/ Register

MUSICMASTER PICKUP HELL=(

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by dslboy, Jun 30, 2003.

  1. Jun 30, 2003 #1
    dslboy

    dslboy

    Jun 30, 2003
    Hello you guys. I have a mid 70's fender musicmaster, it's a short scale bass, ergo the string spacing is a little smaller then a regular p-bass? The thing is, that I want to replace my old single-coil pickup with a new one, and I don't know what to search for, can I use "Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P-Bass Pickup" f.ex? or do I need special made ones? Can anyone help me, please....???
     
  2. Jun 30, 2003 #2
    rllefebv

    rllefebv

    Oct 17, 2000
    Newberg, Oregon
    Your Musicmaster pickup is basically a Strat pickup, (look under the plastic cover... six polepieces!)... Mine sounds surprisingly good by itself, and extremely good with the addition of the Raven Labs P RetroFit electronics. I highly recommend it, though you'll need to make a new pickguard...

    IME, the stock volume and tone controls of the mid '70s Musicmasters really chokes the life and sound out of the stock pickup. Try wiring the pickup leads directly to the output jack. I think you'll be surprised at how much tone there is to be had.

    If you're still set on a replacement, I've heard others mention the Bill Lawrence rail-type Strat pickups as being good... Also some Seymour Duncan rail-types... A P or J pickup will require some pickguard, (and maybe body), modifications, and you'll have to monkey a bit with the string spacing, as you already know... Bottom line... a Strat-type pickup will be a direct replacement, while a P or J will require modification... IMO, I'd try to keep it close to stock, but that's just my preference :)

    -robert
     
  3. Jul 1, 2003 #3
    dslboy

    dslboy

    Jun 30, 2003