It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:59 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 70s Music Master with two pickups
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:04 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 7:28 am
Posts: 2
Only just discovered this forum after finally getting curious about the Fender Music Master six-string I've owned for more than 30 years. I never realised before that Music Masters only have one pickup – and mine has two.

The bridge pickup looks like a Strat model, but the scratch plate that it's sitting in seems to come from a Mustang – the arrangement of switches and screws is identical.

I bought it second-hand from a small-ad in the late 70s but it still has a retail sticker on the headstock from A1 Music in Oxford Road, Manchester, England. Never went there myself but it seems this was a place that specialised in repairing and modifying gear, so maybe that's where it was customised. The serial number on the backplate (see picture) is 360023, which makes it a 1973 model according to this website...

http://www.strat-central.com/external/datingfender.htm

The bridge PU has an exceptional sound that's sweet and biting at the same time. It's wonderfully easy to play too, and any Strat player who tries it never wants to give it back. The only slight negative is that the pickups have been wired so that when both are switched on the sound is nothing but spindly treble, unusable except as a special effect.

I'd be interested to know if anyone can shed any more light on this guitar from the pictures and the above information. Thanks.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 8:22 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:16 pm
Posts: 182
Location: KY
It appears to me that someone fitted a Duo-Sonic II pickguard with switching to your Musicmaster at one point in time. The bridge pickup is definitely a Strat pup.

_________________
2006 Fender AVRI 70s Stratocaster: Natural Ash | Sovtek MIG 60 & A No Name Cabinet | Pedals & Junk


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 7:29 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 6:56 am
Posts: 38
Location: South Of Heaven,TX
couple of things ..
could be a duo sonic II with a 70s mm neck
or a mmII with a 70s mm neck..
its clear that is a 70s musicmaster neck.
as for the body either a duosonicII which are very rare my friend, or a musicmasterII, very clear not origianl neck though..nice piece though keep it


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 6:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
Could be the guitar is not wired correctly and that's why the pickups are giving you less than optimum performance.

Here's the factory switch configuration for a stock Mustang......

Image

You might take a look "under the hood" and check to see if your wiring jives with this chart.

HTH

Arjay


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:22 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:27 am
Posts: 77
Thanks for that retro , Ive always wondered what the switches did on my Mustang .


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 9:27 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 17, 2010 7:28 am
Posts: 2
Thanks for all the info, everyone.

Actually, my two switches have only two positions – on or off. I didn't know that Mustangs have three-position switches. Looking again at pictures of Duo-Sonics, it looks like their switches might also be three-position, though it's difficult to tell.

I think the pick-ups must be wired permanently out of phase. I might get someone to look at that one day – I have learned over the years not to take things apart myself. Bad things happen.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 5:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 6:56 am
Posts: 38
Location: South Of Heaven,TX
i have a duo sonic-it has 3 way switches.. a duo sonicII is basically a mustang without the tremolo bridge..

_________________
1966 Duo Sonic II White
1970 F-1030
1976 Mustang Sunburst
2001 Jagstang Sonic Blue
Cyclone Candy Apple Red
Stratocaster MIM Flat Red
1976 Fender Vibro Champ
1994 Fender Blues Deluxe USA


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: