Good Buys for a Future Musimaster Project?

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:03 pm

I am finishing up my Baja Tele project and have my eye focused on my next one, 1978 Fiesta Red Musicmaster. Luckily, a Musicmaster is one of the simpliest Shortscales to build. I found some possible ebay deals and wanted some feedback.

I got the body and pickguard from Cooterfinger.

1966 Musicmaster II neck: Is this Musicmaster II neck 24" scale?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Prewired MusicMaster wiring harness
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Musicmaster bridge- planning to drill holes in the back plate to avoid drilling ferrules into the vintage body
http://angela.com/fendermusicmaster6sad ... rules.aspx

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:22 pm

that neck is 24" but looks to be pretty well worn.

i'd just do string thru. it's not like you're drilling a route for a toggle or anything. string thru ferrules class it up.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:27 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:that neck is 24" but looks to be pretty well worn.

i'd just do string thru. it's not like you're drilling a route for a toggle or anything. string thru ferrules class it up.

How can you tell the difference between 22.7" and 24" scale necks? I think I counted 21 frets and I thought the the 22.7 had 21 frets while the 24" had 22 frets.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:39 pm

you're right, that was my mistake. the neck in the picture is a 22.5" neck (22.7" was for the MIM duo's).

22.5" -

24" -

22.7" -

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:45 pm

I definitely won't bid on that neck then. I think the 24" necks have one black space between the last 2 frets while the 22.7 necks have none.

cooter · Post by **cooter** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:58 pm

You could get one of these. I bought one for my Bronco project. If you can find an Allparts dealer you might get it even cheaper. There's a couple of guys on Reranch that are Allparts dealers. I bought mine for around $135 shipped if I remember right.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Jaguar-Neck- ... 5d2343619a

As far as the wiring I would just buy the pots and cap and do it yourself. It would be about 40 bucks cheaper.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 4:21 pm

cooterfinger wrote:You could get one of these. I bought one for my Bronco project. If you can find an Allparts dealer you might get it even cheaper. There's a couple of guys on Reranch that are Allparts dealers. I bought mine for around $135 shipped if I remember right.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Jaguar-Neck- ... 5d2343619a

As far as the wiring I would just buy the pots and cap and do it yourself. It would be about 40 bucks cheaper.

I am definitely going to do one of those necks for my Mustang Project, but I was hoping for a vintage neck since it was a vintage body. The prewired harness was more for convenience than anything else.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:33 am

Look for a $50 vintage neck?

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:26 am

Four dots after the 12th fret "double dot" inlay, with NO "extra" fret after that fourth dot inlay = 22.5" scale neck

Four dots after the 12th fret "double dot" inlay, WITH one "extra" fret after that fourth dot inlay = 24" scale neck.

Also, you can tell from the neck codes stamped on the necks. If the code starts with a "3/4" or with a "9", it's a 22.5" scale neck. If it starts with a 8 or a 16 or a 49, then it is a 24" scale neck. That first digit (or two) is a model code, not the day of the month!

The letter at the end of the code indicates the neck width at the nut. A=1 1/2" B=1 5/8" C=1 3/4" D=1 7/8"

Example:

8DEC65B

8 = 24" scale Mustang neck
DEC = Month (December)
65 = year (1965)
B = 1 5/8" neck width at the nut - which was the "standard" Fender width, although A width necks are fairly common on shortscales too - especially on the 22.5" scale necks.

I actually have a nearly pristine 1965 Mustang neck with that exact code on it (8DEC65B). I bought it for my '75 Musicmaster / Duo Sonic project, but only had it on the guitar for about five minutes before I pulled it off - it is a bit "thicker" (not quite 1", front to back; .9" IIRC) neck with more of a U shaped, as opposed to a C shaped profile to it, which doesn't sit as well with my short / stubby fingers. I'll probably eventually put it back up for sale for what I have into it - which wasn't cheap (~$425), but it's the prettiest looking slab board '65 neck (complete with original white button F tuners) I have ever seen. I just wish it would have fit my hand better.

But in the end, I found a '94 MIJ Mustang neck that fits me like a glove, so it all worked out. It's not a vintage USA slab board, and it isn't in the same great cosmetic condition, but it works with my hands, which is, IMO, far more important.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 2:48 pm

Haze wrote:Look for a $50 vintage neck?

Don't tease me, Haze. It's hard to buy a vintage neck now knowing you found one for $50.