I have this exact bass. The finish is absolutely toasted on it from improper storage of the High School I bought it from. I paid $20.00 for it and recently had it gone through from a local Luthier in Fargo, ND. It is such a tremendous guitar. It’s been in my possession for around 20 years and I finally brought it in, and now cannot put it down. Great video.
@@realbeal I left the finish as is. It's chipped and checked pretty bad, but the luthier was able to adjust the neck, bridge, nut, and clean the frets up to the point it is back in playing action. Incredible piece of history and a joy to spend time playing.
That’s exactly like mine. A ‘78 I got in 1982. It was my first bass and is still my baby. Mine also may have been on the shelf. I don’t think it was used because the case was like new when I got it.
Hey Di! Thought I’d give you some info that I’d heard via word of mouth: the pickups typically were strat pickups that weren’t satisfactory to go in the guitars, which made it cheaper because they didn’t have to worry about production costs of the pickups. One fact that I know is true is that at the time of the musicmaster’s production, the higher end long-scale telecaster bass used a two saddle bridge as well, and shared its saddles with the musicmaster. As far as it’s production, fender reissued the musicmaster in the ‘90s, and now sell a similar instrument in the form of the Squier Bronco. Great video! Keep up the good work!
I had the same one with the original case. I learned on my uncle's practice bass, which was a yellow 71 Musicmaster. That had a great neck, it wasn't glossy like the 78. When he needed it back I found a 78 Musicmaster at a small music store in the Southside of Chicago. I bought it for $275 with the original case. This was in 1998, so it was a great deal. An American made bass all original for $275 seemed like a great deal. It's a great bass to learn on but doesn't cut very well. I ended up selling it a few years later and got a Musicman Stingray which cuts very well. I have been looking for a 71 or 72 for my young sons to learn on. The short scale is perfect for kids but I would like something that plays and sounds good. That 71 neck was perfect!
@@realbealErnie Ball has gotten out of control with price. I paid $675 for mine in 2003 and it was in perfect condition with a case. If I wanted a Musicman Stingray, I would get a G&L L-2000 instead. It has more tonal options and costs way less. My son is 8, I figure this is a good time to get him started. My Musicman Stingray is really heavy and it's about the same size as him. I saw a Jaguar bass that was short scale and I played an Ibanez Talman bass that blew me away. It had active P+J pickups and it sounds like a bass that costs 5 times its price. What I loved about the Musicmaster was how light it was and easy to play. If you ever come across a 71 or 72 check out the necks, they feel great! I would like to find one and route out a swimming pool pickup route and cut a new pickguard and swap out the single coil pickup for a P+J configuration with higher output pickups that cut. I figure I would devalue the instrument by routing out the pickup area some but I would save the original pickup and pickguard so it probably wouldnt devalue it too much.
Nice bass, I am a guitar player and I have a 1975 Musicmaster bass in Dakota red and love it. Great sized bass for a guitar player that wants to occasionally play around on the bass. Also these are affordable vintage guitars which is cool.
Phycho Killer, Tina Weymouth! Suggest you change that straight plug for a right angle.,Di. When you bang that plug, as you do,the bass socket gets damaged. I learned the hard way! God richly bless you!!!!! FROM NEW ZEALAND!
I have one of those ... also the first bass I started playing around '86. The finish on mine was curled and cracked in a house fire years ago. I had no idea these were worth anything today. I'm thinking of restoring it now. The tuning pegs need some TLC, but other than that its good :)
I have a bronco bass and got a bridge upgrade for 20 on E-Bay and it made a world of difference now it can actually be adjusted and has more sustain. If you lift the pickguard on that type of Fender you will find a large cavity where the pickup sits where could sit just about anything you want to upgrade EMG has solder less kits which could be boosted up to 27v for more response, and Seymour Duncan has a upgraded version of the pickup that's there. Of course you may want to keep your first bass original for sentiment. If you dig the short scale basses and want to try a 5 string, Ibanez has a great short scale 5 called the Micro 5 which is really affordable I put a heavier b string on mine and it sounds better than full sized instruments costing a lot more. What kind of strings do you like to use?
