Fender Justin Meldal-Johnsen Signature Mustang Bass

Justin Meldal-Johnsen may be most famous for his tasty bass work with Beck, Air, and NIN, but he's also an absolutely ace producer and arranger. His own straightest path to killer bass sounds has been his '66 Daphne Blue Fender Mustang Bass, which is the model for his signature rig. Before Justin himself snatched it away from our grubby, clinging hands, we were knocked out by how smooth and dazzlingly fast this short scale thumper feels. The custom split-coil pickups are a touch hotter and punchier than standard Mustang units and it has a flatter 9.5" radius than vintage units. With the set of flat wounds Fender put on for the show, it felt fantastic—as Justin's face surely reveals. Look for it in October at $999.