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Component ID Musicmaster

flyingv4

flyingv4

Dec 2, 2021
9
4
#1
I recently came into possession of this MusicMaster Bass and don't know anything about it. Fender Said based upon the serial numbers it was around a 1977 or 78. However being it was in the CBS years they didn't have any other info. I don't believe the hardware or electronics to be original. Does anybody recognize anything and can give me some more details?
Please and Thank You


Front Of Headstock

Front Of Headstock

Body

Body

Back Of Headstock

Back Of Headstock

 
#3
Now I'm reall curious what kind of bass this is???
This is how a Musicmaster looks like:
fender-musicmaster-bass.jpg
 
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#5
Looks like a custom something that is made to look a bit like one, but if you start looking carefully at real ones, the differences are many, and everywhere. Things that are "wrong" include the painted neck, upper horn, body shape, pickups and locations, decal logo, bound neck and inlays, headstock shape, and headstock binding, etc.
 
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#11
flyingv4 said:
Can anyone ID the tuning keys, pickups, or bridge?
Click to expand...
Asian import.
The inlays are in a style popular with Korean built guitars, and so is the 2 piece headstock.

The tuners are probably real Schallers, and the bridge might be as well. Pickups might be anything - the beveled polepieces are a good sign.

I've seen this thing come around a few times before - not "valuable" but looks really neat!
Based on the age of hardware and how many times I've seen it posted, I think this got gussied up some time ago. Not a Fender though.


How does it play and sound?
 
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#12
Thanks Believe to have ID'd a couple upgrades a German Company Schaller M4 180 gold tuning keys &
Schaller Gold roller saddle bass bridge Bb-0318-002

Have not run thorough a stage system yet but sounds nice fro what I have heard so far
 
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#13
It looks nice but it's not a Musicmaster. A Musicmaster is fetching $1200-1500 nowadays. I hope you didn't pay that much for this because this is a cool bass but it's likely a parts bass or something. I mean, there's a chance it could be a heavily modified Musicmaster, but you would have to verify which parts are authentic, is it Fender or Squier, etc. I would enjoy playing this bass, especially if it's short scale. :thumbsup:
 
#14
I didn't pay too much for it. And yes it is a short scale which isn't my thing so looking to put it up for sale once I get a better handle on what it all is.

MarMar said:
It looks nice but it's not a Musicmaster. A Musicmaster is fetching $1200-1500 nowadays. I hope you didn't pay that much for this because this is a cool bass but it's likely a parts bass or something. I mean, there's a chance it could be a heavily modified Musicmaster, but you would have to verify which parts are authentic, is it Fender or Squier, etc. I would enjoy playing this bass, especially if it's short scale. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
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#15
elgranluis said:
Might be a vista series . With some mods of course.
Click to expand...
Former Vista series owner here. For the sake of conversation: If this bass was originally a Vista, then it's been modded (foolishly IMHO) beyond recognition. In fact the only possible Vista component would be the body, which would have been refinished because red (in any variation) was not a stock finish.
 
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#16
As an owner of both a vintage '78 Musicmaster and '97 Squier Musicmaster I'd concur with all the things already pointed out as "not" original to either kind of bass. The spelling of "Musicmaster" may be the only thing that's like those originals. :thumbsup:

My guess was it's probably one of two things, an asian of Japanese made version of limited production. I've not seen everything available in the world so that's just a guess, keep that in mind. Or it's a parts bass with some attention to detail to make it look nice. I ran the serial number from the headstock on a website and got this....

red fender.JPG


Not sure how accurate that is. I know from past personal experience Fender's record keeping is sometimes as accurate as a game of lawn darts in the dark.

Again, I'm no expert and just throwing some ideas out there. If it's short scale it's interesting for sure. Someone might be very happy to have that in their stable. :thumbsup:

I think it looks cool btw :smug:
 
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#17
thanks for the info
It sure seems to be kind of a hodgepodge of things and tome periods



QUOTE="WI Short Scaler, post: 25907295, member: 327878"]As an owner of both a vintage '78 Musicmaster and '97 Squier Musicmaster I'd concur with all the things already pointed out as "not" original to either kind of bass. The spelling of "Musicmaster" may be the only thing that's like those originals. :thumbsup:

My guess was it's probably one of two things, an asian of Japanese made version of limited production. I've not seen everything available in the world so that's just a guess, keep that in mind. Or it's a parts bass with some attention to detail to make it look nice. I ran the serial number from the headstock on a website and got this....

View attachment 4492472

Not sure how accurate that is. I know from past personal experience Fender's record keeping is sometimes as accurate as a game of lawn darts in the dark.

Again, I'm no expert and just throwing some ideas out there. If it's short scale it's interesting for sure. Someone might be very happy to have that in their stable. :thumbsup:

I think it looks cool btw :smug:[/QUOTE]
 

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