Maestro by Gibson Rebuild / Rescue

[FenderGyrl]

Yep,
A Les Paul JR Shaped Object that goes by the moniker Maestro by Gibson.

Why,
I'm in the mood for a Bottom Feeder Johnny Thunders inspired LP JR project.

I found this at Goodwill for the cost of a Pizza. Figured that it had good bones.

So here we go. I haven't done a Rescue Rehab Thread for a while. Figured I would lose some time and photograph everything.

 

[Dostradamas]

Pizza priced project YAY!

 

[FenderGyrl]

Really dirty. Gloves and 409 Time.
Broke it all down. Yuck....

 

[FenderGyrl]

How to remove those stubborn bridge screws? Pill Bottle Caps. Shallow Cap, then a Deep Cap.

 

[FenderGyrl]

 

[FenderGyrl]

Bound Fingerboard, Nice Frets.

 

[FenderGyrl]

 

[FenderGyrl]

Ready for the next phase.

 

[FenderGyrl]

Bag it and Tag it

 

[FenderGyrl]

Interesting...
Gonna Volt read it...kinda curious?

 

[FenderGyrl]

 

[FenderGyrl]

At least the angle is better than my Firebird Zeros FROM Gibson !!!

 

[FenderGyrl]

So I checked the Truss Rod to make sure it worked before I broke it down. Also sighted the neck. Everything looked good, so I'm off to the races.

I bought a Guitar Madness Spirit of 76 Alnico Hot Wound Humbucker. To get that Vintage 70s sound. I dont want to work at putting a Dog Ear P90 over the humbucker route hole. I have a P94 that will fit in a bucker ring, but I'm just gonna go with the 76. I have 500K Pots that I can put in it.

 

[62 Jazzmaster]

Great photos, really helps visualize & follow your projects!

 

[FenderGyrl]

The Pick Up is reading 11.35. Its pretty hefty. I'll tag it and set it aside for a future project.

 

[FenderGyrl]

I found Black Hardware in my parts stash.

 

[FenderGyrl]

Lets talk Conversion Bushings.
I dont want Neck Heavy Tuners. But the Headstock has oversized holes routed thru the whole headstock.

 

[FenderGyrl]

Regular Sized Bezels wont work.
Time for Conversion Bushings:

 

[FenderGyrl]

These will do the trick.
Vintage Tuners are going on this guitar

 

[NoTeleBob]

I did similar with the double pickup version. Had to level and crown to get the frets right. Also, the nut had issues... it's was hollow plastic. At least on mine.

But it ended up a nice player.