Behold The METHSTANG! 1966 Fender Mustang brought back from the dead

Behold!
From the producers of Angel Dust Dulcimer, Cocaine Conga, Red Hair Recorder, and so many more... Is it Trash? is it treasure? IT IS METHSTANG! Back from the dead, washed out of its shallow Louisiana grave, ravaged by floods and fires, and seemingly given as much support as George Dubya gave to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, this guitar was all but dead, until one brave man set out to resurrect this poor, dejected, miserable, loathsome, unconscionable abomination. With the iron will of a mole rat, and the rugged good looks of well worn bike chain, he overcame the impediments, he razed his enemies and, like a phoenix from the ashes (but a phoenix that needed like...so much GD work) the Methstang was rebornt. A hero.
#fendermustang #vintagefender #1966 #methstang #guitarrepair #luthiery #luthier #notaluthier
Thanks go out to the entire luthier community, it is a place of camaraderie, and I appreciate all of you, This guitar was given assistance in its rebirth by the following people:
Kenny- Red Stick Guitar and Amp
Les Godfrey - www.godfreyguitars.com
Morgan Farrell @colomaguitars
Ted Woodford @twoodfrd
@Puisheen
Jay www.parrotdice.com
Benjamin www.brockwaystrings.com
And you can follow me on Instagram for almost daily luthiery content and/or rants about whatever TF
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notaluthier...

[@LizordSword]

these fender custom shop relics are getting out of hand

[@mboyer68]

YOU FOUND MY CANOE PADDLE!!! It floated away a few years ago. I'm very glad to see it's been turned into a guitar, excellent work!!

[@spennyrobs6578]

small world

[@djay6651]

Those pickups still being operational is the crazy thing about this project.

[@wesbresee]

Amazing..and a great part of the restoration..

[@NintenDub]

Not really. It's just wound cable

[@asafoetidajones8181]

​@@NintenDubright like, the only possible failure would be a broken wire or soldered connection broken where they're wired. They're not sensitive little things like pots. Still pretty awesome.

[@maxs.3238]

​@asafoetidajones8181 the enamel becomes pretty fragile after 60 years, even without whatever end of the world scenario this thing has been through. And that "wound cable" is how thick? 0,0something mm? That's gonna burn up real quick in a fire. I probably wouldn't have even thought about testing those pickups😂

[@JoaoMagalhaesBH]

first youtube video i've ever seen with background music that doesn't suck congratulations

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks! I played all the background stuff. Just noodling.

[@JoaoMagalhaesBH]

@@Notaluthier sounds great. reminded me of the soundtrack for the first hylics

[@davidtomlinson5017]

So glad you put cork under the ends of your clamps when gluing the cracks, sure wouldn't want to damage the body.

[@Notaluthier]

😂

[@acactusnamedjosh708]

Yeah... I think the name Methstang fits for this guitar.

[@r0flgal0re]

Dang, that relic job easily adds $6k to the worth of this guitar.

[@Notaluthier]

Maybe not $6k, but I don’t disagree, it’s in a class by itself

[@1777DK]

And then deduct 5K for sanding a 66 neck flat, when it’s supposed, and putting on an out of place fretboard.

[@Notaluthier]

@@1777DK lol, it’s was burnt to a crisp, there was no way to save it without converting to a slab. Let’s see your work?

[@dre4011]

That's not a relic job......That's flood rot....it's from New Orleans

[@caiusmadison2996]

​@@1777DKit's literally radius sanded dude, in video. Showed his friend doing this when he was in town, maybe watch video next time and hold your digital tongue until ya do? Risk looking foolish like ya do now when what you ask for LITERALLY HAPPENED IN SAME VIDEO YOU'RE BASHING. Your kind, needs to talk less on these threads, and watch more attentively as well.

[@shanetown]

It would not even have occurred to me to test those pickups.

[@DragonSlayer00134]

I'm so glad you didn't repaint it. The Fender custom shop would charge $8k for this masterpiece. Good job 👏😊

[@bristol299]

It’s a Hurricane Katrina guitar, I collected and rebuilt several and still have a Gibson J50 that was put into an attic to keep it above flood level, I also made players out off wall hangers for some friends….

[@wesbresee]

Nice work, and very interesting..Great alternative for the usual KZbin 'junk food for the mind' stuff that you normally run across..I learned some things which I will utilize in my repair/builds.. Thanks so much!!❤❤

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you very much!

