ShortScale.org

Hey all,

I'm debating on starting a Musicmaster project, so I just wanted to hear your guys' input on where I should start. I'm not by any means a virtuoso in guitar, nor rich, so you could say that I'm on a budget and am totally fine with it.

EDIT: Upon rereading my post, I realized that I sound really vague. What I was trying to say was, where should I buy my parts, and how much should I be paying for them? And if there are any sites you can recommend that would save me money (original fender parts or not).

You may want to wade around for a while on ebay and see what emerges. That is your best vintage model to choose from because most people shy away from a single pickup shortscale. Otherwise get a RI Duo for cheap.

Here is a good ONE to watch because it is missing parts. The hitch is that scavengers look for deals on these so that they can flip the neck and body. IMO he should have listed the year to get more hits. I have sent suggestions to people before and they rarely listen. If I were looking, I would keep my eyes on this one. If someone else on SS is watching I will cut the link. Just offering tips.

You can pick up a good vintage one for around the same price it would cost you to build one from parts. Unless you have some unusual plans, just do that. It will also hold its value better if you do ever decide to sell it.

A body or neck is good start. I am about to start on a 1978 Musicmaster of my own and I have the body and pickguard I bought from Cooterfinger. The hardest piece to find will be the bridge because they don't make direct replacements and people often ask too much for them. I paid just over $100 for mine that came out of a vintage 1966 Musicmaster. The neck could come from any Fender Student guitar ( Mustang, Musicmaster II, Duo-Sonic II, or Bronco) or you could even get a reissue neck or new neck from Allparts or Warmoth.

Remember the pre-CBS Musicmasters were 22.7" scale while Musicmasters after 1965 came in 24" and 22.7" as well. Just make sure you are buying the proper scale neck for what you want.

is it just me or has ebay been super slim pickings lately?

I haven't seen a duo or musicmaster body for ages and hardly any bits either, pickups, bridges et cetera.. I'm talking mainly about .co.uk I guess.

I started mine off with a $50 neck i found locally on Craigslists. Just browsing randomly, skint on money so i was purely looking just to look. Took my last bit of money I had across town to collect it knowing full well it was a steal and that I'd end up making a musicmaster just because of scoring a neck that cheap.
Ebay prices suck, but its the going rate for them and its rare to find them cheaper due to the fact that people check ebay and see what they can get for them. If you aren't going for an all vintage piece then use repo parts. A toronado bridge, allparts/warmoth neck, gfs tuners, etc

chrislee wrote:Hey all,

I'm debating on starting a Musicmaster project, so I just wanted to hear your guys' input on where I should start. I'm not by any means a virtuoso in guitar, nor rich, so you could say that I'm on a budget and am totally fine with it.

EDIT: Upon rereading my post, I realized that I sound really vague. What I was trying to say was, where should I buy my parts, and how much should I be paying for them? And if there are any sites you can recommend that would save me money (original fender parts or not).

Where In The World Is Chris Lee? A puzzle for 1-1813 users

Thanks for all the input. I actually saw that Dakota red body on eBay, still watching it pretty closely. Hoping he throws in the bridge and pickup too. If all goes well I think I might go with that one.

I actually wanted to just buy a musicmaster to begin with, but looking at all the eBay prices, it seems like they run just as high as some Mustangs

And I'm located in northern California for those who are wondering.

taylornutt wrote:Musicmasters after 1965 came in 24" and 22.7" as well.

late '64, actually.

stewart wrote:

taylornutt wrote:Musicmasters after 1965 came in 24" and 22.7" as well.

late '64, actually.

I knew my date was a little off. Thanks for the correction.

chrislee wrote:And I'm located in northern California for those who are wondering.

OK, non-US suggestions would be of limited use, then. That's all I was getting at. (You can put a general location in your profile, it's sometimes useful - we don't want your zip code. Well, I don't. Can't vouch for all the others...)