Mustang and Bronco basses-- only right handed-- what's up with that?

alaskaleftybass

alaskaleftybass

Will Hanbury, Jr.
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Mar 21, 2012
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Sitka, Alaska
#1
I've been a fan of Mustang basses for decades. I was in the Army in the 70's and bought one from the Army PX for $129. I played a couple USO tours then sold the bass when I transferred back to the States from Germany. I have missed that bass since.

I have a simple wish. I would like to have a Mustang shaped bass with a Mustang pickup in sunburst. In left handed. I've been looking for years and have never seen a lefty Mustang. Fender does a few basses lefty. Anyone know why no lefty Mustang? I know there will be answers about "no demand" but I'm betting if Fender did build it they would come.

The only other option I think would be to have a luthier build me a reasonable resemblance from tracing a real Mustang/Bronco body. Any thoughts, TB'ers? I already know about the Ibanez Mikro and it was small but heavy for what it was. It also didn't have a great tone to my ears.
 
#2
Here here, Alaska!

Long time no see, how've ya been? As a fellow lefty, I can count up all of the great bass guitars I would've loved to have had the option to purchase, and the Mustang was definitely one of them. I've often wondered why Fender wouldn't allow me to buy one of their short-scaled basses and you're one of the first I've seen to actually ask the question. My assumption is that the number would be too low for a full-run production to take place, but I'd like to know how they know that; no one has ever asked as far as I know. It looks like it'd be a really nice bass to own too.

As you may remember, I rock a Rogue hollow-body bass as well as my Fender Jazz. Though it's far from perfect, I dig the smaller scale for my lazy right hand and the sparse weight is a big plus as I literally age by the day. The Mikro never interested me so I may have to continue looking for something else to try or look at buying a Hofner so I can say I have one thing in common with Sir Paul. Hopefully, we'll get a few more comments so then Fender will be forced to look into this tragedy.
 
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#3
iagtrplyr said:
Here here, Alaska!

Long time no see, how've ya been? As a fellow lefty, I can count up all of the great bass guitars I would've loved to have had the option to purchase, and the Mustang was definitely one of them. I've often wondered why Fender wouldn't allow me to buy one of their short-scaled basses and you're one of the first I've seen to actually ask the question. My assumption is that the number would be too low for a full-run production to take place, but I'd like to know how they know that; no one has ever asked as far as I know. It looks like it'd be a really nice bass to own too.

As you may remember, I rock a Rogue hollow-body bass as well as my Fender Jazz. Though it's far from perfect, I dig the smaller scale for my lazy right hand and the sparse weight is a big plus as I literally age by the day. The Mikro never interested me so I may have to continue looking for something else to try or look at buying a Hofner so I can say I have one thing in common with Sir Paul. Hopefully, we'll get a few more comments so then Fender will be forced to look into this tragedy.
Click to expand...
Hey @iagtrplyr ! Good to see you again! I'm doing well, I recently bought a Sterling by Music Man lefty satin sunburs bass and it's absolutely gorgeous and has a monster sound. It's a little heaver than my aerodynamic Ibanez basses.

Another thing I find odd is that all the websites that offer unfinished kit bass bodies, no one especially Warmoth doesn't offer a Mustang bass body. As a matter of fact Warmoth ONLY offers the Mustang body in right handed and no bass version.
 
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#4
As with most businesses, products and services offered are based on supply and demand. It's likely that Fender would consider putting this bass into production if they believe that there is a large enough target market to buy the bass at a profitable price. Until that day comes....:sour:
 
#7
mongo2 said:
Since you're thinking of having one custom made by a luthier, Fender has a custom shop.
Click to expand...

Dano Longhorn (2).JPG Yeah, well... I really hope you have better luck with them than I did. When Fender released the Rascal Bass, I wanted one... Bad. No lefties - of course - so I took a trip to the nearest Custom Shop dealer (like you're supposed to), to see about ordering one. He was... well, let's just say, not real enthusiastic about the whole thing. What he really wanted to do, was sell me a CS relic'd Strat/Jazz Bass/P-Bass - which he had a boat load of. What he didn't have, was a CS anything that was left handed. Which struck me as - not a good sign. Anyhow... what I wanted was a 2 pick up lefty Rascal with simplified controls. Same blue color; same pick guard; just a little simpler and more playable than the "see what I can do" original. He said (pretty reluctantly) that he'd get in touch with the Custom Shop, and let me know.
I never heard from him again.
So, I called the Custom Shop directly. Which pissed them off, and... things went down hill from there. The guy hemmed and hawed for awhile, and it became pretty obvious that the last thing they wanted to do was make a lefty for somebody who hadn't had their picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone. I finally asked him point blank if they really were a custom shop, and to stop screwing around, and answer the question - regardless of how long it would take; regardless of it winding up as a $10K Master Built bass (yes, I had the money); would they build me a lefty Rascal Bass - or not? The snarky answer was - oh, Hell No. So I told him where he could stick his custom shop - and to do it sideways. Then, I spent the money on a really nice AR-15/scope, and this little Dano Longhorn. And, I lived happily ever after...:whistle:
 
