ShortBuSX
August 3rd, 2008, 07:53 PM
As Ive stated in previous posts, I love used MIM's!
I scored this '99 Midnight Blue Standard last year at a guitar expo for $225 and Ive been thoroughly pleased with it ever since.
I was looking for a used Fender Blues Jr on Craigslist bout 3 weeks ago and found this '00 MIM Sunburst Standard for $225...even though I already had a MIM Standard represented I thought itd be an excellent opportunity to compare the maple fingerboard to rosewood, as Id always grown up with rosewood my maple neck was still a lil foreign...I cant put this rosewood neck down though, maybe Im still in the honeymoon phase with this one *shrug*
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2049.jpg
To me it appears to be capped cause I cant see any seams(front or back)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2041.jpg
For some reason I just like my back covers off. Ive also got a paint stir stick(that Ive cut down to bout 3") in between the block and the body to block the trem, works very well(and keeps the bridge off the paint) Ive done this with both.(maybe you can see it in this pic)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2043.jpg
Although very classic looking, I really couldnt warm up to that white pickguard on a burst. So I ordered a Fender black 3 ply replacement (http://www.worldmusicsupply.com/guitars/accessories/misc-accessories/Fender/099-1359-000.asp) from WorldMusicSupply and today I set out to replace it. I figured once I had it opened up Id shield it like I have my other Strats in the past.
Looked so nice under the pickguard its almost a shame to shield it or even put a pickguard over it(although I was thinkin clear prior to my purchase).
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2053.jpg
I was pleased to find my Fender replacement pickguard had a nice full sheild on it, unlike the tiny triangle the factory pickguards have.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2054.jpg
Also Ive found the bridge pups on these to be too harsh without a tone pot, so I did some research and decided to move the mid tone pot to the bridge, ala Jimmy Vaughn.
I buttoned it back up, wiped it down with polish, lemon oiled the fretboard and restrung it...
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2056.jpg
And I think it looks alot better!:AOK:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2057.jpg
With the wiring mod the bridge is sooooo much more useful, even with the tone pot maxed out its still better than before. The middle pup doesnt even need a tone pot, it was normally near maxed out anyways. The bridge/middle selection(I believe its refered to as the 2nd possition?) is so much nicer too, I think I will be spending more time in that vacenity.
Im gonna play around with this for a lil bit before I go doing this to my other, I may use a jumper and have the bridge share a tone pot, but for the time being this is pretty damn sweet!
:rockon:
Oh yeah, and the sheilding did quite down almost all of the noise, its only when I get close to my amp and turn just the right dirrection that any noise is heard.
I scored this '99 Midnight Blue Standard last year at a guitar expo for $225 and Ive been thoroughly pleased with it ever since.
I was looking for a used Fender Blues Jr on Craigslist bout 3 weeks ago and found this '00 MIM Sunburst Standard for $225...even though I already had a MIM Standard represented I thought itd be an excellent opportunity to compare the maple fingerboard to rosewood, as Id always grown up with rosewood my maple neck was still a lil foreign...I cant put this rosewood neck down though, maybe Im still in the honeymoon phase with this one *shrug*
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2049.jpg
To me it appears to be capped cause I cant see any seams(front or back)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2041.jpg
For some reason I just like my back covers off. Ive also got a paint stir stick(that Ive cut down to bout 3") in between the block and the body to block the trem, works very well(and keeps the bridge off the paint) Ive done this with both.(maybe you can see it in this pic)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2043.jpg
Although very classic looking, I really couldnt warm up to that white pickguard on a burst. So I ordered a Fender black 3 ply replacement (http://www.worldmusicsupply.com/guitars/accessories/misc-accessories/Fender/099-1359-000.asp) from WorldMusicSupply and today I set out to replace it. I figured once I had it opened up Id shield it like I have my other Strats in the past.
Looked so nice under the pickguard its almost a shame to shield it or even put a pickguard over it(although I was thinkin clear prior to my purchase).
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2053.jpg
I was pleased to find my Fender replacement pickguard had a nice full sheild on it, unlike the tiny triangle the factory pickguards have.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2054.jpg
Also Ive found the bridge pups on these to be too harsh without a tone pot, so I did some research and decided to move the mid tone pot to the bridge, ala Jimmy Vaughn.
I buttoned it back up, wiped it down with polish, lemon oiled the fretboard and restrung it...
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2056.jpg
And I think it looks alot better!:AOK:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w10/ShortBuSX/100_2057.jpg
With the wiring mod the bridge is sooooo much more useful, even with the tone pot maxed out its still better than before. The middle pup doesnt even need a tone pot, it was normally near maxed out anyways. The bridge/middle selection(I believe its refered to as the 2nd possition?) is so much nicer too, I think I will be spending more time in that vacenity.
Im gonna play around with this for a lil bit before I go doing this to my other, I may use a jumper and have the bridge share a tone pot, but for the time being this is pretty damn sweet!
:rockon:
Oh yeah, and the sheilding did quite down almost all of the noise, its only when I get close to my amp and turn just the right dirrection that any noise is heard.