[@kissdavid75]

this was just pure delight to watch... experience, craftmanship but nothing overdone, with due respect to the subject and its story.

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks alot

[@thecaveofthedead]

Your aesthetic is a bit of an education for me. I went from being torn that you weren't planning on restoring it to look like a new or carefully preserved guitar to fully embracing how you were showing off it's unique battle damage textures. One thing I can tell you: I bet the people who distress new guitars are desperately praying this aesthetic doesn't catch on. The work!

[@carstenreeder8634]

Thank you for making this thing breath and sing again. Great job doing just what was needed. I love the result.

[@kenl2585]

Incredible vid. Love it. You Sir are a extremely talented artist. Go bless.

[@Notaluthier]

Go bless? I think it’s spelled “jobless” 😅

[@lukedwelly]

A most satisfying rebuild - I am very grateful that you didn't sand it down and spray it in metallic purple - what a beautiful guitar!!

[@msaintpc]

The way it looks at 17:45 is raw and absolutely beautiful.

[@Notaluthier]

Yeah the notes on masking tape was actually a good look for this thing!

[@e.scottdaugherty8291]

I'd like whatever the guy was on who wanted 1200 for it. Sounds like good stuff.

[@Meddled]

I think he was on "Reverb". A highly detrimental drug that causes delusions and psychosis.

[@pigslam]

he knew it was awesome

[@Koziolrh]

Nitro fumes

[@maxs.3238]

He just "knew what he had"😂

[@NotMe-st8qc]

Huffing Freon straight from the can.

[@ToddTheJoker]

I love it when people don't give up on instruments and bring them back to life! They give us so much and it is a crying shame to treat them like this Mustang was treated! good job

[@vadenk4433]

Gummy De Milo. Handcrafted by the finest gummy artisans in the field of gummy masterworks .

[@JohnnyQuaykersBelmont]

Great way to preserve that guitar's story. Maybe a "Methstang" sticker on it? Really, the look of it speaks for itself.

[@sohosteveuk]

Absolutely fabulous journey that was beautifully presented. Loved the Methstang noodling throughout, which added a cool, soothing atmosphere that suited the footage perfectly and didn't (obviously)loop in any kind of irritating way. You got yourself a new subscriber from London, UK. Keep up the splendid work!

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you!

[@sohosteveuk]

@@Notaluthier credit where credit's due, brother 🙏🏻

[@robbytheremin2443]

Actually, this video popped up organically in my feed without any connection to Mr. Woodford. But if Ted likes you, that's good enough for me. Subscribed. 👍

[@Jac2587]

Same situation. Same result.

[@lizardswithhats]

The clear acrylic was a good call. It looks awesome!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Nice barn-relic-resto! I love Mustangs. I have a 1964 blue Mustang, it's the guitar that's been with me the longest, (out of hundreds!). Purchased from its original owner in the late 70s, whose bed it sat under since he'd got it in '65; it's the 24" scale version. It hung next to my window in NYC for 20 years, and probably still has WTC dust in its crevices... It has oxidized to a semi aquatic shade of green, with white primer showing through here and there. I think the whammys on those pre CBS 'Stangs are the best Fender ever made. I'm amazed yours went through whatever cataclysm it did and still has working pickups! I think you turned the Methstang into the Mythstang! Well done!

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks a bunch!

[@FlipDahlenburg]

Thoroughly agree about the tremelo bar!!

[@Satwamassive]

We've all had "problematic wood" at some stage.

[@JagStar]

That is sooooo awesome! I can’t believe the pickups still work and they sound great!

[@Notaluthier]

It makes no sense at all!

[@FugminsterUnedited]

Incredible job, I can't believe it sounds that good after being neglected like that

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you

[@BataraKado]

dude i would have just got a new neck, but you went through hell and back to restore the body and even the neck ... that fretboard i will never forget, ill see this guitar in my nightmares.

[@bobalmighty2925]

I was thinking, "if he paints it I'll scream."

[@danrunnoft6642]

The Methstang looks fantastic. I can't believe it only took four tries to get the pickguard right.

[@SuzanneNuttall]

Who else scrolled to the end and was surprised by no refin??? Looks very unique! 🐴🔥🎶

[@bobdown6235]

I think someone must have used that guitar to beat out a fire in a Louisiana dive bar.

[@dustinblumenstein9528]

As an American I really appreciate including 69ths in your explanation. Really helped me follow along.

