65 Mustang back to life....(more pics!)

[rapfohl09]

Hey... I played a Mustang in High School (it was the school's, they had about a dozen for guitar class).  As I recall, the tone was very typical Fender, chimey but with a certain depth to the low end.  We never quibbled 'bout the 24 inch scale, never even noticed.  At the time my own guitar was a Telecaster ('72).

Man I wish I went to your school . I played crappy 25$ acoustic. Sign of the times I suppose :laughing7:

 

[-CB-]

We had those Mustangs, a Telecaster bass, and about 40 "Harmony" acoustics made from thick, thick wood.

 

[vic108]

They're weird to play. I had a chance to buy a '68 Mustang for next to nothing many, many moons ago but it was just too tiny. Kinda like trying to fit in the seats you sat in for 2nd grade or something. Fond memories, but just not practical. Maybe if you were a 90 pound chick with tiny hands or something, they'd be ok, but otherwise? I don't know. It was a student guitar, not anything special, so they didn't play or sound well, nor did they have any esoteric features or premium components. It's only value today is as a collector's item.

YMMV - there are lots of folks out there with shorter, slimmer fingers that prefer to play shorter scale instruments. Kurt Cobain famously played (mostly) shorter scale instruments with giant (.56 low E, IIRC) strings - presumably, that would keep the tension close to the "normal" gauge strings on the average 25.5 instrument.  Don't forget that lots of what's popular in guitar building is such because there's so much follow the leader.  It's not unreasonable to think there would be a lot more 24" scale players if they had the option of trying out a well put together instrument that scale; most of the short scale (anything less than 24.75) guitars I've seen were cheap toys.

But enough of my yakkin:

CB, Bring on the refinish pics!

I still have 'issues' with Mustangs being favoured by the likes of the Bay City Rollers and similar bubblegum pop acts in the 70s...... :laughing7: Til I get around that, I'll forever be asking myself whether it should be something I own, when I contemplate them as a project or purchase!

=CB= is right. the pup has a nice sound to it. besides, =CB= is restoring a piece of history!

 

[Graffiti62]

This is awesome! I love mustangs. I hope I can get one someday. Im debating whether I want to wait and find a sweet old one on the 'bay or if I want to build one from W.

They're weird to play. I had a chance to buy a '68 Mustang for next to nothing many, many moons ago but it was just too tiny. Kinda like trying to fit in the seats you sat in for 2nd grade or something. Fond memories, but just not practical. Maybe if you were a 90 pound chick with tiny hands or something, they'd be ok, but otherwise? I don't know. It was a student guitar, not anything special, so they didn't play or sound well, nor did they have any esoteric features or premium components. It's only value today is as a collector's item.

I think if you're anyone with larger hands, the only real use you can get out of a Mustang is as a mean little slide guitar. I know what Cagey's mentioning--I had an opportunity to pick up a reproduction Duo-Sonic (the predecessor to the Mustang) about six years ago. It sounded all right going through a small amp, but in my big hands, it felt like trying to play chords on a broom stick.

 

[vic108]

=CB=

i can't remember, is there a date stamp in the neck pocket?

 

[hannaugh]

They're weird to play. I had a chance to buy a '68 Mustang for next to nothing many, many moons ago but it was just too tiny. Kinda like trying to fit in the seats you sat in for 2nd grade or something. Fond memories, but just not practical. Maybe if you were a 90 pound chick with tiny hands or something, they'd be ok, but otherwise? I don't know. It was a student guitar, not anything special, so they didn't play or sound well, nor did they have any esoteric features or premium components. It's only value today is as a collector's item.

Guitars for 90 pound chicks with tiny hands need to exist.  That's all I'm saying. 

... have I mentioned I'm going to build a Jaguar at some point?

 

[Cagey]

Guitars for 90 pound chicks with tiny hands need to exist.  That's all I'm saying. 

... have I mentioned I'm going to build a Jaguar at some point?

Hehe! No question about it. My niece is one.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with small guitars, just that they're unusual and maybe even difficult to play if you're used to full-sized instruments.

 

[-CB-]

=CB=

i can't remember, is there a date stamp in the neck pocket?

No stamp or other marking.  It might be under all the paint.... dunno.

 

[-CB-]

Guitars for 90 pound chicks with tiny hands need to exist.  That's all I'm saying. 

Gibson L6-S has a very narrow neck, its either 1-5/8 or 1-9/16.  --> narrow! <--

Its also light, and totally bitchin' class!

 

[Mor Paul]

Guitars for 90 pound chicks with tiny hands need to exist.  That's all I'm saying. 

Gibson L6-S has a very narrow neck, its either 1-5/8 or 1-9/16.  --> narrow! <--

Its also light, and totally bitchin' class!

+quite a few on all points. Tiny thing... fun to play, but takes a bit to get used to.

 

[jackthehack]

=CB=

i can't remember, is there a date stamp in the neck pocket?

No stamp or other marking.  It might be under all the paint.... dunno.

See this webpage, scroll down to the piece on neck date codes: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#serial

The weird thing is that it looks pretty obvious from the picture of the neck butt you can see "NOV 70" and then possibly a "B"?  Per the info on that webpage, which to the best of my knowledge is generally very accurate, what you see there doesn't jive with the neck date code schema for 1970 Fenders. Can you use the serial number on the neck plate to date?

 

[-CB-]

No serial on the neck plate... its a smoothie.

 

[Steiger]

http://fendermustangstory.com/default.htm might help

 

[-CB-]

looked there.... good website!  thats where I learned (and immediately checked) about the 22-1/2 inch scale.

I guess the year doesn't matter too much, its not like its gonna have collectors value, and neither would Vic ditch it.  Idea is to get it functionally 100 percent, and looking sharp.

 

[vic108]

=CB=

The trem springs came in today.
I'll send them down.
Need anything else sent your way?

(Hope your feeling better today!)

 

[AGWAN]

Aren't Ibanez guitars a bit little? or just thin?

 

[Mor Paul]

Little bit thin?

 

[-CB-]

=CB=

The trem springs came in today.
I'll send them down.
Need anything else sent your way?

(Hope your feeling better today!)

Not right now.  Frets are here, but bro... if I sanded wood, even with a mask... I'd be askin' for it with pneumonia.

 

[vic108]

Bro, let me say this AGAIN: take it easy and rest up.
put my stuff on the back burner for a year if you have to.
getting well is the most important thing for you right now!!!

 

[AGWAN]

Little bit thin?

I just get told Wizard profiles are tiny. I like them, but I'm not much of a player...

just on the average, I hear Ibanez makes a small guitar...

I'm just seeking clarity here!