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Post subject: A question about my "vintage" or at least older bass
Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 5:35 am
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So I have this '78 Musicmaster bass that I've been playing for about 17 years. Always loved this bass and it was the first short scale I'd ever seen.

Well, it's been pretty reliable over time but it seems that over the last two years or so there's been at least 4 occasions where I go to play it at a gig and I have a "muffled" or distorted sound. Turns out that after I have the luthier check it out the neck needs to be adjusted, a simple twist and it's all better. After this occurred the first time at a gig I bought a back up bass after playing for so many years with only one bass and no issues. And yes I've had it at 3 different luthier's/shops and all have told me the same thing, just a small "tweak" to the neck and now you're good to go.

So my question is to all of you who play a "vintage" or older instrument, is this something that I can expect to continue for as long as I own this bass, kind of a sign of it's advanced years? I've really enjoyed this bass but I'm not one that likes to tinker with them, just play them. And I've never really understood how to do that myself.

Like I said, just a question for you guys who have experience in this sort of thing. I have a '97 Squier Musicmaster that has been reliable as you could want. And truthfully I think it may be smoother and built better than the '78 Fender. If this constant tweaking is something I can expect than I'd rather sell it than keep doing that. Use the Squier as my main bass and get a different backup.

Thanx


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Post subject: Re: A question about my "vintage" or at least older bass
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2011 12:34 pm
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WI KISSfan wrote:
So I have this '78 Musicmaster bass that I've been playing for about 17 years. Always loved this bass and it was the first short scale I'd ever seen.

Well, it's been pretty reliable over time but it seems that over the last two years or so there's been at least 4 occasions where I go to play it at a gig and I have a "muffled" or distorted sound. Turns out that after I have the luthier check it out the neck needs to be adjusted, a simple twist and it's all better. After this occurred the first time at a gig I bought a back up bass after playing for so many years with only one bass and no issues. And yes I've had it at 3 different luthier's/shops and all have told me the same thing, just a small "tweak" to the neck and now you're good to go.

So my question is to all of you who play a "vintage" or older instrument, is this something that I can expect to continue for as long as I own this bass, kind of a sign of it's advanced years? I've really enjoyed this bass but I'm not one that likes to tinker with them, just play them. And I've never really understood how to do that myself.

Like I said, just a question for you guys who have experience in this sort of thing. I have a '97 Squier Musicmaster that has been reliable as you could want. And truthfully I think it may be smoother and built better than the '78 Fender. If this constant tweaking is something I can expect than I'd rather sell it than keep doing that. Use the Squier as my main bass and get a different backup.

Thanx


Environment has more to do with neck stability than age. Neck adjustments are often required seasonally, unless you keep it in air-conditioning. Neck adjustments require fractional (1/8th) turns of a nut and are fairly routine maintenance. There is a LOT more string tension on short scale bass neck than on a Squier Musicmaster guitar neck.

Adjusting more often than necessary is never a good idea. There is a limited amount of adjustment available before the neck is maxed out. I'm hoping they are loosening and tightening.


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Post subject: Re: A question about my "vintage" or at least older bass
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 7:29 pm
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Oops, maybe I wasn't too clear. The Musicmaster is also a bass, and I pretty much haul them to the same places and store them in the same place at home. Just the Fender has the issue occurring with some regularity.


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Post subject: Re: A question about my "vintage" or at least older bass
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:29 am
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Actually the older instrument should be more stable. Do you use the same string set on both? Does the Fender have higher tension strings? Are you switching string sets a lot?


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