[@Notaluthier]

You’re ever so welcome! It was difficult math doing the conversion.

[@alisondenu5317]

@@Notaluthier I practically wore out my 13/69ths wrench, it's a really common American wrench size.

[@Sammywhat]

😂

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Being an expat Canuck living in the US since the mid 80s, I recently asked my luthier for a set-up including specs of 1.5 - 2.5 mm at the 12th fret, to which he stuffily replied "We don't do millimeters here"... I was glad I had the composure to instantly convert to 69ths for him. ;)

[@Dwightpower88]

I learned 69ths from your mother, if you catch my drift. Wink

[@StillLivinginthewoods]

The title reminded me of a trade I made years ago, for an old Peavey Bass guitar and several Strat style guitars that were to be used for parts. When I pulled the pickguard off of one of the Strat bodies, there were about half a dozen little baggies with white residue on the inside. That guitar had obviously been someone's stash spot at one time.

[@jackmoen3460]

"don't worry im obviously keeping that little piece of foam on the grounding plate".

[@PickinPal]

Thank you for posting this, I really enjoyed watching you bring this beautiful piece of history back to life, what an awesome guitar, love it! 😎👍🎸🎸

[@brazilgrass]

So cool to get to witness the process in more detail! And hey! The content is killer, all the way to the editing and whatnot. Yeah, I know and like Ted Woodford. But I'm almost proud to say I was following Levon #beforeitwasathing 🤭

[@sadaksara]

IMO this guitar resto turned out even better than the untouched Mustangs I've seen.

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you!!!

[@jamesgrant3343]

Strong melted Darth Vader mask vibes from those pickup bobbins. Love the video and you turned that guitar into a beautiful instrument - proudly wearing its history.

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you kindly!

[@benwinter2420]

Have a Star Wars PS4 edition console , fixed it all up from power supply on up trouble shoot failure tip shop bought & replaced graphics cards & all it needs is a latest reboot as according to pc . . now a sad dinosaur that only use is to play that western game if get running

[@Skoden_lures]

Another fantastic video. Also, thank you for the land acknowledgement . First one I have ever seen. Nia:wen.

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you! Land acknowledgments are almost aloofly ubiquitous here in BC, and often feel forced, or simply automatic/ obligatory. But I really feel a deep shame for what occurred, and am keenly aware that this is not my land. An acknowledgment is the absolute least I can do! I hope to do more than just acknowledgment in the future.

[@Skoden_lures]

@@Notaluthier from this Albertan Mohawk, again I say thank you, Nia:wen, hiy hiy.

[@Notaluthier]

@@Skoden_lures much love

[@horstdunoch3546]

Best guitar project watched on youtube, this far so much wise choices !! Clear was "clearly" the way to go!!

[@Ivegotwormsinme]

"What on Earth could do this?" Katrina, man. Hurricane Katrina did that. How do I know that? My poor Ibanez RX70 was left behind and it succumbed to the waters of the flood. If I had to guess, that guitar was submerged in the most disgusting water you could ever imagine for an unknown amount of time. My guitar is now hanging on the wall in my shop at work, looking very similar to that Mustang.

[@Notaluthier]

Yeah I figured Katrina, and perhaps other floods played a big part…shout-out to George W bush for being an ally on that one 😒 but the melting?

[@johnmadere]

We had a huge flood in Baton Rouge in 2016 as well. Could be either.

[@Notaluthier]

@@johnmadere I’d say both!

[@johnmadere]

@@Notaluthier Possibly. We didn’t get too much water in BR during Katrina but you never know. Cool video and it turned out great no matter how it got that way. Haha.

[@Ivegotwormsinme]

@@Notaluthier The melting got me thinking electrical fire? Perhaps the guitar was near something burning due to water causing shorts and sparks? I mean, maybe? In any case, the end result is won-duh-ful.

[@Guy_makes_thing]

Oh this is just lovely.😂 Really digging the slightly road worn look too!

[@darylporter4290]

Amazing work. It looks very cool. Cannot believe the pickups still function.

[@elams1894]

Fantastic stuff! That was a very enjoyable vid. What a find, and those pups!!! More please.

[@rickrevoir1683]

Not sure how i got here but im glad i did. Im amazed that you brought life to this guitar. Wonderful watching you work

[@scottishgentlemen6038]

Really enjoyed this! Beautiful fretboard, and I like your choice of pickguard. It would have been a shame to hide any part of that wood and what little remaining paint there was. It sounded fantastic too!

