NPD - New Project Day

[basshead56]

Hi All,

 

Had a punt on an auction site yesterday and ended up winning.

Soon I will take delivery of a 1975 Fender Musicmaster in what was once Olympic White.

All original except for the pickguard, which the previous owner has swapped out for a custom cut stainless steel one (ngl, don't hate this!)

 

Given it wasn't anywherenear expensive as I thought it might be, I'm in two minds as to whatto do - keep her as is, or make it a project bass.

I do quite dig the Mojo on this bass in terms of it's look.

But I'm also intrigued by the thought of doing it up.

Options I'm considering are: sanding it back and respraying it in another colour from the period - Daphne Blue or Dakota Red. Would add a white plastic pickguard and maybe strat knobs and a tugbar too.

Then theres the pickup. 

Keep it stock or add something like a Curtis Novak pickup that sounds a bit more familiar.

Would love a lipstick style pickup.

 

Then, do I make it my only bass with flats?

 

Oh the possibilities...

 

Keen to hear thoughts/suggestions on this ☺️

 

 

 

 

Edited April 13 by basshead56

[Geek99]

Leave it like it is cosmetically is my vote 

pups maybe change if needed

[HeadlessBassist]

I'd do a 'Nick Campbell Destroys' clone. If only we knew what that bridge pickup was...

 

 

[Wotcher2]

Good luck with this, and do as you see fit. I found a fairly wrecked one several years ago and did a bit of a resto. Looks a lot tidier now, and kept  as much original as possible including pickups and all electrics. Will post pics later

[Wotcher2]

[crazycloud]

2 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

If only we knew what that bridge pickup was...

It's a Jazzmaster guitar pickup. Actual brand, I don't know though.

 

I'm definitely not a vintage guy, but if it were mine and I was going to do routing, I'd pick up an aftermarket body from somewhere like Guitar Fetish and mod that so it can be restored to stock.

[Pea Turgh]

Mint guard, Monty’s stuff on the fretboard- laaaahhhhverly!

[DF Shortscale]

If you’re feeling brave and don’t mind paying shipping / taxes etc, Woodcraft in the US sell excellent replacement parts for Musicmaster basses. Their bridges and pickups are really good and should be an easy fit. Dealing with them can be a bit hit and miss at times but check out their replacement bridge, it’s nice:

 

https://www.ampshopbassexchange.com/product/albridge-parts-mms18-vintage-bridge-for-musicmaster-short-scale-direct-replacement/

 

(No affiliation, I bought one of their Ampmaster basses a while back, wasn’t the smoothest transaction but the bass is great)

 

[tall_martin]

I've got a 1978 music master. It was my first bass in 1995.

 

I sanded it in 1997, and never finished it until 2018. The respray job I did in nitro was poor and I chipped it within a week.

 

I do wish I'd just kept it as dented and chipped as it was when it came to me.

 

The original pickup sounds good to my ears. Maybe give yours a proper try when it arrives.

 

The tuners has seen better days so mine has recent hipshot tuners.

[basshead56]

Well it arrived and I'm pretty happy 😁

 

In reasonably good shape (I was expecting worse tbh)

Much less yellowed than my 78 Oly white P Bass. Pickup sounds good. quite thumpy.

 

The not-so-good bits:

Definitely needs a new input jack.

Definitely needs a new bridge.

 

Needs a good scrub but pretty great shape for a 50yr old bass, overall

[HeadlessBassist]

Cosmetically, beyond a good clean I wouldn't do a deal. It wears it's age really well. Do you have any plans for the electronics? Maybe another pickup in the bridge position?

[PaulThePlug]

Love the tuners...

Black Guard, or maybe something lairy such as purple pearl?

Large Jazz Knob for Vol, Small Jazz Knob for tone...

Sorted

[Pea Turgh]

Here’s what a mint guard could look like…

 

 

[SpondonBassed]

2 hours ago, basshead56 said:

Definitely needs a new bridge.

 

As it is the strings look slightly out of alignment so I reckon that is a good move to start with.

[bloke_zero]

On 14/04/2025 at 01:15, DF Shortscale said:

If you’re feeling brave and don’t mind paying shipping / taxes etc, Woodcraft in the US sell excellent replacement parts for Musicmaster basses. Their bridges and pickups are really good and should be an easy fit. Dealing with them can be a bit hit and miss at times but check out their replacement bridge, it’s nice:

 

https://www.ampshopbassexchange.com/product/albridge-parts-mms18-vintage-bridge-for-musicmaster-short-scale-direct-replacement/

 

(No affiliation, I bought one of their Ampmaster basses a while back, wasn’t the smoothest transaction but the bass is great)

 

I bought one of their bridges for a stingray style bitsa - I was very pleased. It did take a while to arrive. It is quite different looking, so if the aesthetic side is important (and why wouldn't it be?!) then I'd think twice. A lot to be said for the BBOT in these cases.

[tall_martin]

6 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

 

As it is the strings look slightly out of alignment so I reckon that is a good move to start with.

On these bridges the strings can just be pushed along the bar. 

 

I'd give it a scrub and leave that bridge. (Says the man with the same bridge that's in a similar state)

[DF Shortscale]

8 hours ago, bloke_zero said:

I bought one of their bridges for a stingray style bitsa - I was very pleased. It did take a while to arrive. It is quite different looking, so if the aesthetic side is important (and why wouldn't it be?!) then I'd think twice. A lot to be said for the BBOT in these cases.

Yeah, I think their intention was to update the functionality while allowing it to be a drop-in replacement so it’s definitely not a vintage-styled copy. Same applies to the Ampmaster basses, they’re basically refined Musicmasters without the issues that can affect the originals (noisy pickup, intonation, neck dive etc) but all the individual parts fit Musicmasters perfectly. 

[basshead56]

17 minutes ago, DF Shortscale said:

Yeah, I think their intention was to update the functionality while allowing it to be a drop-in replacement so it’s definitely not a vintage-styled copy. Same applies to the Ampmaster basses, they’re basically refined Musicmasters without the issues that can affect the originals (noisy pickup, intonation, neck dive etc) but all the individual parts fit Musicmasters perfectly. 

 

 

Yeah I've contacted Ampmaster about getting one of their replacement bridges. Hopefully they will be able to ship to New Zealand.

From what I can see, they are an excellent solution - drop in replacement but woth added functionality for intonation etc.

 

Just ran the bass throughmy Darkglass AO900 and it sounds monstrous in both A and O model- the original pickup seems to thrive in OD territory. Doesnt seem to be tone of annoying hum either. Amd the only crackles I get are from the tone pot which I suspect needs a good blowout. Will wait till I have a new jack organised before pulling it apart