Mustang Control Plate-Vintage vs Modern

[HiFors]

Hi!
New member here! I’m living in Sweden and enjoy playing and modding and repairing guitars. I’m currently putting a mustang together and have invariably ran into some fit problems.

If I could get some measurements of a 60’s control plate It would be great. Have they always been about the same (disregarding the funny shaped ones seen more recently)?

The ones I have on hand (Squier and Fender mexico or japan) fit very close to the edge of the body.

The body itself is a JBR repro, supposedly exact vintage American spec. Let’s say I have my doubts. All pickguards I’ve tried sit too low on the lower horn. I’ve had to trim a lot of material away to have it fit.

I’d post pictures, and I will if you’ll tell me how. Appreciate any input on these matters!
Thanks!

[HiFors]

[CROSS_guitars]

You'd need to show us more pics, but I'd say the body is the issue, from what I can tell.

[HiFors]

Thanks! Yes, I fear so. Were you able to see rhe images I tried to post?

Additionally, there’s just 16 mm between the control cavity rout and the edge proper of the guitar. Since the body edge is quite rounded over, there’s only about 2 mm worth of flat space here. This results in the control plate floating along its lower edge.

Now, if there was a way to update Reverb feedback

[CROSS_guitars]

I could only see the one image.
If you have access to a thicknesser you may be able to take a millimeter or two off the top of the body. That way the roundover will be smaller and give you more room for the control plate to not hang over.
Alternatively, you could fit it with a custom plastic pickguard like a Bronco.

[HiFors]

[HiFors]

Doing a thickness sanding never occured to me! Thanks a lot! I think I might know somebody. Will have to redo my FRENCH POLISH though.

[CROSS_guitars]

hmm, that really is very close to the edge though.

You should do a Char-Stang.

[HiFors]

That’s nice! I’ll look into that.

[HiFors]

In the meantime I made a make-shift aluminum control plate, matching the bridge saddles. It’s been made slightly narrower than the ones I had on hand.

[CROSS_guitars]

Wow, cool. That totally works!

[GilmourD]

Google Drive links don't work for forum images, but it also seems as though your pictures are Apple's proprietary HEIC format, which plays nicely with... nothing.

Not your fault that Apple looks at international standards with disdain.

Fortunately, however, there are websites for converting file types and Imgur!

[Fiddy]

Post a pic of the entire body. It doesn't seem to have the right proportions.

[HiFors]

Thanks for the info on image posting. Trying imgur now. I’ve been in contact with the seller, who claims to have sold 30 bodies since last year with no complaint. Further, only American Fender works but he’s not sure about vintage parts.

Mustang body

[CROSS_guitars]

Good move on the control plate. I reckon give it a good 'ol polish. It would be pretty much look like steel.