OffsetGuitars.com

JSutter wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:45 pm

I've been thinking about buying a bullet mustang. I just can't get over the thinner body. How much thinner is it than a normal mustang?

Why does everyone mod the bridge? Is the original one that crappy?

I have a friend that has one

on his guitar, yes.

Man! Killer work SteadyRiot! Pink guitar, black guard, and cream humbucker is REALLY classy looking.

That thing looks awesome!!!

MC3 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:11 pm

JSutter wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:45 pm

I've been thinking about buying a bullet mustang. I just can't get over the thinner body. How much thinner is it than a normal mustang?

Why does everyone mod the bridge? Is the original one that crappy?

I have a friend that has one

on his guitar, yes.

Well, it's a hardtail strat bridge, so it's mostly the saddles that leave something to be desired. The nice thing about that design is that you can upgrade saddles without replacing the whole thing. The bridge itself is just the hunk of metal screwed to the body and at least on mine is fine (no plating wearing off, no misaligned holes, etc).

One option that's out there, and most likely what I'll do if/when I get a Bullet to mess around with: our very own Cross Guitars makes a drop-in bridge plate that's designed like an old Duo Sonic bridge.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/W9RZ8 ... idge-plate

Amon 7.L wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:24 am

What can I say aside from: I love it!?

Toronado bridge just belongs to these guitars, it's a pity they don't bake them like this right out of the factory.

Are you keeping the hb with the black pg or are you gonna experiment with the mint green?

Thanks!
They sure do, but what's the fun in an already perfect guitar? Then there's nothing to mod!
I'm not sure on the pickguard yet, for now this'll work but I'll change it out as my needs or mood changes..

JSutter wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:45 pm

I've been thinking about buying a bullet mustang. I just can't get over the thinner body. How much thinner is it than a normal mustang?

Why does everyone mod the bridge? Is the original one that crappy?

The body is quite a bit thinner, I haven't measured but the internet says 35mm. That's 13mm thinner than a regular Mustang.

The bridge isn't great. You can make it work with all the tricks that make a Jaguar / Jazzmaster bridge work (yarn on the height screws and some glue / loctite here and there) because the tolerances aren't as tight.
I changed it because I like the way the Duosonic II's look:

valley_parade wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 12, 2019 5:13 am

One option that's out there, and most likely what I'll do if/when I get a Bullet to mess around with: our very own Cross Guitars makes a drop-in bridge plate that's designed like an old Duo Sonic bridge.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/W9RZ8 ... idge-plate

Yeah the Cross Guitars plate is great! I found it just a bit too expensive for this on the cheap build!

Danley wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:25 am

Hmm interesting, good job on the ferrules. You have me thinking about grain-filling my messier fretboards...

Drilling for the ferrules was one of the most nerve-racking things I've ever done to an already finished guitar but it turned out pretty good (had some paint chip out sadly but meh it's a project guitar anyway)!
We'll see how the grainfilling will hold up but as of now it looks pretty good. Scraping it off the fretboard with a razor is something you need to have a steady hand for if you don't want to gouge out your fretboard... I'd advise against sanding.
Rub it in, let it dry, scrape it off with a razor with a slight bur on it and clean the fretboard. Then just give it a quick clean and you're golden.

I used oil-based filler to refinish a bare mahogany body, had good results letting it get tacky after ~15 min and wiping off excess with a towel; the surface was level enough to seal and paint without visible grain. Was the razor needed 100% ?

JSutter wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:45 pm

I've been thinking about buying a bullet mustang. I just can't get over the thinner body. How much thinner is it than a normal mustang?

Never tried a bullet mustang, but most of my old UK weirdos (Burns, Weill, Vox etc) are 35mm thick, and that's absolutely plenty. Some low end UK Vox stuff is a hair under an inch, and that's pushing it a bit, but they are still functional guitars. Normal Fender thickness feels excessive to me now

Great work there, fabulous.

Both my Squier Bullet Mustangs have modded bridges, the stock one does that classic Squier topload trick of pushing the saddles up as well as down.

Both now have three saddle set-ups



Surf-Green Faux-Musicmaster



Spare body mated with a full scale Squier Std neck

Might go back to the single humbucker route with this one though, that singlke banger pink Mustang looks fantastic

Danley wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2019 7:35 am

I used oil-based filler to refinish a bare mahogany body, had good results letting it get tacky after ~15 min and wiping off excess with a towel; the surface was level enough to seal and paint without visible grain. Was the razor needed 100% ?

No that'll work too.
I used water based grainfiller that dried pretty quick. Plus I prefer a scraper to a lot of other methods but your way should work fine.

Awesome - just played one at Guitar Center (no deep discount yet.) I LOVE the neck; thin and flat, spray some finish on it and I’d call it good. But damn the body is slim.

I just found this thread. That bullet is coming looking great! FWIW, I really liked that mottled blue/red pickguard on it.

If you're still thinking about one of those Bigsby clones, I ordered one to see what they're like (+-$20) and the front roller bushings are snug enough that the roller isn't free-wheeling. I think it would not return to tune when you let off the arm. I may see what can be done to that one of these days but it's going to sit for now.

Looks really good. I like the Toronado bridge.

Looks really good !
Cool Project but I am 99% sure that this is an Indian Laurel fretboard .