The Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster is a one-of-a-kind guitar that complements Mendes' unique style – combining classic Fender tone and exquisite vintage inspired art in one striking instrument. The history of the Musicmaster stretches back to the mid-'50s, when it was introduced as one of Fender's first-ever 3/4 scale student model guitars.

The Fender Musicmaster is a solid bodyelectric guitar produced by Fender. It was the first 3/4 scale student-model guitar Fender produced.A Musicmaster Bass model was also put on the market. Musicians such as David Byrne and Liz Phair used a Fender Musicmaster.

This 1973 Fender Musicmaster® bass has been knocked around for almost 40 years. It looks good in this photo, but up close you can see that it's been through a lot. Lots of parts replacements, a few different refin jobs (once it was actually given a stucco finish!), and who-knows-what. It's kind of a beater, but it's held up great. MusicMaster's highly scalable design and intuitive user interface are the cornerstones of its success in the radio and music-television scheduling market. Capable of meeting the needs of small-market stations and top 50 market clusters and networks alike, MusicMaster has the right solution and can be deployed quickly and easily.

• The Fender Musicmaster Bass is a model of electric bass guitar, produced by Fender between 1971 and 1981. As with its six-string counterpart, which was a stripped-down version of the Fender Mustang, the Musicmaster Bass is a simpler version of the Mustang Bass.
• The Fender Musicmaster II was a short-lived transitional model during the CBS takeover that featured the same design as the original Musicmaster (a 3/4 scale student model introduced in 1956) but with a regular 25.5' scale length. It was only offered with one single coil pickup at the neck f.

History[edit]

1955–1963[edit]

Design work on the Musicmaster-and its two-pickup variant Duo-Sonic-began in late 1955 following a request from Fender Sales. Prototypes were made in early 1956, followed by sales literature announcing both models. Production of the Musicmaster began in late April of that year, using a body routed for two pickups to be common to the Duo-Sonic, which followed a little more than two months later. The Duo-Sonic and Musicmaster also shared a single-piece maple neck and fingerboard, with a 22.5 inch scale length and 21 frets.

There was one major redesign of these two Musicmaster-bodied guitars, in 1959 when the entire Fender catalog was updated. At this time, the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic both received a plastic pickguard in place of the previous anodized aluminum one, and a two-piece maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard.

1964–1982[edit]

In 1964, following the release of the Fender Mustang, both the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic were redesigned using Mustang neck and body blanks. The Mustang body was larger and slightly offset, and was fitted with a plastic pickguard but with the volume and tone controls mounted on a separate metal plate. The headstock was also enlarged. All three models were offered with the option of a 24-inch scale and 22-fret neck or a 22.5-inch scale and 21-fret neck; all three models were also offered with the choice of 'round-lam,' or veneered, rosewood or maple fingerboard. The 24 inch scale proved to be the most popular of these options. The redesigned Musicmaster was named the Musicmaster II and its stablemate the Duo-Sonic II, both using the Bronco body and pickguard shapes, although decals with and without the II designation were used without any real meaning.

Certain models of the Musicmaster, especially from between 1978 and 1980, were finished with a coat that reacted negatively with the base coat. This causes many modern surviving Musicmasters from this period to suffer from paint flaking off the body.

The Musicmaster was produced until 1982 when both it and the Mustang were dropped in favor of the newer Fender Lead models.

The Fender Swinger, another 22.5 inch scale guitar, was produced using the Musicmaster bridge, electrics and scratchplate but with a modified Fender Bass V body.

In 2020, Fender released a special version of the Musicmaster for the Shawn Mendes Music Foundation. It features 2 pickups, a single coil and a humbucker, and is the same as the 2020 Duo-Sonic other than the pickup configuration. Unlike the Duo Sonic, the neck pickup is a humbucker and the single coil is the bridge pickup.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

• 'Fender's 3/4 Scale Guitars', a two-part article by Tim Pershing in 20th Century Guitar, December 1996 and January 1997.
• 'Little Brothers Turn 50', an article by Terry Foster and Tim Pershing in Vintage Guitar, July 2006.
• Fender: The Golden Age, 1946–1970, a book by Martin Kelly, Terry Foster, Paul Kelly. London & New York: Cassell ISBN1-84403-666-9

External links[edit]

The three-quarter size Fender Musicmaster debuted in 1956, as a new student model in the Fender solid body range. It was joined shortly afterwards by a dual pickup companion model, the Duo-Sonic. Although these 'student' guitars were shorter scale than the Fender standard (22 1/2' vs 25'), they were not 'student' in terms of build quality - in fact very much in line with the Fender professional models such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster. The 1950s Fender Musicmaster was described as three quarter size, but the difference in size was not so great: Fender also suggested these models for more established players with smaller hands. But in truth, most experienced guitarists wanting to play widely spaced chords or the extra speed afforded by closer frets would chose the dual pickup Duo-Sonic - assuming price was not an issue!

