I found the BEST Mustang Bass 🐎

[@tofulee5706]

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.

[@notzri82]

I voted for 3. Amazing how great Squiers sound these days.

[@pooparcel]

same

[@juanjan__]

same

[@SilentAttackTV]

same

[@greyklopstock7155]

Agreed. My favorite was three and my second favorite was six. To me, I felt like 6 sounded how 3 would sound after you put whatever high pass and low pass filters you'd add in the mix stage and threw a bit of compression on. Personally, 3 had a little more presence in terms of high end that I liked and 6 was a mellowed out version of it. And as someone who grew up hearing "measures twice, cut once," I tend to prefer having the extra high end presence. Cause you can always roll off the highs as needed, but it's a lot harder to add that air in when it's not already there

[@Gj8355r]

Agreed! 👍🏾

[@lowenderjones]

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.

[@yanrad]

+ 1 on this

[@clarencegilbert9548]

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]

They do make short scale ps don’t they?

[@skybluemarshall]

​@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.

[@OldDolio312]

@@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

[@DaveDamnit]

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.

[@philipconradmusic]

That’s a good point. What I’m realizing is I really wish Fender made a mini P bass.

[@davefreeburg7346]

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).

[@greyklopstock7155]

​@@philipconradmusicfender actually did briefly make one in the early 2000s! It's called the p bass junior! You can see Joe Dart play one in the "My First Car" video from vulfpeck. They only had one knob, and they're really hard to find, but they're out there. As someone with chronic tendonitis in both hands (wrist and thumb in fretting hand, wrist in my right) since high school that used to exclusively play a Japanese 51 p bass reissue with flats, I was on the hunt for a short scale p bass after selling some pedals a while ago. I stumbled upon a Sandberg Lionel short scale. Made in Germany, came with flats from the previous owner, and it blew me away so much I had to have it. I had been a little shocked when I first played it at how despite my youth it had really been quite a few years since I'd last been able to play bass for over half an hour straight without pain or discomfort. I highly suggest checking one of those out if you get the chance. I had no idea how much pain I could have avoided if I had bitten the short scale bullet earlier, cause it is still pretty liberating to feel like I can have my confidence back on my best instrument

[@LarsNorlander]

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.

[@ducksarelucky]

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!

[@bobgreen623]

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.

[@ducksarelucky]

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

[@krispykrunkdonut]

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.

[@VVineTU]

*Have you tried to put a Mustang control plate on it?*

[@JoseFrancisco-wy4nm]

Where can we see that bass?

[@scribemike]

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! :)

[@oasisforthesoul8002]

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.

[@bbqjack8885]

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.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

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.

[@PiotrHryncyszyn]

I'd say that majority of the sound is either amp/cab combination or in case of Di signals, it's mostly strings and pickups. Similar pickups in all of these, as mustang pickups as derivative of P bass anyways, results in very similar sounds. That's why my approach is to get something well made and comfortable to play. One can always swap electronics and strings to get the desired sound. A well made Squier will outclass a poorly made American bass always.

[@Brandon-pi5fe]

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

[@patchadams06]

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.

[@dane9929]

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.

[@basicstickfigure1087]

I picked #6 . Cool and smooth low end. It was the only bass that wasn't "mid range" heavy.

[@NICKC-YT]

Fantastic video! It gave me the information and confidence to finally get one. As the proud owner of the lovely Classic Vibe Mustang Bass, I can say it is everything I wanted!

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoy that bass for a long time ⚡️

[@ledruid]

KZbin 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!

[@TheCrazyman113LP]

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.

[@donewithmodernlife]

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.

[@philipconradmusic]

It’s a great bass! Glad to have you here. Thanks for watching!

[@davidmhuey]

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!

[@jonsorrentino4794]

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.

[@philipconradmusic]

Great insight. I love my Nash J. Thanks for sharing!

[@jasondorsey7110]

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

[@Arcade1959]

There are very good pickups from Seymour Duncan

[@jasondorsey7110]

@@Arcade1959 No doubt, alot of pros swear by seymour duncan and for good reason

[@prospectnyc]

I bought one of those cheap rail hum buckers from Amazon and it sounds gnarly in an awesome way!

[@Richard_Gee]

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.

[@DV8shredder]

Stainless steel strings and a good setup go a long way on these APs

[@meiXmusicpro]

Thank you for your work and passion. I can really feel it. I've seen this episode hundreds of times. And you convinced me to buy a Mustang. It's the Squier and I love it so much!

[@MrSparks54]

I have a 2008 MIJ Mustang, bought it new. I put in True Custom Shop vintage style pickups and strung up with Labella Deep Talkin flats, I absolutely love it. I prefer the vintage sound personally. Thanks Philip

[@twerpeater]

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.

[@mtdawgy]

I agree with your assessment….I’d save and buy a JMJ if they came out without the Road wear

[@ibalrog]

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.

