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Fender Musicmaster Bass

^# 30

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$736.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (22)

3 Reviews

Find out who is using Fender Musicmaster Bass

5 community setups

31 wishlisted

83 saved

Page last updated Jun 30, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 30, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (21)

$736.00 61 available Used

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Average Price: $736

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Electric Basses category, Fender Musicmaster Bass is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Immerse yourself in the world of authentic, vintage bass sound with the Fender Musicmaster Bass. Spawned in the '70s and briefly reissued in 1997, this bass guitar, a simplified version of the Fender Mustang Bass, is a small-scale yet powerful instrument. Its distinctive feature is its tuning keys: older models boast triangular keys, while later models adopted the Mustang-style. The Fender Musicmaster Bass is the perfect choice for musicians who crave a genuine retro feel without the hefty price tag.

Key Features: - Authentic vintage design: Inspired by the original '70s Fender Musicmaster Bass. - Simplified version of Fender Mustang Bass: Emulates the classic Mustang bass style, ideal for musicians who prefer a simpler, streamlined design. - Distinctive tuning keys: Earlier models with triangular keys and later ones with Mustang-style keys, adding a unique touch to each piece. - Affordable vintage: Offers a real vintage bass experience at a musician-friendly price.

Product specs

Brand	Fender
Model	Musicmaster Bass
Finish	Black, Dakota Red, Daphne Blue, Olympic White, Wine Red
Year	1972 - 1981
Made In	United States
Categories	4-String Basses, Short Scale Basses
Active / Passive Pickups	Passive Pickups
Active Preamp	No Preamp
Body Material	Alder
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Color Family	Black, Blue, Red, White
Finish Style	Gloss
Fretboard Material	Rosewood
Model Family	Fender Musicmaster Bass
Neck Material	Maple
Number of Frets	19
Number of Strings	4-String
Offset Body	Offset Body
Pickup Configuration	S
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed
Series	Fender Vintage CBS Era

FAQs

Is the Fender Musicmaster Bass suitable for beginners?: Yes, the Fender Musicmaster Bass is ideal for beginners due to its short scale, which makes it easier to play, especially for those with smaller hands. Its simple design and passive pickups offer a straightforward playing experience.
What type of music is the Fender Musicmaster Bass best suited for?: The Fender Musicmaster Bass is versatile and can be used for various genres, including rock, pop, and indie. Its warm tone and easy playability make it a popular choice for both recording and live performances.
Does the Fender Musicmaster Bass have active or passive pickups?: The Fender Musicmaster Bass features passive pickups, which provide a warm, vintage tone without the need for a battery-powered preamp.
What is the scale length of the Fender Musicmaster Bass?: The Fender Musicmaster Bass is a short-scale bass, which typically has a scale length of around 30 inches. This makes it more comfortable to play for some musicians, particularly those with smaller hands.
What materials are used in the construction of the Fender Musicmaster Bass?: The Fender Musicmaster Bass features an alder body with a maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. This combination of materials contributes to its balanced tone and solid build quality.

Videos

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Philip Conrad

MUSICMASTER Bass: Spare parts or Short Scale Ripper?

Philip Conrad

Norman's Rare Guitars - Guitar of the Day: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass

Normans Rare Guitars

Guitar of the Day: 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass | Norman's Rare Guitars

Normans Rare Guitars

Fender Musicmaster Bass + Tapewound vs Flatwound Comparison! | All You Need to Know | Demo & Review

Tyler Spicer

The Bass Guitar - 1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass Original Case - 515-864-6136

Lawman Guitars

Scott Walker - The Old Man's Back Again bass cover

Raphael Ferreira

Fender Musicmaster Bass Guitar-Overview and Sound

Mixing Mastering Online

1973 Fender Musicmaster bass - vintage guitar demo

Vintage Guitar and Bass

Air - All I Need bass cover

Raphael Ferreira

Barry White - You're The First, My Last, My Everything bass cover

Raphael Ferreira

1978 FENDER MUSICMASTER BASS - Andy's Vintage Guitars

ANDY'S VINTAGE GUITARS

1978 Fender Musicmaster Bass Review

Joe Hart

1973 Fender Musicmaster bass / 1973 WEM Dominator Bass MK 1 - Short Version

Vintage Guitar and Bass

1973 FENDER MUSICMASTER BASS - Andy's Vintage Guitars

ANDY'S VINTAGE GUITARS

Ann Peebles - How Strong Is A Woman bass cover

Raphael Ferreira

1970 FENDER MUSICMASTER BASS - Andy's Vintage Guitars

ANDY'S VINTAGE GUITARS

1973 FENDER MUSICMASTER BASS - Andy'S Vintage Guitars

ANDY'S VINTAGE GUITARS

Reviews

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PROS

Easy transition from guitar with short-scale design
Offers unique, punchy, and warm sound
Ideal for studio recordings with distinct tone
Vintage models increase in value over time
Customizable with easy pickup modifications
Great for collectors, valued for authenticity
Smooth playability with immaculate neck and minimal fretwear
Versatile for both beginners and seasoned players
Fun and quirky addition for diverse sound in a studio

CONS

Not practical for live gigs due to specific sound
Treble-heavy tone may require adjustments for balance

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Musicmaster Bass.

Build quality

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Extra heavy multi-piece bodies from the CBS era contribute to the Musicmaster's desirable bass tone despite thick, plasticky paint.
Source

Value and pricing

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An original bridge upgrade might help in resale, but expect to take a small hit on the price due to lack of originality.
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Setup and maintenance

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Checking potentiometer dates offers clues about the production year, crucial for appraising vintage models.
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User experience

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Musicmaster is appreciated for its tone despite being labeled "toy scale" by some, with many regretful of selling theirs for perceived shortcomings.
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Mods and upgrades

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Replacing the original bridge is a common mod, potentially improving playability and aiding in eventual sale.
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Aero brand pickup is a popular upgrade, doubling volume and improving tone when replacing the stock pickup in a Musicmaster Bass.
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Curtis Novak offers a bass-specific replacement pickup, though it may still lack the fullness of a P-Bass.
Source

Comparisons

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Musicmaster's stock pickup is compared to a low-tuned guitar, lacking the "meatiness" of bass models like the Precision Bass.
Source

Features and functionality

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The Musicmaster Bass uses a Stratocaster pickup, which some find thin and lacking in power for live band settings.
Source

Use cases and applications

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The Aero replacement pickup effectively minimizes single coil hum during band performances, enhancing live use.
Source

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 22 Ratings

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1 star

ralphkj

337

6 months ago

Bargain

Picked up a 1978 musicmaster for under £900. Very nicely worn and weathered instrument, with really old round wounds. Will probably put flats on it somewhen. You can still pick these up as a used bargain. One of the last vintage fenders you can acquire for under £1000!

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Mine likes amps alot, and lots of mids.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Pop Jazz

mooche

699

over 3 years ago

Studio Mainstay

At my recording studio there was already a MIM J-Bass and a Stingray 5, so when I pushed my colleagues to go for a vintage short-scale they were skeptical, to say the least. Even in the short time this 78 Musicmaster has been living in the space, it's already showed up on the session files from a dozen artists. A great investment and if I leave this studio it'll take a monumental display of will to not walk off with the thing.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Blues Alternative rock