OK, not everyone is a fan of "upgrading" vintage Fenders, but when it comes to Musicmasters, it aint necessarily a bad thing, and this one was done well. I got this for the cowboy-surf-lounge mashup I was involved in last year, and it's a really nice little instrument with a big sound. But times change, bands break up, and I'm working on less stuff/more practice. So adios Musicmaster.
First, some specs: LIGHT, just about 8 pounds, 30" scale, 1-5/8 width at nut, comfy "C" shaped neck is 7/8 thick at first through twelfth fret, 18 mm string spacing at bridge,
currently wearing a low mileage set of La Bella Deep Talkin Flats, I'll throw in the DAddario rounds it came with.
Excellent condition: Neck is flawless and silky smooth. Body has some light swirling and general wear, but virtually no buckle rash and no dings. Pickguard is in excellent shape with light wear; there appears to be the slightest longitudinal crack where the output jack mounts, but it doesn't go through to the face and doesn't show up in photos. All the hardware, tuners, screws, bridge etc. appear to be original with light patina but no ugliness.
The non-original-ness: The guy I bought it from (claimed to be original owner) had it routed for a preamp plus battery, and changed out the original pickup. These basses definitely benefit from an electronics upgrade, and this is a good'un. Clean routing, paint shielding, Bartolini NTBT two-band pre. The pup *might* be a DeMarzio, and appears to be a single coil. I'll toss in a DeMarzio twinblade style pup if the buyer wants. It can definitely pick up a hum depending on grounding and alien activity, the twinblade would eliminate that. Pic #4 shows plastic knobs, I've upgraded them to a knurled chrome dome-top set. Vol, L/H stack controls.
Nice bass; light, fun, easy to play, nice and thumpy with the flats or go back to the roundwounds for a bit more zing. Ships in a very nice molded SKB hardshell case. They guy I bought it from told me the case was custom made for this bass, but that's a lie; it's actually a better fit for a full size J or P. Works well for the shortscale though.
$650 shipped CONUS seems reasonable. And now it's time for pictures!
First, some specs: LIGHT, just about 8 pounds, 30" scale, 1-5/8 width at nut, comfy "C" shaped neck is 7/8 thick at first through twelfth fret, 18 mm string spacing at bridge,
currently wearing a low mileage set of La Bella Deep Talkin Flats, I'll throw in the DAddario rounds it came with.
Excellent condition: Neck is flawless and silky smooth. Body has some light swirling and general wear, but virtually no buckle rash and no dings. Pickguard is in excellent shape with light wear; there appears to be the slightest longitudinal crack where the output jack mounts, but it doesn't go through to the face and doesn't show up in photos. All the hardware, tuners, screws, bridge etc. appear to be original with light patina but no ugliness.
The non-original-ness: The guy I bought it from (claimed to be original owner) had it routed for a preamp plus battery, and changed out the original pickup. These basses definitely benefit from an electronics upgrade, and this is a good'un. Clean routing, paint shielding, Bartolini NTBT two-band pre. The pup *might* be a DeMarzio, and appears to be a single coil. I'll toss in a DeMarzio twinblade style pup if the buyer wants. It can definitely pick up a hum depending on grounding and alien activity, the twinblade would eliminate that. Pic #4 shows plastic knobs, I've upgraded them to a knurled chrome dome-top set. Vol, L/H stack controls.
Nice bass; light, fun, easy to play, nice and thumpy with the flats or go back to the roundwounds for a bit more zing. Ships in a very nice molded SKB hardshell case. They guy I bought it from told me the case was custom made for this bass, but that's a lie; it's actually a better fit for a full size J or P. Works well for the shortscale though.
$650 shipped CONUS seems reasonable. And now it's time for pictures!