The simple specification gives the guitar a back‑to‑basics approach that is a major strength in terms of clarity and playing experience. Musicmasters may have been the cheapest of Fender’s low-cost ‘student’ guitars with a single pickup and no switches to get in the way of pure tone (unlike the dual pickup Duo-Sonic and Mustang). If you didn’t know, CRAVE Guitars has a penchant for single-pickup guitars.
MUSICMASTER II SERIAL
Even better, this diminutive guitar has the all‑important Pre-CBS ‘L’ serial number, which is so sought after by collectors. There is little, if any, difference between the ‘student’ model’s standard ‘white’ colour and Olympic White used on other Fender models. As a consequence of its ‘novice’ reputation and straightforward build, vintage Musicmasters still tend to be a bit of a bargain vintage guitar.įor your delectation is a fantastic 1965 Fender Musicmaster II in ‘faded’ white which has become a lovely buttery colour as the clear top coat has yellowed. While the 2‑pickup Duo‑Sonic and Mustang guitars have been reissued, the Musicmaster has yet to reappear as a mainstream model. However, the Musicmaster was designed and manufactured by the same people in the same factory, using the same materials as their more upmarket models.
MUSICMASTER II PROFESSIONAL
Probably because of its low-priced origins, the Musicmaster doesn’t have the prestige of its professional grate bigger brothers. The Musicmaster continued in various forms until 1982, when it was superseded by the budget Fender Bullet. The headstock was also redesigned with a distinctive larger (CBS-era style) profile and the model decal now carried a ‘II’ after the model name. Neck construction was also changed with the option of 22½” scale with 21 frets or 24” scale with 22 frets – the latter becoming by far the most popular option – with a choice of rosewood or maple fingerboards. The volume and tone controls were moved to a separate chrome plate adjacent to the main scratchplate. The Musicmaster’s alder slab bodies still had no body contours and came in basic Red, White or Blue nitrocellulose finishes. In 1964, the Musicmaster was given a design facelift to match the general style of the newly introduced slightly offset‑body Fender Mustang. The 1‑piece maple neck comprised 22½” scale and 21 frets. The Musicmaster began as a ¾‑size guitar with a fixed non-vibrato integrated bridge/tailpiece on a simple slab body with a solitary single coil neck pickup.
MUSICMASTER II UPGRADE
Fender’s head of sales, Don Randall, believed in establishing a ‘step-up’ program in which beginners could follow a clear upgrade path to their higher quality guitars as their guitar skills improved. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.The low‑cost Fender Musicmaster was originally released in 1956 and was the company’s first ‘student’ model. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there.
MUSICMASTER II MANUAL
The Duo-Sonic service manual issued by Fender in 1968 consisted of five sides on a single folded sheet: cover list of components - with part numbers and key to diagrams, (two sides) diagram of disassembled guitar simplified Duo-Sonic circuit diagram detailing pickup and control assemblies.īy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). Fender Duo-Sonic 1968 replacement parts list (illustrated) The Fender Duo-Sonic was deleted from the solid body range in 1969 these were the final parts lists for this guitar. This level of post-sales care was rarely seen amongst other guitar manufacturers - at least to the level of detail given here. Something that made maintenance of Fender guitars very easy indeed, even to guitarists without the technical knowledge to describe the fault in their instrument. In some cases, as in the 1968 list below, circuit information and assembly blueprints were also provided. This would typically include lists of replacement parts, to allow easy and accurate ordering of new components. Fender periodically produced technical information, distributing folders of such information to dealers.
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