Sunn Mustang

heyup chaps
I've only gone and buggered up my Indian made Sunn Mustang neck (original pre fender gold Sunn logo, no horsey) so I'm looking for a replacement, I would rather not have to buy a complete guitar just for the neck.....so if anyone here (slim chance i know) has one spare.......?

Only Neck iI have spare is a Tele Maple 22 fret neck with no over hang..
If its any good it's yours if you like..

cool, if it has a 52-53mm heel width it might just do.......but last night I ordered a screw extractor set so I'll give this a try first and let you know.

here

thanks Steve

Just Measured it an it's 55mm heel....

Though with it not having the over hanging board it would have to be shaped to fit at the heel anyway so if you are going to do that then it could be shaved down a bit to fit any way mate...

PM if you want it as it's got your name on it mate....

the mustang neck doesnt have the overhanging board either steve, lets see how this nut removing device gets on first eh, I thank you for your kind offer and might just take you up on it mate, though in preference i would rather keep it original as that neck is a beauty, and sullying it with a hillbilly cricket bat might taint it somewhat

Sgt. Vimes wrote:the mustang neck doesnt have the overhanging board either steve, lets see how this nut removing device gets on first eh, I thank you for your kind offer and might just take you up on it mate, though in preference i would rather keep it original as that neck is a beauty, and sullying it with a hillbilly cricket bat might taint it somewhat

That be that dam Banjo Barry keeps hearing ..

Thought i'd take that instead of the Harp down there to see if I get rejected an brought back quicker after the poll..
Wished i took the fiddle now as Lu is giving me 1 to 1 lessons...
If Charlie Daniel's is reading this thanks a bunch for kicking his ass an getting him into Banjo..

Who said hell ain't a bad place be ????

https://youtu.be/DNSljt0i3TI

If all else fails.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300636964396?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Well the nut removal tools arrived today and they work!..... Only too well I'm afraid.... it not only removed the truss nut, but also about half an inch of truss rod, so now I have about 3mm of thread left recessed about halfway down the first fret. Bummer!
So now I think it's time to try my first truss rod replacement! I have a skunk stripe so it could be worse

Talking about the truss rod nut?? Or is it at the body end??? You wasn't all that clear.
.
Buy a new neck.

Taking off a fingerboard on any guitar is not an easy, simple job.

On a Sunn Mustang... ...get another neck(or guitar) and then try taking one off.

i snapped the rod itself on the head end.
all I need to do is to remove the plastic skunk stripe, measure and replace the rod.........I hope.

the neck is buggered, (which is a shame because it really is lovely) and I'm looking to replace it eventually and there is no harm in trying a tricky job like this on dead wood.

Let the gore begin!!

Sgt. Vimes wrote:i snapped the rod itself on the head end.
all I need to do is to remove the plastic skunk stripe, measure and replace the rod.........I hope.

the neck is buggered, (which is a shame because it really is lovely) and I'm looking to replace it eventually and there is no harm in trying a tricky job like this on dead wood.

Why is Keanu Reeves acting again
Would say you've done the site proud if you broke his truss rod instead...

Sgt. Vimes wrote:i snapped the rod itself on the head end.
all I need to do is to remove the plastic skunk stripe, measure and replace the rod.........I hope.
the neck is buggered, (which is a shame because it really is lovely) and I'm looking to replace it eventually and there is no harm in trying a tricky job like this on dead wood.

Might be a tad late now but you may find some ideas here: TRUSS ROD REPAIR

Yeah Barry I had been looking at that but couldnt justify spending that money on this neck which could have a broken rod even before I jammed the nut!
looks a superb tool though, thanks

there is suprisingly very little info on removing the skunk strip online, I think I'm looking at sanding down to the wood then steam the hell out of it and prise it out. hopefully it is a plastic strip rather than rosewood!

I've never had the pleasure of removing one of these, but I would assume it's glued in there really good. While it's true that dry heat will break a glue bond but I would think steam would do more damage to the neck than the stripe, regardless of its composition.

My instinct would be to rout the bugger out of there.

I have no tools to even consider a routing task, and with the neck being 99% knackered I may as well have at it with the kettle and crossed fingers!

Sarge

I have just done a truss rod replacement and refret on a Les Paul. It was not really a big deal. I had to steam off the fingerboard to do it.

On yours, I would sand the skunk stripe area. Run a sharp blade down the joint and then use a steam iron on top of a damp cloth and slowly work it down the skunk stripe. Check constantly that you aint melting the stripe if you suspect it is plastic. I personally would start to dig it out at the heel end and work towards the head.

These Indian Sunn necks are indeed fantastic with lovely broad chunky frets. In fact, the whole guitar, except the machine heads, is fantastic, if you like Strats.

Good luck !

Hoax

thanks hoax
they are indeed a fabulous guitar, and it pains me to bust open the neck but I have no choice.
I had to remove some of the wood under the trem springs as they were catching and to my suprise I find the body is made from Black Limba/korina...a truly beautiful wood.....if the creamy pearl finish wasnt so nice I would consider stripping it to the wood and reveal the grain.
well....here goes the butcher job.....wish me luck!

well that wasnt too bad.....a couple of slips with the tools but no problem to sand back the very light scratches.

now the trickier bit.....finding a replacement rod WITH a built in anchor! all the rods I can find online are the double rod kind with no anchor.....mine is just a straight rod with the T shape anchor and a 4mm thread on the other end, can I use an un-anchored rod? im confused

ok found one, sack that last post

Sarge

I looked into this too and I actuallly think that the double rod type does away for the need for an anchor as both rods act against each other to create a deformity which will counteract a warp.