[@Notaluthier]

You’re a Scot and a gentleman!

[@cadenayers9253]

Speaking of the fretboard, what wood is that? So mine eyes deceive me or do I see Arizona desert ironwood???

[@cadenayers9253]

(Which may or may not be my favorite wood by a long shot)

[@Notaluthier]

@@cadenayers9253 I’d love to get my hands on a pretty piece of desert ironwood someday. Super difficult to find any large pieces. This particular wood is Cambodian rosewood.

[@jeffseven2194]

My main guitar in the 70s and early 80s was a 1965 Mustang that I found as a basket case. A refinish,a DiMarzio super distortion in the bridge and locking down the tailpiece n it was a super player. Above and beyond on your restoration of this beast

[@Notaluthier]

That sounds awesome! I’ve grown to love a good humbucker for lead guitar. My fave lead guitar right now is an 80s Japanese squier with a pair of humbuckers.

[@goodun2974]

In the early 80s I owned an orange Mustang with a racing stripe that looked ugly but after some work played great. The pickups literally had loops of wire hanging out of them so I routed out the neck area and put in a Seymour Duncan PAF humbucker, and I used a Bill Lawrence stacked humbucker with a rail magnet in the bridge position. The vibrato on these things was never great so I locked it down. I wish I had kept it but a friend of mine who was a better player talked me into selling it to him, which I have regretted ever since. That color however was truly hideous and I really should have refinished it.

[@anthonymorales842]

What distorted the pickup housing is from what you mentioned giving the odor of furniture polish. Long term exposure from off gassing, might melt the plastic. Its a time thing burning in slow motion

[@LeeJhones-jt1tx]

One of my favourite videos on the web! All the work done on this, especially the transparent pick guard (phenomenal idea), resulted in one of my favourite looking guitars. Very funny too.

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks a lot!

[@wesleyalan9179]

This video is fantastic, thank you! Very entertaining, very informative. Rock on,man🤘

[@paulpennington-mv7rt]

I'm digging that schitzophrenic fretboard.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

Thanks for brings this little guitar back from the dead.

[@keiranbradley3238]

It must've lay in a backyard getting pounded by Sun and rain a fox piss for about a decade!. That it's still salvageable is a testament to Leo Fenders' genius and American craftsmanship!. Mustangs are amazing instruments, I had a Daphne blue '66 that life made me have to sell,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I loved that old thing!.

[@MattKeenanMusic]

I love how you've kept it as original as possible, while making it nice and playable in terms of the fretboard. love seeing all its story and history. the clear pickguard especially. lovely work, and a very fun video to document it!

[@wesbresee]

Glad you went with the clear acrylic for the scratch plate..

[@salmonti9707]

Loving the fretboard. I like watching restoration/salvage much more than original builds. I like leaving the mistakes and dings where they are. Great job !

[@AzuriteCoast]

Great video and great restoration. Thanks for putting this together and sharing.

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks a lot!

[@StahlsBlues]

Damn man!!!!! It sounds so beautiful!!!!! Wow!

[@Emolga2225]

you are a fantastic luthier. i love that you kept the worm holes in the fretboard.

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks!

[@noelwhite6650]

This makes make want a Mustang even more haha. Modded Mustangs are just so cool. Awesome video man !.

[@JobyP]

Love it man! Sometimes the best answer is to just make it work. I have accidentally made so many left handed guards 😂 it always chaps my arse!

[@TroodosPoolGuy]

A genuine relic, makes a pleasant change!

[@jayhassan976]

Truly anazing video! Thank you for showing the entire process. Ive learned alot :) ive just started customizing my Own guitars and thhis was very helpful

[@danielktdoranie]

Your understanding of “done” is radically different to mine 😂

[@tedfurlo2268]

Fascinating. Love your spirit and your commitment. Blessings!

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you!

[@baneverything5580]

Great job. So interesting. Glad you rescued the poor thing and gave it back its life.

[@jmartini8875]

Hey man. Thanks for helping to keep these old instruments around. Very good job. Very cool. 😎

[@xaviercvirn]

It would be nice to see it oiled, just to keep the wood protected from further pain. Awesome video!

[@justthewind7770]

absolutely wonderful video and project.. great work

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks!

[@emilykellnerova5188]

Great job on this it looks amazing, that fretboard has beautiful streaking too!!

