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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:13 am
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Cool that you found the issue yourself.

But mod as you like, it's yours. If you aren't thinking of selling it and it's your baby then do as you'd like.

Mine is heavily modded, and can't imagine not keeping it either. But then again I saved the original parts whenever possible because I'm a pack rat.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:28 am
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I own a Music Master bass in Dakota red with a pearloid pick guard.

Mine has a problem with one of the pots (the tone pot) with no highs coming out of the pickup no matter where you turn the pot.

I haven't taken the time to trouble shoot it yet but it is a sweet little bass.

I always keep original parts and modify as little as possible with any vintage instrument.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:52 am
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Lots of cool input here and I appreciate all the thoughts and ponderings! I will be keeping her,the replacement wire finally arrived a couple of days ago,and just doing what is necessary to get her up & running again. I'd probably want a 2nd short scale bass before I'd consider having this one refinished as I know it would be probably a month or more before I could play it again. Only real modification I've done is to add a brass Fender thumb rest so playing is more comfortable. If I can find the original pickup,it probably would go back in along with getting a new pick guard cover (original owner butchered that too) Will let you all know when I'm playing it again. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:14 am
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If you go for a second short scale bass, take a look at the vintage Mustangs, they are wonderful. I haven't played the newer ones, so not sure about them. Another classic is the Bullet. They came in both short and long scale. The short is not easy to find, in fact I have only owned one. The Bullet, if you can find it, will be much more reasonably priced than a vintage Mustang, probably in $500 area, maybe a touch more, compared to a Mustang that could push $2K+ but can be bought in the $1500 area.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2014 2:25 pm
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If your Musicmaster is missing the original pickup-Its sort of a blessing in disguise. The original pickups are actually guitar pickups (a Mustang or strat single coil) and they are not that great a bass pickup.

If you are using a 4 pole piece PU, it will probably sound better than the stock PU anyway.

Good luck restoring your bass.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:15 pm
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For now,I'll keep her as she is.......if I ever get to having someone refinish her,I have seen replacement bass pickups made for musicmasters so if those are any good I could pick one of those up,have it installed,and a new pickguard put on. I was roaming on ebay and noticed Fender also has a "vintage modified" (whatever that means) Jaguar bass and a Bronco bass......are either of those any good? You kids are making my GAS syndrome come back.,,,,

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:36 pm
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Vintage Modified- means its made in ASIA and its a lot of fun because it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Take a look at those basses. Some are real lookers and they sound and play great. :!:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:25 pm
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bassplayin_chick wrote:
For now,I'll keep her as she is.......if I ever get to having someone refinish her,I have seen replacement bass pickups made for musicmasters so if those are any good I could pick one of those up,have it installed,and a new pickguard put on. I was roaming on ebay and noticed Fender also has a "vintage modified" (whatever that means) Jaguar bass and a Bronco bass......are either of those any good? You kids are making my GAS syndrome come back.,,,,



I personally LOVE the looks of this bass....
Image

Image

Image


It is called the Fender Deluxe Jaguar bass hot rod red. Made in Japan, retails around $850 new, 650 ish used. Aside from the look what impressed me was the nice vintage sound. Ironically the first time I ever saw and heard one was a band in Los Angeles and the lead singer was a female and also the bass player. But that is not the only reason I think it sounded good :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:14 am
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Those are pretty! I don't know why my inner geek loves all those switches.....but I do. :D

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:14 pm
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Those Japanese made Jaguar basses are very nice but they are a lot more than one of the Chinese made Jaguar basses with the P+J pickups and the tortoise shell PG over black finish.

I got mine for a great price. Its a very fun bass, but a different vibe than what a Musicmaster offers.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 12:28 pm
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I printed the wiring diagram & the relative that is going to redo the wiring for me has a question: "The ground wire doesn't appear to be in the circuit" He's hesitant to work on it as he doesn't find a "neutral side" as he calls it. He's not an electrician and wants to be sue it's redone correctly. By the same token,I don't want a bunch of electricity running thru my body,either. I could only find one diagram online for the circa 70's musicmaster.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Musicmaster bass question
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:28 pm
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bassplayin_chick wrote:
I printed the wiring diagram & the relative that is going to redo the wiring for me has a question: "The ground wire doesn't appear to be in the circuit" He's hesitant to work on it as he doesn't find a "neutral side" as he calls it. He's not an electrician and wants to be sue it's redone correctly. By the same token,I don't want a bunch of electricity running thru my body,either. I could only find one diagram online for the circa 70's musicmaster.


There is not really a "ground" wire per say but a "common", which is referred to as a ground. That will be one wire (the negative) from the input jack and pickup that gets soldered to the case of the pots and one more that contacts the bridge. As far as electrocution the only danger is certain old tube amplifiers that can go defective and send you quite a shock. But overall that is a very rare occurrence. Also sometimes you get a shock on stage when touching the guitar and mic stand due to crappy wiring of the building. There is a circuit that can be added as a safety/preventative measure if really concerned using a cap and resistor (you can find that online) but it could cause annoying hum as it isolates the metal parts from your body which acts as a "ground".

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