I actually settled for a Martin type rod as it was like for like. It is basically a rod within a deformable aluminium box. It worked very well for me as my neck was basically unobtainable (seventies Jap Les Paul Recording Model)

Good man for persevering with that neck as it is one of the best I have encountered. The rosewood ones in particular are fantastic

Hoax

I just went like for like mainly because i dont yet fancy re-routing the channel's curve for a straight rod.
One thing im concerned with: should the new skunk stripe be tight against the new rod? in my minds eye I see it jammed in tight as can be, but I'm obviously a novice and could have it all wrong.

also Hoax, on a side point: are you aware if these original sunn necks came with the 15th to 21st frets tapered from the factory? I know of 4 different mustangs, all rosewood with jumbo's on, all had the same tapered fretts, also Ive read a few pieces online mentioning the same, just a thought.

Sarge

Is the old skunk destroyed. I reckon that the main factor is keeping glue off the new rod, particularly at the threaded ends.You would want the new skunk to fit snugly into the old route, but not for the rod to be bound by glue.

I have to say,that if was Strat man, which I am not, I would buy every single Indian Sunn Mustang I could find at £40 to £60 and sit on them.

They will be the Jap Fenders of 10 years hence.

Hoax

yeah I wrecked it, it started to come away ok for the first few inches, then it was piece by piece, probably not enough steam through being over cautious. im thinking a strip of black limba/Korina for the new strip to compliment the body

I'm on the lookout for a piece of indian rosewood or Korina for the skunk strip, would a fretboard blank be ok?
also would you think the grain of the strip should run the length of the neck?

Sarge

Just use a bit of mahogany eg an offcut from a skirting or facing, or in most DIY stores check out their hardwood mouldings rack, they often have small rectangular profile.

Hoax

already thought of that, but the few diy stores ive visited so far dont have anything but pine or "unamed" wood.
I kind of think that keeping it indian rosewood, like the fretboard, would compliment it more...its the little things in life that matter

I think I need to get the neck to a woodcutter or some such craftsman with a router as I messed up the edges of the rout a little.
THEN I need to find a way of copying the curve of the channel to apply to the new rod, the old rod was bent out of shape during removal...

had a root around all the timber yards/diy stores in the area and come up with nothing, so finally ordered a piece of cherry wood for the strip, ordered some clamps too.
just need to tidy up the rout a little, and drill out a piece for the new size anchor and I'm all set.

just one thing, while I was trying to remove the original truss nut, I butchered the cavity around the nut so much so I need to use a cover, but a bent one to match the curve of the headstock, actually the one from my spectrum st fits perfectly...now I have an old scratchplate I can shape but how to get the curve in? hot water and bend to taste?
any better ideas would be greatly appreciated....or if anyone has a spare speccy ST truss cover???

I have done the opposite and straightened bent control covers by immersing them in boiling water and then flattening them, so it should work to produce a curve.

Hoax

cut, shaped,sanded,hammered, trimmed and sanded the skunk strip today, not bad for a first effort, a bit scruffy on removing the original, but i can live with that, learned a lot with this repair too!



happy camper!

all finished!

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

[img][/img]

and for being a good boy.............
[img][/img]

This was a fascinating project I never thought I could have accomplished, I'm glad I did as its a beautifully made guitar and a neck to die for
this was done with about 15 coats/wet sandings of Halfords clear lacquer in a rattle can, very watery stuff but gives a decent finish.
I think the grain on this now looks better than before, more grain detail, more ...life...in it.
shame about butchering the headstock nut access because the truss cover looks wrong, but hey ho

~~~~~Nice job, thank F for Halfords.

Still only a Sunn Mustang?

Nice job Sarge! Glad it all worked out OK. *urp*

Westbone wrote:~~~~~Nice job, thank F for Halfords.

Still only a Sunn Mustang?

"only"? Damian these indian Sunn guitars are some of the best strats I've ever had the pleasure to play!

Often use Halfords laquer. Has a good feel when dry and saves mixing up a pot on occasions.

Sunn Mustang

Weak Point - Crappy Tuners

Stong Point - Everything else - particularly the neck

Only the Indian one mind you - The Korean ones are MDF rubbish!

Hoax

The neck looks like some kind of mahogany, Sapele??

Hell of a thick f'board.

looked like maple......always thought it was...untill I stripped it, the grain is too.....deep?...i dunno really, its beautiful whatever it is.

I stained the neck with a teabag to try and match the front of the head which wasnt sanded , came out pretty damn close!

I shouldnt really sing the praises of Sunn Mustangs here......else Damian will buy them all up and flood the market with overpriced indian guitars!

Is that why they sell for very little bux.

Try Classic Vibe, I've a whole truck load of those.

Shame on you Damian (Or are you at the wind up again?) - Surely you do not think that there is always a direct correlation between cost and quality.

I am still picking up high end Hondos for buttons and you and I both know that if you pick the right ones, they punch well above their weight.

Buy yourself an Indian Sunn and see what you think, nice Alder body, glorious fat well executed frets, skunk stripe, pickups are much hotter than Fenders, tuners are crap.

£50 well spent if you like Strats - If they did Teles, I would buy them all.

Hoax

I've have never had the pleasure of holding a Sunn Mustang as yet but will keep my eyes peeled.

Only one's worth having are the made in India with the old Sunn logo