NBD - 2007-2010 Fender Mustang Bass

[thisisnickpaige]

So last October me and the misses moved to Norway; it's been awesome, but we had to sell a lot as we just couldn't take everything. No biggie, i sold the bass, and saved the money. We're back now stateside with the 4 month old to show her off to the family ala Lion King (i have yet to do the gourd juice paint on the forehead yet).

While i was here, I was praying about where to get a bass; I ended up going to Guitar Center, and found this...







A 2007-2010 MIJ Fender Mustang Bass with the original strings on it still, and hardshell case. This is the case from my stinky case thread. It plays and feels amazing otherwise; they threw in some new strings, and away we went.

This guy barely played this bass! It's creamier than in the photos, and the tort is this cool sparkly root beer candy brown. The only things wrong are that slight chip on the headstock.

Second thing i picked up this trip was the first guitar i ever played on. It's has been moved to its own thread. (1986 Charvel Model 6)

[Larry Mal]

Cool guitars! Congratulations.

[sunburster]

Great Mustang bass! Nice price too. However, they did not make them in 1994, and judging by the tort, it was made in the last 10 years. Is it a "MADE IN JAPAN" T- serial number? If so, it was made in 2007-2010.

[thisisnickpaige]

Great Mustang bass! Nice price too. However, they did not make them in 1994, and judging by the tort, it was made in the last 10 years. Is it a "MADE IN JAPAN" T- serial number? If so, it was made in 2007-2010.

That's so interesting. Yeah, I rechecked the Fender website, and just as you said the Made in Japan with T+6 digits could also be 2007-2010. That explains the nice condition a little better. I know so little about these basses, any websites you know of that have more info? Or your knowledge on the subject?

So when did they make these, then?

[sunburster]

Wikipedia says Fender Japan started the reissues in 2002, but they first show up in Fender Japan catalogues in 1998. I think they were first exported outside of Japan in 2002, but started in Japan in 1998.

Also, here's a handy thread I made to distinguish between 90s MIJ and 2007-2010 MIJ T- serials.

[thisisnickpaige]

Yup, definitely 2007-2010. Thanks for correcting me. Not much info out there about these guys; but I guess there doesn't need to be. Mine is quite a low number, so I reckon it's more like 2007-2008?

Do you have one yourself or just a MIJ guitar?

[BoringPostcards]

There's a Mustang Bass exactly like that at my local shop, but the price he's asking is pretty high. It's been giving me GAS like nothing else.
I always wanted one of these but never had the luck of running into a good one. My first instrument was an early 60s Musicmaster Bass and one of these Mustang Basses would fill that void just fine.
So easy to play and they sound good. Lack on low end a little, but they do get a great tone.
Always reminds me of the Canadian band Sloan, who used Mustang Basses since the beginning.

[thisisnickpaige]

There's a Mustang Bass exactly like that at my local shop, but the price he's asking is pretty high. It's been giving me GAS like nothing else. I always wanted one of these but never had the luck of running into a good one. My first instrument was an early 60s Musicmaster Bass and one of these Mustang Basses would fill that void just fine. So easy to play and they sound good. Lack on low end a little, but they do get a great tone.
Always reminds me of the Canadian band Sloan, who used Mustang Basses since the beginning.

Is it an old one or reissue? Maybe he'd be more likely to trade you for it then come down on price? I had a late 70s musicmaster bass I got off Gonkulator; that was a sweet bass. You sold yours, I'm guessing?

Usually with short scale I feel like the playability out weighs the lack of low end. But you're right, there are times I miss that dub reggae bottom.

I've never check out Sloan; I'm guessing they use more vintage ones?

[thisisnickpaige]

...here's a handy thread I made to distinguish between 90s MIJ and 2007-2010 MIJ T- serials.

Do you have any way of knowing between those years what year it is?

[Fiddy]

Welcome to the club.

Here's my T series... California Blue.

[thisisnickpaige]

Dude, that's gorgeous! Love the strap, and pearl guard too.

Are those wing nuts for strap locks? That's brilliant!

[Fiddy]

Thank you.

Yours is pretty sweet too. The strap locks are Grolsch washers.

[thisisnickpaige]

Oh yeah, the shadows made the buttons look like wing nuts.

What gauge strings do you keep on yours? My low E tends to rattle a little.

[Fiddy]

I got some 30" Labella 43-104 flatwounds on this bad boy. No issues here. The strings have a really nice silky feel to them...

[thisisnickpaige]

That is so interesting. Most any owner when talking about their mods, or what they did say they put Labella's on there. What's up with Labella's and this bass?

I've never got down with flatwounds; I've tried on several occasions. I like that bright metallic sound in my strings to pop percussively.