Ural 650.

[Zack]

Back in July, Westtexasred had posted a thread about a bunch of Russian guitars. Some of which I had seen before, others I had not and one of those was the Ural 650 with the gold pickguard and odd "orangeburst:"



So I missed out on buying ones that looked exactly like that and in way better condition. I guess that's just how things work out and thus I ended up buying this ural, which has been really thrashed. Overall, I think that I'll be trying to get it to look like the guitar above, but with the awful scratches and paint/wood chips/cracks I think I may eventually try to put some wood filler in after I take the finish off. Probably not for a while, step one is to get the electronics on (haven't tested if they work, I've got the switch the din jack to a 1/4th) get a bridge and set it up and tuners (I've got a set from a squier, aesthetically the back covers look the same, the tuning keys don't and they don't match up with the screw holes from the og ones, wah uhhhhhhh).








This guitar was fucking filthy, tape residue on the neck, grime in the cavities, bug carcasses, gunk from the trem plate & pickguard. I just went at it with some guitar polish and some elbow grease and most of it's off and clean. Despite the fact that the pickups and neck are super high up on the body, it feels like it'll be nice to play. When I saw the pickguard in the auction I thought it looked awful. It's kinda growing on me, unfortunately cracked so it'll be template material. Does anyone know where to get some anodized pickguard material? I'm sure it's awfully expensive, so maybe I'll get some Plexiglas like material and glitter the back. Or maybe I'll be a scientist & anodize an aluminum plate. It might be too gaudy.

So the bridge does not exist, and it's got these screws almost like they screwed them in from the back and filed the tips. Not into that, I have no idea how I'll manage to get them out without damaging the body. I guess that means I'll be adding a tom or the like. Tremolo reminds me of the jazzmaster trem, it has similar parts it looks like so I may interchange some stuff to make things easier. Also, so many flat head rusted screws. I think there are some other obvious things that I'll need to get or replace as seen in the pictures. There are 6 switches in all, 3 I think are for the pickups, the others look to be "tone switches" due to the capacitors. Gotta set it up to see how it plays and then maybe refinishing will happen.

stoked, despite everything.

[timhulio]

Wow that wiring scheme looks super-cool and really neatly done. Surprisingly so compared to all the Musimas I've seen.

How is the neck on this thing? Also, it must weigh a ton, yep?

Personally, I'd keep whatever original parts you've got with it. Pickguard might scrub-up nicely.

[TheBurbz]

You may be able to use vise grips to turn the screws out from the front, then you could enlarge the holes and put a roller TOM there or mustang bridge or whatever if the holes line up.

[theshadowofseattle]

Wow that wiring scheme looks super-cool and really neatly done.

Agreed. I'd love to hear what all that stuff does.

[Mages]

ABR1s have posts about that size. the height adjustment rollers might even fit on the posts you have there.

[robert(original)]

i have a mustang bridge somewhere that the posts broke off and it used to sit pretty, just like an abr-1 tom.

[Zack]

The neck has this "slim taper" feel going on with it. It's kinda narrow but not extremely thick, less than a tele radius. The body is a pretty nice balance so far, partly because the route is huge under the pickguard. It doesn't feel mondo heavy, but I may just be getting used to it. I'd also like to keep as many original parts as possible. Unfortunately, the pickguard is cracked at holes & edges but will stay on luckily and there are just some things that need adjusting. My main goal is to get it set up to test how it plays then worry about cosmetics. Switch demos will be had.

I've been looking at some bridges, like this rickenbacker one that looks similar aesthetically and I'm measuring up stew-mac's abr1 to whats left of the bridge area when I get a chance. I don't think it's worth the effort to figure out whats up with those posts on the guitar. I'm willing to try the mustang bridge if you're interested in selling it robert.