Hi guy's,
Last Oct I rescued a really abused VA900 from an idiot that was using it as a test platform for restoring other guitars of 1/3 the quality or value of it....
I'll give you guy's some backgroud on this find. I was just having a look at some local adds since pick ups were needed for a couple of projects. I found an add that had 3 MIJ hums for sale at a very decent price. I contacted the seller right away and he mentioned that they all had funny markings on them. 2 X MMK53's and a blade pickup..... Told him I would take them right away.. Asked him his add, he lived 5 minutes from me, I could ride my bike over...LOL Hell I could have taken a walk.....
On my way over going 240 KM/H.... I thought " were the F*** did he get these..."
Once over at his place, he showed me his guitars. ( some Samick's and other Indy Fenders and ...) I asked about the guitars theses came from. He showed me a Aria Cat that he upgraded the the bridge pup. The blade MMK45 came from the Cat... He then pulled out this abused and mutilated VA900 that he was using as a test platform... He had found it in a Garage sale/car boot you guy's call them... It was originally in mint condition since all the hardware was in pristine condition. The neck was perfectly straight and frets are perfect... Here are some pics:
He sanded the headstock to take the name off, right to the veneer... then sanded the top of the headstock since did not like the shape... He sanded the body only, not the neck to test his staining ability.. (they suck by the result) I then ask if he was going to finish this guitar, he replied that it was a piece of $h!t and was only going to be used for more tests....
I asked if he would sell it to me, he said no but agreed to sell me all the hardware on it for an extra $10...
As he started to remove the hardware, he was lacking the tools at hand and I was trying to help.... He did not have the skills and it was taking a long time.... I then convinced him to give it to me with all the hardware since it was such a hassel to take everything off...
Took everything and ran back home...
The only thing missing is the electronic boards... He threw those out in the garbage
and missing the gold srews for the back plate... I have the back plate and all....
This will be a nice little project.
I will have to restrip the body, do the neck this time around (the neck is the worst to do and the longest) Will reshape the headstock to it's reg look and add a new veneer. This time, I will go with my Royal Purple stain...and again finish with oil...
I have allready gone over the body once and will post pics later of the progress.
P.