You could always get a hipshot bridge for a a bit of money but may have to cover holes from the previous bridge depending on the dimensions here is a link to the one I bought it covered the holes perfectly and is very adjustable action wise again you could always spend a few more bucks and get something snazzier but this is just to show how easily you could fix the sad bridge scenario of these older style Fender short scales. www.ebay.ca/itm/4-String-Guitar-Bass-Tailpiece-Bridge-for-Musical-Parts-Instrument-Accessory/153545110648?hash=item23c0007478:g:fUAAAOSw~BxdFc0O
My friend has a silver 1978 musicmaster. He walked past a shop many years ago and it was for sale for £150. It had a sign on it saying ' Would suit short fat bass player with small hands'. Unfortunately he is now in the process of selling it at £800. I got offered it but I am strictly long scale. It has had the same strings on for years and sound terrific. I these types of videos are best you do Di. The bass education ones. You could explain the p and the j or the Ric.
They're 100% American made! You used to be able to find them for really low prices but now they sell from 600-1200, I want a 71 or 72 but I don't want to pay more than 500-550. My expectations may not be realistic.
i have the same bass i got it for 50 bucks held it for a few years someone offered me 500 i took it. everyone is listing those for above a thousand but in reality absolutely no one is paying that. the intonation is bad on those mine would go out of tune as you played up the neck
I have this exact bass. The finish is absolutely toasted on it from improper storage of the High School I bought it from. I paid $20.00 for it and recently had it gone through from a local Luthier in Fargo, ND. It is such a tremendous guitar. It’s been in my possession for around 20 years and I finally brought it in, and now cannot put it down. Great video.
You are the first person I have met who has one! Have you been able to fix it up?
@@realbeal I left the finish as is. It's chipped and checked pretty bad, but the luthier was able to adjust the neck, bridge, nut, and clean the frets up to the point it is back in playing action. Incredible piece of history and a joy to spend time playing.
If you have an email I can share a few photos of it! Take care.
That’s exactly like mine. A ‘78 I got in 1982. It was my first bass and is still my baby. Mine also may have been on the shelf. I don’t think it was used because the case was like new when I got it.
Hey Di! Thought I’d give you some info that I’d heard via word of mouth: the pickups typically were strat pickups that weren’t satisfactory to go in the guitars, which made it cheaper because they didn’t have to worry about production costs of the pickups. One fact that I know is true is that at the time of the musicmaster’s production, the higher end long-scale telecaster bass used a two saddle bridge as well, and shared its saddles with the musicmaster.
As far as it’s production, fender reissued the musicmaster in the ‘90s, and now sell a similar instrument in the form of the Squier Bronco.
Great video! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for filling me in! I forgot to mention the reissue.
Reissue was from the Vista line made in Japan.I think
I had the same one with the original case. I learned on my uncle's practice bass, which was a yellow 71 Musicmaster. That had a great neck, it wasn't glossy like the 78. When he needed it back I found a 78 Musicmaster at a small music store in the Southside of Chicago. I bought it for $275 with the original case. This was in 1998, so it was a great deal. An American made bass all original for $275 seemed like a great deal. It's a great bass to learn on but doesn't cut very well. I ended up selling it a few years later and got a Musicman Stingray which cuts very well. I have been looking for a 71 or 72 for my young sons to learn on. The short scale is perfect for kids but I would like something that plays and sounds good. That 71 neck was perfect!
I just found out the Stingray comes in a short scale. I want one so bad. But they are really expensive! How old is your son?
@@realbealErnie Ball has gotten out of control with price. I paid $675 for mine in 2003 and it was in perfect condition with a case. If I wanted a Musicman Stingray, I would get a G&L L-2000 instead. It has more tonal options and costs way less. My son is 8, I figure this is a good time to get him started. My Musicman Stingray is really heavy and it's about the same size as him. I saw a Jaguar bass that was short scale and I played an Ibanez Talman bass that blew me away. It had active P+J pickups and it sounds like a bass that costs 5 times its price.
What I loved about the Musicmaster was how light it was and easy to play. If you ever come across a 71 or 72 check out the necks, they feel great! I would like to find one and route out a swimming pool pickup route and cut a new pickguard and swap out the single coil pickup for a P+J configuration with higher output pickups that cut. I figure I would devalue the instrument by routing out the pickup area some but I would save the original pickup and pickguard so it probably wouldnt devalue it too much.
