Here is my new Squier MB4 bass. It is made of agathis, has both P and J pickups and has a neat blend knob with an indent in the middle for controlling the pickups. It's not a traditional Fender model, it's a modern bass that is more like to an Ibanez or Jackson than to a Precision or a Jazz. Made in Indonesia. Serial number IC040513xxx. Does that make it a 2004 model? It was owned by my late friend Jim, and I'm honored that his son wanted me to have it and made me a fair deal on it. It's not perfect, needs a set of strings, there's a little bit of rust on the bridge, but it's a very nice bass. I don't know much about these basses. I've been able to find very little information about these basses. I know that there was also a version with skulls and crossbones, and I'm very, very glad that this bass is the plain model with dot fret markers. If anybody has any detailed information about this bass I would highly appreciate it. Year of manufacture, name of series (It might be "Showmaster"), old ads from Fender or Musician's Friend showing the bass (I found the bass on zounds), how uncommon is the bass, or any other information about my new toy. Now I just have to teach myself how to play bass. I'm going to try to look at it as a totally different instrument than the 6 string electric guitar.
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NBD: Squier MB4
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DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
The bass is an 04, if you e-mail Fender customer service the S/N they will tell you the basic info on the bass.
I don't have a scanner but I have some old Frontline catalogs that show this bass, I want to say it was called a zone or something, but it might have just been the MB series. I knew at the one's with the skull and crossbones. I finally saw one in person a couple years ago when one of my students was playing one, I didn't know they came without the skull. Decent basses for the money, great starter bass. I think it is a passive bass but it might be active. Is there a battery compartment on the back?
I don't have a scanner but I have some old Frontline catalogs that show this bass, I want to say it was called a zone or something, but it might have just been the MB series. I knew at the one's with the skull and crossbones. I finally saw one in person a couple years ago when one of my students was playing one, I didn't know they came without the skull. Decent basses for the money, great starter bass. I think it is a passive bass but it might be active. Is there a battery compartment on the back?
I have one, also sans Skull 'n Crossbones (thank God!). I do believe they are a remake of a Fender model from the late Eighties/early Nineties. I've only seen one other w/o the Crossbones motif.
From what I remember, these were made from '04 to '09, with the Crossbones version offered till '11. Agathis body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, full scale with volume/blend/tone controls. All of them hada black painted headstock and came in black sparkle, pewter green sparkle, a blue something and maybe even a red soemthing...if I remember the catalog correctly. The body is a little smaller than that of a P-bass, and the design makes it shorter than that of one too. I think it has something to do with the bridge set pretty close to the edge.
I acquired mine in '07 brand new, but without a case or bag. At first I thought it was an Ibanez, based off of the headstock and p'up placement. It was to replace a Johnson 5 string bass and I figured anything would be better than that POS.
I modified mine by swapping the bridge for a Hipshot solid mass A style, an M4 Bass Xtender, and a GFS Jazz p'up. It was my favorite bass up until I got a Vista Musicmaster. Still pick it every so often and and just get lost in it. Too bad they only stuck around for a short bit.
From what I remember, these were made from '04 to '09, with the Crossbones version offered till '11. Agathis body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, full scale with volume/blend/tone controls. All of them hada black painted headstock and came in black sparkle, pewter green sparkle, a blue something and maybe even a red soemthing...if I remember the catalog correctly. The body is a little smaller than that of a P-bass, and the design makes it shorter than that of one too. I think it has something to do with the bridge set pretty close to the edge.
I acquired mine in '07 brand new, but without a case or bag. At first I thought it was an Ibanez, based off of the headstock and p'up placement. It was to replace a Johnson 5 string bass and I figured anything would be better than that POS.
I modified mine by swapping the bridge for a Hipshot solid mass A style, an M4 Bass Xtender, and a GFS Jazz p'up. It was my favorite bass up until I got a Vista Musicmaster. Still pick it every so often and and just get lost in it. Too bad they only stuck around for a short bit.
Cool score! Haven't seen a Squier MB-4 without the skull and bones in a while. I've actually heard some good things about the Indonesian Squier MBs here on TB.
The Fender MB-4 and MB-5 were made from '93-'95 in Japan. That was a real fun bass - I had the 5-string and it was a nice 5-string with a great Jazz bass tone. If you have a little cash and ever find the Fender one, I would say grab it too. They should be under $400, and often under $300.
The Fender MB-4 and MB-5 were made from '93-'95 in Japan. That was a real fun bass - I had the 5-string and it was a nice 5-string with a great Jazz bass tone. If you have a little cash and ever find the Fender one, I would say grab it too. They should be under $400, and often under $300.
Its what I play. It was a marketing decision to add the skull and crossbones then a couple of years later they switched to the iconic Fender styled headstock before discontinuing the line. It is a Squire copy of a 80s Fender model but now they make Percision Specials and Aerodyne Jazz for that market niche.
They were definitely passive, and I've thought about turning mine into an active bass. It seems like there's enough room.
I used to have an old Frontline catalog from 07 (free with purchase of a new bass!!) and I remember them called the MB4 and MB5 (5 string version).
I used to have an old Frontline catalog from 07 (free with purchase of a new bass!!) and I remember them called the MB4 and MB5 (5 string version).
The Squier MB4 was my first bass, in that color too, and I loved it and still love it to this day. Your S/N indicates manufacture in May of 2004. Mine was March or 2003. The name for the line was in fact Modern Bass (MB). It has Squier P Bass Special pickups in it (passive). Honestly for its price it has a fantastic tone, I actually just used it to record.
For strings I highly recommend Elixir or DR Hi-Beams or Dean Markley Blue Steels. They pair well. If you have any questions about it your best bet is to ask here. I have wasted a lot of time trying to find info after Squier stopped making them. As such, if there's anything to know about the MB4 I know it and if I don't someone else here will.
PS. It was actually made by Cort in there Indonesian facility for Squier/fender along with lower end Ibanez guitars/basses.
For strings I highly recommend Elixir or DR Hi-Beams or Dean Markley Blue Steels. They pair well. If you have any questions about it your best bet is to ask here. I have wasted a lot of time trying to find info after Squier stopped making them. As such, if there's anything to know about the MB4 I know it and if I don't someone else here will.
PS. It was actually made by Cort in there Indonesian facility for Squier/fender along with lower end Ibanez guitars/basses.
Honestly I have thought of this too. The tone of the stock pickups seems like it would translate really well as active and would probably sound nice with a decent eq too.
