NGD - ‘70’s MIJ Columbus Mustang Copy

HarrySeven

Picked one of these up recently and it arrived in the post today...

http://i.imgur.com/51cmUUt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CZb30vD.jpg

Except mine looks like this...

http://i.imgur.com/AaWoE3t.jpg

Mind you, it only cost £10.

It’s missing the nut, pickguard, controls and control plate, pickups, bridge and vibrato.

I’ve got a vibrato and bridge and can probably find some better machine heads (the ones on there are single strip and a bit ropey, TBH...)

This evening, I had to extract three neckplate screws which had snapped heads, so will be dowelling these tomorrow. I’ll need to do the same with two of the three TRC screws shortly.

Updates to follow!

Oh, if you’ve got a spare Mustang pickguard, do let me know...

Tenebrous

That looks pretty damn cool, and for £10, it'll no doubt be a fun project.

Got any specific plans for what hardware you're gonna put in it? I think I'd go with one P90 in the neck personally... Might be fun.

HarrySeven

Tenebrous said:

That looks pretty damn cool, and for £10, it'll no doubt be a fun project.

Got any specific plans for what hardware you're gonna put in it? I think I'd go with one P90 in the neck personally... Might be fun.

Not really...probably whatever I’ve got lying around! Hmmm...that in itself might offer some interesting options!

Funkfingers

Er, would a pukka Mustang pickguard fit that thing?

HarrySeven

Funkfingers said:

Er, would a pukka Mustang pickguard fit that thing?

Who knows? But it’s probably the best place to start...

guitars4you

Sold loads of Columbus back in the late 70s and probably early 80's - Can't ever recall seeing a Mustang - In the flesh or in the catalogue - It is cool and at a £10 supa cool in that finish

HarrySeven

@guitars4you - talking of retail back then...one of my fond memories is perusing the loose-leaf binder catalogues/price lists from FCN, Rosetti, JHS and the like, drooling over spec sheets of various guitars/amps/effects.

ICBM

Very cool .

A standard Mustang pickguard won’t fit, it’s quite a different shape. Your best plan is probably to make one out of thin card using the screw hole positions as a guide to the outline (punch them through with a pencil), put the E strings on and mark their positions to get the pickups lined up, then transfer it to plastic.

1979

Man that’s cool! Nice work chap 

HarrySeven

Comparison:

http://i.imgur.com/t3Omw1e.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/jSjmKr7.jpg

Fuengi

That looks like a lot of fun to put together! 

HarrySeven

I’ve purchased a USA Performer pickguard to have a play with - prefer the switch location.

http://i.imgur.com/nRDSJ8T.jpg

@ICBM - if I can’t mod it, I’ll make my own.

ICBM

As long as it basically fits at the neck and control plate, and covers all the old screw holes, it’s probably not a crime to drill the body for it.

My experience with these old cheapies is that even that may not work though - they often seem to have been designed by looking at a catalogue picture of the original guitar .

You’re right to ditch the original switching though, it’s easily the worst aspect of the originals. 

HarrySeven

ICBM said:

My experience with these old cheapies is that even that may not work though - they often seem to have been designed by looking at a catalogue picture of the original guitar .

Yup - mine too!

HarrySeven

The neck needs a bit of TLC...

Snapped screws extracted:

http://i.imgur.com/ES4qQIN.jpg

A bit of remedial work...

http://i.imgur.com/beBWW80.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gY9X62x.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/w300VvC.jpg

Neck will be dowelled today, body neck plate holes need dowelling and re-drilling, 2 TRC screws need extracting, headstock needs glueing, etc...

guitars4you

HarrySeven said:

@guitars4you - talking of retail back then...one of my fond memories is perusing the loose-leaf binder catalogues/price lists from FCN, Rosetti, JHS and the like, drooling over spec sheets of various guitars/amps/effects.

like wise - I even recall looking at Miles Platting in such catalogues + Simms Watt - didn't know what they were then - It beat doing school homework when I could 'study' such catalogues

I did have a few some while ago but all gone now

jonnyburgo

Without giving all your secrets away Harry where do you find all these wonders? 

Funkfingers

Given H7’s liking for obsolete technology, he probably has the old mainframe computers from the Bracknell weather centre, running search engine software, trawling t’Interweb.

HarrySeven

guitars4you said:

HarrySeven said:

I did have a few some while ago but all gone now

Awww, that’s a real shame...I don’t have any in my collection.

HarrySeven

jonnyburgo said:

Without giving all your secrets away Harry where do you find all these wonders? 

Lots of looking, poking around in dusty corners of t’interweb (and shops!)

Kittyfrisk

C'mon H7, we need to know.
Where did you buy your Tardis??