Single Musicmaster Bass Pickup– NZ$165 for NZ customers, if you’re overseas it’s GST free; NZ$143.48

Alnico V – 6.8 kOhms – ’51 Telecaster Bass spec

Or Alnico V – 5.7 kOhms – Original ‘70’s Strat spec

From its humble beginnings the Musicmaster Bass has become a classic. Beloved of Indie bands, studio engineers and offset fans. The Musicmaster Bass has begun to make its way in the world and leave its mark on music.

Musicmaster Bass pickup by MrGlyns Pickups — Musicmaster Bass Pickup

The Problem with the Musicmaster Bass Pickup

Designed originally to be a ‘student model’ short scale, Fender cut quite a few corners to reduce the cost. This was the 1970’s and the accountants had a big say at Fender. This was an instrument made down to a price not up to a standard. But despite the obvious cost cutting I still have a soft spot for the Musicmaster. They were cheap but that doesn’t mean they weren’t good.

The basic bones of the Musicmaster are good. Short scale bass with a small body makes a lot of sense. But there was a problem with the pickup.

Rather than design a pickup specifically for this guitar Fender instead used a Stratocaster. Then they hid it inside a blank cover.

Here is the problem with using a Stratocaster pickup with a 4 string bass. The red lines are the strings and the black dots are the pickup magnets.

It’s pretty obvious that the magnetic pole pieces just don’t line up with the middle strings.

The pickup wasn’t visible under that blank cover and they decided it didn’t matter on a budget bass anyway. So that’s how it was.

The Solution

In July 2024 I was contacted by my Neville Claughton from Nelson. He had an original ‘73 in need of a new pickup.

Nev is a legend in NZ, he’s been well known in the music business for ever and I have huge respect for him.

His request got me thinking so I decided to make my own version of the Musicmaster pickup but with 4 poles that line up with the strings.

I got on the computer and designed this pickup flatwork to be laser cut. As you can see it’s simply a 4 pole Strat pickup.

flatwork design for Musicmaster Bass by MrGlyns Pickups

The only difference is those pole pieces.

And here is the spacing of the poles on the Mr Glyn’s Pickup. You can see how the magnets line up with the strings.

String and pole alignment for MrGlyns Pickups Musicmaster Bass pickup

I’m happy with that.

Winding the Musicmaster Bass Pickup

So how was I going to wind this pickup?

There’s nothing wrong with the windings of a ‘70’s Strat pickup. With the reduced string tension of a 30inch scale bass there is a tendency for it to get boomy, so having a pickup with less inherent bottom end can help with clarity. It really isn’t a bad sound. My personal preference for these instruments is to have the Strat pickup specifications but with, of course, the correct string spacing.

But there is scope for having different winding options.

If you want more fatness in your tone I also offer this pickup with my ‘51 Telecaster Bass wind. This gives a bit more power but also more bass. This option still has the same Strat footprint and fits inside the same cover.

So if you want a fatter tone for your Musicmaster then this is your best option. Here’s a demo of that pickup.

Both winding options have the same footprint and the same alnico V magnets, it’s just the amount of windings that’s the difference.

This pickup is available with 3 cover options: black, white or cream.

Musicmaster Bass pickup covers by MrGlyns Pickups

Buy Musicmaster Bass

Updated May 2025

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Precision Bass pickup by MrGlyns Pickups — ’78 Musicman Stingray Bass re-win
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Jazz Bass pickup by MrGlyns Pickups — ’78 Musicman Stingray Bass re-win
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Single – Jazz Bass NZ$165 for NZ customers; if you’re overseas it’s GST free; NZ$143.48

Pair – Jazz Bass NZ$299 for NZ customers, if you’re overseas they’re GST free; NZ$260.00

Neck – 6.84 kOhms, Alnico V. Bridge – 7.45 kOhms, Alnico V

Buy Jazz Bass set

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Buy Jazz Bass single

Jazz Bass pickup demo

Mr Glyn’s “Jazz Bass” pickups are inspired by the Fender Jazz pickups from the early 60’s. Low powered vintage tones suited to players looking for a clean, clear, springy tone. Positive, percussive bass response, woody mids and clear highs. Designed for players wanting a pure tone with either fingers or a pick.

All my Jazz pickup sets are RWRP so they are hum cancelling when both pickups are on.

I love Jazz basses, that off-set body looks so cool and the narrow neck makes it very easy to get around. Looks, play-ability and versatility make it hard to beat.

The J bass has such a classic tone. The sound of a Jazz with both pickups on can be heard on so many recordings, it’s so distinctive. It’s the sound of two coils connected in parallel, like a Strat in positions 2 or 4. It’s that clear, scooped tone. The pair of coils in a Precision Bass are wired in series which gives it a bigger, more powerful sound with a lot more lower mids but the clarity of a J Bass can really stand out.

Over the years I’ve re-wound a lot of old Fender pickups. I like to make notes to record what I find in these old pickups, wire gauge, insulation types, d.c. resistance, magnetic gauss, dimensions. My notebook is getting pretty full. This is my constant reference when I’m designing a new pickup, that and my ears.

I’ve based these pickups on the best of the old Fenders I’ve come across over the years. Not all vintage pickups are great but when you see enough of the good ones patterns begin to form.

I still repair pickups and still add to my old notebook, always learning 😎.

Check out my P Bass pickup here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG99wNPSSgE&t=46s