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MUSICMASTER Bass: Spare parts or Short Scale Ripper?
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- čas přidán 15. 08. 2024
- In this video, I talk about the Fender Musicmaster Bass and compare it to the Fender Mustang Bass. We talk about it's history, what makes it unique, how it sounds, and how it feels.
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I was a p bass guy for over 20 years. Two years ago I bought a squire musicmaster, threw a curtis novak musicmaster pickup hipshot ultralight lollipops and a hipshot vintage bridge new jack cts pots an nos orange drop cap and labella dtfs. I'm happy
I had one exactly like the one in your video that my mom bought me in 1975 when I was 15. Mine started me on a lifelong journey I'm still enjoying today.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing 🤘
wow.....nice mom! 1978 MM owner....1st "nice" bass ever owned and bought it brand new
I have a Musicmaster bass that I love! I bought it in really rough condition for $400. Since then I’ve had it: refinished, changed the pickups to mustang pickups, upgraded to a hipshot 4 saddle bridge, and upgraded the pots. Now it plays exactly how I want it to and is currently my #1
Awesome! Sounds like a great bass. Enjoy it ⚡️
Then you have the little cousin to theses basses, the Squier Bronco. Its basically a modern MusicMaster. No reason to overpay for a used MM. You can get a used Bronco for like $100. Great basses to mod.
The bronco scratchplate is significantly less cool imo. Not the most challenging mod though!
The Bronco has a six-pole pickup too.
@@MirlitronOneI have a '76 musicmaster and a sonic series bronco...don't fall for marketing hype, they're practically interchangeable
Check out the Glarry short scale bass that looks nearly identical to a Squire Bronco or Fender Musicmaster. The cost is ridiculously low.
I bought one years ago from a coworker for $120. I installed a black Fender Lace Sensor pickup since I had a Strat Plus and they are quiet. Later I changed the two stock saddles to Wilkinson brass swivel saddles which made it easy to correctly intonate. It has flatwound strings. So easy to play and sounds old school thumpy. Like Motown , Beatles and Bob Marley. It is a keeper.
I just got one and it’s funny you say Beatles. You’re absolutely right. Almost has a Hofnery quality
My buddy has an old musicmaster with flats and I picked it up and immediately fell in love with it. Came here to learn more. Thanks for this video!!
the original wiring for the MM bass had an extra cap "always on" acting as a treble cut or low-pass filter to remove some of the top-end of the guitar pickup.. through the years lots of people modified it by removing it
Thanks for sharing ⚡️
@@philipconradmusicOne thing about that...removing the high-cut cap will let more tone through, but will also let even more hum through...I kept the original parts, but replaced the whole setup with a duncan stk-1 and a harness with a push-pull volume pot for series-parallel switching, and I usually use it in parallel which sounds alot like a single coil but without the hum
The Squier Bronco is actually a fantastic option. Throw a new bridge, tuners, pickup, and electronics on it (with some fretwork and a good setup), and it will more than hold its own against a 70s Musicmaster, all for well under $400. I'm speaking from experience, by the way, as I own both, along with a dozen other vintage and modern basses, and I pick up the Bronco more often than not.
I found a piece of a cardboard clothing tag at a clothing store that I used to shim the neck of my Squier Bronco bass and the bass plays exponentially better!
One of the first short scale basses I ever played was a MusicMaster bass in a small shop in Tulsa. It had a black finish that was peeling off but it was one of the coolest basses ever. I think it was from the 70s but I didn’t have enough money for it so I had to pass it up but it was pretty neat
My first bass was a 76' Mustang I picked up in 86' as a beginner bass. I I never loved the tone and eventually upgraded after a few years so in the closet she went. Fast forward to a couple years ago and I start seeing posts about folks being stoked to score one. I thought "really? Stoked about a beginner bass?" I thought maybe I'm missing something. Dug it out of the closet and immediately understood why I never liked the tone. Pickups were slammed almost down to the pick guard making it quiet and thin. Did a quick set up and then I got the fuss lol. It sounds fantastic if you have it set up right lol. I wound up tracking a couple songs with it that week haha. Another funny part... I nabbed it back in the day for I think about $250. I looked up what they're going for and it turns out my first "cheap beginner bass" is now collectable and one of the more valuable ones in my collection lol.
