Fender Musicmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 40193, desert sand lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a lightly worn-in but completely original early slab-board example of Fender's first student guitar, the unassuming but very functional Musicmaster This example was built in mid/late 1959 just after Fender switched from one-piece maple necks to slab rosewood fingerboards over their entire line. The other major change from earlier examples is a cream plastic pickguard replacing the original anodized metal piece, as those proved overly prone to strum wear.
The Musicmaster features a very short 22 1/2" scale maple neck on a plain "Desert Sand" finished double cutaway alder body that looks unsurprisingly like a juvenile Stratocaster. It mounts one plastic-covered single-coil pickup in the neck position with standard volume and tone controls. The pots on this one are dated to the 47th week of 1958; the comfortable little neck carries no date mark as is typical of later 1959 instruments. If not Fender's most versatile guitar it is a super handy and good sounding one, with a surprising warmth and depth through the right amp.
Built to expand the company's hold on the teaching studio/young student market, these guitars were many 1950s and '60s players' first electric, far more playable than most and stylish in an understated way. The Musicmaster was designed primarily to be extremely easy to play, good enough to get kids hooked on playing electric but not so flashy as to stop them still lusting after a new Stratocaster down the road! This cool transitional example has not been stripped of its more valuable parts (knobs, neckplate, pots and wiring) as so many have and remains a neat package with the original lightweight brown case, a cool and more affordable original end-of-the 1950's Fender guitar for playing or collecting.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 12 1/2 in. (31.8 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 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This completely original second-generation Musicmaster showing some light general wear and tear but no repairs or alterations for its 65+ years on the planet. The body finish is scuffed in spots with typical dings, dents, and chips and some light belt buckle wear on the upper back. The neck finish is very clean as is the fingerboard. The Fender logo decal is mostly nicely preserved with a couple of small chips.
The pickguard and plastic pickup cover have just very light scuffing, while the metal parts show some minor corrosion but nothing tragic. Internally the pickup, pots and electronics remain completely original and untouched. The original Kluson tuners are intact, the plastic buttons have survived; the original snap-on bridge cover is missing. The original small frets have some wear just in the first position but playability is still quite good. It still lives in the original brown Fender case that isa bit worn on the lower end but still fully functional. Excellent - Condition.
