1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
- SammyT
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1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
This is going to be my second vintage build/restoration (first one is a Vintage JMI Vox Consort, but I haven't posted about that guitar yet).
I've always liked the look and the story of the Fender Swinger/Musiclander/Arrow.
In short: In 1969 Fender had some left over parts from the Musicmasters and Bass V and decided to use them for a new guitar design.
So they basically used all the parts form the Musicmaster, modified the headstock shape, and used a modified Bass V Body.
As I just got out of highschool, I don't have the money to buy an original one, as they are quiet rare (only 250 to 300 were produced).
So I started looking for Musicmasters and Duo Sonics, because they are very similar.
And as I was looking over Ebay and Reverb, I found this fair priced 1964 Fender Musicmaster pickup, so I decided to go for it.
My intention was to hear by myself how a pre-CBS pickup would sound. So I put it in one of my Strats, and it sounded great.
So a couple of months later I found a good deal on a 1964 Fender Musicmaster neck. So that is when I decided to complete the whole guitar.
After searching on ebay for the rest of the guitar parts, I maneged to find all the Musicmaster parts at reasonable prices, except for the body.
So that's when I decided to make a Fender Swinger, the raddest Fender guitar to be ever produced.
So the parts I am making this guitar form are:
Original 1964 Musicmaster Pickup
Original 1964 Musicmaster neck
Original 1964 Musicmaster bridge
Original 1965 double-line Kluson Tuners
Modified 1964 Musicmaster Pickguard (someone routed a bridge pickup and a selector switch hole in it)
New Alpha pots, new mustang switch, wiring and control plate
Custom made Swinger body
Right now all the parts are on their way. I just need a Bridge pickup for this build. As I like the neck pickup so much (and I normally don't use the bridge pickup that much), I'm not looking for an expensive vintage bridge pickup.
So i think this Q pickup is perfect for me: https://reverb.com/nl/item/5712775-must ... -q-pickups
But if any of you have other suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
I've always liked the look and the story of the Fender Swinger/Musiclander/Arrow.
In short: In 1969 Fender had some left over parts from the Musicmasters and Bass V and decided to use them for a new guitar design.
So they basically used all the parts form the Musicmaster, modified the headstock shape, and used a modified Bass V Body.
As I just got out of highschool, I don't have the money to buy an original one, as they are quiet rare (only 250 to 300 were produced).
So I started looking for Musicmasters and Duo Sonics, because they are very similar.
And as I was looking over Ebay and Reverb, I found this fair priced 1964 Fender Musicmaster pickup, so I decided to go for it.
My intention was to hear by myself how a pre-CBS pickup would sound. So I put it in one of my Strats, and it sounded great.
So a couple of months later I found a good deal on a 1964 Fender Musicmaster neck. So that is when I decided to complete the whole guitar.
After searching on ebay for the rest of the guitar parts, I maneged to find all the Musicmaster parts at reasonable prices, except for the body.
So that's when I decided to make a Fender Swinger, the raddest Fender guitar to be ever produced.
So the parts I am making this guitar form are:
Original 1964 Musicmaster Pickup
Original 1964 Musicmaster neck
Original 1964 Musicmaster bridge
Original 1965 double-line Kluson Tuners
Modified 1964 Musicmaster Pickguard (someone routed a bridge pickup and a selector switch hole in it)
New Alpha pots, new mustang switch, wiring and control plate
Custom made Swinger body
Right now all the parts are on their way. I just need a Bridge pickup for this build. As I like the neck pickup so much (and I normally don't use the bridge pickup that much), I'm not looking for an expensive vintage bridge pickup.
So i think this Q pickup is perfect for me: https://reverb.com/nl/item/5712775-must ... -q-pickups
But if any of you have other suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
https://t.me/pump_upp
- FenderBob
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Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
Welcome to the board. I look forward to seeing your build. Who is building the body and are you going with a single pup?
