History
The Fender Musicmaster Bass was produced from 1971 until 1981. As with its six-string counterpart — itself a stripped-down version of the Fender Mustang — the Musicmaster Bass is a simpler, more affordable take on the Mustang Bass. It was offered in the Fender catalog alongside the Musicmaster Bass amp, the very amplifier we love here at Brussels Vintage Guitars. Together, the bass and its matching amp made an affordable, compact package aimed at students and beginners.
 
Model
The instrument is built on a short 30-inch (762 mm) scale. That shorter scale gives it a slinky, comfortable feel under the fingers and makes it an easy instrument to play, particularly for those with smaller hands or anyone who prefers a relaxed string tension.
Like many of Fender's other budget-priced guitars of the era, the Musicmaster Bass made use of surplus parts from other Fender models. The bodies were leftover Fender Mustang Bass bodies, while the pickups were six-pole guitar pickups rather than the four-pole bass pickups you would expect. This parts-bin approach kept costs down and gives these instruments a certain quirky charm that collectors appreciate today.
 
The Musicmaster Bass came in either black, red, white or blue finish. The color was always mentioned simply as "blue" in the Fender catalog, rather than as "daphne blue," which is worth noting for anyone comparing finishes.
Earlier models are distinguishable by their small headstock logo, the lack of a serial number on the headstock, and small, triangular tuning keys. That is exactly the kind of example we have here.
 
This one
This particular bass is all original and in great condition. It comes with its original cardboard case.
 
The details are as follows: 
The serial number is 542934.
The pot date reads 137 7343 & 137 7405, made by CTS.
The pickup is dated 1974 : 23 30 74
The neck date is 0700 3733, which can be broken down as follows:
- 07 is the model number;
- 00 indicates a rosewood board;
- 37 is the 37th week of the year;
- 3 is the year 1973;
- and the final 3 is the 3rd day of the week, Wednesday.
=>This neck was stamped on September 12th, 1973.
 
Put together, the pot and neck dates place this instrument firmly in late 1973 early 1974 — a fine example of a short-scale classic from Fender's budget line, complete, original and ready to play.