Squier MusicMaster Vista Club

[neo 7]

I got some sad news, guys.

I decided to try a lighter gauge string on my MM and was getting some buzz on the first fret. I spent a few days adjusting the trussrod, but it wasn't helping so I took it to a luthier for a set-up. I just got a call and he told me that the entire trussrod is spinning with the nut. Basically, the neck cannot be adjusted, and a repair would involve steaming off the fretboard, which would cost more than the bass is worth.

This blows.....I really liked that bass.

 

[MakoMan]

That is extremely unfortunately agent! Very sorry to hear about the trussrod.
I have actually had that repair done on an acoustic guitar in the past and it certainly didn't cost as much as your MM is worth. I'd check around.

 

[neo 7]

That is extremely unfortunately agent! Very sorry to hear about the trussrod.
I have actually had that repair done on an acoustic guitar in the past and it certainly didn't cost as much as your MM is worth. I'd check around.

Thanks Mako. I'll appreciate any information you can give me.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Sounds like a new neck maybe the cheapest option.

 

[MakoMan]

I would post a general question on the forum. I'm sure there are options... replacement neck?
How would a Musicmaster look with a Bronco neck? Might be pretty cool and certainly not an expensive option.

 

[neo 7]

The luthier said that a new neck would be my best bet. But that will have to wait since I have more pressing matters which are eating up all my spare cash. At least I still have my Mustang.

BTW A-Step-Towards, I've been drooling over that Mustang you have listed in the classifieds. I hope you still have it after I pay off my fines.

This whole situation has kinda soured me on recently-manufactured basses. The old adage "they don't make 'em like they use to" applies to many consumer products, and I wonder how/if musical instruments are affected. Sure they play great, but just how long will they last? And that's why I started this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/longevity-modern-bass-965231/

Sorry to be such a downer today, but my boss found out that my license is suspended and now I have to work day shift until I pay off my fines and get it back (even though my job doesn't require me to drive). Losing my MusicMaster was the icing on the cake.

 

[MakoMan]

Hang in there brother. It will get better. You'll be driving your car to play gigs with that MusicMaster again before you know it.

 

[Seedorf]

Hey everyone!

New to talkbass and a proud new owner of a shell pink MM! I fell in love instantly and now I just want it more and more!



I was reading about mods when I was first considering getting a bronco (until I found this thing) and think some can still apply to the MM.

The tuners can definitely handle an upgrade. I saw a vintage mustang neck fit with tuners on eBay that looked very attractive but the price was a bit too high. I don't much mind the MM neck but I think I could do a bit better with the big mustang neck.

I was pleased to find the MM with a 4 saddle bridge unlike the 2 saddle bridge on the Bronco so the bridge should be fine.

The biggest upgrade I'm looking forward to is the pickup. Some of the pictures I see on this forum had the MM with a 4 pole old school looking pup which would do much better than the strat pup I got. I've had my ear to the ground for a vintage mustang pup or maybe a vintage dano lipstick (tbh, mostly for the look) but what I do know for sure is the strat pup has to go. I'm sure I'll go ahead and swap out the wiring and pots and throw in an old cap on top of it.

I have some labella flats made for a mustang coming in the mail which I think is a good start.

Anyway... I'm excited to hear back from everyone with ideas and to keep everyone updated on the life of Ol' pinky.

Thanks!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

The luthier said that a new neck would be my best bet. But that will have to wait since I have more pressing matters which are eating up all my spare cash. At least I still have my Mustang.

BTW A-Step-Towards, I've been drooling over that Mustang you have listed in the classifieds. I hope you still have it after I pay off my fines.

This whole situation has kinda soured me on recently-manufactured basses. The old adage "they don't make 'em like they use to" applies to many consumer products, and I wonder how/if musical instruments are affected. Sure they play great, but just how long will they last? And that's why I started this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/longevity-modern-bass-965231/

Sorry to be such a downer today, but my boss found out that my license is suspended and now I have to work day shift until I pay off my fines and get it back (even though my job doesn't require me to drive). Losing my MusicMaster was the icing on the cake.

Thanks, I honestly wish I didnt have moving costs and a masters degree to pay for, its one of those basses you buy and know is a keeper! Hey I hope everything works out for you, and a jaguar neck may also work well.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Hey everyone!

New to talkbass and a proud new owner of a shell pink MM! I fell in love instantly and now I just want it more and more!

View attachment 324310

I was reading about mods when I was first considering getting a bronco (until I found this thing) and think some can still apply to the MM.

The tuners can definitely handle an upgrade. I saw a vintage mustang neck fit with tuners on eBay that looked very attractive but the price was a bit too high. I don't much mind the MM neck but I think I could do a bit better with the big mustang neck.

I was pleased to find the MM with a 4 saddle bridge unlike the 2 saddle bridge on the Bronco so the bridge should be fine.

The biggest upgrade I'm looking forward to is the pickup. Some of the pictures I see on this forum had the MM with a 4 pole old school looking pup which would do much better than the strat pup I got. I've had my ear to the ground for a vintage mustang pup or maybe a vintage dano lipstick (tbh, mostly for the look) but what I do know for sure is the strat pup has to go. I'm sure I'll go ahead and swap out the wiring and pots and throw in an old cap on top of it.

