Guidance - Restoration of MIJ Casino

rsimms3 · November 25, 2008

Hello! My name is Adam and I just bought my first Casino. I replaced a MIJ Fender Jazzmaster that was stolen in a break in with this MIJ Casino. Reading up here on the forum, it appears it is was made in the Terada plant. It has a 5 digit serial number located on the orange label inside - 85352. This makes it a 1998, correct? Or is it 1988? That part I wasn't sure about from reading around the forums. Anyway, the guitar is in need of some TLC. Somewhere along the line the TRC and pickguard were removed and did not come with the guitar. It did have a TRC but one that was too small and the previous owner started a new hole in the top and on one of the sides to get the smaller TRC to stay on, I think it was an SG cover. So, I need the correct size 3 hole TRC as well as the correct fitting pickguard. Suggestions as to a good online dealer for these parts? I would also need 1 TRC screw and the correct hardware to mount the pickguard.

In the rear where the strap button and string holder (don't know the correct term on the Casino) screws are the metal has rusted. What is a good way to treat the metal and clean the guitar itself? I also have corrosion on the bridge, bridge screws, pickup covers, and jack. What's the best way to clean those up? Also, the pickup covers had been changed to plastic ones, it appears the original pickup mounts were soldered onto the covers, does this account for some of the P90 sound? When I first plugged it in, it didn't sound so much like the other Casinos I have played, but then again I have played all of those in music stores through Fender amps while mine is an Elk.

I think that's about it for now. I have linkd a bunch of pictures so you can see the guitar. Neck is joined at fret 17. The main part of the neck is 3 piece with one of the pieces on the high side having many bird's eyes along with the sides have quite a few.