Finished my first ever 'project'! Squier Cyclone

[Noisy Cat]

So I picked up a cheapo Cyclone off eBay for like £100 and then set about tarting it up.

Before:


After:



Mods:
Neck pickup: Irongear Alchemist P-90
Middle pickup: Irongear Jailhouse Rails humbucker (coil split to push/pull volume 500k)
Bridge pickup: Irongear Alchemist P-90
Five-way Strat-style selector switch
Blue sparkle pickguard which I butchered with a hand-held jigsaw
Competiton stripe decal

Sounds pretty sweet! The two P-90s are woody and clear; I especially like the neck sound. Not so keen on the rails 'bucker at the moment, it sounds rather dark and muddy compared to the P-90s. The coil spilt isn't working so I'm gonna have to revisit that one. Also, I don't like the angle of the comp stripe. The pickguard is cut appallingly around the pups, switch and neck (doesn't show up on the photos), but fuck it, I always knew that was going to be the case. Overall, it's unique and it's all mine!

[bottom rung]

I'd rock it. Did you make the whole pickguard yourself or mod an existing one?

[Noisy Cat]

I'd rock it. Did you make the whole pickguard yourself or mod an existing one?

Made it myself from a blank sheet. Honestly, it's really shite.

[rps-10]

Blue sparkle pickguard which I butchered with a hand-held jigsaw

That's the spirit! well done

[paul_]

The pickguard doesn't look shite at a glance man, only the hacked switch route really shows in those pics. Maybe the blue on blue does you some favors in that regard... either way, nice work. Acceptable by my standards I'm awful at pickguard routing, just don't have a steady enough sander set-up to cut single coil routes/edge bevels.

[Noisy Cat]

The pickguard doesn't look shite at a glance man, only the hacked switch route really shows in those pics. Maybe the blue on blue does you some favors in that regard... either way, nice work. Acceptable by my standards I'm awful at pickguard routing, just don't have a steady enough sander set-up to cut single coil routes/edge bevels.

Haha, I actually made the hole for the selector switch using a cordless drill! It looked so bad I coloured in the jagged edges with a black permanent marker.

[mixtape]

If you had described this guitar to me beforehand, I would have called it an abomination. But it all oddly, totally works. I like the idea of the hot rails in between the P90s, so I hope you get that working for you eventually. Aesthetically, it balances the comp stripe beautifully.

[sollophonic]

I've got a black Cyclone incoming, and I plan on turning into either a Mustang config. or even a MusicMaster style guitar.

I had an MM years ago, which I modded and wore out (wonder where that guitar is now?) and I am hankering after that simple, neck pickup only goodness again.

[paul_]

I've been thinking lately how cool it would be to have an MM with an under-pickguard MEGAHOTRAILZ hidden in the bridge position and activated via push-pull pot, then telling guitar nerds after a show "it's all in the fingers, dude"