Finally done with my Mustang restoration
- niandra3
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Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Thanks in part to all you awesome people and the help I received here, I'm finally done restoring/rebuilding my 1976 Mustang. Not sure I can call it a "restoration" as much as "experimentation" because I haven't really done this type of finish before, and it's not trying to look factory original. But this is a guitar I love to play, and I don' t ever see myself selling it so I don't care how much of it is original. Just want to to look, play, and sounds good, and I think I achieved that.
Before:
The previous owner played the hell out of it, and the finish on the neck was worn through in a number of places (and kind of scratchy/uncomfortable as a result):
The initial plan was to refinish the neck with Tung Oil and lock down the bridge. Well.. didn't stop there.
Once it was in pieces, decided to refinish the body with a blue stain (don't really care that it's not period correct, and it was easier than a proper laquer finish). And updated electronics:
This Poly stuff really is as much of a PITA as everyone says:
Tung Oil finish on the neck turned out really well.. super smooth:
Used a blue stain on the body:
Then topped that with Tung Oil. The stain could have been more consistent, but I lucked out and the places where it is light are the places that normally get worn down by playing, so... accidental relic! Looks a bit glossier in person:
Shielded the body cavity, and did this wiring mod that lets you select pickup(s) with one switch, and bypass tone/volume with the second switch. Also new switches, pots, jack, and orange drop cap. Sounds awesome!
Locked down the bridge by using bolts direct into the cigar tube, rather than washers with the original bolts:
Which let me attach the cigar tube flush with the bridge plate (and switched it around so the strings go direct through);
Had to shim the neck a bit to compensate for this and get a better break angle across the bridge. Seems to work well now. Still using the original bridge, though am probably going to get a Staytrem (would love a Mastery, but it costs about half what I paid for this guitar):
Done!! Feels great, and sounds even better
Still shaping a new nut from a bone blank, but other than that it's fully complete! Still need to do a re-fret somewhere down the line, but I need to work myself up to that. Plays fine for now.
Full album with more info: http://imgur.com/a/DKOYw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thanks for the help OSG!
Before:
The previous owner played the hell out of it, and the finish on the neck was worn through in a number of places (and kind of scratchy/uncomfortable as a result):
The initial plan was to refinish the neck with Tung Oil and lock down the bridge. Well.. didn't stop there.
Once it was in pieces, decided to refinish the body with a blue stain (don't really care that it's not period correct, and it was easier than a proper laquer finish). And updated electronics:
This Poly stuff really is as much of a PITA as everyone says:
Tung Oil finish on the neck turned out really well.. super smooth:
Used a blue stain on the body:
Then topped that with Tung Oil. The stain could have been more consistent, but I lucked out and the places where it is light are the places that normally get worn down by playing, so... accidental relic! Looks a bit glossier in person:
Shielded the body cavity, and did this wiring mod that lets you select pickup(s) with one switch, and bypass tone/volume with the second switch. Also new switches, pots, jack, and orange drop cap. Sounds awesome!
Locked down the bridge by using bolts direct into the cigar tube, rather than washers with the original bolts:
Which let me attach the cigar tube flush with the bridge plate (and switched it around so the strings go direct through);
Had to shim the neck a bit to compensate for this and get a better break angle across the bridge. Seems to work well now. Still using the original bridge, though am probably going to get a Staytrem (would love a Mastery, but it costs about half what I paid for this guitar):
Done!! Feels great, and sounds even better
Still shaping a new nut from a bone blank, but other than that it's fully complete! Still need to do a re-fret somewhere down the line, but I need to work myself up to that. Plays fine for now.
Full album with more info: http://imgur.com/a/DKOYw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Thanks for the help OSG!
- MechaBulletBill
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Looks great, very unique. I'd love to hear a demo of the different tone switching options.
- Zork
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
the finish is really cool. nice job!
- niandra3
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Yeah I was thinking of doing that. I've got a new Blackstar 1w tube amp on the way for apartment playing, so I'll probably wait for that to come in. Can't use my big 40w tube amp in the apartment, and I want to do this thing justice. I think by changing to the less obvious .022 tone cap, I'm not hearing a huge difference between having the tone and volume on 10 vs. tone/volume bypassed, but there's a little boost. I'll do a demo for sure.MechaBulletBill wrote:Looks great, very unique. I'd love to hear a demo of the different tone switching options.
Unique is definitely the word . I've always wanted a blue guitar, and as I said I don't really have the skills for a proper laquer job, but I wanted to do it myself and I think it turned out better than I expected. I also really like light finishes in general.. just got a Faded Les Paul Studio with the satin open-grain finish.. I like to let the wood breathe. The Tung Oil ended up a bit thicker/glossier than I expected, but you can still see the wood which makes me happy.
The locked down bridge has more of an effect than I realized. I'm glad that I have a chance to upgrade/improve all the strings' points of contact.. bridge, tuners, and nut (eventually). But locking the bridge really increased sustain, and it just sounds better too (hard to describe). I lock down all my bridges.. never used tremolo, plus I don't even have the arm for this guitar.
Almost done shaping the new nut. Got some bone blanks and bought a Dremel for the job (for the rough shaping), and it's turning out well. The original plastic nut was pretty ground down.
- jam007
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Love it
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- Axolotl
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Very original and killer look. If the Sonic Youth signature Mustangs would exist they'd look like this!
- PorkyPrimeCut
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Similar to my first thought.Axolotl wrote:Very original and killer look. If the Sonic Youth signature Mustangs would exist they'd look like this!
Frankly, on paper, this guitar sounds awful (maple neck AND blue stain?) but it looks great! Good job!!
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.
- niandra3
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Thanks. Pardon my ignorance, but why Sonic Youth? One one of their Mustangs blue?Axolotl wrote:Very original and killer look. If the Sonic Youth signature Mustangs would exist they'd look like this!
- Mr.K
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Following the look of their signature Jazzmasters I'd say. Stained finish with a black pickguard.niandra3 wrote:Thanks. Pardon my ignorance, but why Sonic Youth? One one of their Mustangs blue?Axolotl wrote:Very original and killer look. If the Sonic Youth signature Mustangs would exist they'd look like this!
Guitar looks fantastic either way. You did a great job on that neck finish!
- niandra3
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Oooo pretty. I somehow have never seen those before.Mr.K wrote: Following the look of their signature Jazzmasters I'd say. Stained finish with a black pickguard.
- threewordname
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
what brand of stain did you use? it came out fantastic
- niandra3
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Thanks! Used Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in "Worn Navy".. that was all they had in the shop. Worked well with the tung oil I put on top (Fromby's). The yellow tint to the tung oil made the end result slightly greenish, but I'm happy with how it turned out.threewordname wrote:what brand of stain did you use? it came out fantastic
- thecolorwaves
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
Looks wonderful! That stain with the black pickguard is somethin' else.
- musicmatty
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- Trow
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Re: Finally done with my Mustang restoration
That looks great!