- Danley
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Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
I know it’s ‘just’ a 22” but FYI remember - you don’t HAVE to arrow the headstock for anyone here to love you
King Buzzo: I love when people come up to me and say “Your guitar sound was better on Stoner Witch, when you used a Les Paul. “...I used a Fender Mustang reissue on that, dumbass!
- mgeek
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- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2014 1:03 pm
Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
This looks like a great project, nice one! My suggestions would be:
1/ If you don't even like bridge pickups, and original swingers didn't even have them, find a regular mm scratchplate, don't have a bridge pickup and make it exactly like an original.
2/ That neck looks really clean, so it would bother me to reshape the headstock, but at the same time it wouldn't really be a swinger without the pointy headstock... I reckon there's a deal waiting to be done with someone where you end up with cash or trades AND a neck that it'd be less of a crime to operate on.
excited to see how this turns out! What colour are you going with?
Also: As a UK guitar guy, possibly even more excited by the Vox Consort project, pics please!
1/ If you don't even like bridge pickups, and original swingers didn't even have them, find a regular mm scratchplate, don't have a bridge pickup and make it exactly like an original.
2/ That neck looks really clean, so it would bother me to reshape the headstock, but at the same time it wouldn't really be a swinger without the pointy headstock... I reckon there's a deal waiting to be done with someone where you end up with cash or trades AND a neck that it'd be less of a crime to operate on.
excited to see how this turns out! What colour are you going with?
Also: As a UK guitar guy, possibly even more excited by the Vox Consort project, pics please!
- Lamar Fandango
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:58 pm
Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
The body is my favorite Fender shape. The arrow headstock is just plain bad. Sad to see a nice headstock get hacked for that.
- Wil_66
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- Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2019 1:47 pm
- SammyT
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- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:46 am
Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
For everyone worried about the headstock, I'm not going to reshape it. This neck is in excellent condition and even has the original decal and frets on it. I designed the guitar on my computer and it looks a bit weird with a 'normal' shaped musicmaster headstock, but this guitar is weird in general, so I think it fits.
The body will be made by musooguitars from Aliexpress (I know sounds kind of bad, but i have ordered many guitar parts from them, and they do a very good job), and they take the time to make a good custom order for you.
It is going to be an ash body with black polyurethane finish.
Will post more pictures soon.
The body will be made by musooguitars from Aliexpress (I know sounds kind of bad, but i have ordered many guitar parts from them, and they do a very good job), and they take the time to make a good custom order for you.
It is going to be an ash body with black polyurethane finish.
Will post more pictures soon.
https://t.me/pump_upp
- SammyT
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- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:46 am
Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
Just finished the (probably) final concept of the Fender Swinger
As you can see I'm probably going to stick to the two pickup configuration.
I previously mentioned, I don't use the bridge pickup that often.
But I think the middle position is quite useful. And as I live in Europe,
Finding a original MM pickguard at a reasonable price is not that easy.
I'm curious how the pickups will sound together, both in and out of phase (like in the Mustangs and new design Duo Sonics)
So I designed this pickup wiring:
The selector switch will select which pickup is on, and the push-pull pot will switch the phase of the bridge pickup.
Some of the parts have already arrived:
Double line Kluson tuners:
As you can see I'm probably going to stick to the two pickup configuration.
I previously mentioned, I don't use the bridge pickup that often.
But I think the middle position is quite useful. And as I live in Europe,
Finding a original MM pickguard at a reasonable price is not that easy.
I'm curious how the pickups will sound together, both in and out of phase (like in the Mustangs and new design Duo Sonics)
So I designed this pickup wiring:
The selector switch will select which pickup is on, and the push-pull pot will switch the phase of the bridge pickup.
Some of the parts have already arrived:
Double line Kluson tuners:
https://t.me/pump_upp
- SammyT
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:46 am
Re: 1964 pre-CBS Fender Swinger/Musiclander Build
https://t.me/pump_upp