I love my musicmaster. I think they are making a bit of a come back and I’m all for it!
💯
I've always wondered if the Squier Bronco bass was one of Leo's designs that the CBS company put on the back burner. In this era the Bronco bass is probably Fender's biggest seller all time.
Love your videos!
Just bought a full original 77 musicmaster yesterday. It definiately rips.
So awesome!! Have fun
I just picked up a 1977 Musicmaster Bass for $200! It's definitely been played, but it sure is fun
Good deal, man!
My first bass was a Squire Bronco that I used to call "Buzzy", because at the time of playing it I had very poor playing technique and a not-so-great setup. A few years after that I upgraded to a J bass and didn't look back for many years. Fast forward to a year or so ago, I saw the promo video for Joe Dart's Joe Dart Jr. Signature bass that's a short scale, I saw the Get Back Beatles documentary and remembered that Paul's violin bass is a short scale, and then saw your video on short scale basses from before and got inspired to take another look at my Bronco. I ended up buying some Short Scale Labella flatwounds as I wanted that more vintage-y, darker but smooth sound that I could have on the side to complement my J bass being the zingy one that I'd use for more rock/funk applications. So far I'm liking it a lot, though I do think I may upgrade the pickup so that the volume is more even from string to string.
Anyways, great video as always. Glad you're back to making videos again :)
Awesome! Sounds like you came full circle. Thanks for sharing and glad to have you here ⚡️
I think this is one of Fenders best designs it just looks so right.
My first ever bass was a squier bronco bass, they feel so good to play and it makes grooving for me more comfortable
I still prefer my good old J bass but man do these basses pack a punch!!
Well said ⚡️
I'm a die hard advocate for the Bronco bass. I gigged with one for years! Great little basses.
I have a all-original blue one from the mid-70s, I just opened it up, It actually has a mustang pickup!
Super cool! Thanks for sharing ⚡️
The late 90s Squier Vista Musicmaster is more like a Mustang. It has a different pickup ("Vistatone," not a Strat pickup) and a string-through bridge like a Mustang. If you can find a Squier Vista Musicmaster bridge, it is a great upgrade for a Bronco. I've swapped the Bronco pickup for a Sentell, great little bass for not much $$.
I modified my '66 reissue Mustang with a Curtis Novak "Fat" Mustang pick up (it's great!). But I have been toying with the idea of putting a pickup between the Mustang split coils and the end of the neck (that is - not - like a Jazz bass) to get more low end maybe like a lot of hollow bodies. The pick up that seems to make the most sense is the Musicmaster replacement pickup by CN.
Sounds super cool! Hope you find the sound you are looking for ⚡️
They are so underrated I Got a pawn shop score black 77. Had a four pole but it was not right. Since it had a guitar pickup i tried a Duncan quarter pounder and It slams with nylons and flats :). Great quick couch bass too
Mine is from 1973. Sound engineers like how this bass finds its way easily in the mix. Your friend's bass has the larger tuners that came in the late 70's. The darker tone is due to an additional .022 cap whose function was to eliminate the high frequencies coming from the thin Mustang guitar pickup. People in the know remove it. I've seen all sorts of pickups mounted on these. Bisonic, H22 gold foil, 1951 Precision, Guyatone… Intonation can be made easier by shaping the saddles in diagonal. The only problem is that GOOD short scale strings are super rare, especially flatwounds. An optimal string set should have higher gauge but higher flexibility in order to adapt well to the scale length. The strings that are offered for short scale basses are the opposite, just long scale strings with lower gauge and similar flexibility. That's why La Bella flats feel much better on long scale basses. The only set I know that was designed for short scale is the 1956 Pyramid Gold flats. GHS Balanced Nickels are a good option for roundwounds.
Curious if you kept the original pickup in yours or not? Just got a ‘79 and I’m liking it a lot so far - leaning towards not modding it
@@studiodsr Mine had a new pickup when I bought it by 'Bartolini' a long gone French boutique maker. But what I say is true for the original pickups.
I bought my MM in 1990. Put an EMG active in it and have been thrashing it ever since. I can't be on stage with any other bass!!
