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Fender Mustang Club

#4,203
don21480 said:
@SoulReflection I like the brown tort too - what I don't like is that fake looking red tort Fender used a while back.
Click to expand...
If you change the pickguard on your Squier CV60's Mustang please let us know how it went, okay? Been thinking about it myself, but been wondering how complicated it might be because unlike most BGs the CV Squier's pups are screwed into the top of it's pickguard...

And for me, I think either a pearloid or speckled green pickguard would look great on my surf green CV Stang!

Thanks,
Greywoulf
 
#4,204
Greywoulf said:
If you change the pickguard on your Squier CV60's Mustang please let us know how it went, okay? Been thinking about it myself, but been wondering how complicated it might be because unlike most BGs the CV Squier's pups are screwed into the top of it's pickguard...

And for me, I think either a pearloid or speckled green pickguard would look great on my surf green CV Stang!

Thanks,
Greywoulf
Click to expand...

Can't help you with surf green. Not one of my favs. Good luck with your search...
 
#4,205
Greywoulf said:
If you change the pickguard on your Squier CV60's Mustang please let us know how it went, okay? Been thinking about it myself, but been wondering how complicated it might be because unlike most BGs the CV Squier's pups are screwed into the top of it.
Click to expand...

Isn't that the case on all but the PJs? The mustang bass was styled more on the Fender guitar line originally, IIRC. I think the newer PJs deviated in using the precision style PU mounting.
But, what do I know? Seems to me it simplifies things. I used to have several different loaded Strat pick guards I'd swap around based on the moment. Of course the "Jazzish" control plate kills that option. Maybe they didn't think it through.
 
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#4,206
2cooltoolz said:
Isn't that the case on all but the PJs? The mustang bass was styled more on the Fender guitar line originally, IIRC. I think the newer PJs deviated in using the precision style PU mounting.
But, what do I know? Seems to me it simplifies things. I used to have several different loaded Strat pick guards I'd swap around based on the moment. Of course the "Jazzish" control plate kills that option. Maybe they didn't think it through.
Click to expand...
Don't really know what the Fender guitar line is like... What I do know tho is none of my other 5 bass guitars have their pups screwed down on top and thru their pickguards, which is why I asked my question in the first place... -Does this cause any special complications when changing pickguards?
 
#4,207
Greywoulf said:
Does this cause any special complications when changing pickguards?
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There are three things that complicate changing a mustang pickguard…

1) There are four tapered springs that need to be removed and reinstalled with the height-adjusting screws. You have to be sure to re-install the springs with the narrow end toward the pickguard, and some folks have problems keeping the springs in place.

2) The screws are threaded directly into the flange at the bottom of the pickup coil, not the plastic cover. The flange is usually “fiber” (basically cardboard). You have to be careful not to strip those screw holes.

3) When you remove and re-install the pickups you have to reset the pickup height. Either carefully measure the height of each side of each pickup, or find a way to mark them before removal.
 
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#4,208
This is what a Mustang pickup looks like "under the hood":
image_22138.jpg


You can see the threaded holes in the fiber bottom flange of the coil bobbin. The holes in the pickup cover are not threaded, and just fit over the screws.

Here is how the springs and screws are installed (ignore the foam, which is NOT there on "normal" Mustangs, and the long magnets that ARE installed in some vintage examples):

Springs.jpeg
 
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#4,210
KenB said:
Dagnabit! Not paying attention! The springs in this photo are installed BACKWARDS!

The springs should be installed so the wide end is towards the pick guard, and the narrow end towards the pickup. - So the springs won't touch and short the soldered wire connections! - The only picture I could find, and it's BACKWARDS!
Click to expand...
~
The springs might well be upside down - I would not know - but are you sure that this is the reason for putting them as you suggested ?

The plastic pickup covers ought to buffer them from touching the electronics, regardless of the orientation, I would think.
~
 
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#4,214
Thank you KenB for this careful, detailed explanation. -Much appreciated!!
I see it's not quite as easy with the Mustang as when I replaced a pickguard on the Sterling MM I had, so I'm thinking I'm gonna hafta really want to change that pickguard in order to do this procedure... -So maybe I'll wait and think about it for a while.... :bookworm: :cautious:
Thanks,
Greywoulf
 
#4,217
As someone mentioned, the threads on the fiber bases strip very easily -- I received a brand new American Performer with one side of the pickup collapsed because the threads had already stripped! (I bodged it by fitting a slightly larger screw.) The next time I have the pickguard off, I'm going to cement some captured nuts onto the fiber pickup bases. You might want to do the same.
 
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#4,218
Ordered a white Squier Mustang bass today - absolutely love my surf green one that I picked up at a discount to see if I'd really like them but I always preferred the white color plus the white one will be a pound + lighter than the green one which is always a win in my eyes. I plan on switching the pickguards so the surf green one will wear tort and the white one will wear white. After selling a couple of telecaster guitars I had some money burning a hole in my pocket :>)
 
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