A few months back i was lucky enough to pick up this awesome 62 musicmaster for a price that was too low for me to pass up. Never imagined i could pick up a Pre-CBS Fender (with mostly all of its original parts intact to boot) for less than some MIM models cost these days, but occasionally fate shines upon us favorably.
Here it is pictured in its original case before it was packed up and shipped my way.
As you can see, the original sunburst finish (which i LOVE on these--one of the few times i actually prefer sunburst) was long gone, probably another victim of the 70's "strip and clear coat" craze. The original headstock decal had also been mostly ripped off seemingly by a piece of tape that had been rudely positioned on top of it. In any case, the only other non-original parts i could find on the guitar were the strap buttons. The neck plate, screws, bridge, tuners, string tree, pots, cap, pickup, covers, pickguard etc were all as they should be, present and accounted for down to the date codes on the pots. Even still had the original masking tape holding the wires to the pickguard shield.
Unfortunately the pickguard had a small section chipped off at the jack. this meant only the thin shield was holding the jack in place, and it was bending everything all to hell. I reluctantly ordered a very pricey reissue guard to ensure it fit and looked exactly as it should. The new one is a bit less yellowed than i would like, even after my normal aging/yellowing process, but it will certainly do.
Most "normal" (read: boring) refinishers/restorers in this situation would attempt to recreate the glory days by replicating the old sunburst finish and sourcing a new period correct headstock decal and likely refinishing the neck/headstock, filling all the dings and dents, and inevitably losing a good bit of the "mojo" this baby has acquired over the years in search of making it look shiny and new again, like nothing ever happened.
Round here, we embrace the checkered pasts and basketcases and give them a new life as the quirky oddballs they were always meant to be. And besides, this is my guitar so i'll do what i like
So of course, i went completely wacky with this one and sprayed it in a custom mixed faded competition orange nitro, WITH the requisite matching headstock and a totally non-period correct headstock decal in the style of the '69 comp stangs, which ive always wanted but never could afford.
I chose to leave the old dings and dents unfilled and paint over them, then when it was assembled, i went through with a razor blade and scraped away the paint in all the old dings, essentially recreating them exactly as they were to keep them a part of the visual "story"
Ended up with a total lifer of a guitar. plays amazing, sounds amazing, looks amazing, theres nothing more that you need!
Behold: the '62 compmaster
