2009 TDPRI Giveaway Winners List is available HERE

Tim Armstrong · August 2nd, 2006, 01:37 AM

Yep, idle browsing on eBay can be hazardous to one's checking account! I just won the auction for this

PINK Vista Series (MIJ) Squier Musicmaster Bass.

That's right, pink! Headstock too! At least it was inexpensive...

I was looking for parts to build another mutant Musicmaster, but this ended up being cheaper than putting one together. Note that it has better hardware and pickup than a regular Musicmaster. I was kinda leaning towards getting a Dark Star for the project, but not until I scope out the present pickup...

Cheers, Tim

Tdot · August 2nd, 2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

That's right, pink! Headstock too!

Oh great, now you're gonna have to get new shirts!

3StringGuitar · August 2nd, 2006, 02:59 AM

You lucky lucky man, thoes Vista Musicmaster's are quite cool. Not a bad price either.

I had found a Squier Bronco bass a little while back, brand new for $175. Played and sounded decent but ended up passing on it.

bebopalula · August 2nd, 2006, 08:01 AM

nifty bass,Tim.
that matching headstock is sweet.

terrific price too.

what year was it made?
couldn't tell from the auction info.

agree with the "buy an entire bass"
if you're hunting parts...buying piece-meal will
cost ya,just coz of the shipping piling up.

Tim Armstrong · August 2nd, 2006, 10:20 AM

The Vista Series was pretty short-lived, 1997-99 I believe. I'm thinking that's the pickup they put in the MIJ Sting and '51 P-Basses...

Cheers, Tim

Dave W · August 2nd, 2006, 11:17 AM

Tim, congratulations. I remember playing a couple of these when they were out, and they sounded good. But I don't think it's the same pickup as the MIJs. The polepiece spacing is narrower.

Oster · August 2nd, 2006, 11:25 AM

Tim, I think your rock and roll nickname/handle now has to be Tim 'Musicmaster' Armstrong.

...that's not so bad!

WickedGTR · August 2nd, 2006, 01:18 PM

...Or "Pinkie Armstrong".

Looks Great!!

4mal · August 2nd, 2006, 07:58 PM

Cool bass Tim. I might have an extra MM pickguard lying about. If I do and you need it, it's your's. It might be a Mustang though... not sure. I'll check when I get home this week.

I really dig the matching headstock!

ashtray · August 2nd, 2006, 08:12 PM

You bought something from an ebay user with zero feedback and his user name is "da evil gugu"? Hope it works out well for ya! That would have scared me away from the auction off the bat (er, not to mention... it's pink! hahaha).

:D

Paul in Colorado · August 2nd, 2006, 08:20 PM

It's a sickness it is, Timmy! Repent now, my wayward son! Go and sin no more!
Oops, too late. You already won it. Have fun!

PS. Did I tell you I'm moving Surace back to Colorado?

Tim Armstrong · August 3rd, 2006, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in Colorado

PS. Did I tell you I'm moving Surace back to Colorado?

Aw man! For those who don't know what that means, Tom Surace (pronounced Sur-ach-ee) is our former bandmate and one hell of a bass player. Now if you could only get me and Gary (our old keyboard player) back, we could have one fine band! Of course, you'll probably have one fine band anyway, but still...

Cheers, Tim

tom grossheider · August 3rd, 2006, 09:55 AM

Cool score Tim. Never played one of those but will have to find one. Picked up a nice and light alder P bass body (Allparts I think) but the fretless neck I already had didn't fit....... time to try again.

vic108 · August 24th, 2006, 01:12 AM

Tim,

I've been looking at small scale basses recently and that VISTA SQUIER
looks pretty cool! I see a few of the VINTAGE MUSTANG basses on
EEK!-BAY for more than what I want to pay for but the VISTA and
the MUSICMASTER basses are priced OK. The RI MUSTANG bass is $550!

Tim Armstrong · August 24th, 2006, 08:18 AM

Yeah, Mustangs have been kinda pricy for several years now, I think Kurt Cobain's use of the Mustang guitar made both the guitar and bass "popular". The Musicmaster is practically the same instrument (just the pickup is different, as far as I can tell) for a lot less money.

A note: my new pink bass turns out to be a more recent Made in China model, a fact that might have influenced my bidding if I had known, although the instrument itself is quite nice...

