The Eternal Musicmaster-Style Bass Pickup transforms the tone of vintage and reissue Musicmaster basses, delivering the full, warm and articulate voice that many players always felt the original pickup lacked.
While the original Musicmaster used a 6-pole guitar-style pickup, the Eternal design replaces it with a purpose-built 4-pole bass pickup, producing deeper lows, stronger mids and a smoother, more balanced high end.
The result is a dramatic improvement in both output and tonal authority — turning the Musicmaster into the punchy, responsive short-scale bass it was always capable of being.
Best of all, it installs as a direct drop-in replacement, fitting perfectly into the original pickup cavity with no modifications required.
Why the Original Pickup Fell Short
When the Musicmaster Bass was introduced in the early 1970s, Fender adapted an existing 6-pole guitar pickup design rather than developing a dedicated bass pickup.
While this helped keep production costs low, it meant the pickup was never truly optimised for bass strings. The narrow magnetic field and pole spacing often resulted in a thinner, less powerful tone than players expected from a bass instrument.
The Eternal Musicmaster pickup corrects this by using a purpose-built 4-pole bass design, delivering deeper lows, stronger mids and a far more balanced response across all four strings.
A Better Design for Bigger Bass Tone
Rather than simply replicating the original guitar-style pickup, we redesigned the internal structure specifically for bass performance.
The custom 4-pole magnetic layout aligns perfectly with bass string spacing, allowing each string to be captured with greater accuracy and balance.
Combined with a hand scatter-wound coil and carefully voiced Alnico magnets, the pickup delivers:
• deeper, fuller low end
• stronger midrange punch
• smoother, more balanced highs
The result is a clearer, more powerful bass voice while preserving the classic character of the instrument.
Two Vintage-Inspired Cover Options
To suit different visual preferences, the Eternal Musicmaster pickup is available with two distinct cosmetic styles.
Traditional Musicmaster-Style Cover
Maintains the original factory appearance while dramatically improving the tone.
String-Wrapped Vintage Cover
Inspired by early Precision Bass designs, this version features classic string wrap around the coil for a more vintage aesthetic while retaining the Musicmaster footprint.
Both options install directly into the original pickup route.
Key Features
Direct Drop-In Replacement
Fits vintage and reissue Musicmaster basses with no modifications required.
Purpose-Built 4-Pole Bass Design
Correct pole spacing for balanced string response.
Hand Scatter-Wound Coil
Enhances harmonic richness and dynamic touch sensitivity.
Alnico 5 Magnets
Deliver strong note definition with warmth and clarity.
Vintage Cloth Push-Back Leads
Authentic wiring and easy installation.
Two Cover Options
Traditional Musicmaster-style or string-wrapped vintage design.
Aged or Unaged Options
Choose a pristine appearance or subtle vintage patina.
Tonal Profile
Lows
Deep, full and supportive.
Mids
Punchy and articulate, cutting clearly through a mix.
Highs
Smooth and balanced without harshness.
Overall
A dramatic upgrade over the original pickup — delivering true bass authority while preserving the character of the classic short-scale design.
Specifications
Magnets
Alnico 5
Wire
42 AWG
Construction
4-pole single-coil bass pickup
Lead Wires
Vintage cloth push-back
Potting
Light wax potting
Cover Options
Traditional Musicmaster-style cover
String-wrapped vintage cover inspired by early Precision Bass pickups
Big Bass Tone - Without Changing Your Bass
If you love the feel and character of your Musicmaster bass but want a fuller, more powerful and more responsive tone, the Eternal Musicmaster-Style Bass Pickup delivers exactly that — a true bass pickup designed specifically for the instrument.
Trademark Notice
Fender®, Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass®, Jazz Bass® and Musicmaster® are registered trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
These trademarks are used solely to describe compatibility or historical reference. Eternal Guitars is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
