1979 Fender Musicmaster

A very nice 1979 Fender Musicmaster, presented in very good condition for its age and offering a great combination of classic late-70s Fender character and a couple of well-considered player upgrades. It is supplied with a non-original hardshell case.

Cosmetically, this is an honest and well-used example, with numerous age-related marks, dings and signs of use throughout. Nothing has been done to disguise its history, and the overall condition is very good for a guitar approaching half a century old.

Importantly, the guitar plays extremely well. The frets are in excellent condition and the setup is excellent, giving the Musicmaster a very comfortable and lively playing feel. The original single-coil pickup has been replaced with a Seymour Duncan Hot Rails, a particularly effective upgrade for this model. The Hot Rails gives the guitar considerably more output and a thicker, more powerful voice while retaining the compact, direct feel that makes the Musicmaster such an appealing guitar. The original Fender pickup is included with the guitar, should the new owner wish to return it to its original specification.

The bridge has also been upgraded with brass saddles. These are a worthwhile practical improvement, offering a solid contact point and contributing to the guitar's sustain and overall resonance. The original saddles are also included in the sale.

The Musicmaster was Fender's original student-oriented electric guitar, first introduced in 1956, and remained in production until 1982. By the late 1970s it had evolved into the compact offset-waist design seen here, retaining the familiar 24" short scale. Fender's own history notes that Musicmasters and their close relatives went on to find favour with players well beyond their original student-market brief, including Jimi Hendrix, David Byrne, Rory Gallagher, Dweezil Zappa, Liz Phair and Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo.

Rory Gallagher is perhaps the most notable connection to the late-70s Musicmaster. His 1978 example was used extensively from around 1982, including on stage when his main Stratocaster was unavailable. Gallagher had also modified the guitar with an additional pickup, illustrating the Musicmaster's appeal as a straightforward platform for personal modification.

1979 Factory Specification, the tone pot dates 1979 the serial number is S810328, and the pickguard number matches this.

This Musicmaster represents the classic late-70s Fender specification, including the offset double-cutaway body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 24" scale length and single Fender single-coil pickup controlled by a simple volume and tone arrangement. Period examples are typically fitted with a 7.25" fingerboard radius and 21 frets, with Fender's familiar chrome hardware and large late-70s headstock.

This particular guitar has naturally moved beyond factory specification with the Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and brass saddles, but both the original pickup and original saddles are included, making these changes entirely reversible.

Supplied with a non-original hardshell case.

A very nice, honest 1979 Musicmaster with excellent frets, an excellent setup and two useful upgrades. The Hot Rails gives this otherwise understated Fender a surprisingly broad range of sounds, from punchy and articulate through to considerably thicker and more powerful tones.

Year: 1979
Model: Fender Musicmaster
Scale length: 24"
Fingerboard radius: 7.25"
Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails
Original pickup: Included
Saddles: Upgraded brass
Original saddles: Included
Condition: Very good for year
Setup: Some signs of use but very good for year
Frets: Excellent
Case: Non-original hardshell case

Fender Musicmaster with Rosewood Fretboard 1979 Black