MII Gold Logo Sunn Mustang Question

HarrySeven

Just tinkering around with an old MII gold logo Sunn Mustang...the neck is fantastic and the body is a solid lump of pretty resonant wood.

The main problem is the bridge - at some point, the trem arm has been snapped off in the block (which is crap quality pot metal anyway).

In an ideal world, I’d like to replace the block and/or the entire bridge, but it’s much narrower than anything spare which I have stashed away.

Anyone had success in swapping these out for something else? If so, for what?

TIA.

Funkfingers

Measure (centre to centre) between the fulcrum pivot screws under the two E strings. Anything with that screw hole spacing should fit.

One version of the Wilkinson WVS vibrato is available with wider than normal pivot screw holes. It may be possible to fit one of these whilst only needing to fill and redrill one of the six screws holes.

Funkfingers

… and another thing …

How thick is the Sunn body? This may limit your options for what vibrato designs will fit without fouling the spring cavity cover plate.

HarrySeven

From the research I’ve done, the bridge is a pig to replace - there’s no direct swap and anything wider allegedly pushes the strings too close to the edge of the (narrow) neck.

HarrySeven

Paging @Sarge - any intel on this?

Sarge

Damnit I got rid of all the parts from mine for pennies, I too couldn't find a replacement bridge, sorry bud.
53mm neck heel on these too, a delight to play.

Henrytwang

You just might be able to get the broken bit out with a stud extractor. Those Sunn Mustangs are a pain. The necks are so narrow, I have a really nice old one that has truss rod problems but finding a replacement neck is impossible. I’m pretty sure that the only way to get parts that fit is to seek out another one to butcher for parts.

HarrySeven

Henrytwang said:

I’m pretty sure that the only way to get parts that fit is to seek out another one to butcher for parts.

*ahem*

HarrySeven

Sarge said:

Damnit I got rid of all the parts from mine for pennies, I too couldn't find a replacement bridge, sorry bud.
53mm neck heel on these too, a delight to play.

I’ve read that the nearest match is possibly earlier MIM Strat bridges?

Sarge

HarrySeven said:

Sarge said:

Damnit I got rid of all the parts from mine for pennies, I too couldn't find a replacement bridge, sorry bud.
53mm neck heel on these too, a delight to play.

I’ve read that the nearest match is possibly earlier MIM Strat bridges?

or you could look out for an Indian encore strat bridge?
also have you looked here?
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Sunnmustangindia/posts/

HarrySeven

Good point re. Encore.

Already checked out the FB group.

Sarge

is it 52mm?

HarrySeven

Sunn = 50mm

Allegedly, 52mm is *just* possible as a replacement.

Sarge

I'd be drilling out that whammy bar an' no mistake,  a hole just big enough to get a flathead driver in to unscrew it out

Funkfingers

https://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/wilkinson/wilkinson-bridges/wilkinson-6-screw-vintage-style-vibrato-chrome-steel-block

https://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/wilkinson/wilkinson-bridges/wilkinson-knife-edge-5-1-vibrato-chrome-steel-block

https://www.jhs.co.uk/brands/wilkinson/wilkinson-bridges/wilkinson-2-pivot-screw-vibrato-chrome-steel-block

Sarge

Heads up H
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/283389807411

HarrySeven

Ta!

prowla

You can get screw-undoer drill bit thingies - would one of those do the job?

Alternatively, I spotted a couple of Sunn Mustangs on gumtree whilst I was browsing earlier today.

HarrySeven

I should have updated this before, actually.,.

I managed to remove the errant bit of trem arm without too much hassle!

sawyer

Fill the holes and redrill to suit whatever bridge you fancy? Mim bridges reasonable cost.

Funkfingers

HarrySeven said:

I should have updated this before, actually.,.

I managed to remove the errant bit of trem arm without too much hassle!

Is the thread in the block for the arm still usable? Does the block still warrant upgrading? Is there anything commercially available in the correct dimensions?