Squier MusicMaster Vista Club

[matt-o-]

The video is to blurry to identify precisely. Most attributes (tuner hole size, Knob size and color, tugbar) hint to a musicmaster bass, which has been painted pink lately. The Squier would have a pink matching headstock (hard to see in the video), larger tuner posts, metallic knobs and no tugbar).

 

[andare]

This bass is a weird one. In their previous video where Joe plays the same bass, the headstock clearly reads Fender and is painted shell pink, though to me it looks darker than the body. The tuners are small, so the neck should be early to mid-70s but the pickguard hugs the neck like a '78 MM or a Squier Vista. Maybe it's a MM parts bass that was refinished, maybe the neck is an early Fender MM but the body is a Squier. Maybe the body is a shell pink Bronco
Somebody ask Joe or Jack on Twitter!

 

[tommyeadg]

Just got her back. Pickup rewound, new tone cap, cavities shielded and chrome knobs. I already liked how it sounded with the busted pickup, but now it sounds amazing!

 

[nickonbass1]

Glad you got your Vista MM back sounding good @tommyeadg . After reading yours & other's posts regarding a similar issue with my own black MM, with the tone pot - I've diagnosed it as having a dead pickup too.
I'm weighing up my options now on whether to get the existing pickup rewound/repaired or try find a replacement. Though I gather there are not too many drop-in replacements available for the Vista Musicmaster, and a SD SCPB-3 wont fit without modification?
Cheers

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Glad you got your Vista MM back sounding good @tommyeadg . After reading yours & other's posts regarding a similar issue with my own black MM, with the tone pot - I've diagnosed it as having a dead pickup too.
I'm weighing up my options now on whether to get the existing pickup rewound/repaired or try find a replacement. Though I gather there are not too many drop-in replacements available for the Vista Musicmaster, and a SD SCPB-3 wont fit without modification?
Cheers
View attachment 4607288

Those look great. Have you ever looked into Sentell pickups? I just got one for my Fender MM and had it wound to the same specs as the Vista Tone that's in these Squiers. It sounds great.

If you're interested it was the Lil Sis model and no extra charge to overwind. They were good at answering my questions so you might be able to confirm all measurements with them before ordering.

Just a suggestion.

 

[SantiReport]

Though I gather there are not too many drop-in replacements available for the Vista Musicmaster, and a SD SCPB-3 wont fit without modification?

Well, the Retrovibe pickup is a direct replacement, and it sounds good.

Retrovibe Route '51 Replacement single coil bass pickup for 50s Precision Alnico Poles, Cloth Wire, String binding, wax potted | Retrovibe

Here, my Squier Musicmaster with Retrovibe pickup

 

[nickonbass1]

Those look great. Have you ever looked into Sentell pickups? I just got one for my Fender MM and had it wound to the same specs as the Vista Tone that's in these Squiers. It sounds great.

If you're interested it was the Lil Sis model and no extra charge to overwind. They were good at answering my questions so you might be able to confirm all measurements with them before ordering.

Just a suggestion.

Thanks for the suggestion, those Sentell pickups look great!
The only thing is that, with me being in the UK, the shipping costs & import duties would probably increase the cost a lot. Also, with me going out to the middle east in four weeks, shipping time might be prohibitive too - as I want to take this out there with me as my travel bass.
I'm gonna take the pickup to a tech next week to see if it's worth repairing, as the working pickup in my pink Vista does sound great to me.
Failing repairing it, I've found this pickup by a UK company Toltec Toltec Pickups Handwound Bronco / Music Master Bass Alnico V 6.9K Pickup Squier | eBay - Not a bad price for handwound pickup & from the description, would drop straight in.
Cheers

 

[nickonbass1]

Well, the Retrovibe pickup is a direct replacement, and it sounds good.

Retrovibe Route '51 Replacement single coil bass pickup for 50s Precision Alnico Poles, Cloth Wire, String binding, wax potted | Retrovibe

Here, my Squier Musicmaster with Retrovibe pickup

Great many thanks for the suggestion will look into that Retrovibe. Yeah it does sound good
Good price too, plus they can wind one to 9k spec. too, which is close to the original Vista Tone.
Plus the company Retrovibe is actually not far from my house, so more than local to me!
Cheers

 

[SantiReport]

Great many thanks for the suggestion will look into that Retrovibe. Yeah it does sound good
Good price too, plus they can wind one to 9k spec. too, which is close to the original Vista Tone.
Plus the company Retrovibe is actually not far from my house, so more than local to me!
Cheers

Good luck

 

[Brightonian]

Hi. Very late to the party, but I only just noticed this club. I attach a pic of my Vista MM. Bought new about a year after they were first released in the UK (1999?). I think the release retail price was £200, but I got mine for £100 from a shop in the midlands that specialised in none-more-black pointy headstock HM stuff... They'd been unable to move it. It's all stock except for a dribble of superglue on one of the elephant ears (to stop it rattling), and the thumb rest/tug bar, which I added only last week! It was my main squeeze in the early noughties, but then I got tempted by a Jazz and gave the MM to my daughter. I missed it so got a Gretsch Electromatic for a similar vibe. But nothing quite compares. She's now given it back to me. Obvs I agree with all the comments on the supernatural quality of the pickup on this, but I'm also convinced that the shallower super-resonant body makes a huge difference. Whatever, the only professional rock musician I know describes this as the loudest and best bass he's ever recorded. Glad I'm in good company.

