Wesminster Mustang Competition MIJ 1978 : headstock OK

[Fenderguy]

Impressive work

Contact Jonathan; http://bennettdecals.wix.com/decals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He makes some really good decals.

[jackxiv]

It looks good with the stripe, but that green was sweet too. this guitar has had a good life.

[milesofsquares]

Wow. Exciting scrolling down and seeing the competition stripe reveal itself. Nice work on the fretboard. Can't wait to see this finished

[s_mcsleazy]

this is amazing. however i was curious about the scale since i've never seen a matsumoku mustang with a maple fretboard.

[joeld]

Well, a bit of fretwork today... I've received some fret wire ; I've chosen medium frets to fit my mustang's fretboard



Half an hour later, the frets are in place. They need to be cut and sanded...



Sanding's over. A final polishing of the frets before installing the headstock logo, then final varnish




Do you know a custom head decal maker so I can order a "westminster" logo?

Chris (HNB) used to make custom decals, maybe ask him?

Also- great work! I always enjoy your builds/restorations.

[tubart]

Thanks for helping ! I've found someone who's doing custom decal, here's the westminster decal copy... Great ! (but the image's blurred...)



The headstock had some small holes made by a hammer or something that has been used to remove the brand logo... I've filled the holes with epoxy resin to obtain a plane surface.



Drying one night long, I've varnished the headstock with a yellowed finish :



Just have to wait tomorrow the varnish to be dry, so I can sand it a bit then glue the westminster logo...

[empyrean]

Really awesome work! I love to see people saving guitars.

[Musjagjazz]

I have a Westminister Stratocaster which I received brand new in 1980 and still have today.

It has a great neck and pickups. The problem is the block for the bridge is made out of pressed imetal (not iron) which doesn't make it stable for tuning but is still fun to play. The pickups are darker than regular Strat pups and have a nice dirty sound when driven.

The body is Japanese Ash or maybe Sen, and made at the Fujigen factory for Matsumoku.
Although this is not my guitar, here is a nice picture of one just like mine in Sunburst.

http://guitar-expo.com/info/?p=12663

Love Mustangs and enjoying this thread!

[s_mcsleazy]

every time i look at this thread i think "that mustang is perfect"

[tubart]

Well ; a few months later I finally decide to change the fretboard. I've chosen a nice piece of cocobolo ; I don't especially appreciate the maple fretboard look on this mustang.

So, first, remove the old maple fretboard.







The cocobolo fretboard , before slotting:



Slotting OK :



Ready to glue the fretboard on the neck :



A few hours later, the neck has its new fretboard ; which needs some work before fret work...

[daCod]

just saw this. ace work man. nothing like uncovering an original competition finish!

that fretboard wood is bonkers. love the look of it!!

[tubart]

Thanks ! Electric instruments restoration / making is such a passion for me...

Today I've worked on the new fretboard ; sanding the sides to make them perfectly right and sand the top to obtain a 9,5" radius.




Even the cocobolo sanding dust has a beautiful color...



The freshly sanded cocobolo is very orange, here's a pic of a telecaster fingerboard made of the same cocobolo lumber. It is darker, because oxyded ; and will be more dark when I will oil it.



The radius is now OK ; I have to drill the fingerboard to install the front and side dots.



Hesitation time... Do you think a matching headstock would fit this nice competition mustang?? Instead of this two parts maple headstock...

[zhivago]

If you can match the colour, I would say matching headstock

[PixMix]

Amazing work!!! And the guitar looks like a real gem now. Thank you for sharing.

[SummerLeftMe]

Amazing work!

And matching headstocks look amazing, so I would go with that.