New Project Spectrum MX Pickups, Wiring and Cosmetics

Hello Gang
Just won this Spectrum MX, and Subject to getting it delivered I plan on doing a bit of work on it.  

I figured that I should replace the pickups and wiring, and because its listed as having a crack in the nitro-cellulose finish I should sand it down, fill any cracks with fine filler, re-paint and finish with a few coats of gloss clear coat.

Wait till you get it; the crack in the poly coat may be superficial...

The s/c p'ups on these are quite good, and it may have an MMK45 h/b so you'll have to check, but, that said, good work; the trans blue finish is a beauty!!

From the pictures there looks like there's a few, Bottom right corner of the Bridge, and from the bottom of the tone, volume and selector switches, then on the back of the body from the top down to the oval access cover, and between the Westone pate to the square access cover.  Like you say though, Have to wait and see.

I would advise thinking twice about doing anything to that blue trans finish. It's a beauty. As Corsair says it's likely only a finish stress crack, not structural.

Stick a multimeter on the bridge pup before you change it. If you're reading around 11K you have the "real" MMK45 which is worth holding on to. If you're seeing around 6K you have a wimpy UBC. Dump it!

The spectrum has landed, The longitudinal cracks are quite noticeable, almost like water damage, I don't have a multi meter but the PU's can wait.  And the SN Says it was made in Nov '86

Yes, those cracks are noticeable, but looking at the picture above of the front of your guitar, they do not follow the grain in the body. That is pretty much a sure indication that these are stress cracks in the finish.

Structural cracks almost always follow the grain, and in the case of the Spectrums it would take a major impact to crack the wood because it is hard Maple!

I would recommend that you either live with the cracks, or you can try and minimize the contrast using a fine tipped marker pen in matching blue or black, followed by a polishing with a good compound such as Maguires Ultimate.

Trying to repair or spot fill the cracks will likely end in tears. Our Corsair recently did a complete refinish of a trans blue so it can be done, but it does take a lot of work.