A 1978 Musicmaster bass is my holy grail bass. Someday......
why specifically 1978?
@@bobbysworldofficial My birth year.
IMO you are one of the best channels on CZcams
Thank you ☺️☺️☺️
I had a ‘74 in Vintage White/Butter Yellow. I also had a Squier Vista Series. Both were great and so easy to play! Pachyman gets some super low sounds out of one for the dub reggae that he’s making.
I used to have a 1969 Fender Musicmaster guitar. It was basically the same thing, a mustang but with a single strat pickup in the middle.
My first bass was a 66 EBO that my dad bought me when I was 13. That was 1976, my bass teacher was a young guy, about 10 years older then me. I already new how to read music because I had played violin for about 5 years, and l played trumpet for about 4 years, learned both in school. So my teacher would teach me the bass cleft and proper scales and he would end up play my bass for an hour, he was a guitar player and teacher besides a bass teacher. He loved that thing he had never played a short scale bass. He was only giving an hour lesson and he would be at my house for 2-2 1/2 hours. Still have that bass, got some Fender P's and J's, Thunderbird and 2 Ibanez's. It's kind of retired now, only use it for a Beatles song or a Stones, anything from the British envision. With my 70's V4b 2x15 cab every nail and screw in my house gets rattled out a little bit ever time.
At the end of the 90s, the instrument retailer who employed my guitar teacher and sold me several guitars (as well as my first bass) had a Squier model un aqua finish that resembled this one. The dissimilarities included a Jazz pickup in the bridge, a split-coil P%bass pickup (like on the Mustang) in the neck and 20 frets in lieu of 19. If I did not discriminate against the Squier brand at that moment, that bass would’ve been mine when I decided I needed an upgrade (or just a change) from my first one.
The short scale model I currently play is in fact from Squier, the Vintage Modified Bass Six. It wasn’t half as much because of its reduced scale as much as the total options with three pick ups equipped with individual switching and the two extra strings. Instead of playing that like a guitar, I play it as a bass with extra added features. Even professional bass players pick that up and fall into the trap of playing it like a guitar. Big no-no, people.
Youre face said it all when you plugged that musicmaster in. Im shocked at how good it sounds as well..i had similar feelings abiut the bridge and pickup
Entertaining and informative video. I liked the Musicmaster sound more, sounded fuller. I like loud sloppy rock music!
Thanks for watching ⚡️
I have played a vintage mustang and when compared to my modded bronco its no comparison that the bronco is the best bc of the mods ive made. Its exactly to my taste. Dropped a rail bucker in with a coil split pot.
Nice! Sounds like it rips ⚡️
I have a CIJ Mustang from the 2000s. I have flats on it, and it sounds midway between the MM and JMJ Mustang. Love it with flats. The CIJ Mustangs are flawless build-wise with Seymour Duncan split PU. This bass has doubled and more in price since I bought it new--bought the Fender hardshell case for it. That MM sounds so much like a P-bass light...might search for one...
Check out those new Vintera II Mustang Basses and Bass VI!!!
I bought a Musicmaster 7 years ago for $600, and at the time I felt like it was worth it. It’s a really cool bass, but in my opinion it just isn’t worth the price they are selling for these days. I’m glad I snagged one before the price really started to inflate.
Agreed. Enjoy it! ⚡️
Holy shit, thanks to your comment I looked them up, I can't believe they're going for that much. I got mine in the early 2000s when they were kind of known for being junky basses and you could get them for a couple hundred bucks.
Anyone know what kind of semiround strings work for mustangs?
The current Squier Bronco bass has a Stratocaster pickup in it. I wanna buy one but put an aftermarket 50’s P-bass pickup in it and then put vintage style tuners on it.
Sounds like a fun project!
Hey Philip, how difficult is it to get the JMJ mustang to sound like a Musicmaster? I love the MM sound but don’t want to deal with noisy electronics for recording.
List price of the Musicmaster in 1971 was $139.50. In todays money (2022), that is equivalent to $990. So paying $2K for a vintage one today seems steep. Can get a vintage 70s P Bass for the same with markedly better quality. But…. to each their own. Thanks Phil.
