Fender Musicmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Fender Musicmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Fullerton, California, serial # L06003, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original tan tolex hard shell case.
This is a very clean all original example of one of the less well remembered variants of Fender's first student guitar: the unassuming but quite functional Musicmaster. Built to expand the company's presence on the teaching studio/young student market, these were many 1950s and '60s players' first electric, far more playable than most and stylish in an understated way. They were designed to be good enough to get kids hooked on playing electric, but not so flashy as to stop them still lusting after a new Stratocaster or Jazzmaster down the road!
The 1963 Musicmaster shows a number of small alterations from the original '50s version. It still features a very short 22 1/2" scale neck, now with a thin-slab rosewood fingerboard. The double cutaway body looks rather like a juvenile Stratocaster; at this point it is finished in a lighter maroonish sunburst that was the stock finish only in 1962 and the first half of '63. Fender was experimenting with different looks for the student models at the time, trying several different finish and trim ideas in 1960-64. Eventually by late 1964 all would be made compatible with the new Mustang and built from the same basic template.
As with all Musicmasters this 1963 example mounts one single-coil pickup in the neck position with standard volume and tone controls. The pickguard is single-layer white plastic, made from the same stock as earlier Telecaster guards. The neat, comfortable little rosewood fingerboard neck has the typical '60s rounder profile. The neck heel is dated April 1963 on the pots are coded to the 20th week of the same year; this would be one of the later sunburst ones made as other finishes were used after mid-63. It has a very early L-series number on the neckplate and the original bridge cover is still intact.
The Musicmaster is not Fender's most versatile guitar but a super handy and good sounding one, with a surprising warmth and depth through the right amp. This example has seen very little use over the decades and has not been stripped of its more valuable parts (knobs, neckplate, pots, and wiring) as so many have. This super clean and fairly rare Musicmaster remains a cool and relatively affordable genuine pre-CBS Fender guitar, complete in the original hard case.
Overall length is 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is simply a very clean and ALL original 60-year-old guitar, looking not too much used since 1963. The body finish shows small dings and dents, more on the back than front with a few tiny touch ups. The neck and frets show very little wear at all, and everything inside is original and untouched. We were the first ones to open this guitar up since it left Fullerton, and we carefully put every screw back where it originally was. All the hardware is very clean as well. The guitar plays and sounds lovely, a neat piece of Fender history and a lot of fun to crank up through a small amp. The original case is clean as well, with the key still wired to the (replaced) handle and one small inconspicuous repair to the top end. Excellent Condition.
This is a very clean all original example of one of the less well remembered variants of Fender's first student guitar: the unassuming but quite functional Musicmaster. Built to expand the company's presence on the teaching studio/young student market, these were many 1950s and '60s players' first electric, far more playable than most and stylish in an understated way. They were designed to be good enough to get kids hooked on playing electric, but not so flashy as to stop them still lusting after a new Stratocaster or Jazzmaster down the road!
The 1963 Musicmaster shows a number of small alterations from the original '50s version. It still features a very short 22 1/2" scale neck, now with a thin-slab rosewood fingerboard. The double cutaway body looks rather like a juvenile Stratocaster; at this point it is finished in a lighter maroonish sunburst that was the stock finish only in 1962 and the first half of '63. Fender was experimenting with different looks for the student models at the time, trying several different finish and trim ideas in 1960-64. Eventually by late 1964 all would be made compatible with the new Mustang and built from the same basic template.
As with all Musicmasters this 1963 example mounts one single-coil pickup in the neck position with standard volume and tone controls. The pickguard is single-layer white plastic, made from the same stock as earlier Telecaster guards. The neat, comfortable little rosewood fingerboard neck has the typical '60s rounder profile. The neck heel is dated April 1963 on the pots are coded to the 20th week of the same year; this would be one of the later sunburst ones made as other finishes were used after mid-63. It has a very early L-series number on the neckplate and the original bridge cover is still intact.
The Musicmaster is not Fender's most versatile guitar but a super handy and good sounding one, with a surprising warmth and depth through the right amp. This example has seen very little use over the decades and has not been stripped of its more valuable parts (knobs, neckplate, pots, and wiring) as so many have. This super clean and fairly rare Musicmaster remains a cool and relatively affordable genuine pre-CBS Fender guitar, complete in the original hard case.
Overall length is 37 5/8 in. (95.6 cm.), 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 22 1/2 in. (572 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is simply a very clean and ALL original 60-year-old guitar, looking not too much used since 1963. The body finish shows small dings and dents, more on the back than front with a few tiny touch ups. The neck and frets show very little wear at all, and everything inside is original and untouched. We were the first ones to open this guitar up since it left Fullerton, and we carefully put every screw back where it originally was. All the hardware is very clean as well. The guitar plays and sounds lovely, a neat piece of Fender history and a lot of fun to crank up through a small amp. The original case is clean as well, with the key still wired to the (replaced) handle and one small inconspicuous repair to the top end. Excellent Condition.