Fender Mustang PJ Bass

^# 8

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$655.00 to $699.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (42)

1 Critic Review

7 Reviews

Find out who is using Fender Mustang PJ

11 community setups

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9 Best Bass Guitars: A Guide to Top Basses 2026

34 wishlisted

117 saved

Page last updated Jul 07, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 5, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

5.0 (67)

$699.00 5 available Used

View Deal

4.6 (21)

$655.00

View Deal

Average Price: $677

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Electric Basses category, Fender Mustang PJ Bass is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Fender Mustang PJ Bass". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 23, 2026.

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Description

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The Fender Mustang PJ Bass is a versatile and compact powerhouse designed to deliver classic tones with a modern edge. Crafted with an alder body, this bass is both lightweight and resonant, making it a perfect choice for players who crave comfort and rich sound. Its unique combination of a Vintage-Style Jazz Bass Single Coil at the bridge and a Split P Bass Single Coil at the neck provides a spectrum of tonal possibilities, from deep, punchy lows to bright, articulate highs.

The bolt-on maple neck with a Pau Ferro fretboard offers a smooth playing experience, enhanced by a comfortable C-shaped neck profile and a shorter 30" scale. This design ensures less tension on the strings, ideal for players with smaller hands or those who prefer a more relaxed fretting hand position. With 19 medium jumbo frets and white dot inlays, navigating the fretboard is intuitive and seamless.

Aesthetically, the Mustang PJ Bass is a nod to vintage style, featuring a 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard and aged natural finish that exudes timeless charm. Its nickel/chrome hardware, including Fender vintage-style machine heads, ensures reliable tuning stability and durability.

Whether you're laying down the groove in the studio or rocking the stage, the Fender Mustang PJ Bass offers a blend of classic vibe and modern versatility that appeals to both newcomers and seasoned players alike.

Key Features:

Body: Alder
Bolt-on neck: Maple
Fretboard: Pau Ferro with white dot inlays
Neck profile: C
19 Medium jumbo frets
Short scale: 30"
Fretboard radius: 9.49"
Nut width: 1.5" with synthetic bone nut
Pickups: Vintage-Style Jazz Bass Single Coil (bridge) and Vintage-Style Split P Bass Single Coil (neck)
Controls: Master volume, master tone, and 3-way switch
4-Saddle standard bridge
4-Ply tortoiseshell pickguard
Fender vintage style machine heads
Nickel/chrome hardware
Color: Aged Natural

Product specs

Shape	C
Wood	Maple
Neck joint	Bolt-on
Scale length	30 in.
Truss rod	Standard
Active or passive pickups	Passive
Pickup configuration	SS
Middle	Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
Bridge	Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass
Brand	Fender
Series or parallel	Parallel
Active preamp	No
Material	Pau ferro
Radius	9.5 in.
Fret size	Medium jumbo
Number of frets	19
Inlays	Dot
Nut material	Synthetic bone
Nut width	1.5" (38.1 mm)
Cutaway	Double cutaway
Construction	Solidbody
Body wood	Alder
Body finish	Gloss
Orientation	Right handed
Control layout	Master volume, master tone
Pickup switch	Yes
Bridge type	Fixed
Bridge design	4-Saddle standard
Tuning machines	Die-cast
Number of strings	4
Pickguard	Yes
Case	Sold separately
Country of origin	Mexico

FAQs

What is the scale length of the Fender Mustang PJ Bass, and how does it affect playability?: The Fender Mustang PJ Bass has a 30-inch scale length, which is shorter than a standard bass. This makes it easier to play for musicians with smaller hands and provides a slightly warmer tone.
What type of pickups are used in the Fender Mustang PJ Bass?: The Fender Mustang PJ Bass features a Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass pickup in the middle position and a Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass pickup at the bridge, offering a versatile range of tones.
Is the Fender Mustang PJ Bass suitable for beginners?: Yes, the Fender Mustang PJ Bass is suitable for beginners due to its short scale length and comfortable C-shaped neck, making it easier to handle and play.
What kind of music genres is the Fender Mustang PJ Bass best suited for?: The Fender Mustang PJ Bass is versatile and well-suited for various genres, including rock, punk, and indie, thanks to its PJ pickup configuration that offers a range of tonal options.
Does the Fender Mustang PJ Bass come with a case?: No, the Fender Mustang PJ Bass does not come with a case; it is sold separately.

Videos

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Reviews

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PROS

Lightweight design ideal for long playing sessions
Short scale enhances playability for smaller hands
Versatile tone with PJ pickup configuration
Impeccable build quality comparable to higher-end models
Excellent setup right out of the box
Attractive sunburst finish and overall aesthetics
Great for players transitioning from guitar to bass
Balanced tone when both pickups are used together
Ideal primary bass for recording and gigging
Offers a classic Fender sound with added flexibility

CONS

Factory strings often need immediate replacement
J pickup is notably quieter and lacks low-end power
Switch issues reported after limited use
Some initial setup and intonation problems
Short scale may result in unwanted overtones with certain strings

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Mustang PJ Bass.

