What is known is that the 3/4 scale Fender guitars were conceptually conceived in the latter part of 1955 as a result of a request from the Sales Department to produce an instrument for this niche. Of course, given the astounding success of the three previous guitars (the Tele, P-Bass and Strat) it's understandable that the less prominent 3/4 scale instruments would receive little mention, but it is maddening that so little is known about the R & D side. Even Richard Smithâ��s astonishing "Fender: The Sound Heard â��round the World" spares only a few paragraphs to the student guitars. Unfortunately, extensive interviews with, and even full-length books from the key players involved (Messers Fender, Hyatt, Randall, Tavares, White and Fullerton) fail to shed much light on the inception of these guitars. They were certainly one busy little company in the mid 1950s when, surveying their electric guitar line-up, they decided to add a low-end instrument to accompany their mid-priced workhorse Telecaster guitar and the high-end Stratocaster.īy all accounts the research and development of Fender's 3/4 size guitars (the one pickup Musicmaster and the two pickup Duo-Sonic) went very quickly. And right around the corner would be an update project for the P-Bass, the introduction of their electric Mandolin, and the development of the successor to the Strat, the radical Jazzmaster. While all this was going on, Fender refined and added to their amplifier and steel guitar line as well. They next released the Precision Bass, and followed that up with the Stratocaster. Fender established their presence in the electric (solid) guitar field at the start of the decade with the relatives of the Telecaster. "To understand Fender's introduction of the 3/4 scale Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic guitars in the mid 1950s it is necessary to look at the aggressive development and marketing strategy of Fender Electric Instruments at the time. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. (31.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. The original anodised metal pickguard still looks sharp! This guitar still has the original electronics, the neck has the classic '58 Fender "rounded V" profile. The Musicmaster features a short-scale maple neck and a single pickup with volume and tone controls. Built primarily to expand the company's hold on the teaching studio/young student market these guitars were many players' first electric, far more playable than most and stylish in an understated way. This 1958 Fender Musicmaster is a great early example of Fender's first student guitar, the unassuming but very functional Musicmaster. It was made in Fullerton, California, has a natural finish, which I assume is the result of the original finish being stripped, alder body, maple neck. Overall in very good shape for its age, everything looks original including the anodized metal pickguard which was still a standard feature in 1958. Offering this very cool 1958 Fender Musicmaster. I have included literature from an article published in Dec 1996 by The 20th Century Guitar magazine by Tim Pershing to support my research and description of this Fender Musicmaster.
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