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Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
Fender Player Jazz Bass V
VS
Playability
70
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
78
Score
73
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Playability
68
Sound
81
Build
65
Value
76
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ was discontinued. It was replaced by the Player II Mustang Bass PJ. Check out our comparison.
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Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ vs Player Jazz Bass V Specs Comparison
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Player Jazz Bass V
General
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: SS SS
Strings: 4 5
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Player Mustang Player
Colors: Gold, Sunburst, Natural White, Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 4-Saddle Standard 5-Saddle Vintage-Style
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Fender Vintage-Style Standard Open-Gear
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 30" 34"
Shape: Bass C Shape Bass Modern C
Frets: 19 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 38.1mm (1.5'') 47.6mm (1.875'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup:
Switch: 3 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ over Player Jazz Bass V

Strings
4 vs 5
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Nut Width
1.5'' (38.1mm) vs 1.875'' (47.6mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
30'' (762mm) vs 34'' (863.6mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Avg. Weight
7.719lbs (3.5kgs) vs 10.094lbs (4.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
78 vs 76
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Jazz Bass V over Player Mustang Bass PJ

Strings
5 vs 4
Allows you to play lower notes
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Number of Frets
20 vs 19
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.875'' (47.6mm) vs 1.5'' (38.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
34'' (863.6mm) vs 30'' (762mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ vs Player Jazz Bass V

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Single-Coil Jazz Bass
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Single-Coil Jazz Bass
Different Middle Pickup
Headstock
4 vs 4-1
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ vs Player Jazz Bass V

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro
Same Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
SS
Beautiful cleans
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Fender Player Jazz Bass V Prices

      SET PRICE ALERT

      These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

      Hand Size Comfortability

      And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Player Jazz Bass V favors large hands more than the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ.

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ meets 5 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Player Jazz Bass V meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

      New Player Friendliness

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
      • Comfortable shape
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Tall frets
      • Short scale
      • Comfortable neck
      • Narrow nut

      New Player Friendliness

      Fender Player Jazz Bass V
      • Comfortable shape
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Tall frets
      • Comfortable neck
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale

      Sound Quality Comparison

      The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

      Woods Used in Both

      Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
      Maple
      Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
      Pau Ferro
      Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
      Alder

      Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

      Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

      Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

      Winner: Tie.

      Pickup Configuration

      Both pickup configurations are SS. SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

      Pickups Quality

      Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

      Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

      Preamp Circuit

      A preamp in an electric bass functions as an electronic circuit that acts as an interface between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its main purpose is to amplify and customize the bass's initial signal before it reaches the amplifier, offering enhanced control over factors like tone, volume, and sound attributes. Preamps typically come equipped with tone adjustments, equalization options, and sometimes built-in effects, empowering bass players to fine-tune their sound to suit their personal preferences and the musical environment.

      Both basses have a Passive preamp.

      Passive: A bass with a passive preamp lacks an onboard electronic circuit for tone shaping and signal boosting. Instead, it relies solely on passive pickups and basic tone controls, typically consisting of volume and tone knobs. Passive preamps don't require an external power source like batteries, making them low-maintenance and dependable. While they offer a simpler and more straightforward tonal character, passive basses are appreciated for their warm and vintage sound, often favored in genres like classic rock, blues, and funk. They are an excellent choice for musicians who value the simplicity and timeless appeal of their instrument's tone without the need for active electronic components.

      Winner: Tie.

      Versatility Comparison

      Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

      Switch Options

      The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ gives you 3 switch options while the Fender Player Jazz Bass V gives you 0. This means that the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

      Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

      When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

      Winner: Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ.

      Final Sound Quality Scores

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
      Pickups 100
      Sustain 65
      Versatility 80
      Tuning Stability 80
      Sound 81
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V
      Pickups 100
      Sustain 65
      Versatility 77
      Tuning Stability 80
      Sound 81

      Build Quality Comparison

      When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ compares to the Fender Player Jazz Bass V.

      Country of Origin

      The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

      Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

      Winner: Tie

      Nut Material

      If you want your bass to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

      In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

      Fret Material

      Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

      Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

      Winner: Tie.

      Tuners

      Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's are Fender Vintage-Style while the Fender Player Jazz Bass V's are Standard Open-Gear

      Winner: Tie.

      Neck Joint

      Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a bass is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

      Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

      Winner: Tie.

      Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
      • Synthetic Bone Nut
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in Mexico
      • No Expensive Woods
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Weight Relief
      • No Luminescent Inlay
      • No Active Preamp
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Retainer Bar
      • No Strap Lock
      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V
      • Synthetic Bone Nut
      • Top Brand Pickups
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • Made in Mexico
      • No Expensive Woods
      • No Neck-Through Build
      • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
      • No Weight Relief
      • No Luminescent Inlay
      • No Active Preamp
      • No Compound Radius Fretboard
      • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
      • No Retainer Bar
      • No Strap Lock

      Final Build Quality Scores

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
      Quality of materials 66
      Features 70
      Quality Control 70
      Build Quality 69
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V
      Quality of materials 56
      Features 70
      Quality Control 70
      Build Quality 65

      Playability Comparison

      Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a bass might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

      Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a bass feels in your hands.

      Nut Width

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Nut Width
      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Nut Width
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V Nut Width
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V Nut Width

      The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Player Jazz Bass V has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 38.1mm (1.5''). This is a 9.5mm (0.375'') difference

      This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Player Jazz Bass V, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

      Scale Length

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's Scale Length
      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's Scale Length
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V's Scale Length
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V's Scale Length

      The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

      The Fender Player Jazz Bass V has the longest scale: 34". The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ is only 30" long. This is a 4'' (101.6mm) scale length difference.

      This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

      This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

      Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the bass sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

      Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

      Neck Profile

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Neck Profile
      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's neck profile
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V Neck Profile
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V's neck profile

      No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

      Both the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ and the Fender Player Jazz Bass V have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

      Fretboard Radius

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Fingerboard Radius
      Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

      Most bass fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

      Both the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ and the Fender Player Jazz Bass V have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

      Fret Size

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ and Fender Player Jazz Bass V Frets Size
      Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

      Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

      Final Playability Scores

      Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
      Chord Playability 70
      Solo Playability 60
      Playability 70
      Fender Player Jazz Bass V
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
      Chord Playability 80
      Solo Playability 60
      Playability 68