Any good Fender Mustang/Musicmaster bass copies

[bickenracker]

Hi
I'm a newbie bassist looking for a cheap shortscale bass to suit my stubby, guitarist fingers. I played a mustang In dawsons the other day and really liked the look and feel of it but 600 odd quid seemed a bit excessive as I'm predominantly a guitarist. I did the usual google trawl looking for 'mustang copies' but couldn't find any ( I presume it must be one of the few models Fender have a decent patent on). So do any of you wise bass sages know of any fender style 30" basses that cost under £250?
Thanks alot

[Guest MoJo]

No, sorry

[barkin]

Saw these online recently - no idea what they're like, but the other Squier basses seem well regarded.

http://www.dv247.com/guitars/squier-jaguar-bass-special-ss-candy-apple-red--85401

[mrdreadful]

The Squier VM Jaguar bass comes in a short scale model.

[4-string-thing]

Don't Squier do a VM Mustang? What about The Bronco?

Failing that, there were some basses on the bay that resemble them by Wesley (I think)

[bickenracker]

Cheers for the heads up on squier I just found this [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Squier-Vintage-Modified-Mustang-Bass-Guitar,-Black~ID~15697.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Squier-Vintage-Modified-Mustang-Bass-Guitar,-Black~ID~15697.asp[/url] . Seems they do a mustang copy but a black body and pickguard with a maple neck is a bit fugly. I had my heart set on rosewood but i'm sure it would be alright after a new pickguard and a bit of modding

[Guest MoJo]

When I said no, I meant Squier VM Mustang

[bickenracker]

Eh up! squier are putting out a rosewood model [url="http://www.fender.com/blog/sneak-peek-at-mikey-ways-new-squier-signature-bass/"]http://www.fender.com/blog/sneak-peek-at-mikey-ways-new-squier-signature-bass/[/url] ......that's the sig of someone in a crap band meaning it'll be twice the price, covered in sparkles have a humbucker in it.
I can't believe there aren't any knockoffs of such a popular model *sigh*

[jezzaboy]

[quote name='bickenracker' timestamp='1325530969' post='1484083']
Cheers for the heads up on squier I just found this [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Squier-Vintage-Modified-Mustang-Bass-Guitar,-Black~ID~15697.asp"]http://www.soundsliv...ck~ID~15697.asp[/url] . Seems they do a mustang copy but a black body and pickguard with a maple neck is a bit fugly. I had my heart set on rosewood but i'm sure it would be alright after a new pickguard and a bit of modding
[/quote]

Black body and maple neck is ugly?????

We`ll have none of this talk around these parts!!!

I think that these look rather nice in black but they also come in sunburst and maple neck.

Jez

[Mr. Foxen]

Stubby fingers are no excuse, look at Vic Wooten's.

[bickenracker]

Each to his own with looks and tone jezzaboy! The ideal mustang copy for me would be blue body, white pickguard and rosewood neck but squire are numptys

[4-string-thing]

[quote name='bickenracker' timestamp='1325535590' post='1484174']
Each to his own with looks and tone jezzaboy! The ideal mustang copy for me would be blue body, white pickguard and rosewood neck but squire are numptys
[/quote]

You mean like this one?
[url="http://youtu.be/xz93oGirS4k"]http://youtu.be/xz93oGirS4k[/url]

[bickenracker]

Steeleye span FTW! But I'd leave off the blue headstock. I'd have one like the black keys new bassist (always thought they needed one)

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OlGl5JeO9I&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OlGl5JeO9I&feature=related[/url] He's lurking in the background here on Jools

[Musky]

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1325586809' post='1484613']
If it's like the rest of the Sigs it will come in at CV money or cheaper. Whats wrong with the Humbucker. If it stays true to like it might be a EMG. can't see it though I reckon the squier will come in with something cheaper.

there's the older squier Vist series one too they turn up the odd time and are supposedly quite good. MIJ IIRC.
[/quote]
The Vista Musicmasters were made in China but came in Sonic Blue which might not have been what the OP had in mind.


I think if he wants the same colour as in the Black Keys video he's looking at a long wait and a fair amount of moolah. Or a respray.

[bickenracker]

I had a MIJ squier Jagmaster guitar a few years back, amazing quality for the price but I think the vista series has had a bit of a renaissance recently so they're hard to find. I'll keep an eye open on ebay for the squier musicmasters though. Cheers

[henry norton]

I picked up my 'behind the sofa' Squier Bronco for about seventy quid. The pickup's a bit ropey but there are a couple of aftermarkets out there and you could have a really nice sounding, well set up Mustang shaped bass for less than 150 notes. You can even get hold of the chrome control plate, 4 saddle bridge and all the other Mustang bits if you really have to but nobody else will notice (except for anoraks like me on Basschat).

[bickenracker]

Thanks for all the advice. I think i'll get a squier mustang bass after they've deprecated a bit and If squier haven't annouced a rosewood model in NAMM

[Beefyeggo]

I have the new Squier Jaguar short scale bass. I got it from DV247.com for £160 delivered, just before Xmas. The strings it came fitted with were absolute sh*te but I changed them for a set of flatwounds and it's much, much nicer to play. Intonation was almost spot on and the action needed no adjustment at all. The only criticism I would make is that the black guitar I bought has a black pickguard fitted. I would like to change that for a tortoiseshell finish pickguard at some stage.

I fully concede my lack of experience on the bass (like the OP I've played guitr for many a year) but this one seems fine to me and good value for £160

Rob