Fender musicmaster bass HELP!!?

bill11hc · Post by **bill11hc** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:02 am

Okay so I have recently purchased a refinished 72 fender musicmaster bass. The pick up is awful and I was thinking about replacing it. I hate the look of rails pickups but in tryin to find a decent drop in pick up... I was thinking about the fender vintage 51 single coil bass pick up and if it would fit as a drop in. Seems perfect considering its a 4 pole single coil bass pick up....

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:49 am

it will fit but the poles won't be well align under the strings.
did you think to change the pots and cap?

Johnny Noir · Post by **Johnny Noir** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:50 am

it will fit but the poles won't be well align under the strings.
did you think to change the pots and cap?

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:53 am

Lace Sensor.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:24 am

i don't know if the vintage P Bass pickup would drop in. as far as I am aware it's a different fit. the musicmaster basses use a standard guitar single coil, strat-sized.

if however it does fit i would look at the Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pounder version. i had a vintage output one on my classic vibe bass and it was very quiet and poor output. the 1/4 pounder gives you some good thump and girth

in the more likely event that you will have to go down the strat pickup sized route, most people recommend lace sensors. that way you get plenty of tonal options and it keeps the look. i can't stand them myself but maybe they're better on a bass. if you wanted to get some rails i imagine you could fit a mustang cover over the top with a bit of effort

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:16 pm

Johnny Noir wrote:it will fit but the poles won't be well align under the strings.
did you think to change the pots and cap?

IIRC the original one is just a Musicmaster pickup so the poles don't line up anyway.

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:48 pm

NickD wrote:
Johnny Noir wrote:it will fit but the poles won't be well align under the strings.
did you think to change the pots and cap?
IIRC the original one is just a Musicmaster pickup so the poles don't line up anyway.

It is.

If you'd rather avoid a rails pickup, a Lace Sensor red actually works pretty well as a bass pickup. Got one in my Bronco bass.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:14 pm

Lace Sensor Red.

You're welcome.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:24 pm

Lace Sensor Red.

You're welcome.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:43 pm

Have you heard of a Lace Sensor red? I heard good things about it. Surprised no one mentioned it yet.

Also: check out this awesome thread which discusses the best pups for a bronco bass upgrade:

http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtop ... ght=bronco

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 4:39 pm

mkt3000 wrote:Lace Sensor Red.

You're welcome.

I had one of those in my Competition Mustang in the Bridge position. I heard they work great for Bass.

tomin8r · Post by **tomin8r** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:00 am

Duncan rails pup

tomin8r · Post by **tomin8r** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:00 am

Do an robroe cover

Fakir Mustache · Post by **Fakir Mustache** » Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:15 pm

Yes, a Telecaster bass pickup fits in the cavity with no routing, but it's not exactly the same size through the pickguard, although you might be able to squeeze it though without sanding the pickguard.

Mine came with one already installed, I think the owner before me might have taken a bit off the pickguard, not sure. But mine is screwed to the body, not with screws and springs to the pickguard.

In any case, the sound is pretty bright, kind of like a funk sound, so you might want to consider something else like the higher output Dimarzios with rails if you want something bassier. Although I'm not sure what kind mine is.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:16 pm

has anyone suggested a red lace sensor yet?

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Oct 01, 2013 2:06 pm

robert(original) wrote:has anyone suggested a red lace sensor yet?

mkt3000 wrote:Lace Sensor Red.

You're welcome.

bill11hc · Post by **bill11hc** » Sun Nov 24, 2013 3:15 am

So I got my lace sensor red ready to slap in the bass. Anyone have a schematic for the musicmaster bass ?? I can't seem to find one

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Nov 24, 2013 3:23 am

Lace Sensor Red? Whoa, curveball!

This wiring diagram should be the same thing, or at least work fine.
Disregard pickup wire colours obviously... the "black" wire (ground) should be the white and green wires together on the lace I believe, at least according to this: http://www.lacemusic.com/pdf/1.pdf

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Nov 24, 2013 10:05 am

You missed a trick by not going for the red lace sensor.