I have some labella flats made for a mustang coming in the mail which I think is a good start.

Anyway... I'm excited to hear back from everyone with ideas and to keep everyone updated on the life of Ol' pinky.

Thanks!

Cool. The pickup you have in there is definitely not stock. If you want to swap out the neck it sounds like Agent would buy your old one. That would help pay for part of the vintage Mustang. Personally, I love the tiny Squier neck

 

[Seedorf]

Hey all!

I got some new strings for my MM. LaBella flats supposedly made specifically for a string thru mustang. I'm sad to say that I don't really like them. They seem to be out of balance from one another. The low e is very dead (which I like) and the a d and g sound much more like a round wound string, especially compared to the e.

Any tips on what strings would work best? I'm bumming about this set.

 

[MakoMan]

Beautiful MusicMaster Seadorf! You are member No. 8

#1 MakoMan
#2 Duuuuuuuuuude
#3 Agent77
#4 Prokjuh
#5 redzebra6
#6 mcjor
#7 Konepyoramies
#8 Seadorf

 

[MakoMan]

Hey all!

I got some new strings for my MM. LaBella flats supposedly made specifically for a string thru mustang. I'm sad to say that I don't really like them. They seem to be out of balance from one another. The low e is very dead (which I like) and the a d and g sound much more like a round wound string, especially compared to the e.

Any tips on what strings would work best? I'm bumming about this set.

Sorry to hear the Labellas aren't doing it for you. Wish I could help you with the strings but my MusicMaster came with unknown roundwounds that for some reason I like quite a bit.
As for the pickup, I've seen a few stock Squier MusicMaster pickups pop up on Ebay now and then for pretty reasonable prices.

 

[bassbully]

Hey everyone!

New to talkbass and a proud new owner of a shell pink MM! I fell in love instantly and now I just want it more and more!

View attachment 324310

I was reading about mods when I was first considering getting a bronco (until I found this thing) and think some can still apply to the MM.

The tuners can definitely handle an upgrade. I saw a vintage mustang neck fit with tuners on eBay that looked very attractive but the price was a bit too high. I don't much mind the MM neck but I think I could do a bit better with the big mustang neck.

I was pleased to find the MM with a 4 saddle bridge unlike the 2 saddle bridge on the Bronco so the bridge should be fine.

The biggest upgrade I'm looking forward to is the pickup. Some of the pictures I see on this forum had the MM with a 4 pole old school looking pup which would do much better than the strat pup I got. I've had my ear to the ground for a vintage mustang pup or maybe a vintage dano lipstick (tbh, mostly for the look) but what I do know for sure is the strat pup has to go. I'm sure I'll go ahead and swap out the wiring and pots and throw in an old cap on top of it.

I have some labella flats made for a mustang coming in the mail which I think is a good start.

Anyway... I'm excited to hear back from everyone with ideas and to keep everyone updated on the life of Ol' pinky.

Thanks!

I have no issues with the tuners on mine at all.
As for the pup I think it is the one part that makes this bass shine and again have no issues with it. It is amazing to me how much output this little pup has.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I have no issues with the tuners on mine at all.
As for the pup I think it is the one part that makes this bass shine and again have no issues with it. It is amazing to me how much output this little pup has.

I agree, I love the sound of my stock pup. It's got great old school grind but my one gripe is that it's very noisy. I normally don't like bright sounding strings but I think on my Musicmaster it matches the pickups really well. You get some vintage grit with enough top to cut through Ina jam

 

[MakoMan]

So Agent... the rumor mill has it that you found a new neck for your Vista MusicMaster. Don't hold back... tell us all about it!

 

[neo 7]

Its true. I just scored a 76 Fender MM neck from another TBer. It needs a nut installed so it might be a
while til I get to use it, but things are looking up.

And I'm really digging your youtube videos, Mako. I'd never guess you've only been playing a year and a half. You killed on Wicked Game.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Its true. I just scored a 76 Fender MM neck from another TBer. It needs a nut installed so it might be a
while til I get to use it, but things are looking up.

And I'm really digging your youtube videos, Mako. I'd never guess you've only been playing a year and a half. You killed on Wicked Game.

Cool, Man. Glad things are looking up for you

 

[bassbully]

Good to hear you Vista will be alive again soon.

 

[MakoMan]

Its true. I just scored a 76 Fender MM neck from another TBer. It needs a nut installed so it might be a
while til I get to use it, but things are looking up.

And I'm really digging your youtube videos, Mako. I'd never guess you've only been playing a year and a half. You killed on Wicked Game.

Hey, that's awfully nice of you to say agent! I think I'd been playing less than a year when we put up the Wicked Game video. That's from a little Saturday morning jam I do in the summer with a friend. I have to keep the bass pretty simple when I sing... and I don't consider myself much of a singer... but we have fun. And of course I used the MusicMaster in that video so you got to see it! I kinda forgot that folks could look up my other videos when I posted the live one LOL!
Sounds like you have found the perfect neck for your MM. Wow... a Fender MM neck on a Vista MusicMaster - the best of both worlds!