Well said Alan (as usual). Thanks for sharing ⚡️
@@philipconradmusic but I do love vintage basses being of a certain vintage myself
@@alanscharrer5255 😆
Great video Philip - kudos & respect mate. That was bang on, and really good observations. I've subscribed, thanks 👍..... My first bass when I started was a '78 Musicmaster. TBH it was a dog & I mod'ed the sh*t out of it electronically, even wiring it in stereo with a P-Bass pickup installed for two amps! Eventually traded it in for a Japanese active Westone, as slap was the thing back in the 80's 👍😃
Thanks for sharing, and the kind word. Glad to have you here! ⚡️
I’d be interested to hear how a bronco/musicmaster (Strat style) pickup in the bridge of a mustang bass. Almost like a pj fusion of the two short-scales.
I had one of those 90s Squier MM basses. One of the few guitars I really regret selling. I'm playing bass in a band again for the first time in many years and my old back can no longer stand holding my 12lb Jazz Bass for three hour rehersals so I've picked up a shortscale Ibanez Talman. I really love it. Needs a few upgrades (pickups, pots, , cap, nut especially - the plastic nut looks like it was shaped with a dremel) but I really love it. You should try one. Great videos by the way :)
the amazing curtis novak does some great musicmaster pickups - usually the E string is quite weak since it's a guitar pickup - i have a 78 and after pickup upgrade it rocks
Hey Philip you wanna see some of my Pony’s? Got a few OLDIES And a few custom rare ones… Love these lil short scales with full size BALLS!!!
Thanks fore a great demo 🙏I have had many different Mustangs .Japanese and American,and Mexican made. Fore me the Music Master you did the demo on sound more like a P bass.I have a friend that custom made a PJ pickup set for the Mexican made I have no, and that did it fore me.
I was thinking that as well! The musicmaster sounded more like a p and the mustang more like a j. Interesting observation!
Great video you put together here. Have you checked out the Squier Rascal short scale bass?
Round wound strings sound brighter? Interested by your description
Get a squirt bronco and have fun swapping out the guts and bridge
I went all out on mine with an aero type 1 bass pickup hip shot bridge and hip shot ultra lite tuners
And made a new custom pic guard
It’s a fun little bass that I leave out to remind me to play
Pickups are just wire wrapped around magnets. One of my favorite "bass" pickups is a 7 string dimarzio humbucker.
Pity G&L never did the short-scale option. If they had, the mod you're looking for would be readily apparent.
Specifically, Leo stopped using tone knobs for his Strats and Telecasters at G&L and started wiring in bass and treble boosts instead. Put a bass boost in to replace your tone knob of your Mustang bass, and you can swap between the Musicmaster and the Mustang.
happy owner of a squier vista mustang bass here!!
Nice! Would love to play one. Seems like a much more reasonable price for a great vibe.
Would you ever consider doing a review of a phase 3 Univox Hi-Flyer bass? Those are also 1970’s short scale basses made in Japan and when paired with flat-wound strings they really have a tubby thumpy bass tone. 👍👍
I’d love to if I can get my hands on one.
The bridge is an original bridge that were featured on the 51 p bass
Tele pickup iirc. Had to replace one once when I had one of these many years ago.
i bought my musicmaster bass new in 1982, it was on closeout sale and i paid $89 for it, it came in the cheap cardboard case not the nicer hardshell case. i've always wanted a hard case but i could never justify paying more for the case than i did for the bass.... back then these basses were not in demand, nobody wanted a short scale bass.
cool video, made monday better. thanks
Thanks Soren!
I love my short scales!
If you'd be interested in modding, might I suggest a squier bronco as a mod platform if you are interested in the music master bass.
Cool idea! Thanks for sharing ⚡️
The mustang sounded thicker to me than the musicmaster, but I can absolutely see your point about it wanting to play sloppy rock. I could see it being amazing for a punk band or something similar.
And I 100% get how you feel about the 40 Watt. I went to school in Athens, and I'd love to play that club at some point as a bucket list item. It and the Georgia Theater both.
Im a P bass guy.. Still have the 72 I bought NEW while in high school.
I recently bough a JMJ Mustang and LOVE IT.
I curious as to which FLATS people are using on their Short Scale basses.
