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1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« on: December 29, 2008, 09:44:40 PM »
Hi guys,

I just bought myself an '78 Musicmaster. It's fully original except for the knobs and though the tip of the pickguard broke it looks great.

Anyone has some foto's on the original knobs?


@Jules: Maybe an old user manual somewhere on your desk? :D

I'll be posting pics as soon asI have it...
- \'82 Gibson Victory Standard
- \'72 & \'78 Fender MusicMaster Basses
- \'50s / \'60s Egmond Princess 2
- Fender BG-32
- ...
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Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2009, 12:50:44 AM »
Hehe, I received it this thursday. It's all original, except for the pots...

I just found out they had simple Strat-knobs, so that's not problem either, I have tons of those at work :p

Foto's will come soon ;-)
- \'82 Gibson Victory Standard
- \'72 & \'78 Fender MusicMaster Basses
- \'50s / \'60s Egmond Princess 2
- Fender BG-32
- ...
Proud endorser of Crime Industries: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=63949227

jules

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Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2009, 12:59:58 AM »
Yeah, i'd certainly like to see it. I've been wanting a short scale Fender myself.

I really want a blue competion mustang, but I generally don't buy impulsively - preferring bargains that others missed on. These are in demand. Don't think i've ever seen a cheap one. Hence i'm still waiting.

As for manuals - Fender are really good here and provide most themselves

1974 manual
http://www.fender.com/support/manuals/p ... r_1974.pdf

1981 manual
http://www.fender.com/support/manuals/p ... s_1981.pdf

Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2009, 04:49:31 PM »
Anyone knows which colours they originally appeared in?

I have a '78 lack on black and a ' 72 red one with white pickguard. Any other colours known?

thanks
- \'82 Gibson Victory Standard
- \'72 & \'78 Fender MusicMaster Basses
- \'50s / \'60s Egmond Princess 2
- Fender BG-32
- ...
Proud endorser of Crime Industries: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=63949227

jules

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Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2009, 01:38:49 PM »
Certainly red, white and blue. I'll have a look through some catalogues and price lists,to see if I can see other colours mentioned

Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2009, 09:41:30 AM »
I'm pretty sure of black too, but had my doubts on blue 'cause I've seen a few different kinds of blue...

The red's Dakota Red, could the blue be Sonic Blue?
- \'82 Gibson Victory Standard
- \'72 & \'78 Fender MusicMaster Basses
- \'50s / \'60s Egmond Princess 2
- Fender BG-32
- ...
Proud endorser of Crime Industries: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=63949227

jules

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Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2009, 02:41:38 PM »
check this page - 1972 Fender colour chart

that year, at least, they just call them red, white and blue

late seventies seem to list just black and white
early eighties list just black and wine

Jules

Re: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2009, 08:50:16 AM »
I have a Musicmaster bass from 1976 in blue (more lightblue).
The bass nut is broken.
Does anyone known where to get a bass nut replacement?
It would be nice if I could order it on the internet.

Best regards Flemming / Denmark

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2009, 08:27:30 AM »
This is a 78, I got it from a girl who said it had been in her closet for 14 years. She said her friend put the bridge and the model G pickup on it. It had a black model G but I changed it to a cream.
I'm sure it was white or cream colored but it's a lot more yellow than the pic shows.
 

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2009, 08:33:45 AM »
This is my favorite one. A 66 Mustang body with a 77 Musicmaster neck. It sounds killer with the Jazz pickups.
 

original pickups
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2009, 12:59:41 PM »
I really like this look. Did you have to do much modification to get this. Has it been refinnished?

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2009, 04:17:17 AM »
Quote from: bassnoob;12246
I really like this look. Did you have to do much modification to get this. Has it been refinnished?

It was done in 1985. The body had to be filled and rerouted for the Jazz pickups. There's also a battery compartment under the pickguard for the active pickups. It is a refin. It's a sweet sounding little bass. I've got a few $3000 custom made basses that don't sound as good. I've got about $550 in this one.

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #12 on: August 02, 2011, 04:37:26 PM »
hey ive been looking around at musicmasters and mustangs alot recently and i was wondering, is there really that big of a difference in sound and playability between the two? the musicmaster looks identical to the mustang just with a different pickguard and neck..

Dave W

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1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2011, 04:46:47 AM »
Quote from: reece;16209
hey ive been looking around at musicmasters and mustangs alot recently and i was wondering, is there really that big of a difference in sound and playability between the two? the musicmaster looks identical to the mustang just with a different pickguard and neck..

The Mustang has a deluxe bridge and its own P-type pickup, while the Musicmaster has an old style 2-saddle bridge and a (6 pole) Musicmaster guitar pickup. Also, Musicmaster bodies are multiple piece, sometimes as many as 7 pieces, while the Mustang is typically 2 or 3 piece like a J or P.

But I like the tone of original Musicmaster better, as long as it has the original pickup and bridge.

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2011, 09:52:10 PM »
Just wondering what it is that I have!!

Picked it up about 12 years ago or so, some guy brought it into Sam ASh in NY and I plucked it the same day. Its totally original with the case and everything (except the strings). There was even a crusty ol' strap in the compartment that who knows where it came from except I still have it.
Its pretty mint except the plastic control panel is SLIGHTLY cracked by the screwhole by the output jack.

Im guessing that its a 73 or 74, serial number 390733. Any ideas?? I would post pics but I dont see where to do that here?

 

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