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Squier MusicMaster Vista Club

#244
It came with a sweet helping of Precision-esque goodness. Thus sayeth the entire staff at GC.

I am telling you George, and not just to poke or prod or be confrontational, but there was nothing in the sound that said 'short scale' but plenty that screamed well-aged Fender goodness.

If you were to put a Mustang on a line at 1 and a Precision at 10 the sound of that particular beaten-to-hell MusicMaster would be an 8 or 9. Seriously. Call the GC labeled as Twin Cities, it is in Rosedale, MN, and ask for Bennett. He will play it for you, and it will not dissapoint.
 
#245
agent77 said:
I used to be a big fan of flats, but not so much anymore. They sound kind of one-dimensional to me now (whether it's a short scale or full scale, George). I had some D'adario ProSteels on my Mustang for a while, they had a bright, cutting tone, and I remember thinking that I would have liked to try them with the Vista pup.

BTW, I sure am missing my MusicMaster.
Click to expand...

Interesting that you say that. I have noticed a bit of that with flats as well.
For example... I put Chromes on my Gretsch Jr. Jet and I absolutely love the tone of them clean through just a compressor pedal. But if I try to run them through an effects pedal or my Zoom B2 they sound somewhat lifeless, no matter what modelling amp or setting I use. But back to just a compressor and they sound great. Basically... they're like a one trick pony. Mind you... it's a great trick.
As for the MM, I would imagine you miss it immensely. Hang in there, check the local classifieds and you will eventually find one cheap for sale by someone who has no idea what they have. That's how I found mine! :D
BTW, played mine today and it was awesome. It has old roundwounds on it that now almost sound like flats. I've thought of putting Chromes on it but then I remember your story. I think I'll just keep it the way it is :eek:
 
#253
Hi,

Can anyone advise which would give the deepest tone for reggae?
I like an old school deep, smooth and clear tone with no growl or treble.

I have a Bronco with stock pick up and the tone is good, but a bit middy - I can get it deeper with amp EQ and I have some heavy gauge flats on order, which should help.

Is there a pick up upgrade that will sound deeper, or would I be better off with a Vista Musicmaster?
I have the chance to buy one blind but I've never seen one in the flesh.

Thanks,
Steve.
 
#255
redstriper said:
Hi,

Can anyone advise which would give the deepest tone for reggae?
I like an old school deep, smooth and clear tone with no growl or treble.

I have a Bronco with stock pick up and the tone is good, but a bit middy - I can get it deeper with amp EQ and I have some heavy gauge flats on order, which should help.

Is there a pick up upgrade that will sound deeper, or would I be better off with a Vista Musicmaster?
I have the chance to buy one blind but I've never seen one in the flesh.

Thanks,
Steve.
Click to expand...

The DiMarzio Fast Track 2 provides the deepest tone that I have heard from the Bronco.
 
#256
redstriper said:
Hi,

Can anyone advise which would give the deepest tone for reggae?
I like an old school deep, smooth and clear tone with no growl or treble.

I have a Bronco with stock pick up and the tone is good, but a bit middy - I can get it deeper with amp EQ and I have some heavy gauge flats on order, which should help.

Is there a pick up upgrade that will sound deeper, or would I be better off with a Vista Musicmaster?
I have the chance to buy one blind but I've never seen one in the flesh.

Thanks,
Steve.
Click to expand...

I have both a Bronco and a Vista MusicMaster. I've upgraded the Bronco with a GFS L'il Killer pickup and Chromes. The Vista has Standard D'Addario roundwounds on it for now.
Even with the roundwounds the Vista has the deeper tone. It really thumps, so much so that I've had no desire to put flatwounds on it... yet :D
They're both great players though. The Bronco is definitely deeper in tone with the GFS pickup in it than it was with the stock pickup. The GFS pickup is also a little 'wild' though, probably too wild for reggae. It is however fabulous at rock. George's suggestion of the DiMarzio is probably a better bet in the Bronco for your style of music. I haven't tried the DiMarzio myself, but George seems to know his pickups.
The Vista is just a fantastic bass out of the box and extremely versatile. It will play pretty much anything, although I certainly wouldn't recommend it for slap. For Reggae it is fine.
 
#257
So I updated the pickguard to a Tort one from Jeannie Pickguards. I thought I'd put up a pic incase anyone else was thinking about switching guards too. IMAG0168.jpg
IMAG0169.jpg
 
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#260
My very first 'real bass' was a Fender Music Master. I played it through an Ampeg B-25B. You couldn't tell me nothing. To this day I miss that bass and wish I still had it.
 

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