Cheers, Tim

Colo Springs E · August 24th, 2006, 08:44 AM

Hi Tim, I know next to nothing about bass playing. I've heard some bassists comment they can't deal with a bass with a short scale.

What's the scoop? Does it matter to you? Is the sound different, the tone less "deep?"

Tim Armstrong · August 24th, 2006, 09:15 AM

Bill Wyman didn't have any trouble getting good tone from a Mustang Bass back in '69!

...and Joey Spampinato of NRBQ has been playing a short-scale Danelectro Shorthorn for, oh, forty years!

Like Bill Wyman, I have smallish hands, and I find the shorter scale really comfortable. I get great deep tone out of my bass, too.

I think the guys who can't deal with a shorter scale bass are probably guys who are very comfortable on a 34" scale instrument, which is perfectly cool. Then there's the tendency for folks to put down anything that's different from what they choose, which is less cool!

Cheers, Tim

vic108 · August 25th, 2006, 05:58 PM

Tim,

Man! You got that bass for a great price!
Cool color too. Is it all original?
So, how does it sound?

Tim Armstrong · August 25th, 2006, 06:25 PM

Yep, it's all original. There are a few chips in the paint, so it isn't minty fresh, but that's okay! It has a bad grounding hum, gotta check the bridge ground wire, but the tone of the pickup itself is quite beefy. I need to put a set of flats on it before gigging it, I think...

My one disappointment: the neck has an entirely different profile from my older Musicmaster Bass. The new one is flatter and wider, and doesn't fit my hand quite as well. I was hoping for the same kind of fit...

Cheers, Tim

vic108 · August 27th, 2006, 11:11 PM

Hey Tim!

I snagged one tonight!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Tim Armstrong · August 28th, 2006, 12:22 AM

Nice, Vic! Looks like the brother to my pink one. Pretty cool!

Cheers, Tim

vic108 · August 28th, 2006, 12:26 AM

Thanks for your insight, Tim!

Don't know what year it is but they could be close in serial numbers!

bkief1 · August 28th, 2006, 09:57 AM

My black Squier Musicmaster, an identical twin to Vic108's, has a serial number starting YN71----. I have a Bill Lawrence L-250XL in mine (love the sound) I picked up from ebay, plus new CTS pots. I just don't recall, without taking the pickguard off, if they are 250K or 500K pots. I used to have an EMG-SA in there which was fair, plus hated changing the battery.

Good luck with your new purchase. I have changed nothing else on mine, only the pup, pots and jack. Oh, and for cosmetic reasons, I use black metal V/T knobs. I still even use Fender 5250 strings.

vic108 · August 28th, 2006, 10:29 AM

Very cool, bkief1. Some good ideas there!

So, by the serial number, you got an idea which year it is?
"y" is China, eh?

Tim Armstrong · August 28th, 2006, 10:46 AM

Mine is YN72xxxx. I think they only made them in China for a year or two (2002-3 maybe?), but as you've probably discovered, there ain't a lot of info on the internet about them! In fact, I didn't know they even made Vista Series basses in China, I thought they were all MIJ. Oh well...

Still a pretty cool little bass!

Cheers, Tim

vic108 · August 28th, 2006, 12:16 PM

Mine is YN700xxx and yup, MADE IN CHINA

vic108 · September 5th, 2006, 08:31 PM

Just got the Fender Squire Vista Series Musicmaster Short Scale Bass!

Man! Now this is how a bass should feel (to a guitarist!).

No HUGE frets and a neck that goes past the headstock!

I likeky!

vic108 · September 11th, 2006, 01:14 AM

Cool! The Musicmaster passed the jam test.
Ran it thru the bass player's rig and also my
'56 Bassman semi-clone and it sounded great.
Even the bass player liked it ALOT.....

Tim Armstrong · September 11th, 2006, 06:51 AM

Glad you're digging it, and cool to hear Tim Drummond's "one of us"!

I'm about to try a pickup swap in my black one, bought a GFS "Lil' Puncher" twin-blade Tele neck pickup. I love many aspects of the lipstick tube I started out using, but it's kinda microphonic and I get a lot of finger/pick noise and fret rattle, as well as hum in electronically noisy situations...

