My "new" 1977 Mustang: Is this normal?

Sam327

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I have just got my first mustang, a white/yellow 1977 maple neck one and I love it!

I bought it as "all original" but I think there might be a few issues (I hope not though!)

-Firstly the seller said that it was once Olympic white but has now aged...

-Secondly, one of the pots is larger than the other. (The larger one is from '77 but the code on the smaller one is obscured by solder.)

- Thirdly, there is a piece of wire (presumably the earth wire) running from the bridge to the control plate but instead of going under the pickguard or through a hole it goes straight across the body!

- Also, why is there a random screw in the middle of the pickguard?!

Anyway, it's an awesome guitar whatever! 😁 Here are some pics:

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0643.jpg

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0644.jpg

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0639.jpg

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0640.jpg

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0641.jpg

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss29 ... 0_0642.jpg

funtoosh

Sam327 said:

Also, why is there a random screw in the middle of the pickguard?!

... has probably been added to prevent the rather old pickguard form warping (and, in the course, rattling)

looks great!! the maple neck and the aged body match pretty well, congrats. how much did you spend?

(oh, and welcome ; )

Sam327

Cheers, thats what I was thinking! I paid

Mustang-Pete

Howdy, and welcome. That's a beautiful guitar you got yourself there! And at a good price!

The aged finish is just something that happens. I think you'll just have to live with that one 😉

Not sure about the pots or the earth wire... But the scratchplate screw would probably be original. Fender put them there for the reason Martin (funtoosh) gave.

enjoysleeping

hi, my 67 has the same ground wire running from my bridge to under the control plate, but its not as exposed as yours is. as for the screw, thats perfectly normal (look above at the stang in the header) and the finish is as aged as a guitar 32 yrs old should be.

Sam327

Thanks everyone! 😁

Sam327

Anyone know about the pots? 😡

Fenderbob

Ya got a Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge on there.

villafranc

Fenderbob said: Ya got a Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge on there.

Hey there. I have a late '74 / early '75 Mustang that is all original. I have some photos that you could compare to my guitar.

Here's a photo of the pots on my guitar, for you to compare. It looks as though both pots on mine are the same size.

http://pruff.com/74mustang/pages/IMG_4060.html

Mine has the screw, too. So it's indeed stock that yours has one too.

http://pruff.com/74mustang/pages/IMG_4005.html

Fenderbob's right. If you compare this photo of yours:

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss299/Sam327/?action=view&current=100_0640.jpg

...to mine:

http://pruff.com/74mustang/pages/IMG_4013.html

...you'll notice that the part that the string goes over on yours looks threaded, but on mine, it only has one notch for the string to lay on.

Either way, all that matters at the end of the day is that you love its tone and that you can't stop playing it. It's a sweet sweet looking guitar, man! Cheers.

Sam327

Thanks everyone, just wondering though, did any 70s mustangs come with the jag bridge as stock? Because in most pics of 77 stangs they have a bridge cover so its hard to see whether they did... Anyway the bridge on mine looks just as old as the guitar... Another point about the bridge, it's really buzzy... I read somewhere that jag bridges are prone to buzz and the best remedy is to replace them with mustang bridges. Is it worth me buying a stang bridge to go on it? Also, anyone got a 77 pot that they are willing to sell by any chance? Thanks.

jacksonjackass

Can we have a good close up of one of the saddles

JAC

Beautiful guitar, I have black 1978 rosewood fingerboard one that I purchased straight from the factory when I worked there, back in the late 70s. Your Mustang is the first I've ever seen with a full maple neck. You are lucky! I was on this forum years back but I'm now new to it once again. I'm a big Fender product all the way around fan. I'm glad CBS does not own them anymore. My Mustang is heavier than some of the 60s ones I've handled before. Personally I feel there were some good CBS products made although, I appreciate what direction they are going now, for the most part. I dig the fact they have Japanese reissue Mustangs. By the way, my 78 and your 77 were actually reissue ones also, in case you did not know is that cool or what! The originals ones came out in 65 I believe. 😲

JAC

JAC said: Beautiful guitar, I have black 1978 rosewood fingerboard one that I purchased straight from the factory when I worked there, back in the late 70s. Your Mustang is the first I've ever seen with a full maple neck. You are lucky! I was on this forum years back but I'm now new to it once again. I'm a big Fender product all the way around fan. I'm glad CBS does not own them anymore. My Mustang is heavier than some of the 60s ones I've handled before. Personally I feel there were some good CBS products made although, I appreciate what direction they are going now, for the most part. I dig the fact they have Japanese reissue Mustangs. By the way, my 78 and your 77 were actually reissue ones also, in case you did not know is that cool or what! The originals ones came out in 65 I believe. 😲

I was mistaken about the reissue, they had not stopped making them until about 82. So my 78 is actually along the same line as the originals except it has the body contour as well as an ash body. I got to come on this site more often. I bet I'm the only dinosaur here! I like the Japanese Mustangs I've tried out in stores.

Earth

Yeah the grounding wire is right and so is the screw in the center of the PG, all mustangs have this screw there.