CIJ Mustang build

[Concretebadger]

I have a '65 RI neck and (hopefully) matching body in Olympic white and for reasons of cheapness/wanting to be different I've decided against a tort 'guard. Instead, it'll be a white pearloid.

I also have a spare Mustang bridge that came with my second-hand CIJ JM, but since I'm a purist/masochist I swapped the JM's stock bridge back and kept the 'stang bridge.

I'm undecided on the pickups so waiting to get the body, neck and hardware together and strings on to make sure it tunes up and intonates properly first. The two I've considered so far are
1. vintage-spec reissues: the Creamery do several but the 'extra width' or 'sweet 74' could be fun.
2. a silver Lace Sensor in the neck and a red in the bridge. Might give some cool mid 90s Pumpkins tone.

Any experiences with these that you'd like to share?

I'm also holding back on the switches and wiring...I have a couple of 1 meg Dimarzio pots lying around from an earlier (failed) project, but I'm not sure if they'd be too bright. As soon as Parcelfarce pull their finger out (the body's been sitting in customs purgatory for the best part of three weeks now, and I'm still waiting for the sodding customs invoice) I'll be good to go.

I'm also going for extra Man Points by putting this little beauty together from parts.

[Awstin]

I have a '65 RI neck and (hopefully) matching body in Olympic white and for reasons of cheapness/wanting to be different I've decided against a tort 'guard. Instead, it'll be a white pearloid.

I wonder who made you certain of that idea

[Concretebadger]

I have a '65 RI neck and (hopefully) matching body in Olympic white and for reasons of cheapness/wanting to be different I've decided against a tort 'guard. Instead, it'll be a white pearloid.

I wonder who made you certain of that idea

Indeed. Thanks. I was trying to think of ways to make it a bit different cosmetically, and since the tort is so common (and, ironically, the most expensive from what I've seen from shopping around so far) I decided on the pearl. Thing is, the slide switches and pickup covers will probably be white too so she's going to be very...white.

I also want to do something different with the control knobs so rather than the standard black ones I considered chrome knurled things, but now I think I'll use white witch hats. Guitar Parts Resource has them in stock ATM, and I think they'll look really classy.

I only have the bridge, neck and body so far though...the trem and tuners are currently in Customs Limbo so as soon as they're fitted I'll post some update pics.

[Concretebadger]

*DOUBLE POST BUMP*

The parts I ordered arrived today. The tuners are on - the bushes took a bit of gentle persuasion using the butt of a screwdriver handle - and the trem is installed too. She'll need a proper setup since the action's a bit high and the stopbar leans too far forward so I'll have to lower them both a bit. The G string is in contact with the trem end of the bridge itself, which could either mean the bridge is too high or the saddle's too far forward. I've not checked the intonation yet.

I'll give it a couple of weeks to settle down and stretch out; the weather is super-humid right now. The neck is really straight too but hopefully the string tension will put a bit of relief into it and I won't need to adjust the truss rod (a job I avoid where possible).

And, since my camera battery's recharged...first pic!

[Silenus]

Looks nice already. Love to see it finished...

[Awstin]

It reminds me of the 65 build me and my friend did for someone. I put a white pickguard on it with purple pickup covers. It had a white body as well. It had two really nice pickups in it to.. and we installed a killswitch where the controls are.


IMG_3004 by punkacc9, on Flickr

Next to my 69 Les Paul Mustang

IMG_3013 by punkacc9, on Flickr

Notice the differences in the white pearl. I like the one on my 69 better.

[Concretebadger]

I prefer the white pearl of the '69 too...the other seems to have a bluish tint to it. Which might look fine with some colours, but not Olympic White.

I'm going ALL WHITE on this one though...whether I fit Creamery pickups or Sensors (undecided about that...advice one way or t'other would be appreciated) the covers'll be white. As are the tuners, and hopefully the switches. Totally going for white witch hats too.

Will post pics when the rest of the stuff's bought and fitted.

[taylornutt]

This really makes me want an all white guitar.

Also makes me think of this:

[JohnnyTheBoy]

This really makes me want an all white guitar.

Also makes me think of this:

Guitar Pron right there!...lovely lovely....

[Concretebadger]

A quick update since I'm almost at the end of the build...just waiting for the pickguard to arrive. It appears that either the body or the original 'guard I ordered isn't CIJ as advertised; the screw holes don't match up at all. Most annoying, especially since I've finished the wiring:



It's hard to tell when the pickups and slide selectors are just floating around in the rout, but I do like the sound of the Blue/Silver Sensor combo. The 'out of phase' setting is a lot quieter than the 'in phase', which I assume is normal? Anyhow, I'm glad I followed advice from folks here and went for 500k pots because 250s probably wouldn't cut it. The stupid 7mm diameter holes in the control plate got drilled out so the CTS bushings would fit. A good call there too, so thanks to whoever suggested that.

[Joey]

I've heard there are so many variations of the Mustang pickguard. If you had the original guard, send it or a tracing to a maker. If you don't have a pickguard, you can lay a sheet of paper on the body and mark all the screw holes and send it to a pickguard shop.

You adjust the springs on the tremolo and get the action set up, yet?

[Awstin]

I think it would be really cool if you got a clear guard made or a guard made out of an old record. If you are looking for a good priced custom guard talk to cooterfinger. He does great jobs!

[Concretebadger]

I've ordered a pickguard that allegedly fits a US model in case the seller of my 'stang's body listed it incorrectly (it's supposed to be CIJ, but either that seller or the Darren Riley 'guard doesn't fit the spec). If THAT doesn't fit...well, I dunno. It would have to be a custom job I suppose. I was really stoked about getting a pearl 'guard but my dad mentioned earlier today that he has a couple of sheets of 1mm stainless steel lying around in his garage! I've not heard of a stainless steel pickguard on a guitar before, but Jazzmasters sometimes have gold anodized 'guards, so why not?

I also found that the white 'witch hat' knobs are a little loose on my CTS split shaft pots. They don't spin around or anything; they just lift off too easily. Tucking a bit of trusty PTFE plumber's tape into the knob where the pot shaft goes soon solved that, though. Life-hacking skill level: MANLAND.

[paul_]

I think CIJ/MIJ bodies had different pickguard patterns (robroe?), possible that there was a mix-up in the listing. I certainly remember there being certain Japanese guards that didn't fit all the Japanese Mustangs.

Don't your witch hats have a set-screw?

[Concretebadger]

@paul_: the witch hats are designed for split shaft knurled pots. As opposed to the crazy-expensive 1960s JM knobs that fit onto a solid shaft with a set screw. I saw a set of those going for £65 on Ebay and thought "WTF? No way am I paying that!"

Long story short: the CIJ guard doesn't quite fit but the US spec guard's worse! The guitar's good as done now otherwise - I have the strings on, pickup height set, tuned up and with the trem stopbar angled perfectly. It's dark here now so I'll leave photos till tomorrow. Five of the pickguard's screw holes still don't line up and I'm pretty pissed off about that, but I'll drill out the body, fit some dowel in and refit the screws at a later date.