Cheapest way into a vintage offset?

[Mechanical Birds]

So the original knobs are gone, but I have replacements so NBD. I confirmed that the paint is in fact over the original. I know very little about best practices for finish stuff, but especially removal. My hope is that it’ll be relatively painless but really I have no idea. No original case, sadly, but he has offered a molded Strat case that he says it fits in. No trem arm either and he said “it’s threaded just like it should be” but I can figure that out I’m sure, too.

Think I’m gonna get it

[goldwax]

Shame about the headstock.

[Highnumbers]

. I know very little about best practices for finish stuff, but especially removal. My hope is that it’ll be relatively painless

Don’t hold your breath, if you mean removing that paint to restore the original underneath. It’s painstaking and rarely yields a result that looks great (especially if it’s lacquer and not a later catalyzed finish).

[Mechanical Birds]

The shit that’s showing there now is sorta textured and feels like watercolor almost lol. It’s Dakota underneath, allegedly a 1964 so I have no idea that original finish is

[HedonismBot]

No trem arm either and he said “it’s threaded just like it should be” but I can figure that out I’m sure, too.

I own 2 vintage Mustangs (one came with a blocked tremolo, had to reset) and I can’t complain about the tuning stability even though I use the whammy kind of a lot. Yes, it takes a while to dial it in, but it’s no rocket science. On the other hand, I’ve only ever played / owned 2 Mustangs so I might have just lucked out. I am under the impression, though, that during the pre-internet era not very many knew how to set these vibratos up and the falsely earned reputation simply persists by inertia.

[Mechanical Birds]

I’ve owned a few - Jagstang, MIJ reissue, etc. and I actually liked the trem. It has a huge range and could straight up do dive bombs and shit, but both had trouble staying in tune at pretty much any time. I’m excited to try one where that problem disappeared/was set up properly.

I was just sighing because the dude is ignorant about guitars in general but the screw-in arm wasn’t part of any vintage Mustang.

[Mechanical Birds]

Gonna have to figure out a decal, too. I always hear “these guys in England…” but never get any info on who to ask past that

[JSett]

Gonna have to figure out a decal, too. I always hear “these guys in England…” but never get any info on who to ask past that

http://www.croxguitars.com/

Always

[Mechanical Birds]

Thanks!

[Highnumbers]

The shit that’s showing there now is sorta textured and feels like watercolor almost lol. It’s Dakota underneath, allegedly a 1964 so I have no idea that original finish is

Interesting timing, somebody just posted a time lapse video of rescuing an original CAR finish on a '66 P-Bass

https://fb.watch/bPnaig-8s-/

[Axolotl]

There is also this epic rescue by forumite will:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=103010&hilit=purple

I loved that restoration since the day it was posted. What makes it even better is that I eventually bought the bass from will. Love that tiny thunder machine to bits.

You should consider that the original finish in your mustang is nitro, while this bass is poly. Meaning you should be extra careful when sanding.

[Mechanical Birds]

Thinking I’ll test some lighter fluid/whatever solvent that doesn’t harm nitro. If there’s a god I’ll be able to wipe it off with a little elbow grease and won’t have to fret about digging into the clearcoat. If not, most of what I’ve read suggests the sanding method so that’s where I’ll probably go. Take my time, go slow, etc. here’s hoping it won’t be a total disaster

[Wizweird]

Lol my dad bought a 65 JM new. I started playing it in 68. I played for many years and when he passed away, I inherited it. I was very careful, and it doesn't have a scratch on it. All the wiring is stock, along with everything else on it. Cheapest way to get one. But man, I miss jamming the boogie woogie with him.

[Russell1982]

I don’t mean to hijack the thread but on the topic, where do you guys and gals in the UK look for or find your vintage guitars? Other than eBay or reverb is it just local stores?

I recently found a 1967 jag on eBay and the date on the neck was my birthday and I became obsessed with trying to find a way to afford it but then it sold. I think it was about £4,500 ish, most others I’ve seen around 1965-1967 are a couple thousand more and wasn’t really sure what is a “typical” price for a jag of those eras. If there is a typical price.

[JSett]

I don’t mean to hijack the thread but on the topic, where do you guys and gals in the UK look for or find your vintage guitars? Other than eBay or reverb is it just local stores?

Mostly in the selling pages on here. Vintage offsets are usually about 1/3rd of the price in the OSG classifieds compared to eBay or Reverb.