Thinking of a Mustang project...input please.

ThreeStringGuitar

So I have a unfinished Mustang body kicking around and I've been toying with a few ideas for it and am curious for some input on it.

My main idea is to route it for either a Bass VI (pending I can find one) or a Jaguar pickup control plate, a la Cyclone. The switching would ideally be an on/off for each pickup, a phase switch and then the 4th would be a rhythm circuit like on a Jazz/Jag. Where the normal pickup switches would go on the Mustang I'd install the volume and tone for the rhythm circuit.

Now if I can't manage to get the Bass VI plate I'd just use the Jaguar's and drop the phase switching, or maybe install a mini toggle for it.

I mocked up a rather lousy picture using the Bass VI plate and it comes out looking a little crowded.

I'd like to hear some thoughts though on this. Is it doable? I'm not that familiar with the mounting on the Jazz/Jag for the rhythm section, if the vol/tone pots would even fit in the old Mustang pickup switching. I suppose I could route out a bit more there though if need be. Would have to get a custom pickguard anyways so maybe it doesn't really matter.

Hopefully I made at least a little sense explaining it 😛

nirvana23freak

i like that idea a lot actually, atleast the roller knobs in the top

Aug

not only will you have to route out the control area for the switches (above the pups), you'll need to make a custom pickguard, and it may not look right. I've often toyed with the idea of having the lower horn Jaguar switching, but haven't gotten around to doing it, yet. I did, however, build another Mustang with no switches in the pickguard, removed the tone and put in a 3-way switch in it's place, as I never used the tone, nor did I use the out-of-phase option on the stang. Let me know what you decide, and I'll make you a schematic for the wiring.

ThreeStringGuitar

Thanks both for the input, and Aug thank you much for offering to do a schematic, it will no doubt help.

Yeah I'm not sure how the vol/tone above the pickups will work out, I need to check out some of routing pictures I guess. I was hoping I could just rout down (between the pickups) and keep the rollers in the same place as where the switches would normally be; if that makes any sense?

As far at the Jaguar switching I've been thinking I could drop the phase switch, something I don't use all that much. Having the lower the switching wouldn't look all that much different then it looks on the Cyclone II right? It's really more that rhythm circuit I'm after, I figured though why not keep the phase option open too. Finding a Bass VI plate is proving to be rather difficult though. May not even look that good in the end either.

I was even thinking; and maybe it won't look as good as it sound in my own head but, what do you all think about leaving the plate off and just mounting the switches straight to the pickguard? It'd be keeping with the above pickup switches and a kind of 60's Japanese guitar no name inport hah. Yay or nay?

thanoss99

Aug I'd love to see that schematic - i'm in the beginnings of doing something exactly like that. My first question is - did you use a 3-switch like a Les Paul or like a Telecaster? Thanks!

Aug

Les Paul switch!

thanoss99

Aug - I'm not sure if ThreeStringGuitar is posting back here - mind doing the schematic anyways? You're idea sounds very similar to what I'm thinking of doing, and as this is my first guitar project ever I'd appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks!

Aug

What *exactly* do you want?

tragictravisty

the schematic is easy, look on seymour duncan's site for schematics. you then wire them up in this order: phase-on/offs-rythim switch... if that made any sense

ThreeStringGuitar

I'm still considering this for a project. Just got back in town though the other night. At the moment I have all the hardware I need aside from the pots and brackets for the rhythm circuit. Still working on getting a neck too.

Once I have everything I need I'll start posting some progress pictures.

I think I have a source for getting a pickguard made up. Haven't decided on a body color yet though, I'm really liking the idea of a capri orange comp.