I recently purchased a used Fender Mustang Bass. While playing it, the variety of tones caress my ears and touch my soul. Yes, I fell in short love. The bass is close to two years old and I’m not sure what strings are on it, originals or replacements. I do realize that sometime in the future, I will need to put some new strings on it. I would appreciate some help in deciding which strings would best suit my needs and desires.
One priority would be to enhance the unique tone of the short scale Mustang Bass.
Another priority would be to further expand my available sonic palette and differentiate it from my other basses.
I have the following:
Fender Jazz Bass with D’Addario NYXL Round Wounds when I desire a brighter tone.
Squier Fretless Jazz Bass with D’Addario XL Chrome Flat Wounds when I desire a warm tone. I also love the smoothness of playing flat wound strings.
Sterling StingRay 4HH with D’Addario XL Half Rounds for a taste of both worlds. Some smoothness with a bit of brightness.
Yes, I do like D’Addario strings, but I am open to other suggestions and possibilities for my Fender Mustang Bass.
@Al1885 has Fender 5250 XLs on one of his many Mustang Basses and I’m impressed with how they sound. However, I’m wondering if I want to stick with another set of rounds.
D’Addario offers three types of strings for short scale basses –
XL Nickel Round Wound
XL Chrome Flat Wound
XL Nylon Tapewound
Would any of these strings best suit my needs and desires?
Are there other strings that might be a better option to bring out the best on a Mustang Bass?
Thank you all ahead of time for any comments and suggestions.
If you want flats for a Mustang Bass first question is what type of bridge do you have? Mustangs come with two types, standard Fender bridge on the PJs, which takes short scale strings, or a Mustang bridge, which is string through and takes medium scale strings.
For the mustang bridge, LaBella makes a special set just for the mustang. 750FL-MUS I think is the part. I have a set for my Pawn Shop Mustang.
Otherwise I would put on LaBella flats, which is what I have on my PJ mustang
Another vote for LaBella flats. and yes, you need to call them because they have 2 different string sets for the Mustang, depends on if it strings thru body or thru bridge.
The standard tension strings will most like match the string gauges of your current strings.
I play only short scale basses and have the 760FS-S set on several of them. They’re great for finger style, but also sound surprisingly good when played with a pick.
I can confirm that the 760FS-S are absolutely excellent. I hate to admit it, but they might be my favourite strings!
I also have only short scale basses, but nothing like @TheMaartian, who has the most exquisite collection of short scales I have ever seen!
I have a mustang pj. Sounds like a very similar set up to yours. I have d’addario xl chrome flats on it. I really like them on this bass. I will say lately I’ve been buying rounds. Bought some Black Beauties that I really like, and also some Elixirs that I just put on a bass yesterday. What little I played it, I’m really liking those too. Here’s mine for reference. Also, if you are looking to change pickups, a GZR set works well. I hated the toggle switch and its now a tone control knob.
Also, I’m thinking I may be the only person in the world who doesn’t care for LaBella flats. They sound fine, maybe a little too woody for me but that’s not why I don’t like to play them. I feel like they are too smooth. I don’t like to have no texture under my fingers.
Our cat Synthia gave it an inspection when I brought it home. She gave me a look that let me know new strings would be in my future.
I also really like the D’Addario XL Chrome flat wounds. (They are probably the only flat wound strings I have tried so far. They were on a couple of Ibanez fretless basses I tried and I have them on my Squier Fretless Jazz Bass.) I’m not sure how they compare to other flat wound strings since I haven’t tried any other kinds yet.
The 5250 is a round wound 105-45 so aside from less tension it feels like your normal bass
It’s given that each string types/ models and brands will sound different.
The flats wound to me usually feels like plastic tube, very clacky otherwise very smooth.
Tape wound, it varies a bit. D’Addario feels really good, my first impression was similar to a firm smooth rubber, definitely one of my favorite feel. Another good one is the La Bella gold tape wound, more firm than D’Addario but great feeling as well. They don’t sound the same.
Here’s the one you’ve heard before with 5250 on the Mustang and D’Addario tapewound. The full size P bass with fender 45 rounds was in there for control.
Here’s D’Addario on both Lignum and Sterling Short Scale and the upright has the D’Addario® ECB81 flats wound.
The next 2 is the comparison between tape wounds
D’Addario
La Bella Tape wound Gold White
I should do more of this type of covers for comparison. It should come in handy,
@Al1885
Thank you. You produce some great sounds when you play bass.
Now besides wanting to try out more strings, I feel like I need to buy more basses.
I’m also inspired to practice more as well.
Some more listening will help me choose the strings that best expand my available sonic palette.
Ha ha thanks, this tone thing is very tricky. Although the string is the cheapest thing on the hardware side the pickups and pickups locations also play big roles on sound too.
Speaking of sonic palette, some basses can surprise you in the mix. Take my MusicMan Sabre bass it’s one of my least favorite bass at first, it has this warm wooly tone except in the Stingray mode and 2nd position (rear pickup and bottom coil neck pickup). But it sounds so good in the mix, it sits right in like a well worn socks. So comfy.
Btw, the American pro ii p bass has La Bella gold copper tape wound, it’s the warmest of the gold series.
