FENDER MUSICMASTER BASS DEMO

[danielfbl]

Hello,

I have a 75 musicmaster and I'm having some problems with its sound... it's very "thin"and "trebly". Could you make a better description of this "capacitor mod" you have done to yours? I think I'll try that before I decide to let it go.

Thanks,

Daniel

[Santi66]

@danielfbl

I sent a larger response to your mailbox.

Cheers

[rotoso666]

eee, yo tengo uno del 71, sin pintura (es que era del azul piscina ese feo de los 70) y el golpeador blanco. Las clavijas también son diferentes. Es un bajo super cómodo!!

[Santi66]

@rotoso666

Saludos!!

Sí, el modelo del 71 tenía las clavijas en forma de "tulipán", el golpeador también era ligeramente diferente, y los botones, que el el 71 (el año de comienzo de la producción de este modelo) eran como los antiguos Jazz Bass, y a partir del 75 pasaron a ser tipo Stratocaster.

Disfruta del bajo; como has dicho es muy cómodo y agradable de tocar.

Saludos

[rotoso666]

@Santi66 aaaah, osea que tengo uno de los pimeros... Gracias por la clase de historia ^^.

 BASS ROCKS!

[Santi66]

@rotoso666

No hay de qué.

Sí, el tuyo es de los primeros... un trozo de la historia de Fender en su época CBS.

Consérvalo y disfrútalo.

Saludos cordiales.

[Mctutano]

ESE SANTI , QUE GRANDE MIRATE EL MIO youtube.com/watch?v=ImIT9aYd7w­U

[Santi66]

@Mctutano

Tu vídeo está estupendo, voto a favor!!

Te han quedado muy bien tanto el vídeo como el bajo.

Saludos

[METHOD4561]

F"in sweet I like the beat downs crazy flow Master at work#1. Thank You>

[Santi66]

@METHOD4561

Thank you, sincerely.

Regards

[EAIrock]

Yo tengo un Musicmaster igual que el que aparece en el video desde 1981, es de puta madre , suena cojonudo y puedo decir que jamás me desprenderé de él, además en su día sólo costó 35.000 pesetas aunque tuve que financiarlo a 10.000 al més, de alguna manera sabía que estaba comprando una joya.

[Santi66]

@EAIrock

Gracias por el comentario!. Me alegra encontrar amigos que llevan bastantes años en la música, como llevo yo, y que valoren este tipo de instrumentos.

Yo también recuerdo el reunir el dinero para mis instrumentos, con mucho esfuerzo y privándome de cosas... pero valía la pena.

Un abrazo.

[AlvaroBassSide]

The last one was: Traks - long train running, it isnt? :D Love that song.

I luv your bass very much, I like very much the red and black one, but when I save money I will buy a MM Stingray ;)

[Santi66]

@AlvaroBassSide

Hola Alvaro!

Bueno, sí, el último trozo de la demo es más o menos un trocito de Long train running, en la estupenda versión de Traks, aunque no pretende ser un cover, era lo que me acordaba de memoria de ese tema que toqué en los 80!

Me gusta este pequeño Musicmaster, es cómodo y suena bien.

Saludos, amigo!

[AlvaroBassSide]

Jajaj vale, si llego a saber que eres español no hago el tonto así ;D

Eres afortunado de tener el Musicmaster, es un bajo que me llama la atención.

[Santi66]

Si alguna vez consigues alguno, su sonido mejorará con una pequeña modificación (como le hice al mío): retirar un segundo condensador suplementario que Fender puso para aumentar el sonido "pastoso"; pero eso mismo se puede conseguir sin él, haciendo actuar el mando del tono, y se gana en sonido brillante. Por eso hice esta demo; sin esa modificación no podría sonar brillante en el slap, y además también hago que suene más denso en el pasaje walkin/solo.

Un abrazo y suerte.

[AlvaroBassSide]

Ah gracias, no lo sabía.

Venga, a ver si hubiera suerte, aunque no creo ;)

[CowbellProfessional]

I had a red one with a black pickguard and sold it in the late 80's for about 175 and now they sell for >1000 on ebay. I could kick myself!

[Santi66]

@CowbellProfessional

Oh... sorry!

Yes, in late eighties they was old instruments, no vintage instruments.

Today people admit the vintage value of this instruments.

I have a similar story with a Bullet bass... so, some years ago I have bought two Bullet basses (long and short scale).

Good luck, friend.

[Scarface066]

Looks comfortable due to it's small body. What's the scale length?

[Santi66]

@Scarface066

Yes, it´s very comfortable. It got short scale, 30".

I play mostly with long scale basses, but when I have my hands tired, I play this bass.

Cheers

[fditube]

OK, thank you. I'll look for the original wiring somewere...

[fditube]

I'd like to know how your MM bass was wired and the value of the pots and capacitors.

Thank you

[Santi66]

Hi:

The wiring is original, no mods here. The pots are original also (CTS 250K).

The lonely modification is that the blue capacitor was removed. As easy!