[@lastreagandemocrat]

Love the bronco riding footage in the background. Excellent video!

[@jeffburnham4582]

I respect how you approached this video. Very cool! And also, I agree about the JMJ because that’s my bass too!

[@SalP91]

I was a P guy for years. I love my Precision bass. It always has a place. It's THAT sound, and it's unmistakable, versatile, and there. However.... I always loved the look of mustangs, and I tried a couple, both guitars and basses, both Fender and Squier, but I never found one I loved. But the JMJ is it. It's the epitome of what I was hoping for out of the Mustang. The sound, the look, the feel--it's all there. The sound holds up against something like the P. Fender nailed the neck...it's absurdly playable. Now that I've had something with a nitro finish, it might be difficult to go back.

[@jamesbird2231]

Thanks!

[@FLITT]

I picked 5 because I love a p-bass, but I want the shorter scale and cool af looks of a Mustang. I'm buying a Mustang Player II in white in a few days, and this just solidified for me. Thank you!

[@shugemery]

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.

[@mvcleod]

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 😍

[@portineoo]

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

[@ajplays-gamesandmusic4568]

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.

[@tamednoise3647]

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.

[@Baci302]

Very cool and fun video. I’m picking up my NEW Fender Player II Mustang Bass PJ 3-color Sunburst with Maple Fingerboard today!!!!

[@Groove3333]

I just picked up a Vintera II last week, restrung it with some Chromes and I'm in love.

[@kevinjerome4925]

Ref.the switch on the PJ Mustang, a couple of small drops of a certain spray lubricant, (supplied in a yellow and blue can), can help the switch to fully throw its the contacts. Use with the supplied fine red tube attached, to enable one small drop in from each side of the switch “handle”. Other spray lubricans are available, but this one works for me. Used it about 3 times over the last couple of years to good effect.

[@garesRI]

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.

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@Troumbadour]

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.

[@danielgraham4282]

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

[@jamesbird2231]

I've been learning and struggling on a full scale do to a very arthrtic left shoulder. Bought a short scale Mitchell from a pawn shop just to try out the feel. I love the size and weight and thanks to your video I'm ready to get a CV from Sweeter. I want to get linked to your affiliate so you can get your commission. Your videos are excellent, keep them coming.

[@alexgeddes6245]

The jmj is a special instrument. Fender really nailed it with that one. I love the look of the vintnera II. But the attention to detail on the JMJ is top notch! Great video! Enjoyed it

[@philipconradmusic]

Agreed!

[@lucdevries9058]

Fun shootout. Number 3 sounded best to me, but certainly not by a landslide! 1 and 6 came in close for me.

[@BigRobbie_G]

I own the JMJ, and didn’t care for the factory flats fender shipped it with, so I changed them out to La Bella Mustang flats which made a major difference. I’ve played those flats for about 6 months and was ready for a change. I just restrung it with DR Sunbeams, and WOW, just WOW! You gotta give these a try! I’ve fallen in love with this bass all over again! It’s never sounded so good, and the strings feel great!

[@houseofsolomon2440]

Those are what I use on my 78 p-bass (ash/maple neck w/rosewood fretboard). Love the deep, rich, mellow tone. Like buttah.

[@alexanderthomas2970]

Love that Vintera II. Didn’t think i would but i just love that sound a ton

[@bobhecker1132]

Bought the Bronco for my daughter for Christmas. Did a little work on it, frets, nut, awesome!

[@1701frequencies]

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!

[@jonathanbarb5516]

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

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@danegaffney]

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!

[@T-Hawkeyes]

so happy I have a first run JMJ!!! always a good time.

[@storymodescrublord]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I have spoken.

[@nautje]

I own that Squier classic vibe, but in the same Capri orange colour with the red stripes as the Vintera II in your comparison. This was actually my first bass, coming from guitar. Great instrument. Put flats on it a few months ago and it sounds absolutely amazing.

[@FrankLafone]

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. :)

[@VIDS2013]

Plus, they make the bass way faster in a drag race!

[@jhendricks02]

i bought a bronco over the summer just to have something different than my P-Bass. what a great mod platform! throw a cool low output strat pickup in it, sand the neck down, and put some good strings on it. it’s a super cool bass, and to be able to have it modded and everything for about $300 it’s a great deal.

[@onlineapprentice8599]

Of course I liked the two basses with J bass pups installed. Great video and well thought out and put together.

[@wallacewinston3627]

Only fair comparison is to set the pickup and string height exactly the same height and use the same set of strings.

[@Yyyyyyy44]

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.

[@ShinyShinyBlack]

LOVE the Mustang bass! It's the only bass that has been on our recordings to date. Our first bassist had a 71 Mustang bass that ended up just being perfect for us, and when he left, the only thing we could get that nailed what his bass did was the JMJ, so that's our sound. I love it for the studio, since a lot of bassist already have something they like, so if we need something different, the JMJ is typically quite different from what most bassists are going to bring, and the short scale is great for all the non-bassists who need to get an idea down.

