1978 left-handed Mustang

[sal paradise]

A dream guitar since I was young. It barely scrapes in as vintage, but a USA Mustang has been on my bucket list for a long time. Picked it up for a bit below the going rate of a right-handed model, too. I’m so happy with it

Not had a chance to plug it in yet. Will do after work. Weighs a tonne, and some funky strap button positioning on the top horn. But it looks perfectly 70s to me.

[sal paradise]

Oh, and it accidentally fits right in with the black guard policy

[MattK]

daaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmn that’s nice

[Jonesie]

That's a gorgeous burst!

[sal paradise]

Those pics don’t really do it justice…

Dylan-burst:

[sal paradise]

Given it a little spin. It sounds like a mustang. It can get v quacky on one of the settings, which is fun for Dire Straits noodling. Then I just realised it’s got raised pole pieces, not original pickups?

Time to look under the hood.

Looks like the neck has never come off with the amount of dust that came out with it. Neck has been in a knife fight. Tuners are in great condition. Looks like I wired the pickups

Any idea what the pickups might be? Pots look original…?

[JSett]

Given it a little spin. It sounds like a mustang. It can get v quacky on one of the settings, which is fun for Dire Straits noodling. Then I just realised it’s got raised pole pieces, not original pickups?

Time to look under the hood.

Yeah, they should be fully covered too. Fender did do some odd things in the late 70s though so stranger things have happened but take a quick hood check for sure

[sal paradise]

Given it a little spin. It sounds like a mustang. It can get v quacky on one of the settings, which is fun for Dire Straits noodling. Then I just realised it’s got raised pole pieces, not original pickups?

Time to look under the hood.

Yeah, they should be fully covered too. Fender did do some odd things in the late 70s though so stranger things have happened but take a quick hood check for sure

Just edited the post with photos

[JSett]

Pots etc look fine to me. Those pickups almost certainly aren't the originals. The black plastic bobbin'd one looks like a really old Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio, I'm pretty certain I took one just like that out of the FrankenTele. The grey fibre bobbin also looks odd, with the strange "VI" stamp...I've never seen that before.

Was it sold as "all original"? If so, I'd definitely try and ask for some money back on the deal, and buy Simons Creamerys in the FS section

[sal paradise]

Pots etc look fine to me. Those pickups almost certainly aren't the originals. The black plastic bobbin'd one looks like a really old Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio, I'm pretty certain I took one just like that out of the FrankenTele. The grey fibre bobbin also looks odd, with the strange "VI" stamp...I've never seen that before.

Was it sold as "all original"? If so, I'd definitely try and ask for some money back on the deal, and buy Simons Creamerys in the FS section

They didn’t quote that, but it’s worth asking. The description arguably makes it sound original. They don’t mention the pickups. I just asked them straight is there anything they can do besides me returning it. Let’s see what they say.

[BoringPostcards]

Awesome score!

[JSett]

To be honest, even with the pickups, finding a vintage lefty that looks cool and plays great AND is a good price is still an achievement. Fortunately there's plenty of options for pickups if you don't like what's in there.

[Pacafeliz]

Pretty sure the grey bottom one is an old MIJ Tokai, they're good stuff.

Nice guitar, kinda like mine but the other way round
Congrats!

[Pacafeliz]

Pretty sure the grey bottom one is an old MIJ Tokai, they're good stuff.

Nice guitar, kinda like mine but the other way round
But with a maple fretboard, a rather rare one!
Congrats!

[sal paradise]

Pretty sure the grey bottom one is an old MIJ Tokai, they're good stuff.

Nice guitar, kinda like mine but the other way round
But with a maple fretboard, a rather rare one!
Congrats!

Yeah, basically twins! I might hotrails this so it can keep up with you on the gain stakes. Or a twangbanger. I love the Tele bridge but find my Tele a bit awkward to play.

Thanks for the lead on the pickup, will try and do some digging.

*edit* yep, nailed it. The VI grey pickup is a Tokai strat pickup, probably 80s. Thanks!