78 Music Master - Fake? Expensive anyway?

[And I]

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Picture of the headstock has the serial number covered... Otherwise it looks good but I know nothing about how to authenticate these... If it's legit is $750 fair?

 

[Lownote38]

It's legit, although I don't remember seeing tuners like those on a Fender from that era. I wouldn't pay $750 for any Musicmaster Bass, though. They don't have the big sound that a Mustang Bass has and use a guitar pickup (Strat). The one you're looking at has a replacement guitar pickup that's a rail pickup. That might help, but you can find one of these for cheaper than $750.

 

[Oren Hudson]

I've just recently rehabbed a '73. From my research, I can tell you that the tuners are correct for the year. Everything else looks correct except for the pickup and knobs. Price is a little high for non-original. I've seen some sell in that neighborhood though.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

Looks legit to me, and apart from the already-mentioned pickup swap, the price is not really out of line for a bass in that condition + case. This looks like a very nice example, I've never seen one that clean.

 

[And I]

Nice, thanks folks! Odd that the serial number was covered, that's what made my "is this a fake?" senses tingle.

 

[SethD]

Looks like an early-'80s example to me. For comparison, check out this '82 on Reverb.
1982 Fender Musicmaster Bass with original case - Transparent Red, Made in USA

 

[AltGrendel]

Nice, thanks folks! Odd that the serial number was covered, that's what made my "is this a fake?" senses tingle.

I think that there was a serial number scam running around for a while where someone would pull the number off of the pic, report it stolen, and try to get a free bass out of the deal.