Episode 17: Fender Musicmaster Bass

This week, the guys take a look at this one-of-a-kind modded bass. The Fender Musicmaster is a beloved short-scale bass that has a dedicated following. They're growing more and more rare since they haven't been in production for decades, so we were very lucky to get our hands on this one.
This bass was loaned to us by our friend Ashley Peeples from the band GASP: gasp-us.bandca...
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[@k1ttyF158er]

I bought my (red) Musicmaster new for $200 when I was 14 in '78. Went on to play & tour in a bunch of punk bands. Got a bit of stick from some people because it wasn't a P-Bass. But it sounded amazing through distortion. (It shipped with flat wounds & I think those tamed the high end on the stock strat pickup when distorted). Around '88 I stuck it in its case and moved to a couple J & P basses. - Just pulled it out two days ago, tuned it up and, while the pickups have pretty low output compared to my newer basses, it still plays great & has a "sound"" that is quite unique from the J's or P's. Crazy to see them on Reverb for over 2K. But they are solid American made basses.

[@josephzummo9685]

They were around since 1970. I had a '72 musicmaster that someone put a '71 tele bass huge humbucker pick up in it. Sounds like a Freightliner.

[@MrTremewan]

Had a black Musicmaster in about 1980. Had lots of fun playing it, then eventually sold it. Wish I hadn't.

[@Fotosaurus56]

I bought one years ago from a co-worker. Over the years I added a black Fender Lace Sensor pickup which dropped right in and is noiseless. I changed just the saddles to Wilkinson-Gotoh brass swivel saddles which solved the intonation problem. When I couldn't get lower neck relief, I added some washers to the truss rod and tightened it. I like it better than my jazz bass.

[@joeykelly5642]

Great episode! I learn something new every time I tune in.

[@gwawd]

Nice review. I would very much like to see a closeup picture of that peculiar thumbrest.

[@roland_rene3256]

I actually was given one of these from my dad and knew nothing about it, but now I know, very interesting

[@jasondorsey7110]

When they stopped making the mustang and musicmaster in '81, they didn't replace them immediately with the squier series but the bullet bass, which was like a precision bass but with a tele headstock and a mustang style split pickup

[@alexnam1230]

why is this an ad?

[@cyberprimate]

The idea of having 6 poles, therefore not exactly under each string, wasn't that stupid. Rickenbacker did the same. The second Fender Precision has 8 poles in order to soften the attack. In the same spirit the Jazzmaster prototype had a 7 pole pickup. Also, AFAIK it was a Musicmaster guitar pickup in Musicmaster basses, not a strat pickup.

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Which is identical to a Strat pickup except it has flat poles.

[@larryn2682]

Squires didn't come out as early as 1981. It was the Bullet series that came out.

[@nathan-hq2jw]

so that’s not james corden?

[@pandemic7]

What’s that bassline you’re playing at the end? It sounds so familiar but it escapes me.

[@TheLocalPickup]

That was Sweet Child O' Mine! A bit harder to place when you're just hearing the bass.

[@pandemic7]

@@TheLocalPickup Ah, thanks for that. Was driving me nuts for a minute there.

[@demanso1]

it looked like canelo Alvarez was playing the guitar

[@bernacastelli]

Very good bass! But it has one of the seals turned upside down. The distance between strings on the bridge is wrong! Saludos desde Argentina!!

[@andylove1224]

What Brand/model pickup did Ashley mod it with?

[@TheLocalPickup]

Aero Instrument

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Is the Music Master pickup similar in sound to a Jazz Bass pickup? Thanks

[@so1omgtr494]

I miss the 8 minutes I lost trying to get thru this. So mad at myself…..

[@josephzummo9685]

The strings are an inch and a half off the fretboard.

[@danielirvine7468]

I got a bronco bass and switch out the pickup bridge and tuners and still way!!!!!!!! Cheaper than a music master

[@CW0123]

Shame they’re in the thousands now for vintage ones

[@danieljohnson1765]

When you want to play bass but not really.

[@danielsolorio3388]

W.T.F. Canelo play's guitar???🤔🎸

[@Drjackdempsey9644]

They never put a strat pickup in the MM. it was a Mustang guitar pickup.

[@paytonbowling7259]

That bass kinda sounds like a bronco bass

[@lincolnstovall9471]

Student models. Pickups are more like mustang. 1978 Lead 1 2 3 guitars, bass and guitar.musicmaster, mustang. All considered student models.

[@adamdorado_gaivacho6548]

That bass has midrange pickups and sounds like crap.

[@dougdavis8986]

Dork

[@steveaguilar7625]

I hate the sound and style of those Basses

[@Drjackdempsey9644]

And they hate you as well