JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) As you will see from my signature, I currently have GAS for a Pawn Shop Mustang: I have a try-and-buy trip planned for next Sunday (15th) a few days ahead of my actual birthday, but I have just stumbled on [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_1978_Musicmaster_bass.html"]this at Bass Direct[/url]: It is a similar price to a new PSM, but 1978 - that makes it almost vintage in my book. To me it is undeniably sexy - and no go-faster stripes! On the other hand, could I live with a single coil? Or would it be possible to do an invisible mod with a stacked or rail-type Strat pickup? And could I live with that bridge? And is there even a four-saddle version in existence with the same screw mounting positions? Or should I look out for a [i]real[/i] modded Mustang from back in the day? AAARGH! Please someone buy this bass and put me out of my misery! Otherwise I'll have to take a half-day and drive over to give it a go, and then I might fall in love with it but still wish I could have the PSM. [size=3][font=courier new,courier,monospace][b]NOTE[/b]: I am not affiliated in any way with Bass Direct. Or Fender for that matter. Just saying.[/font][/size] Edited December 8, 2013 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I'm not a great fan of short scale basses myself but if it was me, I'd get the genuine Fender Mustang. Having heard a few, they don't sound at all bad with the original pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) [quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1386523063' post='2301008'] I'm not a great fan of short scale basses myself but if it was me, I'd get the genuine Fender Mustang. Having heard a few, they don't sound at all bad with the original pickup. [/quote] I'd have to find one first! The one in Bass Direct is a Musicmaster Edited December 8, 2013 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1386527149' post='2301092'] I'd have to find one first! [/quote] Here you go ... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Mustang-Bass-Guitar-Natural-Finish-/331078377461?"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-/331078377461?[/url] Often thought about getting one of these, might take a punt myself! Edited December 8, 2013 by ikay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) [quote name='ikay' timestamp='1386528581' post='2301112'] Here you go ... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Mustang-Bass-Guitar-Natural-Finish-/331078377461?"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-/331078377461?[/url] Often thought about getting one of these, might take a punt myself! [/quote] Blimey, I looked earlier and didn't see this. EDIT: Had a closer look and I completely don't like what I see. I particularly loathe the finish, which I expect was achieved by removing the original paintwork. I think I'm sticking with the PSM idea, but I can't rule out a trip to Bass Direct. I'll probably come back with a Dingwall 5-er (nearly did last time). Edited December 8, 2013 by JapanAxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 All other things being equal, I'd buy the Musicmaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1386535824' post='2301242'] All other things being equal, I'd buy the Musicmaster. [/quote] Ah but they're not equal! The Mustang has a big feck-off humbucker; the Musicmaster will hold its value better. Hmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Love those Musicmasters. Recorded with one once and it was brilliant. Really raw and felt awesome. Ohhhh, has GAS just struck, again?! Damn it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1386537712' post='2301279'] Ah but they're not equal! ... [/quote] True, that's why I had to imagine they were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Been doing a bit of research on the Musicmaster. The pickup looks to be a Strat pickup, as on the Bronco, so if hum was a real problem then a hum-cancelling Strat pickup would fix it. I'm actually more concerned about the intonation on the 2-saddle bridge. Of course I could just try it out and plug it into my Korg Pitchblack. I feel a plan coming on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/collections/saddles-for-bass/products/wilkinson-swivel-bass-bridge-barrels-2-brass"]Wilkinson swivel brass saddles[/url] located but at a price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1386542982' post='2301373'] Been doing a bit of research on the Musicmaster. The pickup looks to be a Strat pickup, as on the Bronco, so if hum was a real problem then a hum-cancelling Strat pickup would fix it. I'm actually more concerned about the intonation on the 2-saddle bridge. Of course I could just try it out and plug it into my Korg Pitchblack. I feel a plan coming on... [/quote] If you are worried about all those things then you're probably looking at the wrong bass for you. A Musicmaster is what it is. It's a no frills basic short scale bass. That's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Sorry, didn't realise it was a musicmaster. I remember them coming out. Cheap and nasty Fenders, only for those who just had to have a Fender at all costs but had no money. Leave well alone. They weren't any good then and they won't be any good now. