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Old Musicmaster 1972 bass
- Thread starter Orlando Cooper
- Start date
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- Tags
- fender musicmaster vintage
You can do so much better for your money than that bass. Not worth it in any scenario.
I'm a huge fan of these old Musicmaster basses.
Based on it not being in original condition and without the original parts that oruce us high. On sites like Reverb complete original MM's go for $1k plus. If you're interested I'd try to negotiate it down considerably.
These were originally produced with seconds Mustang bodies and necks and had simple 6 pole strat pickups and the bridges were 2 saddle. Sold as student/economy models. Haters still refer to them negatively as "cheap" and dismiss them. I believe the Fender models were discontinued in '78.
There was a Squier reissue version made in '96/97 that had upgraded parts like 4 saddle bridges that were through body, and the excellent Vista Tone pickups.
Maybe helpful info for you. I would never part with mine.
Based on it not being in original condition and without the original parts that oruce us high. On sites like Reverb complete original MM's go for $1k plus. If you're interested I'd try to negotiate it down considerably.
These were originally produced with seconds Mustang bodies and necks and had simple 6 pole strat pickups and the bridges were 2 saddle. Sold as student/economy models. Haters still refer to them negatively as "cheap" and dismiss them. I believe the Fender models were discontinued in '78.
There was a Squier reissue version made in '96/97 that had upgraded parts like 4 saddle bridges that were through body, and the excellent Vista Tone pickups.
Maybe helpful info for you. I would never part with mine.
Not worth fixing , and not worth trying to talk the seller down either as he priced it at 900.
Buy a bronco bass instead, it’s very close to the original design-intent of the musicmaster.
I might actually be underestimating this , but if you changed the pickguard on a bronco , you’d end up with a musicmaster.
Buy a bronco bass instead, it’s very close to the original design-intent of the musicmaster.
I might actually be underestimating this , but if you changed the pickguard on a bronco , you’d end up with a musicmaster.
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That bass is a shambles. It is not even in decent playing condition. It would cost hundreds to restore it to something like original condition. Avoid at all costs.
The later Musicmasters (75 & up?) had the larger tuning machines for starters. I own a 76. It is OK. I modded the hell out of it in the late 70's and made it much better and I still own it. I have other SS basses that are better. If I were shopping a 30" bass I would buy a Mustang or a Rondo SX Jazz Bass or a Warmoth for the large money the shown MusiicMaster is asking for. I would not buy this bass for $300.
You know, when I first responded to this post I gave some info on the history of Musicmasters as I knew it. And I really didn't get an accurate idea of what that bass really is.
While I love Musicmasters and would snap one up at the right price, that one is nowhere near the price the seller is asking. The prices on those basses have exploded in recent years but they ones that are $1k plus are generally in much better shape than than that one.
If you like it and can do the work lowball the crap out of their price. But a new Sonic Series Bronco would give you the same scale size at a much better price and no work required out of box.
While I love Musicmasters and would snap one up at the right price, that one is nowhere near the price the seller is asking. The prices on those basses have exploded in recent years but they ones that are $1k plus are generally in much better shape than than that one.
If you like it and can do the work lowball the crap out of their price. But a new Sonic Series Bronco would give you the same scale size at a much better price and no work required out of box.
I look at that thing and see a mojo monster waiting to get unleashed. I've had a couple of vintage Musicmasters and there's something about them. Not the finest construction money can buy, but vibe. For. Days!!!
I could have a new pickguard (WD), Strat shape bass pickup (Aero/Novak/Lace Sensor etc) & wiring ordered up in 10 minutes. If the tuners are shot, you should be able to shoehorn in some Hipshot Ultra-Lites.
What can't be easily sourced is the vintage, vibed-in, dried-out wood. The crude construction, genuine wear & subtle 1970s excess are all part of the charm IME. That's definitely worth some premium. $900 might be a little steep for how badly the last owner mangled things. But these are inflationary times. And 1972 builds don't exactly grow on trees.
My biggest concern would be the truss rod. If that is seriously compromised, that may be a cost-prohibitive fix at best. (Maybe that got spared from all the butchering... maybe not.)
I could have a new pickguard (WD), Strat shape bass pickup (Aero/Novak/Lace Sensor etc) & wiring ordered up in 10 minutes. If the tuners are shot, you should be able to shoehorn in some Hipshot Ultra-Lites.
What can't be easily sourced is the vintage, vibed-in, dried-out wood. The crude construction, genuine wear & subtle 1970s excess are all part of the charm IME. That's definitely worth some premium. $900 might be a little steep for how badly the last owner mangled things. But these are inflationary times. And 1972 builds don't exactly grow on trees.
My biggest concern would be the truss rod. If that is seriously compromised, that may be a cost-prohibitive fix at best. (Maybe that got spared from all the butchering... maybe not.)