Fender always believed that if beginner guitarists chose Fender, they would more likely continue playing Fender guitars as they got older. This fact was demonstrated on the cover of the 1958 'Down Beat' brochure - an adult plays a Fender Stratocaster, whilst a child looks on, Fender Musicmaster in hand. As Fender put it in the 1976 catalog 'Begin with a Musicmaster, and graduate to stardom!'.

The Musicmaster was clearly a success, remaining in continuous production until 1982.

Fender Musicmaster, 1956-1964

1958 Fender Musicmaster Image Heritage auctions

The early Musicmaster, though well-built, was a very simple instrument. Just a single coil pickup in the neck position with one one and one volume control. Bodies were typically Ash, and later alder, finished in a light creamy color: Desert Sand, with a rather fetching gold anodized aluminium scratchplate. Simple, but effective. Necks had 21 fret maple fretboards with Fender's clay dot position markers.

As with most guitars with a long production run, the Musicmaster was subject to subtle changes in specification over the years. The first remodelling came in 1959: the most obvious changes being the addition of Sunburst as a finish option, and a new rosewood fretboard. The gold aluminium pickguard was replaced by single ply white plastic, and pickup covers changed from white to black. The new version Musicmaster can be seen in the 1960 Fender brochure.

Fender Musicmaster, 1964-1982

The next major update came in 1964. Fender redesigned both the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic in line with the brand new Fender Mustang. All three models had the same new body shape, and a choice of the old 3/4 size 22 1/2' neck, or a longer 24' neck. The differences between the guitars were purely related to hardware: a single pickup for the Musicmaster, two pickups for the Duo-Sonic and Mustang, and a tremolo for the Mustang. Each model had a new bridge, without cover. The three guitars were all offered in the same three finishes: Red, White or Blue. Interestingly, the list price was reduced (slightly) from $129.50 to $126 at this time - for either scale neck.

1965 Fender Musicmaster Image Heritage auctions

1970 Fender Musicmaster from the 1970 Fender catalogue

The final redesign of the Duo-Sonic and Musicmaster was described in the November 1964 edition of Fender newsletter Fender Facts

Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic Improved

The Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic have recently undergone changes which we believe their performance and appearance.The bodies of both instruments are now contoured similar to that of the Mustang. They are available in red, white or blue finishes with either a 22 1/2 or 24 inch neck.
Both guitars have a full range tone control and in addition, the Duo-Sonic is provided with a three-position switch for each pickup. The middle position turns the pickups off and tone changes will be made on either side of the off position. Eight different tone selections are therefor available, plus the normal tone and volume controls.
The Duo-Sonic dual pickup and Musicmaster single pickup 3/4 or regular size guitars are truly outstanding instruments in their price range and will provide top performance and appearance.

Musicmaster

Fender Musicmaster Timeline

1956

Model launch. 22 1/2' scale Desert Sand finish. Maple fretboard, gold pickguard

1957

1957 (February) price: $119.50

1958

The 1958 Fender 'Down Beat' catalogue shows a child having a guitar lesson on his Fender Musicmaster.

1959

Plastic single ply scratchplate, rosewood fretboard

1960

1960 (July) price: $129.50

1961

1961 (July) price: $129.50

1962

1962 (September) price: $129.50

1963

1963 (July) price: $129.50

1964

1964 (April) price: $129.50. Adobe after effects cs5 free download with crack for mac. Mid 1964 publicity describe two finish options: white (with black pickguard) or red mahogany (with white pickguard).

Fender Facts 8 (November, 1964) announces the 'Improved' Musicmaster

Late 1964: the Fender Musicmaster is redesigned and brought into line with the new Fender Mustang. 22 1/2' or 24' scale necks now available. Red, White and Blue finishes now available.

Musicmaster Guitar

1965

1965 (December) price: $126 (case $34 extra)

1966

1966 (February, July) price: $126 (case $34 extra)

1967

1967 (June, October) price: $126 (case $35 extra)

1968

1968 (March, July) price: $134.50 (case $35 extra)

1969

1969 (May) price: $154.50 (case $37.50 extra)

1970

1970 (April) price: $162.50. Finishes Red (515), White (516), Blue (517)

1971

1971 (January) price: $162.50 (case $39.50 extra)

Musicmaster Bass

1972

Musicmaster.in

1972 (February) price: $162.50 (case $31/$39.50 extra)

1973

1973 (June) price: $162.50 (case $31/$39.50 extra)

1974

1974 (December) price: $180 (case $34/$45 extra)

1976

The 1976 Fender catalogue just lists two finish options for the Muicmaster: Black or White. Note both are fitted with a black scratchplate

1977

1977 (December) price: $220 ($250 with case). Black or White finishes only

1981

Musicmaster 7

Wine and Black finishes only

1982

Music Masterpiece

Model discontinued