Scan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Fender Musicmaster, 1956-1964ġ958 Fender Musicmaster Image Heritage auctions The Musicmaster was clearly a success, remaining in continuous production until 1982. As Fender put it in the 1976 catalog 'Begin with a Musicmaster, and graduate to stardom!'. This fact was demonstrated on the cover of the 1958 'Down Beat' brochure - an adult plays a Fender Stratocaster, whilst a child looks on, Fender Musicmaster in hand. But in truth, most experienced guitarists wanting to play widely spaced chords or the extra speed afforded by closer frets would chose the dual pickup Duo-Sonic - assuming price was not an issue!įender always believed that if beginner guitarists chose Fender, they would more likely continue playing Fender guitars as they got older.

The 1950s Fender Musicmaster was described as three quarter size, but the difference in size was not so great: Fender also suggested these models for more established players with smaller hands. Although these 'student' guitars were shorter scale than the Fender standard (22 1/2' vs 25'), they were not 'student' in terms of build quality - in fact very much in line with the Fender professional models such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster. It was joined shortly afterwards by a dual pickup companion model, the Duo-Sonic. The three-quarter size Fender Musicmaster debuted in 1956, as a new student model in the Fender solid body range.

1957 fender musicmaster guitar