[@BooneHood]

Love the shirt! Athens, GA gang!

[@flyoverbassin8959]

I interpret the PJ mustang as a PJ for guitar players. It has a neck for those who don't practice bass player techniques to handle the longer fret spacings, it fits in a smaller case, and it has two pickups with a switch and one volume knob like a Telecaster or Stratocaster.

[@jerrysoetewey7002]

Squier Mustang Bass with a set of La Bella flats... Superb.... Best bass I ever owned. Love the JMJ a lot...but about 3 to 4 times as expensive as the Squier... In a band setting, it's hardly noticeable. The Squier's higher output pu kind of growls when played on a tube amp with a 15" cab... Next I hope to grab a Squier Bronco as these are such great value for the money....

[@loekiedepo]

My JMJ is almost closer to a precision bass than a "regular" Mustang and I love it. Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Thick, thumpy sound that can growl if you want it too.

[@Palindromeater]

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!

[@philipconradmusic]

That’s a good point Will! Vintera was the most comfortable body shape by far. Thanks for watching man!

[@Jkr66]

I've have a 1968 Fender Mustang Bass I bought for $125 in 1982. Found it at a pawn shop here in Detroit. It's got all the original parts on it, Candy Apple Red with 2 white stripes. I vote for the Vintera 2 Bass. It looks like and reminds me of MY 1968 Candy Apple Red Mustang Bass.

[@philipconradmusic]

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@Jkr66]

@@philipconradmusic your welcome. I also have a 1972 Tele Bass. They reissued the original P Bass shape as the Telecaster Bass from 70-73 I think. I got that for $200 in 1989 from a friend of mine. I was in a Ska band in the late 80's early 90's. We went coast to coast. I hope I filled out that Bass raffle form correctly. THANKZ ! 🤙🏾

[@stevepark6363]

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.

[@PeteLamont]

Before the reveal, 1, followed closely by 4, though not listening with headphones. I have an incredible CV Squier Mustang that I picked up a number of years ago, the neck is just incredible. I put $400 of upgrades into the $200 bass, and every time I compare it against one of the US models, I like mine more. If you like the feel, you can always change the electronics. I have Labellas on it currently, but have had half rounds on it in the past. I have played a couple JMJ's and completely loved them.

[@jameshunt8373]

I have the PJ. Changed the switch for a blend pot and had it setup. Nice fun all rounder. I chipped mine though, only minor, but now the price has gone up because it's basically a vintage relic.

[@wyattheitkamp55]

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

[@jerryjb]

#6 the Vintera was my favorite sound. Funny because that one has the best ergonomics for me when I tried it out at Sweetwater. I used to have a player pj but I sold it because I didn't play it much and the neck was a bit too thin for me. I enjoyed the slightly thicker neck on the Vintera

[@marcusparnell2403]

What a great video! Love all your content Philip, but this one is an absolute beauty for us Mustang lovers! Here’s my two cents…(hope it helps anyone that reads this get to where they need to quicker than it took me!) I’ve had the Squier Classic Vibe for around 3-4 years now. When I bought it it was £350 (If I’d had the extra money I’d have bought the JMJ but I didn’t at the time so decided to upgrade the Squier over many birthdays, figuring that I’d probably end up spending the same as if I’d bought the JMJ but that it would be more affordable for me to do it that way) So, to cut a long story short, this is what I did. Firstly, I changed the strings to Labella Mustang Flats which as many of you will know, have a lovely thumpy old school vibe. I replaced the pickup with a Nordstrand Vintage NM4 - this slots straight in using the existing Squier pickup covers. This cost me £100 and really beefed up the tone of the bass. I shielded the cavities with copper tape and replaced the pick guard with a lovely white perloid one. This cost around £50 I replaced the pots with CTS and added an orange drop .47 cap. This cost me around £25 I sanded the neck with wire wool to remove the stickiness of the gloss finish. This worked really well and it’s now a lovely smooth, playable neck which retains the vintage look. I replaced the tuners with Hipshot Licensed Ultralites. This cost £100 but was worth it for the tuning stability and also went a long way to reducing the neck dive on this bass, which was a bit annoying. These were all great, and I would argue, necessary mods (for me at any rate) to get the bass playing, sounding and feeling as I wanted it. However, I could never get an evenness of volume and thickness of tone over the 4 strings until I changed the strings once more… I read a review of the Medium scale Chromes (ECB81M) on Thomann which described my problem perfectly. It was as if the tone control had zero effect on the sound of the bass, despite the high quality pots & cap replacement I’d made. They said they’d tried these Medium scale Chromes and were so impressed by the evenness of tone across all strings and their new found use for the tone knob that actually now had a dramatic effect on the tone of the bass. I can confirm that I am now 100% happy with how the bass sounds. It’s now my go-to instrument and I absolutely love everything about it. I spent about £675 in total on this project but that’s still cheaper than the new price of a JMJ and I now have the bass exactly as I want it.

