Sudden Scarcity in REAL Mustang Basses?

Jordandrinkwine

Jordandrinkwine

Mar 10, 2016
104
100
4,551
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Massachusetts
#1
Is it just me or is it all of a sudden REALLY hard to get your hands on a moderately-prices original Fender Mustang as of late? Not the new mim models with the PJ configuration, but the real ones with the mini split coil and the fat bridges? I’ve been dying to get my hands on one for a personal project of mine but everywhere I look it’s vintage ones going for $1500+, or the mij/cij models with shipping that costs $130+ from Japan, putting it up in the same price bracket as the vintage ones! Is no one selling the Japanese Mustang basses stateside anymore? I know that Fender Japan stuff has become kinda rare, but have they really become THAT rare to find over here?
 
#2
Jordandrinkwine said:
Is it just me or is it all of a sudden REALLY hard to get your hands on a moderately-prices original Fender Mustang as of late? Not the new mim models with the PJ configuration, but the real ones with the mini split coil and the fat bridges? I’ve been dying to get my hands on one for a personal project of mine but everywhere I look it’s vintage ones going for $1500+, or the mij/cij models with shipping that costs $130+ from Japan, putting it up in the same price bracket as the vintage ones! Is no one selling the Japanese Mustang basses stateside anymore? I know that Fender Japan stuff has become kinda rare, but have they really become THAT rare to find over here?
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Just get yourself a JMJ and rest easy. (I love mine!)
 
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#5
Dr. Cheese said:
Are you surprised that a long discontinued bass that was not a major seller is hard to find? Just keep looking, eventually you should find a beat up Mustang for a good price.
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I’d agree with you, but even the beat up ones are expensive! Those maple-necked Squier ones from a few years ago can go for WELL over $500 on EBay and Reverb! It’s absolutely insane :vomit:
 
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#7
Write Squier and ask them to start making the VM Mustang again.

I did. :thumbsup:


It's kind of funny because no one wanted them when they came out.
Everyone wanted the SS Jag because it had two pickups and was $100 less.
You never miss the water til the well runs dry.
 
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#9
Dr. Cheese said:
Wow, $500 for a beat up Squire is a joke. You might want check the websites or eBay pages of pawnshops in the Midwest and South.
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superdick2112 said:
Plenty of them on Reverb & eBay right now, but most are priced way beyond what I'm willing to pay.
I'm not a fan of the "relic" thing, but I'm thinking the JMJ Mustang might be the way to go.
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My thoughts exactly! There is NO reason why Japanese Mustangs should be going for $1000+. I tried getting a Squier Mikey Way Mustang for the neck and bridge but now those go for over $600! These prices are super inflated :banghead:

I would go with a JMJ, but my plan is to make a Jagstang bass, and to only use this Mustang bass for the bridge and neck (pickguard and pups too if I’m lucky enough to find an authentic Mustang for a good price). What’s ironic is the only Japanese Fender I own is a Jagstang guitar that I found in a dumpster, and on top of the JMJ being out of my price range, I’d feel guilty buying such a fantastic bass only to gut it for parts :(
 
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#10
felis said:
Write Squier and ask them to start making the VM Mustang again.

I did. :thumbsup:


It's kind of funny because no one wanted them when they came out.
Everyone wanted the SS Jag because it had two pickups and was $100 less.
You never miss the water til the well runs dry.
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Maybe I’ll do that actually! I’d love a budget line Mustang bass on the side as WELL as my custom bass. You’re totally right about the SS Jags though, even today those are still prettt popular. I owned one a few years ago, and it was a great bass for the price! Very slim neck and the pups didn’t sound bad at all! The weight was the dealbreaker for me unfortunately, the thing was so light and had SEVERE neck dive, which is why I’m using a big slab of Mahogany for my Jagstang bass
 
#12
Short scale basses are now hip!

Mustangs are hot and expensive.

I thought I could pick up a decent used MIJ Mustang for around $500 to $600...................NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to reverb.com and the damn things are selling for no less than $900 and up towards $1,200.

Saw this one today.

Fender Mustang Bass | Old City Grooves

Says, Make Offer. Perhaps he'll take 10% off and it'll be around $850
 
#14
I bought an amp from a guy in the early 2000's who also had a mustang bass with hard case for sale for $50. I grew up playing in the 60's and Mustangs were considered to be entry level junk. I passed on that bass but I wish now that I had bought it just so I could cash in.

Rick B.
 
#15
mesaplayer83 said:
Guess I scored last summer when I got my CIJ 'stang off my local Craigslist for under $200 with a hardshell case... I did have to take it to my luthier for some fairly major surgery(truss rod replacement) - but am still under $400 total out of pocket, and feel I ended up with a keeper...

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Not sure if I should stand up and applaud or report you to my local authorities. Thats a steal for a quality bass.
 
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#16
27336581_1759600197392284_2165261060521992861_n.jpg


Love my JMJ 'Stang
 
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#17
Brio said:
Not sure if I should stand up and applaud or report you to my local authorities. Thats a steal for a quality bass.
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IKR? - when I bought it, I didn't know if the trussrod worked or not, but figured it was worth more in parts than I was paying for it... Sadly, the trussrod was shot - but I'm fortunate enough to have a highly skilled luthier buddy that often hooks me up... He was able to remove the fretboard, replace the trussrod, reinstall the fretboard, then do a fret level job - charging me $175, which I gladly paid, and included a $25 tip for $200 out of pocket... After a setup, much cleaning, and some minor electronics repair, I was in business... I took it out to my first gig with it, and knew after that I was keeping it - my bandmates at the time loved it, too...
 
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