'ello! Please allow me to introduce myself - contrary to popular belief, I am not a man of wealth and taste - which is the exact reason I own a gorgeous, cheap, second hand Fender Mustang '69 reissue from '95. Part of the reason I bought it was due to this very board. Whilst lurking I saw so many people lovingly talking about their shortscales, I wanted one of my own, newbie-guitarist as I was.
Now the business-part. Whilst the Mustang itself is awesome, it has a butt-ugly extremely yellow finish with a red tortoise pickguard. There are shops around that will get rid of the lacquer, making it appear wood, and then refinish it with a transparent lacquer. However, the question is - what can I expect my Mustang's wood to look like? I know it's made of multiple parts and I don't really mind about that, but are the grains of the wood a bit visible, considering that (I think) it's basswood?
I fell in love with the Mustang a member here has in his avatar - I think it was Stewart or something? Anyway, his Mustang appears to have a darker pickguard, and the Mustang itself is wood-coloured. I want that and I wish to have babies with it. Question is, can I expect that with my Mustang? Otherwise I should just get it refinished white.
Thanks,
Michael. Netherlands.
Ello guys! Question about removing Mustang finish.
Moderated By: mods
Hello mate
I expect that there will be visible wood grain although it's likely to be fairly 'simple' as opposed to any fancy figuring. i have not stripped a reissue but i have stripped several other guitars of similar type including an original '65ish Mustang body and they all fell into the "yup it's wood" category. Likely to be two/three piece construction - again someone here can probably verify or refute that but since you'll opt for white if the grain ain't pleasing you have nothing to lose in stripping it anyway!
Most importantly though stripping your guitar and finishing it natural is darn easy and you can do it yourself no probs. You just need some stripper, some fine sand paper (maybe grain filler) and then either clear coat or a finishing oil depending on taste. I did that in a day to a Yamaha pacifica and that was my first attempt ever.
I expect that there will be visible wood grain although it's likely to be fairly 'simple' as opposed to any fancy figuring. i have not stripped a reissue but i have stripped several other guitars of similar type including an original '65ish Mustang body and they all fell into the "yup it's wood" category. Likely to be two/three piece construction - again someone here can probably verify or refute that but since you'll opt for white if the grain ain't pleasing you have nothing to lose in stripping it anyway!
Most importantly though stripping your guitar and finishing it natural is darn easy and you can do it yourself no probs. You just need some stripper, some fine sand paper (maybe grain filler) and then either clear coat or a finishing oil depending on taste. I did that in a day to a Yamaha pacifica and that was my first attempt ever.
Last edited by Dave on Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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robert(original)
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basswood is weird,
i have some lightly figured basswood scraps that i have been holding onto for peghead style veneers, but i have also had some big peices of basswood that literally had no wood grain at all.
i thats mainly becuz its part of the linden tree family or something like that and can be found all over the states, so obviously it changes shape/form, depending on the climate.
i have some lightly figured basswood scraps that i have been holding onto for peghead style veneers, but i have also had some big peices of basswood that literally had no wood grain at all.
i thats mainly becuz its part of the linden tree family or something like that and can be found all over the states, so obviously it changes shape/form, depending on the climate.
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Fran
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Re: Ello guys! Question about removing Mustang finish.
Custard Stang? I have one, whats wrong with the colour?Pavlov wrote:it has a butt-ugly extremely yellow finish with a red tortoise pickguard.
Welcome to the forums Michael
Thanks guys, also for the warm welcome.
I guess there's nothing wrong with freakishly custard yellow... but I don't know - I always want to have the feeling that I'm holding an actual piece of wood, so I always prefer sunburst or transparent or natural finishes.
Perhaps I'd be better off getting a body from Warmoth? Hmm. Tricky. I guess I could always strip the finish/let it be stripped, see what it turns out and make my decision based on that. I saw a Mustang in the picture thread somewhere that was white with a black pickguard. Simple, and also gorgeous.
Edit:
So at 'worst' I can expect something like this? I still like it. (Stolen blatantly from the picture thread.)
I guess there's nothing wrong with freakishly custard yellow... but I don't know - I always want to have the feeling that I'm holding an actual piece of wood, so I always prefer sunburst or transparent or natural finishes.
Perhaps I'd be better off getting a body from Warmoth? Hmm. Tricky. I guess I could always strip the finish/let it be stripped, see what it turns out and make my decision based on that. I saw a Mustang in the picture thread somewhere that was white with a black pickguard. Simple, and also gorgeous.
Edit:
So at 'worst' I can expect something like this? I still like it. (Stolen blatantly from the picture thread.)
Thanks.astro wrote:Most of the basswood I've seen used on mass produced guitars tend to be of the almost grainless variety. Stripping a body is easy, though. So I don't think you should bother going the Warmoth route. At worst, if you really want grain, you could always put a veneer on top of the body.
Though I really wonder what 'almost grainless basswood' looks like.
There's a guy on Reranch who has done some refins from the Netherlands. I don't remember what kind of paint he used.
I know there are some factory paints that show the wood, but part of the Fender appeal for me is the candy coat. It's mainly the high volumes, of course, but I also like the durability of a Fender. They don't have to be babied as much as acoustics or mahogany necks. I have painted with almost every color in the old Fender line. Each one has its place.
I know there are some factory paints that show the wood, but part of the Fender appeal for me is the candy coat. It's mainly the high volumes, of course, but I also like the durability of a Fender. They don't have to be babied as much as acoustics or mahogany necks. I have painted with almost every color in the old Fender line. Each one has its place.
Yell Like Hell
your maple 'stang is way ligther than mine. mine is quite a bit darker, not like chocolate dark but still, the grain isn't as pronounced either.stewart wrote:that's very kind of you to say. it was one i'd lusted after for a while, i really wanted a maple necked mustang at the time.
it's pretty heavy, but i don't mind that.
still rather heavy though, if i play it sitting down half the time i go to stand up to find my leg is entirely numb and i end up stacking it.
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stewart
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doesn't your one have a semi transparent finish on it? it'd probably look like mine if it was stripped and clearcoated (not that i'm suggesting you do that to an original finish).
the weight of it has never bothered me, i like the feeling that i could use it as a weapon if a gig turned nasty! the guy i bought one of my amps from said he had a very late one, like a '79, and he said it was even heavier than my '76.
the weight of it has never bothered me, i like the feeling that i could use it as a weapon if a gig turned nasty! the guy i bought one of my amps from said he had a very late one, like a '79, and he said it was even heavier than my '76.