 

[MakoMan]

Hi. Very late to the party, but I only just noticed this club. I attach a pic of my Vista MM. Bought new about a year after they were first released in the UK (1999?). I think the release retail price was £200, but I got mine for £100 from a shop in the midlands that specialised in none-more-black pointy headstock HM stuff... They'd been unable to move it. It's all stock except for a dribble of superglue on one of the elephant ears (to stop it rattling), and the thumb rest/tug bar, which I added only last week! It was my main squeeze in the early noughties, but then I got tempted by a Jazz and gave the MM to my daughter. I missed it so got a Gretsch Electromatic for a similar vibe. But nothing quite compares. She's now given it back to me. Obvs I agree with all the comments on the supernatural quality of the pickup on this, but I'm also convinced that the shallower super-resonant body makes a huge difference. Whatever, the only professional rock musician I know describes this as the loudest and best bass he's ever recorded. Glad I'm in good company.

View attachment 4656301

Ahhh.... a beautiful example of a Pink Vista MusicMaster! Brightonian you are member No. 84!

Updated Members' List:

#1 MakoMan
#2 48thStreetCustom
#3 Agent77
#4 Prokjuh
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*76 bawhega
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#78 SantiReport
#79 matt-o-
#80 vbrodgers
#81 Staxy
#82 nickonbass1
#83 Brygg
#84 Brightonian

 

[nickonbass1]

View attachment 4657747 My pickup unfortunately died in one of my Vista MM's recently, probably due to a break in the coil. Was a shame as the originals in these basses are killer pickups IMHO . The pickup was looking a bit tatty also, worn out, with the top surface board curling, so it would have needed a bit more than just a rewind - a full repair.
Therefore, I opted to get a replacement. Thankfully there's seems to be a few options available.

I opted for a pickup from Toltec Pickups Toltec Pickups . They're based here in the UK & are hand wound. Their stock pickup is 6.9k, but I sent a request to Lee there, for one wound to around 9.5 - 10k spec., close to the original. Got a prompt response back, paid the £45 - which I think is pretty reasonable. Received the pickup less than a week after order.

The pickup dropped straight in with no issues. The pole pieces on the Toltec are not as big as the original, which are similar size to SD Quarter Pounders, but they just aligned up OK with the MM string spacing. Whilst doing the swap over, I also upgraded the pots, tone cap & shielded the bass too.
From the sound results, I have to say so far I'm pretty impressed with sound with this pickup. It sounds as good, if not better than the original 'Vista Tone' one after A/B'ing it with my other pink Vista MM as much as possible, considering one has 'Chromes' flats & the other is strung with Labella black nylons.
The Toltec replacement is punchy, clear, quite articulate & an even response from lows to highs. I'm happy with it & would recommend to anyone needing a replacement

 

[nickonbass1]

Hi. Very late to the party, but I only just noticed this club. I attach a pic of my Vista MM. Bought new about a year after they were first released in the UK (1999?). I think the release retail price was £200, but I got mine for £100 from a shop in the midlands that specialised in none-more-black pointy headstock HM stuff... They'd been unable to move it. It's all stock except for a dribble of superglue on one of the elephant ears (to stop it rattling), and the thumb rest/tug bar, which I added only last week! It was my main squeeze in the early noughties, but then I got tempted by a Jazz and gave the MM to my daughter. I missed it so got a Gretsch Electromatic for a similar vibe. But nothing quite compares. She's now given it back to me. Obvs I agree with all the comments on the supernatural quality of the pickup on this, but I'm also convinced that the shallower super-resonant body makes a huge difference. Whatever, the only professional rock musician I know describes this as the loudest and best bass he's ever recorded. Glad I'm in good company.

View attachment 4656301

Hello & welcome fellow UK Pink Vista MM owner, can't be that many of us about
That looks in great condition, your daughter took care of it - well done getting it back
Totally agree with you, it's a killer bass & punches well above it's size - doesn't it?
Just out of curiosity what've you strung yours with mate?

 

[Brightonian]

D'Addario Chromes. They are a standard scale set I previously had on a different bass. Heavier than the short scale set. The e string looks a little uncomfortable wound round its tuning peg. But the sound is very strong.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Hi. Very late to the party, but I only just noticed this club. I attach a pic of my Vista MM. Bought new about a year after they were first released in the UK (1999?). I think the release retail price was £200, but I got mine for £100 from a shop in the midlands that specialised in none-more-black pointy headstock HM stuff... They'd been unable to move it. It's all stock except for a dribble of superglue on one of the elephant ears (to stop it rattling), and the thumb rest/tug bar, which I added only last week! It was my main squeeze in the early noughties, but then I got tempted by a Jazz and gave the MM to my daughter. I missed it so got a Gretsch Electromatic for a similar vibe. But nothing quite compares. She's now given it back to me. Obvs I agree with all the comments on the supernatural quality of the pickup on this, but I'm also convinced that the shallower super-resonant body makes a huge difference. Whatever, the only professional rock musician I know describes this as the loudest and best bass he's ever recorded. Glad I'm in good company.

View attachment 4656301

That's a sexy beast.

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[nickonbass1]

D'Addario Chromes. They are a standard scale set I previously had on a different bass. Heavier than the short scale set. The e string looks a little uncomfortable wound round its tuning peg. But the sound is very strong.

Same here, got Chromes on one, and La Bella nylon tapewounds on the other. Both are cut down long scale strings sets, a bit tight round E string tuner, but they work & sound great

 

[tommyeadg]

I had a radio gig yesterday and I decided to bring the Vista. I'm pretty amazed

 

[patzilla83]

NBD!!! Count me in!

 

[48thStreetCustom]

NBD!!! Count me in!

View attachment 4687457

I dig the parchment pickguard on that color.

 

[patzilla83]

I dig the parchment pickguard on that color.

It's a great combo and it looks even better in person. My wife said it was "pretty" and asked if I bought it from an ice cream truck.