Nice bass, I am a guitar player and I have a 1975 Musicmaster bass in Dakota red and love it. Great sized bass for a guitar player that wants to occasionally play around on the bass. Also these are affordable vintage guitars which is cool.
Yes! I am learning short scale basses are great for guitar players.
They still make that kind of bass. Check out Fender Squier bronco bass, it's kinda simillar to the musicmaster.
Phycho Killer, Tina Weymouth! Suggest you change that straight plug for a right angle.,Di. When you bang that plug, as you do,the bass socket gets
damaged. I learned the hard way! God richly bless you!!!!! FROM NEW ZEALAND!
This is great advice! I don't know how many times I had to resolder/replace the jack.
Sounds and looks amazing!
I have one of those ... also the first bass I started playing around '86. The finish on mine was curled and cracked in a house fire years ago. I had no idea these were worth anything today. I'm thinking of restoring it now. The tuning pegs need some TLC, but other than that its good :)
That would be awesome!
Aw man! This is so good
Thanks!
I have a bronco bass and got a bridge upgrade for 20 on E-Bay and it made a world of difference now it can actually be adjusted and has more sustain. If you lift the pickguard on that type of Fender you will find a large cavity where the pickup sits where could sit just about anything you want to upgrade EMG has solder less kits which could be boosted up to 27v for more response, and Seymour Duncan has a upgraded version of the pickup that's there. Of course you may want to keep your first bass original for sentiment. If you dig the short scale basses and want to try a 5 string, Ibanez has a great short scale 5 called the Micro 5 which is really affordable I put a heavier b string on mine and it sounds better than full sized instruments costing a lot more. What kind of strings do you like to use?
I was just talking to a guitar tech about replacing that terrible bridge. Not a fan of the pick up situation either. I use GHS round wounds.
You could always get a hipshot bridge for a a bit of money but may have to cover holes from the previous bridge depending on the dimensions here is a link to the one I bought it covered the holes perfectly and is very adjustable action wise again you could always spend a few more bucks and get something snazzier but this is just to show how easily you could fix the sad bridge scenario of these older style Fender short scales. www.ebay.ca/itm/4-String-Guitar-Bass-Tailpiece-Bridge-for-Musical-Parts-Instrument-Accessory/153545110648?hash=item23c0007478:g:fUAAAOSw~BxdFc0O
Thanks!
I have an EMG in mine.
Is the neck small and thin?
Hello Di, anyway....what’s your take on 5 string basses?
I think they are great, if you will need it for the setting you are playing in.
I like...a real jewel. 🎸
So awesome to see another female bassist! Awesome video Di! :)
Thanks! Great to meet you!
My friend has a silver 1978 musicmaster. He walked past a shop many years ago and it was for sale for £150. It had a sign on it saying ' Would suit short fat bass player with small hands'.
Unfortunately he is now in the process of selling it at £800. I got offered it but I am strictly long scale.
It has had the same strings on for years and sound terrific.
I these types of videos are best you do Di. The bass education ones. You could explain the p and the j or the Ric.
I am really sold on my Sira V7 at the moment. My brother just bought the Sira V7.
I still have two p basses
Best story ever!
Sorry my brother bought a Sira P7.
You're terrific on that old 1978(or 1979)Fender Musicmaster Bass
Thank you!
Best short scale ...unique pickguard
Sometimes things break. It's road worn!
トーキングヘッドカッコいい〜！😁
Dropping in a 51 P-Bass style single coil might give it more thump.
It sure would!
bartolini used to make 4-pole replacement pickups for the musicmaster, wish they would make them again..
I put a Carvin pickup in mine but it didn’t change much. I was actually trying to get brighter tones, though
What country was it made in?
In the USA. Fender was bought later by CBS and started manufacturing in other countries.
@@realbeal they were bought by CBS in 1963 64
They're 100% American made! You used to be able to find them for really low prices but now they sell from 600-1200, I want a 71 or 72 but I don't want to pay more than 500-550. My expectations may not be realistic.
i have the same bass i got it for 50 bucks held it for a few years someone offered me 500 i took it. everyone is listing those for above a thousand but in reality absolutely no one is paying that. the intonation is bad on those mine would go out of tune as you played up the neck
Is better than sqiuer bronco.