Bought this Musicmaster last week. I noticed something (semi) interesting...

[Devin Hopkins]

I bought a '70's (not sure what year exactly) Fender Musicmaster last week. I was replacing the jack and I noticed that even though this model doesn't have a thumbrest, there are screw holes under the pickguard for one. It has the same serial number and everything. I wanted to see if anyone here could shed some light on this mildly interesting subject.

 

[Oren Hudson]

Based upon the serial number on the head, 1978. But by then the thumb rest was not being used. Maybe a left over body that Fender found and used a few years later? Possible.

 

[Chico Ruger]

I had a bass that I bought without a thumbrest. I installed a thumbrest with a new pickguard. At some point I decided to ditch the thumbrest and reinstalled the original pickguard.

Your welcome.

 

[rllefebv]

Based upon the serial number on the head, 1978. But by then the thumb rest was not being used. Maybe a left over body that Fender found and used a few years later? Possible.

I've had three '78s, rebuilt a fourth, and all have had thumbrests as originally installed...

-robert