A very clean all original 1966 Musicmaster in Dakota Red complete with the original case and instruction booklet/hang tag. These guitars are underrated gems and deliver a surprisingly useable range of tones from the single pick up. A very affordable entry into the vintage guitar world.

First introduced in 1956 as Fender’s entry level student guitar, the Musicmaster has seen a few revisions over the years before being discontinued in 1982. Originally a ¾ scale guitar up until 1964 when Fender offered the more popular, and playable, 24 inch scale length as an option. This 1966 example has the desirable 22 fret 24 inch scale length B width neck.

The neck itself has a medium C profile which is very comfortable to play and with good intonation all the way up the neck. Currently it is set up with a set of 11-48 gauge strings which feel very slinky on the 24 in scale neck with easy choke free string bending.

Sonically the combination of the grey bottomed single coil pick up and the 24 inch scale length delivers a clear, chiming tone on open chords played through a clean amp. The clean sound is very useable with some nice character. Put it through an overdrive setting and it breaks up very nicely giving a gnarly tone that is again very useable.

Everything on the guitar is 100% original and the overall condition is excellent. The original nut has been shimmed at some point, which is fairly common but everything else on the guitar is untouched. The neck is dated to June '65 and the pots are dated to 1966 - the tone pot is dated to the 7th week of '66 and the volume pot has solder covering the full date but the first digit (a 6) is visible and all solder joints are undisturbed.

There is some attractive light lacquer checking on the original nitro finish, a small number of nicks on the edges of the guitar and some light surface scratches on the back as to be expected, but no buckle rash. The rear of the neck shows some natural play wear around the cowboy chord position and a few light scratches. Clearly this guitar has had relatively light use over the years and has been very well looked after.

For a ‘student’ guitar this Musicmaster is a surprise package, offering tone and playability beyond its modest price, and is well worth checking out.

The original Fender hard shell case and the original instruction booklet/hang tag completes the package.

**Please ask about shipping outside the UK**