[@philipconradmusic]

Sounds like you made some great decisions! I bet it’s a great bass. Thanks for sharing and watching!

[@guilviking7641]

Well I paid the same price as the squier 60s for the PJ before all the inflation/crap that happened. I also have an eastwood classic 4 and a fender rascal that I love so much. Good video sir.

[@sergiogo._]

Dude, I love my JMJ so much. It was expensive for a MIM bass, but it was every penny worth.

[@russellburnham298]

I got a Mustang FSR Player series in Sherwood green earlier this year for similar reasons to you Philip. I had an illness that affected my mobility and the Mustang is so much easier to navigate.

[@randyrumrill7694]

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...

[@spookysocks5914]

3 and 5 were my favorite sounding initially. Groovy playing.

[@EricSauerets]

After the first play through, I like 3 and 5 the best.

[@paolomoretti9291]

JMJ and I sold all my other basses. It may seem hardcore but day after day it became the one I was always using, the one that felt special, the one for me.

[@davidandresbass]

I tried the American Performer and the JMJ over an amp in a band setting and must say that my preference there is the opposite: The harshness you describe sounded great there and gave the bass more transparency in the mix. Having the option to going somewhere completely different soundwise with the additional J-Pickup is also nice.

[@philipconradmusic]

🚨 There is a scammer pretending to be me in the comments. Please report them. The winner will be contacted via email and announced on a livestream next week. I’m sorry for the confusion. 🚨

[@notlaw1976]

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.

[@4STRINGMOFO1967]

Shoulder surgery caught up with me. Long and standard scale basses didn't cut it anymore. I got the pj specifically for those tones. Just added Seymour quarter pounders and badass 2 bridge. The improvement in sustain alone was worth the money.

[@philipconradmusic]

Awesome! Thanks for watching

[@DavyoInVegas]

I love that the Vintera has the contoured back, I’ve never understood why the Mustangs in general all have a flat back, the flat back is not comfortable. Great video, I’m a pro player and use mostly the Sterling Stingray short scale bass’s these days, all set-up as BEAD with stainless steel bright round wounds.

[@_OopsieDaisies]

i bought the bronco a while back with plans on eventually upgrading components but honestly i fell in love with it right out of the box. i've never owned a short scale bass before this but because i have small hands i feel like it was instantly easier than the p's and j's i've owned before. it's pretty great that these days one can spend a relatively small amount on a squier and have a super solid instrument :)

[@tplank216]

I modded a bronco with hipshot bridge and lollipop tuners and a novak musicmaster pickup, cts pots and a .45 nos orange drop. Refinished the body with milk paint and hempseed oil, and Refinished the neck with vintage tinted tru oil. Custom cut musicmaster pickguard in vintage red tortoise. Labella DTFS. This thing drips mojo now

[@philipconradmusic]

Sick! How do you like your pickup?

[@tplank216]

@philipconradmusic It's like a really well-balanced 51 p bass pickup. It works well for a short scale, really good low end weight but punchy with great definition and clarity. Curtis is a wizard ✨️

[@philipconradmusic]

Thanks!

[@tplank216]

@philipconradmusic no problem man, happy hot rodding 🤙

[@GrinningFeline]

I voted for 4, but I could tell it had flats or at least the tone was rolled off. Hilarious that it’s the bass I own (in Daphne). I love the Squier classic vibe, and I would love to hear it with some flats.

[@fyllingenoy131]

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).

[@michael.wiegand]

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.

[@michael.wiegand]

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.

[@BigBlooFrostie]

I really liked 3 and 5. Been looking at a short scale so I'm super thrilled about 3. This really helped!

[@pascalgrenier4171]

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!

[@philipconradmusic]

Sounds like a perfect combo!

[@johnny.musician]

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.

[@rome8180]

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.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

one of the best comparison vids I've ever seen. A++. NOICE!

[@callumfurneaux]

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.

[@violenthell]

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.

[@goregore6259]

Number 2 - American Performer, I like that high end tone. Sure, it's thin and not low but I dig. Number 3 - Squier 60s Classic Vibe sounds good too.

[@johnburnette9504]

I used to have a CIJ Mustang and would love to compare against these. I’d put it next to the Squier and vintera.

[@joycerichardson1810]

It's right up there with the JMJ!

[@innocentoctave]

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.

[@chuggamilk21]

Just bought a used JMJ--My first "big-girl" bass. I flipping love the thing.

[@KikeZ42]

in the blind sound test I liked 3 & 6 very much... Really nice video. Thx