Fender Musicmaster Bass
| Musicmaster Bass | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Fender |
| Period | 1971 — 1981, 1997 |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale | 30" |
| Woods | |
| Body | poplar |
| Neck | maple |
| Fretboard | rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Bolt-on bridge, two adjustable saddles |
| Pickup(s) | 1 six-pole pickup |
| Colors available | |
| Black, White, Fiesta Red | |
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.[1] 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, but retaining the six-pole pickup. 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.
Users
- Jim O'Rourke and Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
- Colin Moulding (XTC)
- Ben Flashman from Comets on Fire used an all-black Musicmaster bass before the band went on hiatus in 2008.
- Jessy Bulbo (Ultrasónicas)
- Lucas Martins (CéU)
- Dee Dee Ramone (The Ramones)
- Kira Wilson (The Mod Lang)
- Alan Lancaster (Status Quo)
- Hans van Reijswoud (Galaxis, Gharp)
- Pat Brinkley (O'Beast, Dynaflo)
- Evan Brack (The Fair Weathered)
- Katy Goodman (La Sera, Vivian Girls)
- Peter Timusk (Mechanic City Psychos)
- Philippe DAUGA (BIJOU)
- Corinne Mariennau (TELEPHONE)
- Dale Ryan (Deer Tick) Plays a more rare left handed model.
- Samuel Koisser (Peace (band)) plays a left handed model.
- Matt Armstrong (Bill Fay,Kenny Process Team)
- Alex Bleeker (Real Estate (band))
References
External links
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