint: Bolt-on
  • Scale length: 30 in.
  • Truss rod: Standard
  • Finish: Satin polyurethane
Pickups
  • Active or passive pickups: Passive
  • Pickup configuration: SS
  • Middle: Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
  • Bridge: Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass
  • Brand: Fender
  • Series or parallel: Parallel
  • Active preamp: No
Fretboard
  • Material: Pau ferro
  • Radius: 9.5 in.
  • Fret size: Medium jumbo
  • Number of frets: 19
  • Inlays: Dot
  • Nut material: Synthetic bone
  • Nut width: 1.5" (38.1 mm)
Body
  • Cutaway: Double cutaway
  • Construction: Solidbody
  • Body wood: Alder
  • Body finish: Gloss
  • Orientation: Right handed
Controls
  • Control layout: Master volume, master tone
  • Pickup switch: Yes
Hardware
  • Bridge type: Fixed
  • Bridge design: 4-Saddle standard
  • Tuning machines: Die-cast
  • Color: Chrome
Other
  • Number of strings: 4
  • Pickguard: Yes
  • Case: Sold separately
  • Country of origin: Mexico
Reviews

4.26

19 Reviews

81%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Great little bass for the money
It was cash well spent for a instrument of this quality.
A wide range of tones in an easily-maneuverable package
The bass playability and tone was great right out of the box
For the price, it could be a little better....
For the price, it could be a little better....
Punk Rock 7/7
Punk Rock 7/7
Best SS Bass In Its Price Range

Most Liked Positive Review

4

Best SS Bass In Its Price Range

I've been playing guitar for 15+ years and recently started playing bass for a touring gig (indie/surf/punk band). Simply put - this bass rips. If you're a good guitar player you will be able to shred this thing with little effort. If you're a good bassist I'd imagine this thing feels like a toy (but still sounds like a proper bass). I'm a small dude (5'9", 140 lbs) and the Mustang feels beyond comfortable standing, sitting, playing live, etc - not much heavier than the average 6 string. The stock pickups sound better (IMO) than a $1,200 early 2000's Jazz Bass I was playing before I got the SS. I've been mostly rocking the neck (P) and middle (P&J). J pickup sounds pretty weak on its own tbh but I imagine it would sound pretty gnarly if you wanted to record a lead line with it. THE ONE MASSIVE CON: The stock bridge, like every other Fender offset in history, IS TERRIBLE. Fender sent me this bass personally and it was shipped in a cardboard box (so who knows what happened in transit) but upon arrival the E string was rattling and producing dead notes after the 7th fret, as well as not staying in tune for more than the duration of one song. The issue: the bridge pin was loose and causing the saddle to slowly lower while I played (the poor quality of these parts is exactly why this bass is so affordable). I adjusted the action and tightened the pin and all seems to be okay for now... playing a 45 minute set with it tomorrow so cross your fingers. Bottom line - if I didn't know how to do a basic set up on my instrument I would hate this bass and think it sucked. That being said, if you're halfway competent and looking for an affordable SS, this is the best option in 2017. Oh! First time owning an instrument with Pau Ferro and it is noticeably smoother/faster than rosewood. Tone is on the darker side but still bright enough to cut through.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

3

Very beautiful sound but poorly assembled

I absolutely love the style and sound of this bass but have had nothing but bad luck with the ones...yes, ones that I got. I had to exchange my first one due to the neck being super wonky and causing major fret buzz. The one that I exchanged for has major pickup issues. When I got home I noticed that the pickups were not placed in the bass correctly (should have noticed this at the store). They were crooked and slanted badly. When trying to play, the E and A string were significantly quieter because of the pickups being crooked. For the price, I wish that more attention was spent on assembling these. The dudes at GC though have been awesome to work with and have been very understanding and I thank them for that.

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Jamming14
  2. Practicing14
  3. Recording7
  4. Rock Concerts7
  5. Small Venues7
Cons
  1. Craftsmanship5
  2. Fret Buzz4
  3. Poor Pick Up4
  4. I had to replace the pickup switch,1
  5. Pickup switch buzzed, clicked and made crackling1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced6
  2. Novice6
  3. Professional Musician5
Pros
  1. Fun To Play15
  2. Good Feel15
  3. Good Pick Up11
  4. Good Tone11
  5. Solid Electronics7

Reviewed by 19 customers

  • Not a bad little bass

    4

    submitted6 years ago

    byBig Pooch

    fromAtlanta

    Just wanted to try a short scale bass. Price point was good. Not a bad little bass for the bucks. Tone good, very playable. I have not tweaked set up yet. Replacing factory strings with flats. So far so good. Does take a little getting use to. Plan to use for small gigs an tight stage areas.

  • Fender's quality is divebombing fast...

    1

    submitted6 years ago

    byDan

    fromSacramento, CA

    So I ordered my Fender Mustang PJ bass in October and it took till this month to get it. I had played them in the Guitar Center and found them really lightweight and easier to move the fingers around on the fretboard due to the shortscale. Anyway, once I got my long overdue bass, I tried tuning it to no avail. Then signal came from it, I plugged it into my GK rig, and it had intermittent sound at best. It also crackled way too much. It seems like Fender is using cheap electronics in this bass. There is also fret buzz above the 12th fret on the A string. Regardless, I am glad that I have been able to rely on my Gibson Les Paul DC Tribute bass as a more reliable shortscale bass when needed besides my 1980 Gibson G-3 bass. On another note, I purchased a Fender Rumble 500 last year, and a speaker is loose on it! Needless to say, Fender's quality control for me has been garbage recently. Do yourself a favor and be ready to be disappointed by this bass and the Fender Rumble 500 2x10 combo amp. I would recommend the Gibson Les Paul DC Tribute bass and a GK MB 2x10 combo over the Fender trash. I've used other Fender basses including an older Mexican made J bass loaded with EMGS, a Noel Redding J bass, a Precision Blacktop, and a 78 Musicmaster bass. Those work fantastic. The newer stuff is really questionable to me.

  • Great choice for guitar players.

    5

    submitted6 years ago

    bytommy tommy tommy

    fromBuffalo, NY

    Short scale and great action makes this ideal for a guitar player. P J pickups provide a nice variety of usable toned.

  • Great little bass for the money

    5

    submitted6 years ago

    byCbusser

    fromCbus

    Absolutely terrific little bass.

  • I would recommend this product

    5

    submitted6 years ago

    bySingle Coil

    fromNew York

    Used for rehearsal.

  • It was cash well spent for a instrument of this quality.

    5

    submitted7 years ago

    byGasims

    fromCleveland, Ohio

    I'm not a professional but I know this instrument can manage whatever you needed from it with no problems

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