Abused Fender Musicmaster or '77 MIJ Precision?

[BassCactus]

Well, I've been looking around recently on ebay. Thanks to some birthday money, I'm considering buying parts for a parts bass, since I'm interested in how the electronics and such in the bass work.

On ebay, there's a sale for a '75 Fender Musicmaster body, which has been additionally routed for jazz pickups, and seems to be in quite bad shape.

Although I have a low chance of actually winning it, what do you think?

 

[GeneralElectric]

the music master since fender japan didnt exist in 77

 

[BassCactus]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

Oh, and I'd have to buy a Musicmaster neck as well, right? J or P necks wouldn't work with the Musicmasters, would they?

 

[BassCactus]

Sorry to double post, but...

Yeah, I realise that I probably won't be able to find a neck that actually fits the Musicmaster. Well, more like I probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

So would it be best to try and bid on another bass (probably a Japanese copy or something), and instead swap out electronics and stuff? Or should I still go ahead with the Musicmaster, and wait for a neck to come by somewhere?

 

[GeneralElectric]

Whats wrong with the Music Master neck? You should shoot Fender an email and see if the heel is the same size as their standard necks.

 

[BassCactus]

Well, from what I've read, isn't the Musicmaster short scale, and therefore would need a short scale neck?

 

[namraj]

would probably end up unbalenced with a different neck, but you could always adjust the heal of the neck and body so they fit, be careful though you can put wood back on.

 

[BassCactus]

Will the scale length be an issue? After reading around here, some threads about a musicmaster body with a p or j neck have posts that say that the scale length will be messed up, as well as the intonation.

So would the best bet be to go to Japanese copies (etc.)?

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

The problem is that the musicmaster was shortscale I don't recall exactly the measurments but it certainly is 32'' or 30''. Normal fenders have a 34'' scale. The musicmaster body is not designed to accept a normal fender neck.

If you try and do it, you might have to change the bridge location on the bass to really have the 34'' scale lenght

 

[staindbass]

i would advise against the short scale, the strings will be floppier looser compared to a regular scale bass. johnny a

 

[GeneralElectric]

Floppy strings on short scale are a myth.

You can get short scale Fender necks made for you by Michael Dolan or someone similar.

 

[BassCactus]

Thanks for the replies.

Like I said earlier, if I went the Musicmaster route, since they're selling the body only, after buying the bridge, elctronics, etc. I probably wouldn't have enough to afford a neck at that time, so I'd have to wait quite a while.

On another note, are these real?
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FENDER-57-PRECISION-BASS-MIJ-NO-RESERVE-0-01P_W0QQitemZ250258883295QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[RickenBoogie]

That second one, (the actual functioning P bass), looks pretty nice. Long way to go on the auction, but you never know, if you watch it you may be able to pick that up for not much.

 

[tplyons]

The listing's title on the neck is all wrong. He's trying to get people to think it's a '77 (because it's a 70 Reissue neck that uses the late '70's big logo) but if you read the auction, the serial number is E+6 digits, meaning 1984-87 like he says in the auction.

 

[BassCactus]

That second one, (the actual functioning P bass), looks pretty nice. Long way to go on the auction, but you never know, if you watch it you may be able to pick that up for not much.

Yeah, I realised just how long till the auction finishes. Price will probably be bumped up a LOT.

Whilst the auction for the Musicmaster body finishes in 2 days. Should I bid on that, and not take the chance with the MIJ bass, skip the body and go for the MIJ, which price might rise... or both, and spend over my limit?

 

[Henry D]

I'm pretty sure this - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vintage-1973...ryZ41406QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - is the musicmaster body the OP is talking about.

I personally don't think it's worth it. Unless you like that battered look you'd need to get a refinish, as well as a (probably custom) neck. You'd need a custom pickguard for those Jazz Pickups if you were to use them too.

More trouble than it's worth IMO

 

[RickenBoogie]

Personally, I'd hang back and keep an eye on the auction for the P bass. If it hasn't gone way over your budget by the time it's close to over, try to snag it. If you miss, you still have lots of other options.

 

[BassCactus]

I'm pretty sure this - http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vintage-1973...ryZ41406QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem - is the musicmaster body the OP is talking about.

I personally don't think it's worth it. Unless you like that battered look you'd need to get a refinish, as well as a (probably custom) neck. You'd need a custom pickguard for those Jazz Pickups if you were to use them too.

More trouble than it's worth IMO

Yeah, that's the one. Because of the battered look, as well as the routed Jazz pickups, I was beginning to consider not going that way. I'm now slightly nudging towards something else - Maybe the MIJ bass, or the MIJ neck with a cheap body.

EDIT: Rickenboogie, I think that's what I'll do. Less problems for me later on, if any.