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Fender Musicmaster: Paint, stain, or Let it Be?

Paint, Stain, Let it Be?

  • Total voters
    139
#42
Looks a little too gross to me to keep it that way. I don't mind the checking, but it also looks like something from a CSI crime show.

Sand it off, see what's there, then either stain or paint. Maybe just a straight-up restoration back to black, or whatever catches your fancy.
 
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#46
Regarding finishes, they are not reversible mods. Be sure that any bass you decide to refinish will lose a significant amount of retail value down the road. Luckily, a Bronco or a Musicmaster isn't exactly collectible. That's what they said about all Fender back in the '70's, too. So much for explaining some of the horrendous butcher jobs on what are now vintage instruments. The finish on that particular bass doesn't look too healthy, and the back almost looks like a refin already. That said, I'm going with the rest of the "If it ain't broke don't fix it" crowd and say leave it be, Bro.
 
#49
ejaggers said:
Are you sure? I've never seen a MM with a strat style PUP.
Did you mean Bronco?
057912
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All original Musicmaster pickups were guitar pickups without visible polepieces (for that reason!). Probably Mustang/Musicmaster guitar pickups, which had the closed plastic covers. The first Musicmaster Bass with a proper bass pickup was the Squier Vista Musicmaster from the 90s.
 
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#50
I am not sure, if this was mentioned before, but the color of the bass is in my opinion clearly a refinish from the last 10-15 years max. This style of dark see-through colours is 2000ish for me. So any considerations concerning "originality" don't fall into account. It just counts, how do you like it. In my scale of importance the feel of the neck is on a much higher level than the color of the body. Exchanging the pickguard for a tort one would be a classic though ;-)
 
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#53
Is that the original finish? If it is, I wouldn’t change it.

I like vintage original, I can’t say that that’s a particularly appealing look to me, but I’d learn to love it if it’s original.

If it’s a previous refinish, then I might refinish again.
 
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#56
ejaggers said:
Are you sure? I've never seen a MM with a strat style PUP.
Did you mean Bronco?



TB is a tough crowd on refin's, until after you do it.

So, would you refin yourself or have it done professionally?
How strong are you refin skills, if doing it yourself?
I need to know this before I vote.

057912
Click to expand...
ejaggers said:
Are you sure? I've never seen a MM with a strat style PUP.
Did you mean Bronco?



TB is a tough crowd on refin's, until after you do it.

So, would you refin yourself or have it done professionally?
How strong are you refin skills, if doing it yourself?
I need to know this before I vote.

057912
Click to expand...
superheavyfunk said:
If you already like the finish, as you said, then why consider changing it at all?
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I do like the finish but wanted to see what others thought. I'm sort of on lock-down here in so cal from my teaching job, possibly for months, and this thread has been a great distraction.

Regarding the pickup, sorry if I answered this already. I've been viewing this site on my phone and it's a bit cumbersome. The Musicmasters were Fender's first attempt (I think) at a student guitar and bass. To make them on the cheap they used Mustang bodies and whatever else they had on hand which included stratocaster 6 pole pickups. Some players don't like them and 'upgrade' but many prefer to leave original. I have another MM with the original and this one has been replaced. Not sure to what.
 
#58
Audiomicrowave said:
The only thing I'd do to it is upgrade the pickup. Just put a Seymour Duncan Cool Rails Neck pickup in my cousin's mid-70's Musicmaster. It's now a beast! He plays in an old-school country dance band, and the stock pup wasn't cutting through. No problems now.
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superheavyfunk said:
If you already like the finish, as you said, then why consider changing it at all?
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Just collecting opinions. Wanted to see if others felt strongly about altering the current finish or attempting to return it to it's original.
 
#59
Drummerdan said:
Title pretty much says it all. I picked up this cool 78 yesterday for a song. Needs a little TLC but if has good bones. The lacquer/stain job is odd but I kind of like it. Would you alter it? If so, to what? View attachment 3743495 View attachment 3743494
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Is that the original pickguard? Looks to be in too good shape for a '78 but who knows. I also was under the impression those had 6 pole (Strat?) pickups. Mine has a plastic cover over the pickup.
 
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#60
J-Bassomatic said:
Is that the original pickguard? Looks to be in too good shape for a '78 but who knows. I also was under the impression those had 6 pole (Strat?) pickups. Mine has a plastic cover over the pickup.
Click to expand...

It's a a replacement pickguard made by WD. I was just on their site and thought this might look cool.
Invalid Link Removed

MM's were made with Mustang bodies and spare parts to my understanding. Those included strat pickups. So this one has been replaced.
 

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