NBD: Fender Vintera 60s Mustang + Mods

[ahadl2500]

Belated NBD… Purchased a Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Bass when they were on closeout for the Vintera II release. My first Fender branded product in 25+ years of playing bass (though as a longtime G&L owner, I have owned several of “The Real Ones” by Leo Fender for a long time).

Now what you are all here for. The bass…

Pictured with my G&L Tribute Fallout bass. Years of owning MFD equipped basses meant that the stock Mustang pickup was a bit underwhelming at best, so I swapped to a Nordstrand NM4 with Novak pickup cover. Briefly tried a mint pickguard and ultimately went back to the stock one. Also went with a set of G&L CLF Research knobs from my parts drawer.

And in its final aesthetic…

For anyone who does not get my “The Real Ones” reference, it refers to G&L marketing material (late 80s early 90s if I remember correctly).

 

[ahadl2500]

Now for the how is it stuff.

Electronics:
Stock pickup was underwhelming at best. Full disclosure, it may have been due to a wiring issue. The tone knob had issues (rolled off most of the volume with the treble) and I did not like how they grounded the jack through the control plate only.

Rather than sort out the factory gremlins, I built my own harness with CTS pots and Switchcraft jack. Shielded the bass while I was in there and topped it off with a Nordstrand NM4V. Nordstrand pickup is fantastic. Very close to a P bass sound in a Mustang package.

Build quality:
Excellent so far other than the electronics issue. Really like the feel of the neck. Finish looks great.

Versus G&L Tribute Fallout Bass:
First off, the Fender costs quite a bit more than the Tribute. Hardware and materials quality show in the price difference. No neck dive on the Mustang Bass. I get a little dive with the Fallout, but nothing crazy. I prefer the feel of the Fender, mostly due to the neck shape (a little deeper C than the Fallout). Some might prefer the Fallout as it feels less like a short scale (due to the body size/bridge placement).

The Fallout sound is classic G&L. Thanks to the coil tap switch and MFD, it is also more versatile than the Mustang bass. That said, the Mustang bass after my mods sounds fantastic; it just covers less sonic ground.

Need to get the Mustang off to my setup guy to have Labella flats installed. Cannot wait to hear how those sound on this bass. Overall quite happy so far.

 

[PNC7]

Cool mods! I am actually super curious if you can describe a little more about how the necks compare, as I also have one of those G&Ls and was thinking of picking up that exact Vintera. I believe they have the same nut width but the Vintera has a 7.25 radius vs the G&L 9.5, which would make the Vintera a bit chunkier. Is it noticeable / do you feel you can play as fast on it? I don't have any 7.25 radius basses to compare myself.

 

[ahadl2500]

Cool mods! I am actually super curious if you can describe a little more about how the necks compare, as I also have one of those G&Ls and was thinking of picking up that exact Vintera. I believe they have the same nut width but the Vintera has a 7.25 radius vs the G&L 9.5, which would make the Vintera a bit chunkier. Is it noticeable / do you feel you can play as fast on it? I don't have any 7.25 radius basses to compare myself.

Vintera definitely feels chunkier, but it is not overly chunky. Side by side, the rear profiles are not drastically different*, but the fretboard radius is visibly different. I slightly prefer the neck feel on the Mustang over the Fallout. I can play comfortably on both, but I am not very picky about neck profile/scale length/string spacing. I can feel the difference, but rarely come across a bass that is uncomfortable to me.

Two other neck differences worth noting...
1. Mustang bass has a gloss finish on the neck. Satin on the Fallout bass. I am happy with either, but slightly prefer gloss. Noting here because some hate gloss.
2. Body shape/neck position on body. The Fallout feels bigger (because it is). First fret is a touch farther out relative to the end of the body on the Fallout. Not a huge reach difference between the two, but there is one even though they are the same scale length. I tend to say the Fallout is a good short scale for people who are worried about trying short scale (because it still feels big). The Mustang feels like a short scale to me.

*I previously thought what I was feeling was a rear neck profile difference. After you pointed out the radius, I eyeballed the necks a little closer and that appears to be what I was feeling. The rear profiles are rather close between the two. Fretboard radius is obviously different.

 

[ahadl2500]

Played this bass more today. While I am looking forward to putting flatwounds on it, part of me wants a second one to run roundwounds on. Currently do that with a US L2500 (flats) and Tribute L2500 (rounds). Wish they did not add a J pickup to the US Mustang Bass. May need to find a JMJ Mustang or Vintera II to try out.

 

[ahadl2500]

Just got the bass back from setup with Labella flats on it. Perfect strings for this bass. I am still shocked how great this thing sounds and feels. Definitely a keeper.

And yes I am still considering a second one with rounds.