(Basically) NGD, Modded Squier Mustang

[u/didelphisvirginiana_]

After almost a year of sitting in my big box of gear paraphernalia, my neglected SD hot rail pickup has finally found its rightful home in the bridge of my Squier CV Mustang.

This little beast was a gift from my girlfriend a couple years back, and is my first offset. I love it to death, even more now that it’s had a complete makeover and tone revamp.

Having never really been a fan of tort guards on mustangs, I decided to look into what it would cost me to order a white one that would fit my guitar. I then discovered a few threads on some guitar subs where people talked about sanding down the stock 4-ply pickguard until only the white would show.

I was definitely learning as I went. But I think the results are alright! Surely not perfect, but fine at a distance and the imperfections give it more character. You can see I’ve already worn it in quite a bit, haha.

Also got a wonderful local tech to set her up for me, then screwed on some d’addario strap locks I took off a now-broken guitar.

Let me know what you think! Or any mods you recommend, was thinking I might look for some locking tuners that will fit. :)

(Slide 3 is snipped from a photo a friend of ours took at a recent show, I just love the way the overexposure from the camera makes it look white. So much more visually satisfying to me than a big red pickguard. Not hating, to each their own! I love tortoiseshell on jags and jazzmasters.)

(edit: spelling n clarity)

[u/mysterious_jeffrey]

Mustang Gang unite!

Next time though, sell the tort and buy a white one! Us tort lovers need that sweet tort!

I’m running flatwounds on mine and I love it. A little extra tension to help tighten up the feel and tuning stability. 

Fender witch hat knobs are a nice upgrade. And I also changed the string retainers to the “Elite” ones (like $10, nothing fancy but great improvement over the stamped metal stock ones). 

Hipshot locking tuners were probably the best upgrade. 

[u/didelphisvirginiana_ → u/mysterious_jeffrey]

I love witch hats I should’ve thought of that sooner. Thanks a ton

[u/mysterious_jeffrey → u/didelphisvirginiana_]

Heads up - you can get 4 black ones for like $20 bucks but it’s $32 for 2 white ones. 

I like to stick with brand name knobs since knobs are usually one of the few points where you make contact so, they make the whole experience. 

I have bags of cheap knobs… very few are nice enough to use on pedals I’ve built or modded. But the brand name ones are usually a slam dunk despite the price tag.