Cheers, Tim

vic108 · September 11th, 2006, 01:13 PM

Good luck on the pup switch, Tim.
Let us know how it goes.
The pup on my Musicmaster isn't bad at all but it's been
awhile since I've heard single coil noise like that on a bass!

August 2nd, 2006, 01:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Stop me before I bid again! Yep, idle browsing on eBay can be hazardous to one's checking account! I just won the auction for this PINK Vista Series (MIJ) Squier Musicmaster Bass. That's right, pink! Headstock too! At least it was inexpensive... I was looking for parts to build another mutant Musicmaster, but this ended up being cheaper than putting one together. Note that it has better hardware and pickup than a regular Musicmaster. I was kinda leaning towards getting a Dark Star for the project, but not until I scope out the present pickup... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 2nd, 2006, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
bebopalula Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 324 48 Photos	nifty bass,Tim. that matching headstock is sweet. terrific price too. what year was it made? couldn't tell from the auction info. agree with the "buy an entire bass" if you're hunting parts...buying piece-meal will cost ya,just coz of the shipping piling up. __________________ Did I forget to mention, forget to mention Memphis Home of Elvis and the ancient greeks

August 2nd, 2006, 10:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	The Vista Series was pretty short-lived, 1997-99 I believe. I'm thinking that's the pickup they put in the MIJ Sting and '51 P-Basses... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 2nd, 2006, 11:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 40 Posts: 2,855	Tim, I think your rock and roll nickname/handle now has to be Tim 'Musicmaster' Armstrong. ...that's not so bad! __________________ Cassowary!

August 2nd, 2006, 01:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,276 9 Photos	...Or "Pinkie Armstrong". Looks Great!! __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

August 2nd, 2006, 02:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	You lucky lucky man, thoes Vista Musicmaster's are quite cool. Not a bad price either. I had found a Squier Bronco bass a little while back, brand new for $175. Played and sounded decent but ended up passing on it.

August 2nd, 2006, 11:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dave W Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Guadalupe County, TX Age: 62 Posts: 2,038	Tim, congratulations. I remember playing a couple of these when they were out, and they sounded good. But I don't think it's the same pickup as the MIJs. The polepiece spacing is narrower.

August 2nd, 2006, 07:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,510	Cool bass Tim. I might have an extra MM pickguard lying about. If I do and you need it, it's your's. It might be a Mustang though... not sure. I'll check when I get home this week. I really dig the matching headstock!

August 2nd, 2006, 08:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
ashtray Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 687 4 Photos	You bought something from an ebay user with zero feedback and his user name is "da evil gugu"? Hope it works out well for ya! That would have scared me away from the auction off the bat (er, not to mention... it's pink! hahaha). :D __________________ "I need another Tele like I need another hole in my wallet."

August 2nd, 2006, 08:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 5,155 3 Photos	It's a sickness it is, Timmy! Repent now, my wayward son! Go and sin no more! Oops, too late. You already won it. Have fun! PS. Did I tell you I'm moving Surace back to Colorado?

August 3rd, 2006, 09:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
tom grossheider Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mokena, IL Posts: 789	Cool score Tim. Never played one of those but will have to find one. Picked up a nice and light alder P bass body (Allparts I think) but the fretless neck I already had didn't fit....... time to try again.

August 24th, 2006, 01:12 AM	#14 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Tim, I've been looking at small scale basses recently and that VISTA SQUIER looks pretty cool! I see a few of the VINTAGE MUSTANG basses on EEK!-BAY for more than what I want to pay for but the VISTA and the MUSICMASTER basses are priced OK. The RI MUSTANG bass is $550! __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

August 24th, 2006, 08:18 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Yeah, Mustangs have been kinda pricy for several years now, I think Kurt Cobain's use of the Mustang guitar made both the guitar and bass "popular". The Musicmaster is practically the same instrument (just the pickup is different, as far as I can tell) for a lot less money. A note: my new pink bass turns out to be a more recent Made in China model, a fact that might have influenced my bidding if I had known, although the instrument itself is quite nice... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 24th, 2006, 08:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5,932 5 Photos	Short scale... Hi Tim, I know next to nothing about bass playing. I've heard some bassists comment they can't deal with a bass with a short scale. What's the scoop? Does it matter to you? Is the sound different, the tone less "deep?" __________________ "Enjoy your life, be good to kids, don't do meth..." -Colin Cowherd

