100-year-old Barn Wood Mustang

[RaniBrandt]

Back at the beginning of this year, I decided I wanted to build myself a Mustang Bass. I bought myself an early model Bronco, so I could salvage the neck from it. Here is the Bronco:

The nice thing about this Bronco is that it already had better tuners than the ones that come on the newer models. The neck is very nice, too.

So I ordered a bunch of Mustang Bass parts. While deciding what to do about the body, I had a talk with my dad, who was salvaging some wood from a super-old barn near his property in Arkansas. Soon after that, I saw the new Fender Reclaimed Series, and everything clicked.

Fully inspired, I decided I would take some wood from that old barn and make my own "Reclaimed" Mustang Bass. I made myself a Photoshop mockup, like so:

Then I waited.

 

[RaniBrandt]

Last month, I finally got down to Arkansas to reclaim some wood. This is what I came back with:

My dad had originally said that he thought it was cypress, but it turns out that it's probably an oak of some kind. In any case, he found out that this barn was at least 100 years old, so I'll take it, regardless of the species. There are a lot of wormholes, so that cuts down on some of the weight...

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Looks like good stuff, but how thick are those pieces?

 

[RaniBrandt]

They started out at about 1 5/8", but rough-sawn and a little cupped on one end, so some planing was needed. More on that in a second. First, I sanded to semi-smooth and glued up the blanks:

Then I had to build a planing jig for my router:

And that got me down to right at 1 1/2". Here is what will be the back:

And the front:

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I like it.

 

[hover]

I like this already, like I like all your builds...

(gush, gush. )

 

[f64]

Sub'd.

 

[RaniBrandt]

So the planing jig worked like a charm, and after sanding the router scallops out, I jigsawed out the rough shape and brought it to the line with my oscillating spindle sander, which I finally got to use after getting it for Christmas last year!

Here's the back:

And the front:

Then I routed a 1/4" roundover on both sides:

And that's where I'm at this point. Now comes the hard part of routing the front without any templates. Since I cannot seem to find any Mustang Bass drawings online, I'm going to have to estimate using the pickguard, control plate, and neck. I've got a bunch of family projects lined up for the next couple of days, so my next updates won't be so rapid-fire...

 

[gfaulkner]

I would venture to say that is Chestnut wood,considering the worm holes and it was a very popular wood to make barns out of.Enjoy!

 

[RaniBrandt]

That was what my furniture making friend said about it, sight unseen. I'll know better once I get to the hardware store for some mineral spirits. I'm planning on doing an oil finish (not sure which yet...Danish?), but I've got a ways to go before I'm there. Suggestions are welcome in the meantime!

 

[cv115505]

This is unbelievably cool... I'm not sure on the Squier neck (I say that from a complete lack of experience... I only know what I've heard and rumors fly).... I've only played the Mexican Fender labled re-issues, but I've liked the necks on those.

 

[walldaja]

I wouldn't call those wormholes, how about "naturally chambered"?

 

[iamlowsound]

I wouldn't call those wormholes, how about "naturally chambered"?

Looks great! Reclaimed wood is probably my favourite thing to build with.

lowsound

 

[steweDbass]

Great idea! Taking shape nicely, looking forward to the completed build

 

[Hopkins]

So the planing jig worked like a charm, and after sanding the router scallops out, I jigsawed out the rough shape and brought it to the line with my oscillating spindle sander, which I finally got to use after getting it for Christmas last year!

Here's the back:

And the front:

Then I routed a 1/4" roundover on both sides:

And that's where I'm at this point. Now comes the hard part of routing the front without any templates. Since I cannot seem to find any Mustang Bass drawings online, I'm going to have to estimate using the pickguard, control plate, and neck. I've got a bunch of family projects lined up for the next couple of days, so my next updates won't be so rapid-fire...

I used a Strat neck pocket template for a Mustang neck, I had to route one side and shift it over about 1/16 of an inch because it is slightly wider than a Strat neck, but the taper and heal shape was a perfect fit.

 

[ExaltBass]

Subscribed... can't wait to see how this turns out!

 

[hover]

With all them holes, how you gonna tell where you drilled? (durr durr durr).... looks great so far!

 

[ExaltBass]

MINI Chambered!

 

[MIMike]

Isn't the Bronco a short scale and the Mustang a medium scale? I really don't know, just had always thought that for some reason.

 

[natw42]

Looks cool. Entering lurk mode