I saw a guy . He had PURPLE Silk wraps on the flats and it sounded GREAT.. I never found out what they were.
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats probably
Back already? Excellent turn-around time.
Thanks!
I had a Musicmaster bass in the late 60's and a new Mustang in '70. Still have the Mustang. To me, the Musicmaster sounded more like a J bass and the Mustang sounds more like a P bass. Having quite a few J basses and a P bass, that's my take on it. Thanks for the comparison.
I bought my music master bass about 13 years ago for $450 , now they are skyrocketing up in value even adjusted for inflation, I'd suggest if can find one around $1000-$1200 would be worth it because they seem to still be going up in value
Agreed!
The Musicmaster all the way TO ME!!
Small world, my brother-in-laws have played 40 watt a few times. Everyday Dogs, They went to UGA as well.
Small world! I love Athens and the 40 Watt! Thanks for sharing and glad to have you here.
Really cool video, what rounds are you using? I really want one of those JMJ Mustangs!
Thanks! The JMJ has DR Sunbeams I believe. Not sure what the musicmaster has. I usually use the same set, but since the JmJ is through body, the strings are different lengths. Very similar gauge and wind though ⚡️
Crazy seeing musicmasters for 2500 nowadays
Mustang pickups are just strat pickups with a cover without holes for a futuristic look, I’m not sure if it was chéster to make tho
So this used to be the best-of-the-rest pawn shop score (early 90s latest)but not since they've become collectible. Which is too bad because $200 was spendy...
BUT if you've got one pull the original everything electronic and set it all aside, cut a pickguard and call Curtis N, turn him loose and install what he sends you.
OR get a Squier Bronco, cut a pickguard, make a diy lipstick humbucker out of a set of Kent Armstrong's, or a single, as you like it, install it at the best harmonic candidate and see what you get. Not 70's but approaching bona fide funk.
Re the bridge I was crying in telecaster :)
😭😂
I’d like to try an EMG strat pickup on a Musicmaster.
There seems to just a lil bit more depth to the Mustang, but just a lil bit.
Musicmaster was Cool.
❤❤
Nice! Thanks for watching ⚡️
Thanks for this video Philip. The comparison helped me decide to go for a Musicmaster, I found a great deal on a 79 MMB and snapped it up for a new studio flavor. Also thanks for your mind blowing tip about keeping old bass strings! Never thought of doing that even though I’ve been playing bass a long time. I had a question - what would be your preferred string if you were going to put a new set of strings on a musicmaster bass? Thanks!
Hi Casey! Congrats on your purchase. I have had semi round strings on my Mustang recently and been really happy. I bet they would rip on a Musicmaster as well. The ones I’ve been using are D’Addarios. Not sure if you will need short scale specific strings for your bass though as my Mustang is through body. Hope you find the sound you are looking for! ⚡️
@@philipconradmusic Thanks for the reply! I dig semi round guitar strings so I bet I'd like them on the bass too.
I doubt many people are getting $2k for the MM.. Wishful pricing. I've sold several over the last 5 years and never got more than $800 after they sat around for a while.
That’s good to hear. I saw one for around a thousand recently. Maybe it’s not as bad as I thought. Thanks for sharing! ⚡️
It does depend on the model. I know the lefty ones can hit almost 2k CAD.
soooo nice!
Mustang sounds more like a Jazz, and the MM sounds more like a Precision. IMO
guitar pickup is better than mandolin pickups (it's actually two mandolin pickup that's there on the P bass, do a little research if you doubt )
Gerard Stroh***
Philip Conrad***
I have A 1977 Music master Bass Guitar!!!
I made into A Small P Bass Because at the Time I did not Have A Real Fender Bass!!!
I put Bass line P Bass Pickups on my Music Master Bass and I put A Music Man Bass Bridge on it and it Works Great****
All From Gerard Stroh*****
Awesome! Thanks for sharing ⚡️
MM is darker and woolier, Mustang is brighter and growlier. If you want more of a vintage Motown / funk vibe go MM. If you want a more modern rock vibe go Mustang
How many basses do you own? Do you have the time to actually use them? Do you feel like you're craving more gear than you actually need?
