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Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
VS
Playability
68
Sound
81
Build
77
Value
65
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
70
Sound
81
Build
69
Value
78
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
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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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass vs Player Mustang Bass PJ Specs Comparison
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Player Mustang Bass PJ
General
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: SS SS
Strings: 4 4
Made in: United States Mexico
Series: Precision Bass Player Mustang
Colors: Black, Blue Gold, Sunburst, Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Alder Alder
Bridge: 4-Saddle American Vintage Bass with Single-Groove Steel "Barrel" Saddles 4-Saddle Standard
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear Fender Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Ebony Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot
Scale Size: 34" 30"
Shape: Bass Modern C Bass C Shape
Frets: 0 Fretless Nickel Silver 19 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 38.1mm (1.5'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender DiMarzio Model J DP123 (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Tony Franklin American Split Single-Coil Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup:
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass and Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass and Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass over Player Mustang Bass PJ

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
0 vs 19
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.5'' (38.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Scale Length
34'' (863.6mm) vs 30'' (762mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ over Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Number of Frets
19 vs 0
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.5'' (38.1mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
30'' (762mm) vs 34'' (863.6mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Avg. Weight
7.719lbs (3.5kgs) vs 9.0315lbs (4.1kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
78 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass vs Player Mustang Bass PJ

Bridge Pickup
Fender DiMarzio Model J DP123 vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Jazz Bass
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Tony Franklin American Split Single-Coil Precision Bass vs Fender Vintage-Style Split Single-Coil Precision Bass
Different Middle Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass vs Player Mustang Bass PJ

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
4
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
4
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
SS
Beautiful cleans
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
Fretless vs 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
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass favors large hands more than the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ.

    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ:
    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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass meets only 3. 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
    • Comfortable shape
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Comfortable neck
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    New Player Friendliness

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

    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
    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.

    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.

    Woods Used in the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass

    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony

    Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

    Woods Used in the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ

    Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
    Pau Ferro

    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.

    Winner: Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass.

    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

    Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

    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: Tie.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 65
    Versatility 80
    Tuning Stability 80
    Sound 81
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 65
    Versatility 80
    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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass compares to the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass is built in United States while the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ is made in Mexico.

    The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

    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: Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass

    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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's are Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear while the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's are Fender Vintage-Style

    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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • 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 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

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 70
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 77
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 70
    Quality Control 70
    Build Quality 69

    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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Nut Width
    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Nut Width
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Nut Width
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass has the wider nut with 41.3mm (1.625'') vs 38.1mm (1.5''). This is a 3.2mm (0.125'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass, 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's Scale Length
    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's Scale Length
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's Scale Length
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ'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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Neck Profile
    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's neck profile
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Neck Profile
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ'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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass and the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass and the Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ 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 Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass Frets Size
    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's Frets Size
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ Frets Size
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ's Frets Size

    The Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass's Fretless frets.

    Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision Bass
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
    Chord Playability 70
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 68
    Fender Player Mustang Bass PJ
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 70
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 70