Vintage Fender Experts... what do we have here?

[BAG]

So, it appears to be a Musicmaster. If the bridge plate is original, as far as I can tell from a little research it may be around 1972. From the look of it I'm guessing it was a student bass and being from the CBS era it might be hit or miss on the build scale.
Does it have any vintage collectible appeal?

 

[ajkula66]

That scratchplate/pickguard is an aftermarket one and likely hides something. Tough to be 100% sure without more pictures, but I suspect that the body has been re-finished as well.

Unless it's really inexpensive and you have a chance to tear it apart and verify what's going on under the pickguard, I'd pass.

My $0.02 only...

 

[BAG]

Thanks for chiming in ajkula66.
I haven't seen one quite like it and if an expert said "that's a one-off made for (insert famous musician here) and was lost to time" then I'd probably have been interested.

 

[disdunplugge]

The screws in the neckplate are modern Parkers, not original neck screws. Just my 2c

 

[hogy]

Musicmaster Bass. Homemade pickguard. Body and neck refinished. Sheetrock screws for neck screws means it's likely been messed with a bunch.

Would have had little "collectability" appeal in fully original shape, now it has none. If it plays ok, maybe worth 300 to 400 bucks. These actually sound cool. There's a six pole piece Stratocaster pickup under that cover.

 

[foal30]

Cash Convertors and Bass Guitars....anything is possible

I agree it’s a refin
Pickguard interesting

Wrong part of Aotearoa to try out. CC Linwood had an EBMM Stingray V two weeks back...

 

[Jim C]

What's up with the wall paper?

 

[BAG]

Cash Convertors and Bass Guitars....anything is possible

I agree it’s a refin
Pickguard interesting

Wrong part of Aotearoa to try out. CC Linwood had an EBMM Stingray V two weeks back...

Did you buy it?
Nah, if you did you'd have mentioned it.

 

[foal30]

What's up with the wall paper?

NZ Decor, a style to behold

 

[foal30]

Did you buy it?
Nah, if you did you'd have mentioned it.

No it’s not for me. Have previously had success with Basses from CC though

 

[Slater]

The only Fender parts on that bass are the decal and the neck plate.

 

[johndb]

@Slater, that is incorrect. The neck, tuners, and neckplate appear to be original, and most likely the body, which has obviously been refinished. Those are the original tuners before they changed to something like we see on today's Fenders. I have them on my '71. They changed tuners around 1975. I would put a repro guard on it for $40 and add short scale flatwounds, and play the crap out of it! Of course, we have no idea what's going on under the pickguard or the bridge cover that doesn't belong.

Check out this reverb link:

Fender Musicmaster Bass 1972 - 1981 | Reverb

 

[FranF]

The only Fender parts on that bass are the decal and the neck plate.

Incorrect, Slater. Everything there is original except the pickguard, bridge cover and neck plate screws. ;-)

 

[BAG]

What's up with the wall paper?

NZ Decor, a style to behold

Yep. That's something I've never gotten used to since moving here. The amount of hideous wallpaper used in homes here is certainly unique. That "paper stuck to the wall" style looks great compared to some of the wallpaper styles i've seen.

 

[foal30]

Musicmaster Bass. Homemade pickguard. Body and neck refinished. Sheetrock screws for neck screws means it's likely been messed with a bunch.

Would have had little "collectability" appeal in fully original shape, now it has none. If it plays ok, maybe worth 300 to 400 bucks. These actually sound cool. There's a six pole piece Stratocaster pickup under that cover.

Sold for NZ$1700

Which is approximately US$1050

 

[hogy]

Sold for NZ$1700

Which is approximately US$1050

I'm not in NZ. There's a fully original, clean fiesta red '73 Musicmaster bass in a local music store here for $900. It's been there for a year.

 

[Killing Floor]

I love that guard!