Fender Musicmaster Bass
Encyclopedia
The Fender Musicmaster Bass is a model of electric bass guitar
, produced by Fender between 1971 to 1981.
As with its six-string counterpart, which was a stripped-down version of the Fender Mustang
, the Musicmaster Bass is a simpler version of the Mustang Bass
. It features a very short 30" scale, the shortest of any bass produced by Fender. All of the Musicmaster's electronics are mounted onto a single piece of plastic.
Like many of Fender's other budget-priced guitars, the Musicmaster Bass used many surplus parts from other Fender models. The bodies were leftover Fender Mustang Bass
bodies, while the pickups were six-pole guitar pickups, rather than four-pole bass pickups. Many players modified the bodies of their Musicmaster basses to accommodate Precision
-style double pickups or enhanced electronics.
The Musicmaster Bass was introduced in 1971, and originally came in either black, red or white finish. Some very early issues were daphne blue with pearl pickguards. Later, this was expanded to include many of the finishes present on other Fender guitars. Earlier models are distinguishable by their small headstock logo, lack of a serial number on the headstock, and small, triangular tuning keys; later models feature a much larger headstock logo, with a serial number silkscreened next to the "Fender" logo, and Mustang-style tuning keys.
The Musicmaster Bass was discontinued along with all of Fender's budget-priced models in 1981, with the introduction of the Squier
brand. They were reissued briefly by Squier in 1997; however, it was discontinued after only a year of production, and replaced with the Squier Bronco Bass. Today, vintage Musicmaster basses are among the least collectible of Fender's vintage bass guitars, and are thus much more affordable than many comparable vintage Fender models.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, produced by Fender between 1971 to 1981.
As with its six-string counterpart, which was a stripped-down version of the Fender Mustang
Fender Mustang
The Fender Mustang is an electric guitar by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, introduced in 1964 as the basis of a major redesign of Fender's student models then consisting of the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. It was produced until 1982 and reissued in 1990.In the 1960s, it was used in Surf...
, the Musicmaster Bass is a simpler version of the Mustang Bass
Fender Mustang Bass
The Fender Mustang Bass is an electric bass guitar model produced by Fender. Two variants, the Musicmaster Bass and the Bronco Bass, have also been produced from time to time using the same body and neck shape.-History:...
. It features a very short 30" scale, the shortest of any bass produced by Fender. All of the Musicmaster's electronics are mounted onto a single piece of plastic.
Like many of Fender's other budget-priced guitars, the Musicmaster Bass used many surplus parts from other Fender models. The bodies were leftover Fender Mustang Bass
Fender Mustang Bass
The Fender Mustang Bass is an electric bass guitar model produced by Fender. Two variants, the Musicmaster Bass and the Bronco Bass, have also been produced from time to time using the same body and neck shape.-History:...
bodies, while the pickups were six-pole guitar pickups, rather than four-pole bass pickups. Many players modified the bodies of their Musicmaster basses to accommodate Precision
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
-style double pickups or enhanced electronics.
The Musicmaster Bass was introduced in 1971, and originally came in either black, red or white finish. Some very early issues were daphne blue with pearl pickguards. Later, this was expanded to include many of the finishes present on other Fender guitars. Earlier models are distinguishable by their small headstock logo, lack of a serial number on the headstock, and small, triangular tuning keys; later models feature a much larger headstock logo, with a serial number silkscreened next to the "Fender" logo, and Mustang-style tuning keys.
The Musicmaster Bass was discontinued along with all of Fender's budget-priced models in 1981, with the introduction of the Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
brand. They were reissued briefly by Squier in 1997; however, it was discontinued after only a year of production, and replaced with the Squier Bronco Bass. Today, vintage Musicmaster basses are among the least collectible of Fender's vintage bass guitars, and are thus much more affordable than many comparable vintage Fender models.
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