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Musicmaster_Bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 The more I think about this, the more I think the PS Mustang is the bass I really want, and all I am doing with the Musicmaster is imagining how I can turn it into a substitute for the Mustang, but with a bit of near-vintage mojo! Also it seems the original Musicmaster finishes were black (most common) or white, or more rarely 'surf' red or blue. The Bass direct one therefore appears to be a refin, which immediately reduces its desirability and the reasonableness of the asking price. Although some of the Mms (as opposed to MMs) on YooToob sound nice, that means nothing. (I refer you to the Pro Guitar Shop demos, where absolutely every item they demo is mad to sound wonderful.) Whatever I did to the pickup, it is never going to match the one in the PSM. I found [url="http://www.stewmac.com/tsarchive/ts0172.html"]this interesting article[/url] about someone making a pickup to overcome the deficiencies of the original [i]guitar [/i]pickup. So for that reason I'm out - out on a GAS-indulging road trip at the weekend with one of my mates in tow as a second pair of ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1386545568' post='2301413'] Sorry, didn't realise it was a musicmaster. I remember them coming out. Cheap and nasty Fenders, only for those who just had to have a Fender at all costs but had no money. Leave well alone. They weren't any good then and they won't be any good now.[/quote] The first bass I owned was a Fender Musicmaster. Paid £70 for it back in around 1981. It was rubbish and suffered from horrible neck-dive. I find it hard to believe that they are becoming collectable!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Compared with more modern basses the Musicmaster may not be great but it's certainly a decent bass when compared with a lot of other basses that were around in the 70s. I'm not at all surprised that they are collectable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1386606542' post='2302074'] Compared with more modern basses the Musicmaster may not be great but it's certainly a decent bass when compared with a lot of other basses that were around in the 70s.[/quote] OK. Fair point. One does tend to forget that the cheaper end of the bass scale wasn't always as good as it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1386606542' post='2302074'] Compared with more modern basses the Musicmaster may not be great... [/quote] And there it is. I think the Mustang [i]is[/i] great, at least among short scale basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1386606982' post='2302084'] OK. Fair point. One does tend to forget that the cheaper end of the bass scale wasn't always as good as it is now. [/quote] I also should have said that i have a Squier Bronco that i paid £88 (brand new and including postage!) for about 5 years ago which in my opinion is better than a couple of 70s Musicmasters that i've played. I do think though that the Bronos at the price they were when i bought mine were a steal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 9, 2013 Author Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1386615388' post='2302238'] I also should have said that i have a Squier Bronco that i paid £88 (brand new and including postage!) for about 5 years ago which in my opinion is better than a couple of 70s Musicmasters that i've played. I do think though that the Bronos at the price they were when i bought mine were a steal. [/quote] Yes I tried a Bronco once that belonged to one of my Rockschool students. I was quite impressed but currently they are overpriced compared to what a few quid more can get you in the way of Squier Classic Vibes etc. These days I am aiming a bit higher and going for something that will cut the mustard at gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Don't know if you'd consider the Squier range but a few months ago I went to PMT to look for a cheaper version of my old Mustang to take the less salubrious gigs we do and I tried the Squier Mustangs which were ok, then I tried the Mikey Way signature and was seriously impressed. Head and shoulders above the others. I nearly bought it as it was less than 250 quid but I decided I would never be able to live with the sparkly silver finish so didn't. Good bass though if you like the look of it. Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I tried one out a while ago. £550 new. Always fancied one. Ughhh..... ! Hope it was a one off :OL ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 [quote name='Les' timestamp='1386675928' post='2302870'] Don't know if you'd consider the Squier range but a few months ago I went to PMT to look for a cheaper version of my old Mustang to take the less salubrious gigs we do and I tried the Squier Mustangs which were ok, then I tried the Mikey Way signature and was seriously impressed. Head and shoulders above the others. I nearly bought it as it was less than 250 quid but I decided I would never be able to live with the sparkly silver finish so didn't. Good bass though if you like the look of it. Les [/quote] Looks dreadful to me! [quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1386676129' post='2302873'] I tried one out a while ago. £550 new. Always fancied one. Ughhh..... ! Hope it was a one off :OL ! [/quote] One man's meat etc. Where was it? £550 is pretty keen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.