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Post subject: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 3:19 pm
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Just wanted to share my good fortune today. I stopped in to my local Goodwill store, as I often do periodically throughout the week. On one of the shelves, on the very bottom lay a Fender Musicmaster Bass guitar! At first I thought there had to be some sort of catch but upon further inspection, it was the real deal. I looked at the price tags which read $24.50. I thought..SOLD!!!

The guitar is a fixer upper, for certain, but for $25 there was no way I was going to pass it up. The body rates a high 6/low 7 condition wise on the paint, the usual dings and nicks but not too bad. Since they were a budget line instrument, I don't think they had the same glossy finish as the more expensive guitars. For some reason the strap bolts are both gone. The electrics are toast. The pickguard isn't even screwed on to the body, all of the wires are pulled loose and the pickup is unattached as well. The jack is gone as that portion of the pickguard was completely missing.

The serial number is 596789 and is located on the chrome four bolt neck plate on the back. The neck itself is still in very good shape, no buzzy frets, no warpage, the logo is still intact and only a couple of dings on the back. Even though the electrics are roached, the instrument still plays very well.

I'm thinking of restoring this to playing level. I see that replacement pickguards are available and with a new pickup, a new jack and maybe some new pots it could be back up to snuff without sinking a ton of money into it. If worse comes to worse, it will make a great wall decoration!

Any input or tips on refurbishing this guitar would be appreciated! Thanks!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 5:51 pm
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Good for you! You got a real deal, parts are easy, finish? Wait for suggestions.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 12:36 pm
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Hella score!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 1:48 pm
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1975 Fender Musicmaster basses in similar fair condition sell for at least 20 times what you paid. Congrats on the "FIND OF THE MONTH" to date!

Wow. All I can say is WOW! I suggest buying a lottery ticket pronto!


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 1:54 pm
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I think I'd start with a new pickguard and jack. Try the rest of the existing components after fixing the wiring. Everything can be fixed. Pots will probably benefit from cleaning.

Here's just one link of many I found for replacement pickguards. The best option of course would be to eventually put an original on it, but those will cost more than a replacement.
http://www.buzzardsbass.com/parts/pick-guards/fender/musicmaster.html

Any parts source will have the Switchcraft jack Fender used on these as it is the same one on all their other USA basses. I'd use as much of the original parts as possible.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 7:51 am
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I could tell you to go to Jeannie Pickguards, I got one for my Squier MM bass and it was a great fit, very nice.

I can't tell you that though because I'm SPEECHLESS at your find.... :shock: Deal of the century, or something.

Of course, I got my first Fender MM for free, recovered from a hay loft in a barn. I stuck around $250-$300 by the time I was done including a case. Those rare finds make for the best stories. I'll double your money on this one, as is! :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 4:34 pm
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wow! amazing find! congrats! you are so lucky!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 3:02 pm
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That's the type of thing I've always dreamed of when going into thrift stores. Good score, there.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 1:10 am
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:shock:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 5:17 pm
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Location: 10 min from Fender in SoCal
SCORE!

I check Goodwills every so often. If it looks good enough to fix up, I grab it.

So far....



..................nothing.....

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:48 am
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Since this post I can't ride by a Goodwill store without going in to see if they have a Fender Bass now.

I have not found one guitar or bass in any of the 10 or so Goodwill stores I've spotted in recent travels. HOWEVER, I do have EIGHT more slightly used Hawaiian shirts that I didn't have before last week. Thank you for feeding my tacky shirt habit. Frankly I'd never been inside a Goodwill store before reading this post.

Do you secretly work for Goodwill? Was this a trap set by Goodwill or Hilo Hattie herself to get me to buy more of her tacky Hawaiian shirts?

With the economy so sucky Goodwill seems to be the new Macy's, around here in the Carolinas anyway where they are springing up everywhere.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 2:19 am
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Stopped in a Goodwill store last night No basses I did get three paperbacks and some pirate tatoos!


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 8:39 am
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I'm an avid thrifter. The majority of my wardrobe, kitchen, decor, and furnishings came from thrift stores. My Bullet Bass was found in a thrift store, although not by me. A friend found a good Marshall tube amp. Another friend found a Wurlitzer 200A. I've found various keyboards and other orchestral instruments to add to my collection, as well. Thrift stores are where it's at if you keep your eyes and mind open.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 8:57 am
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Your Musicmaster Bass is a great find for $25! That is a steal.
Some more advice on fixing it- Leave the tuners alone. They are the originals and they look cheap but they are actually made in Germany and are quite good when properly lubed and adjusted.

The original pickup in a MMbass is a Stratocaster pickup. Many folks think that they have to replace the guitar pickup when they first get a MM bass. Its up to you, but just know that the strat pickup was under a black plastic cover on the original bass and use it if you want the bass to be original.

The necks on these basses are great and I hope you can use it as intended and have a good time playing that bass.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster Bass at Goodwill for $25!
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:19 am
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Great find !


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