"Fender's new 'student' guitars, the Duo-Sonic and Musicmaster, first appeared in 1956. They had smaller, lighter bodies, shorter necks and basic appointments. The Musicmaster was the single-pickup version. Despite their budget status, the student models were still playable instruments: Fender seemed to have cut the right corners" (Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Fender Book, p. 29). Although Fender used the term "three-quarter size" in publicizing the new student models, only the neck and the resulting scale-length were smaller, designed for younger hands that were just starting to play guitar.
This 12-inch three-quarter size "student" guitar weighs just 5.70 lbs. and has a scale length of 22 1/2 inches. Solid ash body, one-piece maple neck (neck date of "XA-4-56") with 21 frets and black dot position markers. "No Name" Kluson closed-back tuners with white plastic buttons. One plain-top Bakelite Musicmaster pickup, angled at neck, with an output of 5.71k. Two controls (one volume, one tone) and jack socket, all on the black anodized aluminum pickguard. Telecaster-style chrome knobs with knurled sides and flat tops. Combined bridge/tailpiece with three adjustable saddles. Some very slight belt buckle wear on the back.
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