Squier Vintage Modifed Mustang Bass SQUIER Vintage Modified Mustang
Fender’s legendary short scale bass gets a revamp in its Squier Vintage Modified range.
Words: D.P. Wilson
Short scale basses have always been a little thin on the ground when compared to their full-scale counterparts. However, whether it’s for a younger player, a player of smaller stature or indeed a bassist that just prefers not having to make such a big stretch, shorter scale basses can make all the difference. Indeed, another factor often overlooked is the fact that shorter scale basses usually have a different tone too with less bottom end and less ‘piano-like’ sustain but featuring a more plummy, plonky sound. The new short scale Vintage Modified Mustang is based on the 1966 Mustang bass, mating a 30- inch scale maple neck to a small and light basswood body. Basswood is sometimes mistakenly considered a bit of a poor relation in the guitar- building world but it usually translates into a resonant and lightweight timber, ideal for bass guitars!
Construction The bridge features through-body stringing and four adjustable saddles mounted onto a comparatively huge bass plate. The split-coil pickup resembles a shrunken Precision
SQUIER Vintage Mustang SRP £347.00
All prices include VAT CONT
ACT
Fender GBI T:
01342 331700 W:
www.squierguitars.com
Bass pickup and in this instance the Mustang pick-up is ‘Duncan Designed’ which promises more than adequate performance. The machine heads seem to be of solid quality and are mounted to a standard Fender 4-a-side headstock. The 19 fret maple neck features Fender’s now standard 9.5-inch radius fingerboard and a nice narrow 1.5 inch nut width. The neck features a very smooth satin finish that, combined with the short scale, makes whizzing around the neck an absolute breeze. Unfortunately, this particular guitar was blighted with a slightly strange feeling square section (about 10 centimetres long) between the ninth and eleventh frets in line with the ‘A’ string. One would imagine this was from when the neck shape was machined and is presumably part of a mechanised manufacturing process but it should have been dealt with before finishing. In practise, whilst it doesn’t really affect playability it does still otherwise mar the general build quality and set-up, notwithstanding that the rest of the fit and finish generally display attention to detail beyond what one would usually expect from a guitar of this price.
Sounds
Plugged in the Mustang displays that classic short-scale ‘boing’ making it great for swinging Rock’n’ Roll bass lines that literally pop out of a busy mix or band setting. Just like its older Precision Bass sibling the Mustang may not sound huge on it’s own but somehow just sounds right when used in context. It’s no use pretending that this diminutive little bass can sound as strong, forceful and strident as a longer scaled bass but by the same token it will still get the job done. The Mustang really
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SHOULD I BUY ONE? To sum up, the Squier Vintage Modified Mustang bass certainly delivers on the job it sets out to do and any of the slight tonal foibles we’ve mentioned already exist to the same degree in an original vintage Fender Mustang so it seems a little unfair to criticise. The poor finishing issue with the neck strikes me as an isolated problem but does show the need to check (especially budget instruments) thoroughly. All in all, though, the Mustang is rather nice and has a sound all of its own, which larger basses cannot emulate. Any younger student of bass guitar would be very happy with the Mustang, indeed when I was learning back in the murky past this bass would have been an absolute god-send, whilst more regular players of a smaller stature will also find many things to like here. Personally, I just enjoyed playing a bass with such a lightning fast neck that sounds completely different sound to my larger full-scale basses
THE GOOD BITS: otherwise great little bass.
excels at vintage tones whether it be old Motown bass lines or even early Beatles or Stones material. It even works when using a plectrum driving rock style through a slightly overdriven valve amp. Playing wise,
with its small size and lower tension strings this little mustang makes for an excellent slap machine, alas not all of this funky stuff translates through the pickup and into the amp! PM
THE NOT SO GOOD BITS: Some minor finishing issues spoiling what is an
Fast, easy playing neck. Price.
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