Thoughts on this 77 Mustang

[painful100]

I recently had a moment of weakness and impulsively bought this 77 mustang bass. I always have wanted one but prices have been so high never thought I’d be able to grab one. This one was in reach because it has some non original parts. It has been routed for p bass pickups spb-1 and what’s looks to be a non original bridge. Anyone know what bridge that is, and if it looks professionally installed?

I don’t even have the bass yet, so the true test will come soon. But just wanted to see if anyone recognizes this bass, or has thoughts on if I screwed up haha. I’ve read some bad things about improperly replaced bridges.

It’s my first time buying a bass that I haven’t put my hands on first. Looks like guitar chimp is legit though, so hopefully it’s a solid player. I don’t care about it being all original, I just want something that feels good, plays and sounds great.

 

[Moogmelt]

I’m a sucker for Oly white especially the faded kind you’ve got. Nice find.

 

[Killing Floor]

Looks cool.

 

[Sharko]

I looked at the pics on the eBay listing. Where did the holes from the original bridge go?
And what’s up with the filled holes on the back? There are a bunch of holes but none of them match the 4 holes that should be there from the string-through bridge.
Has this bass also been refinished? The listing makes no mention of that. Is there proof this is a Fender body?

Edit: looking at the eBay pics more, I don’t see a tummy contour. It could be just the quality of the pics, but is this a slab body? ‘77 should be contoured. Is it possible you’ve got a music master body with a Mustang neck?

 

[bobba66]

I love it.

 

[wjcstp]

Hard to tell from the pic but that looks like a Gotoh or similar high mass bridge, should be a decent replacement for the original.

 

[painful100]

I looked at the pics on the eBay listing. Where did the holes from the original bridge go?
And what’s up with the filled holes on the back? There are a bunch of holes but none of them match the 4 holes that should be there from the string-through bridge.
Has this bass also been refinished? The listing makes no mention of that. Is there proof this is a Fender body?

Edit: looking at the eBay pics more, I don’t see a tummy contour. It could be just the quality of the pics, but is this a slab body? ‘77 should be contoured. Is it possible you’ve got a music master body with a Mustang neck?

Yeah, I was wondering that myself regarding the holes in the back. Where are they?!

 

[Matt O]

Yeah, I was wondering that myself regarding the holes in the back. Where are they?!

Can you share the rest of the pics?

 

[Sharko]

Yeah, I was wondering that myself regarding the holes in the back. Where are they?!

There are 2 sets of zig-zag pattern holes on the back of the body. It looks like something was screwed to the back, then moved over a few inches and reinstalled? Then there are some random holes in the back. But, there are no 4 in a row where the string ferrules should be. Also, this replacement bridge has holes for through-body stringing, but there are no holes in the body underneath them. To me it doesn’t look like this body was ever a string-through body.

… not to mention the missing contour and the missing mustang bridge holes. This looks pretty suspicious to me. I hope you didn’t pay ‘77 mustang prices for this.

 

[painful100]

here are some more pictures as requested. Yeah I didn’t notice the string threw holes in the bridge either, strange, right? What would a 77 Mustang price be you think? For Olympic white all original

 

[T McClure]

It doesn't look like it ever had string through holes. I also can't tell if there's either the belly or forearm contours.

Did someone put a Mustang neck on another body and sell it as a Mustang?

 

[Matt O]

here are some more pictures as requested. Yeah I didn’t notice the string threw holes in the bridge either, strange, right? What would a 77 Mustang price be you think? For Olympic white all original

Super cool looking musty you got there. Very strange constellation of screw holes on the back for sure, anyone’s guess what happened there. The finish looks original. So, the lack of of through holes, original screw holes on the front and no contours leads to the possibility that it’s a music master body. Have you taken the bridge and pickguard off to see what lurks underneath?

 

[painful100]

It doesn't look like it ever had string through holes. I also can't tell if there's either the belly or forearm contours.

Did someone put a Mustang neck on another body and sell it as a Mustang?

Quite possibly. I won’t have it in my hands until Monday.

They did accept a lower offer than what they listed it for, which seemed like a super good deal to me for a semi messed with 70s Mustang. But if it’s not a Mustang I guess that wipes that theory away.

 

[painful100]

Super cool looking musty you got there. Very strange constellation of screw holes on the back for sure, anyone’s guess what happened there. The finish looks original. So, the lack of of through holes, original screw holes on the front and no contours leads to the possibility that it’s a music master body. Have you taken the bridge and pickguard off to see what lurks underneath?

I could on Monday when I get it and report back

 

[painful100]

There are 2 sets of zig-zag pattern holes on the back of the body. It looks like something was screwed to the back, then moved over a few inches and reinstalled? Then there are some random holes in the back. But, there are no 4 in a row where the string ferrules should be. Also, this replacement bridge has holes for through-body stringing, but there are no holes in the body underneath them. To me it doesn’t look like this body was ever a string-through body.

… not to mention the missing contour and the missing mustang bridge holes. This looks pretty suspicious to me. I hope you didn’t pay ‘77 mustang prices for this.

Thanks for all the investigating. Do the stamps on the neck/body tell you anything? What would an Og 70s mustang of similar quality sell for you think?

 

[Matt O]

I could on Monday when I get it and report back

ah, sorry I’m a bit slow, it’s not in your hands yet. Yeah, you might pop off the bridge to see if there are plugged through holes. Doubtful, but maybe.

Depending on what you paid, it may still be an okish deal. The neck is probably worth about a grand. But, if it’s a bonafide Mustang you want, this thing might not do it for you.

 

[painful100]

Also I just got a message from the seller. Maybe they saw this thread or did their own research. But they are at least acknowledging the error and working with me to remedy the situation. Stay tuned and thanks for all your help.

It does appear to be a music master body with a Mustang neck, p bass pickups and who knows what bridge hah. Quite the Frankenstein.

 

[BGroovy]

There’s a nice all original 75 mustang for sale locally for $2,500, just so you have a price point comparison

 

[painful100]

There’s a nice all original 75 mustang for sale locally for $2,500, just so you have a price point comparison

Does color kinda change price? If it’s oly white let me know, may be in the market

 

[cornfarmer]

Ooof yeah, I feel you on Mustang prices. Hopefully you got a deal or are getting a better deal if the seller is making amends.

I looked high & low for an early one that was as unmolested as possible, in Daphne....near impossible, or the price was sky high. What I ended up with was a semi compromised '66 with '80s Bullet pickups and P-bass bridge saddles. After putting the correct saddles on from a JMJ bridge, I had it setup and it's all good now.

If that bass shows up, and plays/sounds as it should, you might give it a minute and see if you vibe with it first. You never know.