August 24th, 2006, 09:15 AM	#17 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Bill Wyman didn't have any trouble getting good tone from a Mustang Bass back in '69! ...and Joey Spampinato of NRBQ has been playing a short-scale Danelectro Shorthorn for, oh, forty years! Like Bill Wyman, I have smallish hands, and I find the shorter scale really comfortable. I get great deep tone out of my bass, too. I think the guys who can't deal with a shorter scale bass are probably guys who are very comfortable on a 34" scale instrument, which is perfectly cool. Then there's the tendency for folks to put down anything that's different from what they choose, which is less cool! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 25th, 2006, 05:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Tim, Man! You got that bass for a great price! Cool color too. Is it all original? So, how does it sound? __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

August 25th, 2006, 06:25 PM	#19 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Yep, it's all original. There are a few chips in the paint, so it isn't minty fresh, but that's okay! It has a bad grounding hum, gotta check the bridge ground wire, but the tone of the pickup itself is quite beefy. I need to put a set of flats on it before gigging it, I think... My one disappointment: the neck has an entirely different profile from my older Musicmaster Bass. The new one is flatter and wider, and doesn't fit my hand quite as well. I was hoping for the same kind of fit... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 27th, 2006, 11:11 PM	#20 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Hey Tim! I snagged one tonight! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

August 28th, 2006, 12:22 AM	#21 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Nice, Vic! Looks like the brother to my pink one. Pretty cool! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 28th, 2006, 12:26 AM	#22 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Thanks for your insight, Tim! Don't know what year it is but they could be close in serial numbers! __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

August 28th, 2006, 09:57 AM	#23 (permalink)
bkief1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 52	My black Squier Musicmaster, an identical twin to Vic108's, has a serial number starting YN71----. I have a Bill Lawrence L-250XL in mine (love the sound) I picked up from ebay, plus new CTS pots. I just don't recall, without taking the pickguard off, if they are 250K or 500K pots. I used to have an EMG-SA in there which was fair, plus hated changing the battery. Good luck with your new purchase. I have changed nothing else on mine, only the pup, pots and jack. Oh, and for cosmetic reasons, I use black metal V/T knobs. I still even use Fender 5250 strings.

August 28th, 2006, 10:29 AM	#24 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Very cool, bkief1. Some good ideas there! So, by the serial number, you got an idea which year it is? "y" is China, eh? __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

August 28th, 2006, 10:46 AM	#25 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Mine is YN72xxxx. I think they only made them in China for a year or two (2002-3 maybe?), but as you've probably discovered, there ain't a lot of info on the internet about them! In fact, I didn't know they even made Vista Series basses in China, I thought they were all MIJ. Oh well... Still a pretty cool little bass! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 28th, 2006, 12:16 PM	#26 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Mine is YN700xxx and yup, MADE IN CHINA __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

September 5th, 2006, 08:31 PM	#27 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Just got the Fender Squire Vista Series Musicmaster Short Scale Bass! Man! Now this is how a bass should feel (to a guitarist!). No HUGE frets and a neck that goes past the headstock! I likeky! __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

2009 TDPRI Giveaway Winners List is available HERE

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September 11th, 2006, 01:14 AM	#28 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Cool! The Musicmaster passed the jam test. Ran it thru the bass player's rig and also my '56 Bassman semi-clone and it sounded great. Even the bass player liked it ALOT..... __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars

September 11th, 2006, 06:51 AM	#29 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,150	Glad you're digging it, and cool to hear Tim Drummond's "one of us"! I'm about to try a pickup swap in my black one, bought a GFS "Lil' Puncher" twin-blade Tele neck pickup. I love many aspects of the lipstick tube I started out using, but it's kinda microphonic and I get a lot of finger/pick noise and fret rattle, as well as hum in electronically noisy situations... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

September 11th, 2006, 01:13 PM	#30 (permalink)
vic108 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mudwogweap, VA Age: 53 Posts: 1,008 9 Photos	Good luck on the pup switch, Tim. Let us know how it goes. The pup on my Musicmaster isn't bad at all but it's been awhile since I've heard single coil noise like that on a bass! __________________ Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitars