Cimar Mustang copy (70s) Now with crappy videoz!

[markleton]

I got myself my very first shortscale yesterday, and my first 'vintage' guitar to boot. A Japanese copy of a Fender Mustang made by Cimar in the 70s. It's a heavy beast, and all the metal work is either pitted heavily or rusted to fuck. Everything seems original, not taken the strings off yet, not had a peek under it's scratchplate.

Time for pics, I'm not the best photographer so bare with me.







Very pitted control plate, and shitty strat knobs. Anywhere decent to pick up proper mustang knobs?



Guessing this ISNT how to string up a mustang. strings go through then round the bottom? Also where can i pick up a tremolo arm for the bridge?



Closer body shot, pickups are nice but far too quiet, I'll replace them for now and get them rewound i think.

That's all i gots, pretty shitty for a first new thread. Was going to do a video review but it needs work before it's actually playable, the pickups are so quiet and the strings are old and fall out of tune as soon as you touch them.

[Mike]

Nah man that's a fine thread.

[James]

Very pitted control plate, and shitty strat knobs. Anywhere decent to pick up proper mustang knobs?

Guessing this ISNT how to string up a mustang. strings go through then round the bottom? Also where can i pick up a tremolo arm for the bridge?

I have some japanese style (a bit pointed on the corners rather than rounded) mustang knobs spare. Do you have something of low/euivilant value to trade for some?

I had the same problem with the stringing when I got my mustang a couple of days ago. Push the string through the other side, and then go underneath the bridge and over the saddle. Not sure about the trem arm but I think they aren't too hard to get hold of.

[markleton]

Very pitted control plate, and shitty strat knobs. Anywhere decent to pick up proper mustang knobs?

Guessing this ISNT how to string up a mustang. strings go through then round the bottom? Also where can i pick up a tremolo arm for the bridge?

I have some japanese style (a bit pointed on the corners rather than rounded) mustang knobs spare. Do you have something of low/euivilant value to trade for some?

I had the same problem with the stringing when I got my mustang a couple of days ago. Push the string through the other side, and then go underneath the bridge and over the saddle. Not sure about the trem arm but I think they aren't too hard to get hold of.

Think i saw some on the banzai effects site, need to order some pots so will pick them up at the same time. Thanks for the offer though. Just need to figure out what size to go for.

[Mike]

24mm

[markleton]

24mm

Ah full sized pots, also wondering what diameter the knobs would be, measuring the inside of the strat ones gives me around 7mm, that sound right? And finally smooth or knurled shaft pots?

Also! before i forgets, what's the consensus on the rusty ass screws and tuners? Would it be better to get a fresh set to keep everything clean and tidy looking? Tuners seem to work, but a bit stiff. Lube or replace?

Sorry for the bombardment of questions, least they are kinda sensible. I think.

[Mike]

Sorry I thought we were talkingthe Mustang knobs?

I would go with 16mm Alpha pots (either shaft is fine, the Mustang (Eagle) knobs fit either and have grub screws like vintage Mustang knobs)

[markleton]

Sorry I thought we were talkingthe Mustang knobs?

I would go with 16mm Alpha pots (either shaft is fine, the Mustang (Eagle) knobs fit either and have grub screws like vintage Mustang knobs)

Thanks for that, i was a little confused myself, been a long week. Got my stuff ordered from Banzai, should be up and running next week with a demo. Woo!

Oh and i forgot to mention, the frets are TINY. Like super small, much smaller than my worn out epiphone les paul. Shall be refretted and brought into Manland when funds allow.

[aen]

Best clone EVER?!

[benecol]

I've got a Cimar tele '72 custom copy which I've posted pictures of here ad bleedin' nauseum, but I love it a lot - Cimar went on to be Ibanez, you know? Turns out mine was mahogany when I stripped it a couple of years ago. NickD has a Cimar tele deluxe too.

[markleton]

Ok last question, honest. Should I replace all the rusty parts? The screws are rusted at the heads pretty badly and the bridge intonation springs/screws are rusty as fuck. Anything I can do to clean these up? Or replace it entirely at some point? Not like this is a guitar that will increase in value, and was a steal, so not worried about resale value. And mojo can fuck right off.

[Mike]

If they're not functional replace them. Axesrus have good stock of screws and bits.

[astro]

Nice geetar!

I think this is the most accurate Mustang copy I've seen. The ones I'd seen previously had funky trems/bridges, but this looks like a pretty close copy of the tailpiece. Interestingly, it appears that this Cimarstang has 2-way switches for the pickups instead of 3-way switches. Looks like a very sweet axe.

May I ask what the damage was, cost-wise?

[Will]

I really, really like it. The white-on-white is proper sexy.

I wouldn't bother replacing the rusty parts - maybe the screws, but I doubt you'll be able to find hardware that will fit perfectly and it'll end up looking wank.
The vibrato looks iffy to me - it just looks like it won't stay in tune. Maybe just block it off?

[Ninja Mike 808]

Noice.

[Skip]

its your call---
the vintage look is better with the dirty and rusty stuff
if you put new on the guitar takes on a newer look
its the end result-- you have to choose

[Mages]

Wow, looks really nice. I would say you should try and keep it as original as possible. plus, rusty parts look cool man. but like mike said, if the shit doesn't work, replace it. also, I would try putting some new heavier gage strings on there, stringing it the right way and adjusting the pickup height, you should be able to get a little higher output out of those pickups.

[markleton]

I wanged the pickups right up to the strings with very little improvement. I'll pop the scratchplate off today and have a poke about, if the screws are rusted right through (doubt it though) they will be replaced. The bridge is super wonky, the actual bridge part can wobbleeither forward or back. Nothing in the middle, front or back. Shall be locked down tight. As for the tailpiece, is there any guides for setting this up? I checked the wiki but nothing there and searching online just gives me stuff about fixing a jag/jazz with a mustang bridge.

Cost was £185 BIN on ebay with a £15 next day delivery charge. Oh and they are 3 position switches, very tight and not much room for moving. Very tempted with a better fitting scratchplate (doesn't quite fit the control panel) and 'proper' switches.

[Mike]

The bridge is meant to move. It moves when you use the tremelo.

[markleton]

I was aware it could move, just wansn't sure if it was such a digital movement. Fuck it, gonna get locked down anyway for now. Gonna pick up some 12s, fix this bridge and fire in some new pickups. I'll post gut shots when i crack it open.