Comparisons

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Mustang basses are described as having a darker sound with more fundamental emphasis compared to P basses, which have more prominent overtones and punch.
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Some owners prefer Mustangs with traditional Mustang pickups over the PJ combo, citing a preference for the classic Mustang vibe.
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The Mustang's neck is likened to a Jazz bass neck, offering a faster and lighter feel, distinct from traditional P-bass necks.
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User experience

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Transitioning between short scale Mustangs and longer scale basses like Stingrays may require a brief readjustment period for some players.
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Multiple users note discomfort with the Mustang's slab body lacking an arm contour, prompting some to prefer models like the Jaguar bass.
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The Mustang's neck is described as fast, narrow, and inspiring a different playing style compared to longer scales.
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Use cases and applications

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It's noted that short scale basses, while more mellow and fat in tone, can still serve genres like jazz, blues, and bossa, although long scale basses might offer more articulation.
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The Mustang bass is identified as fitting well with funk and soul music, often sitting better in the mix than a P bass.
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Owners find the Mustang ideal for jamming and improvisation, with its lightweight and versatile tone inspiring spontaneous creativity.
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Features and functionality

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Short scale basses like the Mustang are noted for producing a boomier fundamental tone with less rigid strings, appealing to players with smaller hands.
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The passive P/J configuration allows blending iconic P-bass and Jazz bass sounds, maintaining signal strength even when volume or tone controls are adjusted.
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The Mustang's neck is set deeper into the body than P or J basses, which limits higher fret access, particularly beyond the 16th or 17th fret.
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Build quality

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Some players report neck-dive issues, prompting sales in favor of other models like the Vintera P.
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Issues reported include poor electronics such as a weak J pickup and unreliable three-way switch, as well as rough fit and finish.
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Other

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The Mustang's tighter string spacing can lead to a learning curve for players accustomed to standard scale basses.
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Mods and upgrades

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Some owners recommend upgrading with Aguilar pickups to enhance tone, sharing positive experiences with improved sound quality.
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Hipshot tuners and bridges are popular for balancing and improving the Mustang's intonation and sustain.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners report that Mustang basses often require medium scale strings for through-body bridges, limiting string options compared to short scale.
Source
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La Bella flats can increase tension to match a 34" scale, reducing string floppiness common in short scales.
Source

Critic Reviews

Fender Mustang Bass PJ Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Fender Mustang PJ Bass combines vintage charm with modern versatility, making it a standout choice for both seasoned players and beginners. It retains the iconic style and comfort of the original Mustang but adds a P/J pickup configuration, offering a diverse tonal palette for various styles. The build quality is solid, and the bass promises rich, dynamic tones suitable for studio and stage. However, purists might miss the traditional Mustang elements, and the 30" scale might take some adjusting for standard-scale players. Overall, it's a well-priced, versatile instrument that appeals to a wide audience.

positive

Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 42 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

el_monje

569

over 1 year ago

Beautiful bass

I always want a lightweight shortscale bass, i tried and was instant love, easy to use, beatiful tone, it's not a pain in your back, very well made, just a little noisier the pickups, but everything else is worth, i love the sunburst color, the great variety of tones he can give you, the switch is very useful, is just amazing and very dinamic just sit down and learn how to use it.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Composer

Genres:

Rock Indie rock Progressive rock

roc_local

141

over 1 year ago

Pretty solid instrument

Paired with flatwound strings it delivers great sounds. It also does the jazz bass treble-y sound from the bridge pickup

Preferred Settings + Usage:

flatwounds

Roles:

Music Producer

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Indie rock

scowellmusic

about 3 years ago

Great guitar with some problems

Great little bass, VERY playable and light, but quite a few problems with setup out the box. Intonation all over the place and strings way too light and twangy. J pickup is also WAY too quiet and lacks a lot of the low end from the P pick up, to the point where I never use just that one pickup. Tone is what you'd expect from a short scale, very thumpy, but can sound FAIRLY close to a J or P bass if you know what you're doing - although definitely can be easy to make it sound thumpy and ugly if you don't. Good bass for what it's going for, and I can't stress this enough, brilliantly playable and wonderfully lightweight, but a bit of a pain in some ways, and hard to get a good tone at times.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Folk, World, & Country

ramen

189

about 7 years ago

Great all-rounder

My primary bass for recording and gigging. Strung with Rotosound flat-wound strings in order to give it a more balanced, less twangy tone (due to the short scale neck I found that round-wound strings would ring out much more than normal with several unwanted overtones). Aside from when I'm playing around at home I almost always have the pickup selector switched to only the neck pickup (the precision bass one), this is due to the output on the bridge (jazz) pickup being much weaker than the neck. Aside from this slight issue, which I'm sure I could fix if I cared enough, I couldn't commend this bass enough for it's tone and it's rigidity.

cloudtapes

225

almost 9 years ago

Solid instrument.

As much as I love my P-Bass, I wanted something a little different, a little lighter. Enter the PJ mustang.

I get those familiar P-Bass tones with a little extra oomph thanks to the 3-way selector and J pickup. On its own, the J can be pretty thin-sounding, but put the two pickups together and it's the sweet spot.

The short scale takes a little while to get used to. I had a Mikey Way Squier Mustang I liked, but I ended up selling it. I regret that one a bit. It was a nice bass. This is the redemption for that. We tend to down-tune to Eb, so I end up with a little extra slack on the strings than I would like, but this bass is light as a feather, and I appreciate that immensely.

EDIT: I could never quite get the tone I was after with these pickups. An upgrade might've solved it, but since we tend to down-tune, I ended up selling it since it wasn't seeing much use.

Roles:

Bassist

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Indie rock

skylinerr

5339

about 7 years ago

.

nice short scale bass the pj pickups sounds better than an original mustang pup and the bridge is easier to replace with a HI-Mass have rotos swing bass 50-110 on this because of the scale

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Metal

socalhoun

141

almost 7 years ago

nice short scale bass

To be honest I didn't even know what a shortscale bass was until I saw one up at guitar center. I liked the shape and tried it out and fell in love. I got one and put my seymour duncan quarter pounders on it. I love it.