Okay! The Squier '51 thread reached 51 pages, and at least one person wants to see it locked at that length for ... posterity maybe? This posting might very well have pushed it to 52 pages, so I've started a new thread.
Between biz travel and trips to David's, I finally finished my first Squier '51 project.
Mods included:
Swap out of neck pup to P90
Full cavity shielding
Swap rotory for LP style toggle pup selector
MOTS pickguard
Black nitro headstock
Graphite nut
Conversion of bridge to string-through-body (with embedded string ferrules)
Neck wood screws replaced with machine screws and threaded inserts in neck
Here it is hanging with some of its mates (3 Amigos):
Body shots showing the MOTS pickguard, toggle switch and new P90 puppy:
Black nitro headstock and string-through-body bridge from back (D'Addario colored ball ends peaking out):
-=tension & release=-
Wow, nice mods there.
You have really turned that Squier 51 into a beauty.
Hows it playing now after all these changes ?
Thanks for sharing.
Nice job Gnease. How about a sound file?
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
Thanks guys.
Rahul: It plays much better mostly because I've set it up properly - nut, 10s, neck relief and bridge. I may yet dress the fret ends as they are slightly sharp on many '51s, including all three of mine.
Dali: I can do a comparo sound file sometime. I'd characterize the P90 change as making the guitar more agressive and somewhat better suited thicker, crunchier blues and rock. The original neck pup is spankier: country or new wavish -- kinda Strat-lite
-=tension & release=-
I love the second picture, the reflection looks sweet :D
Beautiful job!!! :D
Love and Peace or Else,
CC
Congrats to a master musician and craftsman!
Well we all shine on--like the moon and the stars and the sun.
-- John Lennon
so there's your Lite Ash...
Nice work!
Oh, does the plural thread header mean you are inviting others to post their 51 projects here?
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
so there's your Lite Ash...
Yep, there it is, Pearl. I took all three of those guitars up to David and Karen's for RJ2007, but played the Beatercaster 95% of the time (current darling!). You may even have been standing near the Lite Ash several times and without noticing it.
-=tension & release=-
Nice work!
Oh, does the plural thread header mean you are inviting others to post their 51 projects here?
of course! and I've got more coming as well.
-=tension & release=-
Alrighty then! :D
These were previously posted, but the Bel Air version has undergone more changes.
1st, the old '51 Mojocaster; tinted neck, headstock decal, camo pickguard, Schaller roller bridge, GFS Lil Killer neck pup, GFS Bigmouth bridge pup:
**********
2nd, the '51 Bel Air; rosewood fretboard, tusq nut, headstock decal, painted body and headstock, reshaped and "aged" pickguard and aged screws, GFS Mean 90 bridge pup, GFS alnico "boutique" strat neck pup, 51 dice, dual concentric pot for volume and tone, LP-style pickup toggle, better strap buttons, racing flag pin on the strap:
"Everybody got to elevate from the norm."
Nice, Mitch. Thanks for the updates. Some Q's: Did you actually change just the fretboard or the whole neck of the Belair? Where did you get the concentric pot? Do the dice do anything? And finally, remind me what you used to age the neck -- the whiteness on mine bug me and IIRC, you had good luck with something I hadn't thought of. I'm actually thinking of putting gloss on all of mine.
-=tension & release=-
I'm curious about the head stock decals? How did you make them? A vinyl decal thing for your printer? I'm curious. Oh, by the way ... amazing .. the both of you!
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
Greg & Mitch, nice work on those guitars! Nothing better than seeing a labour of love turn out nice, is there!!!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
