Going back to 1956, Fender used the "Musicmaster" name as a catchall for budget-friendly student-model gear. The Musicmaster Bass Amp rolled out in 1970, and although it was marketed for bass, this circuit borrows more from small-wattage guitar amps. Because of that, we find this overlooked vintage Fender an excellent choice for rich, articulate tube tone at practice-level volumes. Sometimes thought of as a stripped down Princeton, the Musicmaster Bass features a 12" speaker, so it can cover some sounds you don't get from other lower-powered Fender amps.
This Fender Musicmaster Bass Amp was made in 1977, and it is the more sought-after circuit that uses 6V6s in the power section (like Fender's guitar amps). Rated at 12 watts of power, this 1977 Musicmaster Bass rips through an after-market Peavey Scorpion 12" speaker. Volume and Tone controls are all you need to dial in the right sound, and we find the High/Low inputs are especially useful on this model.
This 1977 Fender Musicmaster Bass Amp is in impressive condition for its age. There are a few rips around the Tolex, and the grille cloth is worn with a few tears and stains (see photos). The Silverface control panel has a some nicks and bruises, too, but we'll chalk that up as mojo. The metal parts some show minor rust, and the knobs look pretty clean so it's possible they are replacements. This amp was recently serviced by Chelli Amplification who replaced two expired capacitors. It still has its original three-prong cable.
This 1977 Fender Musicmaster Bass Amp is a real sleeper! Incredible value for the nuanced vintage tones it produces. If you're looking for a small tube amp that goes further than a Champ and doesn't cost as much as a Princeton, this one is hard to beat. The extra watts and 12" speaker make this a great choice in the studio, but it'll sound equally as good in the living room or rehearsal space.