[Wefunkyou]

I have just got a 77/78 black Musicmaster, vintage condition (mostly relic) but the frets are 100% good shape. I just put flatwounds on it and wow! That sings! But I find the tone control not that good and was wondering about how to modify the capacitors?

[Santi66]

Congrats for your Musicmaster Bass, You can see my other video about this bass, with flatwounds.

The modify is very easy. In the tone pot you will see two capacitors, a round one and other rectangular blue capacitor. Remove this one (or simply, cut one of its legs).

In this way the tone range is wider, like in the Precision Bass.

Gool luck!

[Wefunkyou]

Thanks, I really enjoy watching your videos. I'm going to subscribe to your channel. I especially loved the Squier Tele Bass and the Musicmaster.

[Santi66]

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Cheers.

[Wefunkyou]

I just cut one leg as you told me and wow!! Blowing my ears! So simple! Thank you! (the capacitor and the pots are not originals, so I don't mind).

[Santi66]

Yeah! Great!

Enjoy your bass.

Cheers and good luck.

[NapoleanXV]

I played a 76 fender MM and I melted at its vintage tone and playablitiy, not to mention it looked badass with an yngwie kind of tint to it.

I would have bought it too had it not buzzed pretty bad on the upper frets

[Santi66]

Yes! I love this vintage bass. I play with long scale basses in my band but this one is lovely, with a cool tone and it´s so comfortable...

Thank you for commentary.

[petermuijsenberg]

What does your modification do exactly? I own a '78 Musicmaster bass myself, that's why I'm asking.

[Santi66]

In most basses ther is only one capacitor for cut the high frequencies (with the tone pot).

In the Musicmaster there are other capacitor working all the time, so ever the high frequencies are eliminated.

It this second cap is removed, the Musicmaster works like the Precision Bass. So, the sound can be bright or mud. With the second cap working, the sound can´t be bright. Thank you for commentary.

[Santi66]

Thank you for your kind words, friend.

This Musicmaster is from 78 also.

Thank you and good luck.

[falcor5000]

How did you remove the blue cap? just use plyers to cut it out? want to make sure i screw this up! thanks, great vid by the way!

[Santi66]

Hi:

Well, I used a soldering tin, but scissors will be ok. It´s a great upgrade, and I have the condenser stored in a drawer.

Good luck!

[ryojp94]

all my loving ! HAHAH

[Santi66]

Yes, it is. It got a nice bassline.

Regards.

[odakueffect]

Great bass guitar. I've got one which is very old but not sure the year. It has a lot thinner neck than other Musicmasters I've seen. Any ideas?

[Santi66]

Hi:

Well, the older musicmaster model (71-76) has "tulipe" Schaller tuners, and the modern model (76-81) regular elephant ear type tuners. The volume and tone controls are different too: old jazz bass type in the first model and stratocaster type in the second one.

But in all Fender basses we can find A, B, or C neck profiles; A is narrowest and C wider. Perhaps your bass has A neck. Usually it is stamped in the neck, with the date.

Cheers.

[odakueffect]

Thanks a lot! It's hard to find any info on these. I must have the early model because looking at your tuners, my have only two sides so I guess it's the tulip. Also my logo Musicmaster is written below the Fender, not in line as yours. I'd love to find out the year but don't want to take the neck off.

It's great bass. Quiet noisy pickups though. But I like it so much that 10 years ego I've sold my Jazz bass and kept this one. Thanks again.

[Santi66]

Great!

Yes, it´s a little great bass.

And ok, in the early model the musicmaster logo is written below the Fender, so, sure, your bass is the early model (71-76).

Enjoy it!

Regards

[thedoorsrock6771]

I love this bass I have one from 79'

[Santi66]

Great!

I love it too!

A great short scale bass.

Thank you for commentary.

[nicolaskannegaard]

is it a shortscale?

[Santi66]

Yes, it´s a short scale bass; 30"

Thank you for your interest.

[godofwatt]

thank you so much for the info i just did the mod and it sound awesome thanks alot man!!!!!!!!!!

[Santi66]

Great!!

Enjoy it.

Cheers.

[godofwatt]

sounds amazing i have a 78 musicmaster too mine sounds very flat urs sounds full how did you do that?

[Santi66]

Fender (CBS era) erred in the wiring design. You can remove the blue capacitor (022k/200v) and your Musicmaster will sound much better. It´s a very easy mod. but a great improvement. Night and day!

Good luck friend and thank you for commentary

[Santi66]

The Musicmaster is a great short scale bass. But CBS erred in the wiring design. There are two capacitors. In all other Precision like wiring are only one. It´s a good idea remove the 022k/200v blue capacitor. In this way the bass will sound like in the video, with vintage and modern sounds.

It got a good neck, good body and alnico pickup (six polepieces, from the Mustang series, it runs well)... It´s a little great bass.

Thank you for commentary.

[wastedlittledj92]

yeah great playing, thanks for the information

[Santi66]

You are welcome.

Thank you for commentary.

[wastedlittledj92]

i might get one, what are they like? Ive heard mixed opinions