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#8
GIBrat51 said:
View attachment 3715694 Yeah, well... I really hope you have better luck with them than I did. When Fender released the Rascal Bass, I wanted one... Bad. No lefties - of course - so I took a trip to the nearest Custom Shop dealer (like you're supposed to), to see about ordering one. He was... well, let's just say, not real enthusiastic about the whole thing. What he really wanted to do, was sell me a CS relic'd Strat/Jazz Bass/P-Bass - which he had a boat load of. What he didn't have, was a CS anything that was left handed. Which struck me as - not a good sign. Anyhow... what I wanted was a 2 pick up lefty Rascal with simplified controls. Same blue color; same pick guard; just a little simpler and more playable than the "see what I can do" original. He said (pretty reluctantly) that he'd get in touch with the Custom Shop, and let me know.
I never heard from him again.
So, I called the Custom Shop directly. Which pissed them off, and... things went down hill from there. The guy hemmed and hawed for awhile, and it became pretty obvious that the last thing they wanted to do was make a lefty for somebody who hadn't had their picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone. I finally asked him point blank if they really were a custom shop, and to stop screwing around, and answer the question - regardless of how long it would take; regardless of it winding up as a $10K Master Built bass (yes, I had the money); would they build me a lefty Rascal Bass - or not? The snarky answer was - oh, Hell No. So I told him where he could stick his custom shop - and to do it sideways. Then, I spent the money on a really nice AR-15/scope, and this little Dano Longhorn. And, I lived happily ever after...:whistle:
Click to expand...
Well put! Fender better watch out..... AliExpress does take custom orders..... :cool:
 
#9
It’s because left-handed people have little hands and little eyes
And they walk around tellin' great big lies.
They got little noses and tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes on their nasty little feet.

No wait.....That's short people.
Never mind!!!

057912
 
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#10
ejaggers said:
It’s because left-handed people have little hands and little eyes
And they walk around tellin' great big lies.
They got little noses and tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes on their nasty little feet.

No wait.....That's short people.
Never mind!!!

057912
Click to expand...
And because nobody will build us a bass
Our wallets are crammed with cash
So bass makers can kiss our... ;)
 
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#11
GIBrat51 said:
View attachment 3715694 Yeah, well... I really hope you have better luck with them than I did. When Fender released the Rascal Bass, I wanted one... Bad. No lefties - of course - so I took a trip to the nearest Custom Shop dealer (like you're supposed to), to see about ordering one. He was... well, let's just say, not real enthusiastic about the whole thing. What he really wanted to do, was sell me a CS relic'd Strat/Jazz Bass/P-Bass - which he had a boat load of. What he didn't have, was a CS anything that was left handed. Which struck me as - not a good sign. Anyhow... what I wanted was a 2 pick up lefty Rascal with simplified controls. Same blue color; same pick guard; just a little simpler and more playable than the "see what I can do" original. He said (pretty reluctantly) that he'd get in touch with the Custom Shop, and let me know.
I never heard from him again.
So, I called the Custom Shop directly. Which pissed them off, and... things went down hill from there. The guy hemmed and hawed for awhile, and it became pretty obvious that the last thing they wanted to do was make a lefty for somebody who hadn't had their picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone. I finally asked him point blank if they really were a custom shop, and to stop screwing around, and answer the question - regardless of how long it would take; regardless of it winding up as a $10K Master Built bass (yes, I had the money); would they build me a lefty Rascal Bass - or not? The snarky answer was - oh, Hell No. So I told him where he could stick his custom shop - and to do it sideways. Then, I spent the money on a really nice AR-15/scope, and this little Dano Longhorn. And, I lived happily ever after...:whistle:
Click to expand...

Wow!
 
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