75 Music Master project guitar

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 7:34 am

I don't know that I'd consider it really "pro" level work, but it did turn out a heck of a lot better than I was expecting it to. Like I said in the video, I'm not particularly handy at things like woodworking and painting.

In any event, it's a HUGE improvement over what the guitar was like when I initially got it, so I have no complaints.

Berto · Post by **Berto** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 4:26 pm

Phil O'Keefe wrote:The wiring is something I may decide to eventually change too. Right now, it's got the stock parts inside the control cavity - stock pots, output jack and tone capacitor. I was originally thinking about doing something a bit different with the switching and controls. Not quite sure what. For right now, the two switches are wired up in standard Mustang / Duo Sonic fashion, but I was thinking about using one as a Neck / Both / Bridge selector, and the other as a series / parallel / phase switch. I was also thinking about maybe pulling the stock tone pot out and replacing it with a varitone or midrange cut control; something like this:

I haven't really made my mind up. If anyone has done some interesting / different wiring mods to their Mustang type guitar, I'd love to hear about them - maybe it will give me some ideas.

I did something similar to this in my epi semi-hollow

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:42 pm

How do you like it / how's it working for you Berto?

mezzio13 · Post by **mezzio13** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:17 pm

Hurb had a real sweet Varitone that some guy made for about $60. I think it had six positions, all on a rotary switch with a chicken head knob. The tones were substantially different from each other, making it even more useful.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:25 pm

Thats such a sweet guitar, and nice stuff you played on the video! If it were my guitar I'd put some mustang pickup covers on but apart from that its great.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:00 pm

Thank you.

I am considering putting some covers on the pickups. I can probably put some Mustang covers on, or maybe just some black Strat covers...

I think black covers might look more appropriate... I dunno; what do you guys think?

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:02 pm

needs black ROBROE covers.. (ss.o slang for mustang covers..)
you can buy them in 3 packs from all parts IIRC

edit: yup you can
http://www.allparts.com/Stratocaster-Pi ... 46-023.htm

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:26 pm

i vote white mustang covers.

Dougler · Post by **Dougler** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:29 pm

That looks so good, and sounds fantastic.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:31 am

Dougler wrote:That looks so good, and sounds fantastic.

Thank you.

I was just playing it through a Danelectro Cool Cat Drive and into a Speakeasy tube preamp and a Leslie 142 and thinking yet again about how much I enjoy playing it. It's a fun little guitar, and fast becoming my #1.

BTW guys, I have a set of black Strat covers on the way. I almost got a pair of black Mustang covers, but since these are Abagail Ybarra wound pickups, I really don't want to smash the pole pieces down on them, and I'm not sure those covers will "fit" on Strat pickups without doing so. They're only about $10 for a set, so I may just order a pair and see if they work or not. I can probably send them off to someone else here if they don't work out for me...

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:16 am

i've never pushed any pole pievces down, makes for a bit more of a creative mount, but totally works fine.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:56 am

Cool - that's good to know - thank you. I may just go ahead and order a set of solid black covers too then.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:58 am

essentially you just need some longer screws.. and a bit of patience

iCEByTes · Post by **iCEByTes** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:37 am

just missing mustang covers.

Soberb paint work dude.

skybluestrat · Post by **skybluestrat** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:42 am

Dude that is one sick guitar, awesome job on the color.

Love the saddle details too that you gave, those compensated brass ones give it a really sharp look.

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:32 am

skybluestrat wrote:Dude that is one sick guitar, awesome job on the color.

Love the saddle details too that you gave, those compensated brass ones give it a really sharp look.

Thank you.

The saddles do look pretty cool, but more importantly, they really do make it possible to get the intonation much closer to being "right". Since most of what I do is in the studio, and I have perfect pitch, I'm pretty picky about intonation.

It drives me batty when it's really badly out.

I have started on my Mustang refinish - I went with Fiesta Red. I think it will look cool against the SFG. Instead of starting a new thread, I just stuck the picture into the poll thread where I asked everyone what color I should paint it. So far, so good... I'm done with the painting, and am in the "waiting for it to dry" period.

skybluestrat · Post by **skybluestrat** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:48 am

No doubt a labor of love I'm sure. Sounds great as well in the video. I do really dig that color, I hadn't really seen it on many Fenders. I'm the same exact way with Sonic Blue. It's rare on any Fender, but most people think Daphne Blue. I love the hue of that slightly seafoam green that comes through in certain lighting. My problem is that my CIJ 69' Mustang body is all-but-cracked straight down from the neck screws. The body's resonance is almost flat now. So I've been scouring the internet for some bodies in Sonic Blue, but none are to be found. I think people want to hang on to a cool color like that.

You totally inspired me to possibly go a different route though and find an old slab body of a MusicMaster, Duo Sonic, or Stang and just refinish it myself in a custom, one-of-a-kind paintjob. Maybe put a new pickguard on too, but I do like the look of tortoise shell. I love the guitar and want it back in working condition.

Here it is in the current state, in action, littered with stickers from my younger days.

[youtube][/youtube]

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:06 am

You've already got all the parts - all you need is a new body, some paint and painting supplies, and a bit of time and you'd be all set.

As far as a new (or used) body, they pop up on ebay all the time. You can also check the classifieds here (but only after your get to 50 posts

) - occasionally, another shortscale member will have a Mustang body for sale. You can also order a Mustang body from Warmoth ( http://www.warmoth.com ) - a new, unpainted body in ash is usually less than $200 from them. I'm not sure how compatible they are with your parts though. Also, ash is kind of a pain in the butt to paint - it requires a lot more sealing than poplar or alder does. Your current guitar is probably basswood - I'm not a big fan of that wood, but lots of guys like it, and it's as easy to finish as poplar (the traditional wood Fender primarily used on the original Mustangs) is.

As far as the Sonic Blue lacquer, the best place I know of to get it would be from ReRanch. But remember - this is nitrocellulose lacquer, which is a much more fragile and thinner finish than the thick poly finish you currently have on your guitar. Like a vintage Fender from the 60s, it will check, crack, chip and age over time... which IMO, is rather cool.

It's not all that hard to do a refinish, and Mustang bodies are not hard to find. Since you already have everything else, I'd give it a shot if I was in your shoes!

skybluestrat · Post by **skybluestrat** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 5:23 am

Yeah mine is basswood and I don't like it either, that stuff cracks and dings very easily. It's a really soft wood, almost pine like. Of course, my Stang has taken a fair share of abuse so it's probably partly my fault. I would much rather rock an Alder body for sure. I also know nitro finishes and I prefer them as well. I think it truly does let the guitar vibrate more, it makes sense too, lighter finish more vibration, thicker finish - more suffocation! or at least that's in my experience. I still want the glossy look though and I def. dig when a guitar wears on it's own.

I was actually debating on using Warmoth and getting a really cool KOA capped version and stain it a darker tone to bring out the grains, then slap a black pickguard with matching pickup covers. But I hate that Warmoth's are only compatible with their hardware. So I'll probably just go with a real Fender one on eBay.

Thanks very much for the expert advice and encouragement!

Phil O'Keefe · Post by **Phil O'Keefe** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:49 am

I should probably update this with some new pics - I put white button tuners and black (Strat style) pickguard covers on it... I'll try to get some new pics up soon.

I've been busy working on my 71 Compstang's fiesta red refinish. Tough color - it is a bit more "transparent" than the Sea Foam Green, and it takes a lot of layers / coats to properly and evenly cover the white primer.