I modified a 2017 Squier Mustang to Kurt Cobain’s first mustang. Pretty much everything is overhauled, new parts, refinished. The sound is pretty dark on low strings and bright on higher strings.
Kurt’s modifications
- First modification was adding the control plate and pickup from a Univox Hi Flyer guitar. He also added a vinyl pickguard made from a Thomas Baptist record. He added a Soundgarden sticker. He sanded down the neck. Eventually he removed the pickguard and replaced with a real mustang pickguard and painted green which can possibly be the one on the cover of Bleach album. Parts of this guitar are in the museum in Seattle.
Modifications/Upgrades I made
- Refinished body slightly reliced dark red with light coat of Crystalac Britone Matte.
- Reliced Neck- sanded down headstock, reliced the back of neck. Used Tru Oil. Left the serial.
- Pickguard CNC cut from Thomas Baptist Church record.
- Control plate CNC cut from Stewmac 3 layer pickguard, beveled by hand.
- Pickup made by Eastwood Guitars- Hi-Flyer Phase 4 Pickup Bridge, reliced by hand.
- Bourns 500k pots wired in 50s wiring with Orange cap and switchcraft jack.
- Cobain custom engraved neck plate.
- Pickguard, control plate and cavity shielded with copper.
- Original Neck frets weren’t too bad but I did do a light fret level on it, mostly above 12th fret.
- Created a bone nut by hand to accommodate heavier strings.
- Reliced vintage tuners, Fender mustang vibrato system made by Real Life Relics store (Tricked Out Guitar) here on Reverb.
- I modified the Mustang bridge posts to lock down with plastic tubing. This improves tuning stability. Can be easily removed.
- Durable Soundgarden sticker made by Stickermule.
Please note
The guitar is setup to use Dean Markley 2558 Blue Steel Electric Guitar Strings – .010-.052 Light Top/Heavy Bottom. This really adds that bottom tone. This is in combination with the pickup placement Kurt had, which was pretty close to the bridge, ironically gives it that smiley face eq range like the Nirvana logo. Some things just fall in place. 🙂
Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll probably post a Video link of it in action soon.
Also working on another Mustang Cobain made.
