The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Fender Basses => Topic started by: godofthunder on May 24, 2009, 05:57:55 AM

Title: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on May 24, 2009, 05:57:55 AM
 I have wanted one of these for years, I guess ilan's post got me going. I thought this was a good deal $550 shipped. This is my B-day present to myself. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/mm2.jpg)
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Dave W on May 24, 2009, 08:27:22 AM
Looks nice and original.

How many birthdays do you allow yourself every year?  ;D
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on May 24, 2009, 08:33:10 AM
As many as I can fit in  ;D Honestly I'm just trying to catch up with Uwe.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on May 24, 2009, 09:47:49 AM
Cool! Congrats! Looks like a '77, am I right?
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on May 24, 2009, 10:07:27 AM
Yep it's a '77
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Pilgrim on May 24, 2009, 10:15:07 AM
That does absolutely NOTHING to limit my GAS.  Looks GREAT!!
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on May 24, 2009, 03:16:14 PM
Great looking bass and a good deal.

I love the way Musicmasters sound especially high up the neck, where the higher notes still sound thick and warm. And the way they cut through the mix so easily.

The first time I used a Musicmaster on stage was 15 years ago when I brought it along with my '75 P to a gig as a backup. I didn't even plug it in for sound check. But halfway through the gig I thought I should try it for one song. I was blown away. The P remained in the stand.

Happy birthday!  :toast:
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Highlander on May 24, 2009, 04:27:22 PM
Not my cup of tea, but congrats anyway... I may be tempted by a Jazz, one day...

Tell me Scott, how many other variants on a bass are on your want's list...?  I promise you, our respective "other-halves" can count, you know...  ;) At least you can build them...  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Saf on May 25, 2009, 02:23:31 AM
musicmaster basses are the way to got. I've got three lefty's myself ('73. '74 and '77) and they're my fav's among my whole collection. My '73 straight into my bassman gives me instand the bass tone I need and want to hear. I have a weak for shorts scaled bassen and the musicmaster has the finest neckprofile I know off.

Personaly I love the pre'76 the most. Love the smaller tuners, without the ring on the front of the headstock and the white pickguard instead of the black one.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on May 25, 2009, 09:51:09 AM
Not my cup of tea, but congrats anyway... I may be tempted by a Jazz, one day...

Tell me Scott, how many other variants on a bass are on your want's list...?  I promise you, our respective "other-halves" can count, you know...  ;) At least you can build them...  :mrgreen:
Oh I don't know Ken I just love basses , can't help myself my only vice really. I'm always looking for the odd Gibson or bass no one else seems to want. I have to take inventory I'm not sure what the count is at the moment.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 02, 2009, 01:07:38 PM
 Just arrived yesterday I took it to rehearsal last night, my god what a little beast ! sound and plays fantastic ! I'll talk more about it later.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on June 02, 2009, 06:30:24 PM
That is so great!
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Pilgrim on June 02, 2009, 09:01:34 PM
Nice to see some appreciation of this bass.  I don't think short scale basses get enough respect!
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Dave W on June 02, 2009, 10:23:46 PM
Waiting for your review, Scott.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: nofi on June 03, 2009, 05:48:14 AM
i think short scales get plenty of respect from the small number of people that play them. fact is most folks prefer a longer scale. even a 32 inch can make quite a difference. i find short scales difficult to play with my ape arms, but i still respect them. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 03, 2009, 02:42:49 PM
 I have never had much trouble switching back and forth form short to long scale, lucky I guess. I was stunned at how well, this bass sat in the mix(as ilan states), near perfect at our rehearsal studio and the play back proved it. I did have to drive my Ampeg B-25 a little harder but this thing was punchy not thumpy. And what I loved about it is that the notes on the upper register do jump out, reminded me of a 60's EB3 in that respect. The neck is perfect no S curve, I have the action set nice and low. The frets are dressed nicely, hard to tell if the were dressed after the factory but if I had to bet I would say it is a factory job. The dot inlays look to be MOP or a MOP type plastic whatever they are they look stunning in the rosewood fret board. A few nicks and dings on the body but it is really clean and nice original condition, the case looks really good to ! All in all a really playable piece of vintage gear! Another cool thing is this is alot like the bass Dee Dee used on the first Ramones Records and shows.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Saf on June 05, 2009, 03:18:24 PM
Seen some cool pic of DeeDee wearing the Musicmaster bas packet in a schopping bag! Love MM basses til ldeath. Of all my basses I alway return to my main musicmaster bass.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 05, 2009, 06:14:00 PM
i know that pic.it's the one where they're on the subway.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 05, 2009, 07:27:46 PM
yep thats the one !
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on June 06, 2009, 12:24:39 AM
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uB-0D-gV8mY/Ru-5axA3aiI/AAAAAAAAD_E/NLRI7feX5W8/s400/MR850~The-Ramones-CBGB-s-Posters.jpg)
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Dave W on June 06, 2009, 08:57:22 AM
Still hard for me to believe that three of them are gone now.  :sad:
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Highlander on June 06, 2009, 09:09:38 AM
Warren Zevon kinda summed it all up with "Life'll Kill Ya"...
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 06, 2009, 04:35:55 PM
Did him  :sad:
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Saf on June 07, 2009, 04:44:43 AM
Still hard for me to believe that three of them are gone now.  :sad:

only the good die young
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 07, 2009, 04:56:01 AM
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x120/yrofrat/rNr003.jpg)
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Chris P. on June 07, 2009, 05:47:12 AM
Great pic!!! That inspires me to make something. I'll come back to that soon!
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 07, 2009, 06:15:12 AM
 When we moved last July I tossed my red cons of 25+ years  :sad:  I bought two pair back then, the others are NOS condition. My Shott Bros  Leather is at least as old, no zippers left and no lining and smells a bit. I'll post a pic later today.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Highlander on June 07, 2009, 10:45:16 AM
No leathers here (sad ole veggie) ... had an old horse leather (sorry if that offends, but that what it is guys) jacket that was over 50 years old, back in the 70s, no arms left, real old styling... liked it a lot...

Bryan, that P looks too neat...  ;)

My canvas shoes have to be taken out for a walk...

My daughter wears the Con's round here...
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: godofthunder on June 07, 2009, 02:41:51 PM
 Before I post this I want to say to S.R. that imitation is the sincerest  form of flatery. Lets raise our glass, as Lemmy would say R.A.M.O.N.E.S (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/RAMONES002.jpg)
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 07, 2009, 04:39:00 PM
Gabba Gabba,we accept you we accept you one of us.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: SKATE RAT on June 07, 2009, 04:40:37 PM
i love red Chucks. they always remind me of Joan Jett. i'm from Forest Hills Queens, so da Brudda's were always very special to me.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Pilgrim on June 11, 2009, 03:58:05 PM
Has anyone compared one of the new Squier Broncos with the Musicmaster?  The pickup size and placement is similar, and the bridge and saddles are identical to the ones in the first post in this thread.

Those little Broncos are pleasantly light and don't sound half bad.  They sell 'em for $149 at my local music store, and there's a red one with pretty nice action in stock.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Saf on June 14, 2009, 02:31:34 PM
I've three musicmaster at this stage, I've had 4 squier musicmaster vista series, those are really really great have an mustang bridge so 4 saddles and string through. And I've had three or four bronco's (still have the badtz maru version i nuse by my wife)) Sound is pretty simulat to my musicmasters. De neck is great it has the same profile as my pre76 musicmaster bassen but with the maple fretboard the sounds is little more "open en brighter" De neck is also finished with a satin laquer and plays just like butter. Love them. And for 149 I think they're big vallue for the money. I do think the tuners are a little doggy tough.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Pilgrim on June 14, 2009, 05:33:21 PM
Thanks!  I don't know what's inside that single pickup, but I wouldn't be surprised if all the Fender basses with that design had similar pickups.  Your comments are much appreciated.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: Saf on June 15, 2009, 01:28:45 PM
De pups of the orginal musicmaster were mustang guitar pups or some say strat pups. De pup in mij bronco has 6 pole pieces as well.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on June 15, 2009, 01:55:37 PM
Mustang and Musicmaster guitar pickups are identical, and they were also used in the Musicmaster bass. They fit in a Strat cover but the polepieces are shorter. If you need a gray-bottom (70's) Strat pickup, Mustang pickups will fit and they are about 1/3 of the price of a Strat pickup from the same year.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: copacetic on June 18, 2009, 06:12:09 PM
By the way is there a significant weight difference on the Musicmasters over the years they were in production like the rest of the Fender Basses? (i.e. the '75-'80's Fender Precisions, Jazz and Mustangs were almost 2 lbs heavier on the Precision and Jazz and even the Mustangs). I ask this becasue the Musicmasters were even more pointed at the youth/students and it seems it could not be expected that a kid could hold up 10 lbs. I have a '67 Mustang and it weighs 7 1/4 lbs and my daughter has a '78 Mustang and hers weighs 9 3/4 lbs. Hers' actually sounds better but it pains me to play it standing up for more than 15 minutes and it stops the blood circulation in my leg sitting down! She loves hers however.
Title: Re: I just bought a Musicmaster !
Post by: ilan on June 19, 2009, 05:32:42 AM
I have a '66 Mustang bass that is actually too lightweight. It's 7.2 lbs. I had to replace the OEM tuners with Hipshot Ultralites to overcome neck-heaviness.