Fender Mustang Electric Bass

Feature:
Basic passive setup, master tone, master volume. A limited sonic palate, but very difficult to screw up. Good luck finding a hard case that will fit. Fender now offers a reissue case that will fit this and the Musicmaster bass, but it will be a special order from most places and will cost $134 or so. The Mustang bass is also a little bit neck-heavy, but is not unplayable.

Quality:
The craftsmanship appears outstanding so far, but I expect that from CIJ Fenders. I'll reserve a 10 for after I poke around under the pickguard.

Value:
I probably would have preferred a vintage (or even a '70s) Mustang bass, but the $600+ cost of one plus the $200 for fret replacement if needed made this reissue the only logical choice for my budget.

Desirability:
To me, any vintage Fender bass is a million times sexier than any 'modern' battery-powered boutique high-end bass, but I'd value playability and tone a million times greater than looks any day. The Fender Mustang bass definitely looks 'vintage' and is ridiculously easy to play, but until I get a case it will be little more than another toy in my basement.

Sound:
Very punchy tone, with maybe too much high end. The pickups are a split single coil design, so expect hum.

Support:
This bass was a special order (I wanted the white/tortoise look, but my local Fender dealer had only the red/moto version). I was told by my Fender dealer that Fender told them this bass would take 2 months to arrive, but it was really over 3 months. No other experiences so far.

Overall:
If some songs require stretches that hurt your hands and wrists on a full-scale bass, try a short scale bass. I never tried the Epiphone reissue EB series basses or other (reissue) short scale basses, but am not disappointed with my Mustang bass. Supposedly these CIJ reissues for the US market are a limited run, and will end soon(?), so act fast if you want one.

Feature:
The most useful feature is the tone knob. Because there is only the pickups centrally located, there is not enough variation in the sound. Having said that, the sounds that you do get are world class. Not to mention, in some ways it simplifies getting a great sound.

Quality:
Once cleaned up and neck oiled etc., This bass is georgeous.

Value:
Compared to what other fender basses go for, it's awesome. Never hurts to shop around a bit for the lowest price.

Desirability:
It's not the sexiest bass I've ever seen, but it makes up for it on other ways.

Sound:
The only reason why it doesn't get a ten is because there is no variation of pickup location. However you can get some great tonal changes.

Support:
World class product, world class people

Overall:
It took me over twenty years to find the perfect bass guitar for me. You have to have great equipment to make this sing.