Each bass I have is a carefully selected tool for a different purpose. It’s always fun to get new basses, but not necessary. I am more curious to try things than to acquire them. Thanks for sharing ⚡️
Yes, it is a Stratocaster pickup
I like how deep that MM sounds in your vid. What are your settings?
If I remember it was straight into the Apollo. The pickup sounds really good!
@@philipconradmusic Thanks for sharing!
Nick Campbell is a notable Musicmaster player. In this video at least, the Musicmaster sounds way better than your JMJ...but I'm wondering how much of that can be attributed to difference in strings. Just sounds like newer strings on the JMJ.
This video was a while ago so I can’t be totally sure, but if I remember I used the same strings on both basses.
@@philipconradmusic That is a huge difference, then!
I want to know about the bass behind you please ... the shape of the headstock looks like a fender but it's not ... what's that ?
Good question ! It’s a Nash Jazz bass. I talk about it a bit in this video: czcams.com/video/6m1NakdVQgE/video.html
@@philipconradmusic 😮😮😮HE REPLIED ! DID YOU SEE THAT ? HE REPLIED ! I'M FAMOUS NOW ! THANKS FOR THE INFO 😁😁😁
is the musicmaster a vista tone instrument?
Good question! Fender
@@philipconradmusic I realised that I was wrong a min after posting this question. IDK if you know much or anything about the guitar version of the musicmaster, especially the Squier 90s remake? I had one as my first guitar and it had a single humbucker which you could split to single coil. It only had the volume pot, which doubled as the coil selection - no tone pot. The humbucker had "vista tone" written on it and the head had "vista" written on the end. The humbucker was so strong that I ended up taking it out and putting it into a different guitar and it really ripped.
On a side note, I've recently found your channel and , even though I've had all sorts of guitars and basses through the years, I got rid of pretty much everything except a Fender American Tele, so I'm rebuilding my rig from scratch and you're really giving me so much food for thought on what I want, making me question the idea of just getting the "best" bass and thinking about what *I* want to play. All these different tones are kinda helping me question what I thought I always knew.
So glad to have you here! I don’t know much about the guitar version to be honest. I hope you find the sound you are looking for. Thanks for watching!
I had a JMJ and a Music Master, I sold the JMJ & kept the MM to play sloppy rock…!
🤘
Gave up my G&L L2000 for a Mustang short scale. Easier to play and sounds great.
That pickup looks like a Mustang guitar pickup. The cover doesn’t show any polepieces. I wonder if it’s a bar magnet or like a Strat pickup inside.
That Mustang guitar pickup exhibits more growl than the Musicmaster. I like the Musicmaster bass better.
For short scales Gibson EBs are great too.
Well said ⚡️
I just don’t get the fascination with vintage instruments. Most of them play like crap, need to be modded because of that, and are unreasonably expensive. There’s usually a modern option that can get you the same sound for a fraction of the price, and built really well.
Put an Aero pickup on the MM and you will love it even more!
You are so right! BUT you have to wait while the Aero people make it - it took 4 months for mine to be delivered but it transformed my MM.
@@georgebenn1239 Oh wow, I didn’t know they took that long. I put mine in a long time ago.
@@jackdempsey9644 I was told they make them to order, so you join a queue. I'm in England so that probably added to the delay.
This was a cool video. Hey if you want me to make you pickups I can. No.biggie lmk
I like the MusicMaster sound better tbh
The Bullet Bass is long scale.
Good point. Available as a 34” as well as 30.”
@@philipconradmusic I didn’t know that it was also made as a short mine is a 1980 US long scale I have also seen a squire version as long scale but haven’t seen a shorty. My 2 shorts are a EB3 copy w/round wound’s and a Danelectro longhorn w/flats.
✌🏻✌🏻
🤘 🤘
Boiling strings is a waste of time, IMO.
The piece of gear i miss most is my musicmaster 1978 🥲
I can only imagine 🥲🥲
Get a squirt bronco and have fun swapping out the guts and bridge
I went all out on mine with an aero type 1 bass pickup hip shot bridge and hip shot ultra lite tuners
And made a new custom pic guard
It’s a fun little bass that I leave out to remind me to play
It's my favorite bass. I totally regreat not buying it when found one at 700 💔