Custom Mustang build

[paulnb57]

I already have a Squier Bullet Mustang which was modded to hell and back and I like it so much I kept an eye out for a Squier neck. One came from a wanted ad on the UK Fretboard forum, this is where it lead me......

I like the neck, but not the cheap headstock decal, so that was removed and before the new decal was applied the headstock was repainted the proposed body colour....decal applied and lacquered, for the decal police the original info is still on the back of the headstock

[paulnb57]

So, while thabove fun was happening, I started shopping around for parts, the Body is Swamp Ash, a Custom order from Guitarbuild uk, with no bridge or string through routing/drilling as I am goimg with a Toronado bridge modified to three saddle and top load, locking tiners were in the parts box, CTS pots, .047 cap, Creamery Strat size P90 for the neck pickup and a Bare Knuckle Sinner with metal backplate at the bridge, chrome control plate, Jazz Bass knobs, Scaller strap locks and a Satin black scratchplate complete the picture.

Body arrived and a test fit of parts

[paulnb57]

Paint!
And a quick mock up after a couple of coats, paint is Auto rattlecan Cellulose mixed specially, no primer, no grain filler, the paint sinks into the grain, it's a finish I like......

[paulnb57]

Almost there, paint cut back and polished, all assembled and set up, rear switch is three way pickup selector, front switch does nothing yet, bridge has been modded, but the saddles are awful the strings go over the height adjustment screw holes, so will be replaced......thats why the strings have not yet been trimmed at the headstock.....it needs bridge saddles, rewiring both switches to correct Mustang spec, fit straplocks....it sounds great!

[Zork]

Step 2: Get the four matching Orange Fullstacks.

[MechaBulletBill]

Amazing! Orange is the best colour for the "student" model short scale offsets.

[Embenny]

That's incredible.

My only suggestion would be to fit hole-less pickup covers onto those. Mustangs with visible pole pieces always look off to me.

Other than that, this is pretty much perfection.

[paulnb57]

Thanks for the positive comments!

Regarding open pickup covers, the neck pickup is a P90 with screw polepieces so can't happen.....

[Embenny]

Thanks for the positive comments!

Regarding open pickup covers, the neck pickup is a P90 with screw polepieces so can't happen.....

Sure it could, as long as the original pickup was designed with a removable cover. All you need to do is put the blank cover over the pickup (including the polepieces) and fit a small spacer between the bottom of the cover and the bobbin of the pickup to prevent it from stretching down over the screw polepieces as you tighten.

That's one of the tricks I learned in my years of hiding weird pickups under covers. It means the cover will be closer to the strings, but it's not like you would ever adjust a P90 so that the screws were at string level when fretting, so an inert plastic cover doesn't interfere with anything (and actually prevents that popping sound you get if you ever accidentally press a string against a polepiece).

[paulnb57]

Sure it could, as long as the original pickup was designed with a removable cover. All you need to do is put the blank cover over the pickup (including the polepieces) and fit a small spacer between the bottom of the cover and the bobbin of the pickup to prevent it from stretching down over the screw polepieces as you tighten.

That's one of the tricks I learned in my years of hiding weird pickups under covers. It means the cover will be closer to the strings, but it's not like you would ever adjust a P90 so that the screws were at string level when fretting, so an inert plastic cover doesn't interfere with anything (and actually prevents that popping sound you get if you ever accidentally press a string against a polepiece).
[/quote]

Great idea!