Bilinda's Mustang [complete, video pg 6]

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:27 pm

Well, sort of. The idea was at least partially inspired by the custom Mustang Bilinda plays with My Bloody Valentine as of late.

As you can see, it's essentially a Mustang, except with a Jaguar style of tremolo. Also it may or may not have a tune-o-matic bridge and be 25.5" scale.

After playing a vintage Jaguar recently, I decided to give shortscales another go. My goal is also to hopefully make this project on the cheap and not break $500 (hopefully spending far less than that). Originally I was hoping to convert a Jagmaster body I have lying about to have the Jag trem routes, but seeing as I have no real woodworking skills nor a source that could provide the service, I ditched that idea and sought out sources for a custom body. I'll probably throw the jagmaster body up on the classifieds when I get a chance.

In my original plan, I was kind of ambivalent towards what pickups I wanted to put in it. But considering I already have two guitars with JM pickups, I opted for standard single coils. I might not necessarily go with Jag pickups, I am also open towards using something more stratty or possibly mini-humbuckers.

Purple is also a placeholder color, as are the stripes. I am not completely sure yet what color I'd like to go with.

In any case, a nice guy from California is currently building the body for me. Here's his progress so far (on the left):

Note that I was between going with a 25.5 and 24" scale, but decided on 24" pretty early on and so that's what he'll be routing for. Also note that its full-depth thickness Alder, and will have competition contours.

I also bought a Japanese trem for $45 from OSG.

Finally, I do have some spare other parts lying about, including an AVRI bridge and Mexican strat tuners. Other parts will come in as I get started, but the main thing I'm on the lookout for now is a 24" scale neck.

This project will come together somewhat slowly as right now I'm just in the 'collecting parts' phase and probably won't have an opportunity to paint for awhile. But in the meantime, does anybody have suggestions for the color I should go with?

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:04 pm

sonic blue and tort.

seriously how about shell pink and mint?

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:22 pm

I kinda like shell pink. Another one I was considering was burgundy mist or a similar metallic color.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:24 pm

Garage Tone doing the body work for you, obviously.

I love his stuff, I die laughing all the time. He takes Mustangs, Jazzmaster, Jagstang, Tele & etc and mismatches parts.... "this don't work.... ughh... how bout this!". I hear he visits offset forum. Wish he'd post here or on JS. He throws his projects on ebay for next to nothing, people bid his stuff up quick.

Blurillaz · Post by **Blurillaz** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:43 pm

I like her red one, but I think I like her light pink one more...

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:44 pm

^^^semi-hollow is nice indeed.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:15 pm

Aeon wrote:I kinda like shell pink. Another one I was considering was burgundy mist or a similar metallic color.

i was thinking burgundy mist also, it would look great on it.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:36 pm

cool project. really love the full thickness with contours idea.

gotta do burgundy mist!

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:51 pm

CONTOURS!!!1

TheBurbz · Post by **TheBurbz** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:30 pm

Wait 'til Fran get's here, he likes Bilinda's Mustang. I love it too:

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:03 pm

i've been waiting to see someone do this as a project, interested to see how it turns out.

Narco Martenot · Post by **Narco Martenot** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:40 am

Any idea who builds Bilinda's guitars?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 1:36 pm

BURGUNDY METAL FLAKE!

The body looks to be 45mm(?) someone on JS wanted to do something similar to this but a stock Mustang body does'nt leave much depth for a Jaguar trem route.
Personally i'd leave the contours off (i wished i had on my JS project) but having said that its a good way to lose excessive weight if you dislike heavy guitars. Because i used mahogany i also tried to lose weight with a swimming pool route.

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:15 pm

I don't think weight will be as much of a concern with Alder as it would be with Mahogany [knock on wood].

RE: contours, I didn't mind them on my 69' mustang, and think they would be even better on something that's full-depth. Plus if I decide to use competition stripes, they'd go better with them.

edit: I seem to remember somebody actually having a finished version of this project a year or two ago. It was orange iirc. Does anybody remember this?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:42 pm

I dont recall one on here, theres been an orange Duo and Mustang that i now own but neither have a Jag tremolo.

Noirie. · Post by **Noirie.** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:47 pm

Aeon wrote:edit: I seem to remember somebody actually having a finished version of this project a year or two ago. It was orange iirc. Does anybody remember this?

I do I believe it had Jaguar pickups aswell. Last time i saw it was in the classifieds.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 8:16 pm

Ah........ NOW i remember. Dont remember who was selling it though, was'nt LRC was it..

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:30 am

mr mustache was selling it on behalf of a mate, if i remember. i just tried searching for it but dots has obviously trimmed the classifieds down, it ain't there. ask richard if he can get in touch with the dude for pics, he's friends with him.

JSutter · Post by **JSutter** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:37 am

I say go for the contours. Switching back and fourth between a contour and non contour guitar is night and day. My arm felt such relief with contours.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:03 am

The body looks to be 45mm(?) someone on JS wanted to do something similar to this but a stock Mustang body does'nt leave much depth for a Jaguar trem route.

Shaving the bolt down on the tremolo to size will ease worries on the route depth.