OK, so what we have here is an original Musicmaster Bass, that’s not entirely as original as when it left the Fender plant in Fullerton, California, back in mid-1973… but what matters most is how it sounds, and it sounds great!
Fullerton original
The body, neck and pickups are all Fullerton original. The tone pot is original – volume is a replacement. Two of the bridge screws are either non-original or mismatched, and the scratchplate screws are a mix of new and old. The bridge is non-original, and comes with an extra, removable plate, possibly intended to provide extra mass, a la a BadAss.
Clear lacquered
The tuners and bridge are chrome, whereas the original would have been nickel. The Rosewood fingerboard has been clear lacquered, like a Rickenbacker, (though a thinner application). And last, but by no means least, the body and neck have both been refinished.
Original white Mustang finish
The refinish work seems to have been done some time ago, and while not a pro job, is certainly acceptable. The body has been over-sprayed, but the neck and headstock have been done by brush. We can’t be 100% certain, but there’s a couple of tiny indications that an original white Mustang finish may be lurking beneath the black.
Authoritative and original
From XTC and Talking Heads to more recent acts such as Green Day or King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, the Musicmaster Bass has been an instrument that some incredibly big name acts have relied on for many years. It’s a compact unit that delivers a bottom end thump that’s both authoritative and original.
50 years
Fender introduced the Musicmaster in 1970, making this a great early example of the model, with its original solid Alder body, 30" scale hard rock Maple neck, (shaped by Fender craftsman Henry Ferry), and Rosewood fingerboard now reaping the benefit of fifty years ageing.
Name players
Weighing only 8lb 7oz, (just under 3.83kg), it’s easy to see why so many name players opted for the Musicmaster – this is something that will hang comfortably off your neck for the whole gig, with no need for a Keiser session the next morning!
Free courier delivery
Complete with the deluxe Fender gig bag seen in pics # 8 and main, this 1973 Musicmaster Bass comes with FREE COURIER DELIVERY to any address in Australia. ($100 shipping to New Zealand, $175 to the US, Canada, UK and mainstream European countries)
Just Guitars
