Cross Guitars - projects and restorations

[CROSS_guitars]

Thankyou!
I'm pretty proud of it. Took me a long time to figure out how to make a full scale Mustang work as a design.

[dmb]

That is really nice. I don't know if I said it before, but that little angle behind the bridge humbucker, just MAKES the look. So classy.

Yeah, looks great, and gets the bridge pickup nearer the bridge for a full scale mustang... I love it! If it had a jazzmaster tremolo, this would be my ideal guitar. Well, would need a neck too.

[CROSS_guitars]

That is really nice. I don't know if I said it before, but that little angle behind the bridge humbucker, just MAKES the look. So classy.

Yeah, looks great, and gets the bridge pickup nearer the bridge for a full scale mustang... I love it! If it had a jazzmaster tremolo, this would be my ideal guitar. Well, would need a neck too.

I was planning on re-routing it for a JM tremolo but it would have left some screw holes behind from the bigsby and I didn't want to refinish the body.

[s_mcsleazy]

i know if my bandmates ever seen the full scale mustangs, they would both order one.

[CROSS_guitars]

I made this a few years ago and finished it but was never happy with it because the body was really heavy.
I bought the body cheap off Ebay. Not sure who made it but it was painted in white poly. The body thickness was 45mm and there were no contours.
The shape isn't accurate either so I had to custom cut the pickguard.
Even though it's basswood, it was as heavy as Mahogany.

So I recently stripped back the finish and thicknessed it to 38mm (which I believe is the correct thickness for a Mustang)
I reshaped it with a larger round-over and carved in some contours. I then rubbed in some brown-red stain and sealed it with a couple of layers of nitro.
I didn't really feel invested enough to finish it professionally. I like the rustic look of the natural wood with the knots etc.
The idea is it will look vintage and stressed after being played, like an old 70s stang.

It's much lighter now and feels like a completely different guitar. It sounds and plays really well.

[epizootics]

That color is really sweet! And the combination with the Jag controls/pickups looks pretty damn cool. It screams 'gig me!'

What stain did you use? The result is impressive for a stripped cheapo eBay body...

[CROSS_guitars]

That color is really sweet! And the combination with the Jag controls/pickups looks pretty damn cool. It screams 'gig me!'

What stain did you use? The result is impressive for a stripped cheapo eBay body...

It was a powdered stain. I can't quite remember the brand right now but it dissolves in Methylated spirits.
It was supposed to be 'poo brown' but for some reason it turned out red. I guess if I had mixed it stronger it would have been more brown but I like how it turned out.
I just rubbed it in with a rag. The clear I used had an orange tint which brings out the colour even more.

[Rgand]

The finish on this one is outstanding. I love the color. I'm not partial to satin finishes but this one has just enough gloss to look right. Very nice.

[blimpage]

Whoa rad!! That's a very nice accidental red finish!

[CROSS_guitars]

Duo-sonic string-thru bridge.
3D printed in Nickel steel. Brass compensated saddles.


Not as shiny as the last bridge I got printed but I don't mind the pitted surface. I could polish it a bit more I suppose.
I did file and smooth out the bit holding the 3 saddle screws.

[CROSS_guitars]

Haven't been on here in a while but I just wanted to show you this Starcaster neck I bought through Ebay.
It's a 2017 Made in China Starcaster neck. Obviously a factory reject.
It's unfretted and the thick poly finish on it is pretty bad.
I'm planning on stripping it all down and trimmimg the heel so it's compatible with a 25.5" scale body.
Luckily the neck screws haven't been drilled yet.
I might even convert the fretboard radius from 9.5" to 7.25" before I fret it.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Nice to see you back Cross!! That neck is really nice!!

[onichodaddy]

I also have a spare Modern Player Starcaster neck and was either going to route the neck pocket deeper or move the bridge to accommodate it. Hadn’t thought about trimming the heel. Would be interested in know how you plan to do it. I see the pencil outline of where you plan to trim.

[CROSS_guitars]

I also have a spare Modern Player Starcaster neck and was either going to route the neck pocket deeper or move the bridge to accommodate it. Hadn’t thought about trimming the heel. Would be interested in know how you plan to do it. I see the pencil outline of where you plan to trim.

Here's where its at now.
Still a bit more sanding and stuff to do but it turned out okay.

[onichodaddy]

Looks great so far. As far as shaving off that end piece, did you cut through it with a coping or some other type of saw, use a rasp, use a router or some other method? Would be curious to know so I don’t ruin my neck. Your projects always turn out great so would like to know how you weee able to cut down that heel.