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks a lot!

[@Strongo]

I have a '66 Mustang and its an amazing guitar, bought it for $800 at a pawn shop in Rhode Island in 2014.

[@TheBFN]

👿🔱😈..lov your voice brother.. Very zen and relaxing.. I was just getting ready to be 😠..what he isnt gonna play it..😂

[@thekierongiles]

Great job Dude , great to see your fabulous Stang brought back to life using all original parts (that were still on it) OUTSTANDING RESTORATION!

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks

[@julianewart7643]

Great work..especially the choice of wood for the fingerboard, which fits right in with the look. Good to see someone with an eye for detail.

[@Ross-tb4st]

I watched this video and was very excited to go to your channel and binge watch multiple years of videos I had missed. Very disappointed you are new to this... Looking forward to seeing more soon!

[@Notaluthier]

Just getting the ball rolling!

[@millennialanimal]

Amazing work, I really enjoyed that, I can’t believe those pickups worked!

[@MacPakinga-gl8bu]

Beautiful 🤘🏼🎸 be priceless now 💕🎸 not for sale 🙏🏼🎸 thankyou for sharing from new Zealand 🌏👍🏼🎸

[@edochtabienski8434]

WOW! Great job. Absolutely love the look and sound of your guitfiddle. Like others have said…. I can’t believe those pickups are still functional. That’s got to be the ultimate “relic” guitar.🤘🤘🤘

[@JohnCourage]

amazing style, thanks for sharing the journey!

[@runrin_]

on this sort of guitar would you ever consider some sort of matte clear finish to fix the paint in its current state to preserve the look? i could imagine the remaining paint being fragile and coming off if you played it much. also, this reminds me of "ratrod" cars. especially since its a mustang. sweet guitar. the fingerboard suits it really well.

[@Notaluthier]

I did notice the hashtag #methstang seems to be exclusively for extremely $hitty 90s fords. Most of the finish that’s still in place doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I’ve had this debate in the past about preserving a finish…but with time it will all be dust, so I’ll let the universe take it, a flake at a time

[@peterstephen1562]

Thanks for the video. Fair dinkum I'm an old luthier and I watched the whole show.

[@suop1234]

can't get much more rustic than that

[@greendragon4571]

Marvellous stuff, looks great, sounds excellent. A monster is reborn

[@WeirdandWired]

So much mojo 🤩🎸 and so fun to watch your process 🙇‍♂️

[@EveyoneCallsMeTheDude]

I love this guitar! You’re the man

[@MyBichSustained]

That neck is gorgeous!Paint the body sunburst w/black pick guard!

[@donpearce6559]

You should name this one "The Phoenix" as it has risen from the flames! Great job on the re-build, most folks would have just tossed it in the dump. THE PICKUPS WORK??? My head almost exploded when you checked them... unbelievable! Then you finish it all off with some major pickguard drama! Priceless! Great video and I'm now a new subscriber!

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks! Welcome!

[@cm410856]

glad to see the methstang is finally complete! keep up the good work levon!

[@Notaluthier]

Thank you!

[@kernowcalli3312]

came here for the resto stayed for the humor..... also beveling the wrong side of the pick guard is exactly the sort of thing id do! Great work! subscribed

[@brucifer0]

That's my birth year I have been looking around for a fixerupper in my birth year. This video is super inspiring. Great job mate

[@PTRarch]

Lining up those switches says it all, even crusty deserves detail. Great result! Love my snug nuts 😁...

[@Notaluthier]

Snug nuts for all🎉

[@ezzo18]

It's videos like this that make me regret not paying more attention in wood work as school

[@josephcivita1450]

Back in the 1960s my mom had a red Fender Mustang with hard case and a Fender practice amp. I wish I had it now.

[@rhythmofblues]

Super enjoyed this.. Thank you man!

[@Notaluthier]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jettblack_]

I like the use of the beach guitar from the other video as a display shelf for the Methstang, multifunctional

[@Notaluthier]

I probably should have plugged the other video in this one, amateur hour over here

[@fredzep01]

You're right about working with what you got, a good workman doesn't blame his tools, haha..

[@DasOmen02]

Predicting this video will pop off! Guitar looks great, though you're braver than I for using those pickups LOL surprised they still work so well!

[@cooperberry-cx1ic]

Dude this is awesome content keep it up. I’m gonna tell me guitar nerd friends about this channel!!