My approach to the LP.

[Damian Probett]

I recently moved into a new shop and have just started a small batch of Les Pauls.
I thought it might be of interest to some to see how they progress. (I must warn that this thread will contain both metric measurements and opinions. Friendly, well intentioned opinions though!)
Hopefully this will be slighly interesting and informative. Less a "This is how to do it", more a "This is how I do it".


My approach to guitar making comes partly from the time I spent making wooden jigs and tools for aircraft parts. Everything had to be made to very exacting tolerances or you got to do it again! (It is one of the best jobs I ever had).
The joy of doing something perfectly rather than quickly is one of the great pleasures of guitar making.

My overall "philosophy" regarding guitar construction is that it is a musical instrument first and foremost. The things which contribute to it being a great musical instrument are what I concentrate on most
There are 2 main aspects that I regard as most important. Material selection and the "proccess" of construction.
I regard the "proccess" as distinct from the "method", (Most aspects of a guitar build can be achieved by several different methods). What is important to me is more what is achieved rather than how.

I have blathered on somewhat (and most likely will again!) so, rather that bore you all to sleep, here are a couple of pictures of the new shop.


I`m lucky to be situated next to a good friends joinery shop so I don`t need too much heavy machinery:


3 of my favourite tools:


More soon.

[Damian Probett]

So I don`t forget what I`m supposed to be making:

[Damian Probett]

My most valued assistants (Their song is a constant source of inspiration):


and the most important tool I own:

[pinefd]

I'm really looking forward to this, Damian! I really love watching a jig master at work, since this is one (of many) aspect of my skill set that's sorely lacking.

Thanks!


Frank

[Shepherd]

So many great builds going on at the same time. Nice shop too. Metric, we've had that here 30 years now and I still cant get used to it.

[monsterwalley]

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

3 of my favourite tools:


More soon.

Holy mackeral Is that what you use for "clamps" in the corner?
Looks like you could glue 4 tops and bodies at once.

Can't wait for yet another kick ass build thread

[Macdaddy]

Wow, I'm going to Be impatient to see more of this thread!

[Barnaby]

PG tips!

A good cup of 'builder's tea' is the best thing of all.

Also looking forward to this. Is it my imagination, or has the ante been upped on this site? The level of the build threads, which has never exactly been low, seems to have been climbing even higher over the course of the last six months.

[Daintree]

Cool Damian.....
Looking forward to your process.

[thinkgreen]

a brit just can't work to perfection with out a cup of the old rosei lee (tea)

[mattinthehat7492]

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

3 of my favourite tools:

Looks like an old apple cider press my mom used to have, never thought of using it for a clamp though.

[bfcg]

Oh man I love that press.

[BrianGT]

Really looking forward to this thread Damien!

[LG2]

The press in inpressive...

[ilovemypaul]

look forward to seeing the next installment

[Ph3nom]

Looks great!!

['59_Standard]

No Chocolate Hob-nobs? *Palm Face*

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

and the most important tool I own:

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

and the most important tool I own:

Glue pot?!? Alright, now we're cookin'!!


Frank

[GitFiddle]

Originally Posted by Daintree

Cool Damian.....
Looking forward to your process.

I see what you did there...

[Damian Probett]

Originally Posted by pinefd

I'm really looking forward to this, Damian! I really love watching a jig master at work, since this is one (of many) aspect of my skill set that's sorely lacking.

Thanks!


Frank

I`ve seen your stuff Frank. You don`t lack anything.

[Damian Probett]

Originally Posted by bfcg

Oh man I love that press.

So do I.

I`ve recently been working for Paul Herman who builds the Wal Basses. Wal Basses and Electric Wood Limited Home Page They have a facing front and back with a veneer between the core and each facing. It`s a lot of glueing up. He has a similar press.
It makes the job not only easier but you are also sure to have a perfect joint as there are no cauls to flex and no areas you cant get a clamp on.

After I`d used it a few times I was determined to get one of my own. £250 and a 500 mile round trip later, I do.

It`s also large enough that I have a partly formed plan to try some 335 type pressed tops. I don`t think it wil be any time soon though!

[andtheboat]

you've got some great friends!

[expo]

Nice workshop.

How do you call a big press like that?
Is it a book press?
How much is the weight?

[Damian Probett]

Originally Posted by expo

Nice workshop.

How do you call a big press like that?
Is it a book press?
How much is the weight?

It is a book press. I haven`t weighed it but it`s safe to say that it is very heavy indeed.

I looked for ages to find one at a price I could afford. When it came up I had to have it. Glueing tops is now a pleasure. No rushing around with clamps.


P.S. Thread updates are underway.

[Damian Probett]

Sorry for the delay. I`ve been very busy. Busy building guitars fortunately!


I`ve never thought about documenting my work before. I`ve always focussed on the work itself. However a couple of people suggested that I do, so here we go.
I`ll try to cover as many of the important points as I can. Please ask if there is anything I miss.


Firstly, I build all my instruments as one offs or in small batches so the order I do things might vary from a production setting with a constant flow of parts.


My overriding philosophy is that the finished guitar should be as "relaxed" as possible and that all joinery should be absolutely perfect. All glue joints must be "full contact". I beleive that a guitar with a little internal stress as possible will be most ready to resonate in a musical manner and tight joinery ensures the best possible transfer of vibration.
I do as much as I can to eliminate any internal stresses and my methods represent my current "best shot". I`m always looking for better methods so this might change.


For me. The heart of any guitar is the neck. There is more work in the neck construction than the body so I always start there.

Although many very fine `50s Les Pauls had necks which were far from the accepted norm. I do everythibg I can to source neck stock which is perfectly quartersawn. However, and even more important I feel, is the grain direction. I look for grain that is absolutely as straight as possible. I hate runout, I really do! This does mean I often drive miles to suppliers only to return empty handed. Hey ho!

I don`t have any pictures of "raw" neck stock but I start with material that is around 70mm wide. This is wider than a finished neck but it allows for vital "stress relief" stages as the wood is gradually cut to it`s final size.


The very first thing I do is to, on the bandsaw, cut out an oversized neck blank which I mark out from this template:


This is oversized in every direction. The neck "shaft" is about 26mm and the headstock is about 20mm. There is a similar amount of surplus im all directions.

Once they are cut they look like this:


Here is a picture of a couple of necks a little further along in proceedings. Hopefully It demontrates my preference for grain direction. It`s not the best picture. I will try and take a better one:


The next stage involves doing nothing but stacking the neck blanks (on sticks) and leaving them for at least a week (more is better) to allow for any movement caused by the release of internal stresses, to settle.

[Damian Probett]

I`ve jusy noticed that the pic of the neck blanks above was actually taken after the next stage. There isn`t a big difference, just some machining to the face as below.

After the neck blank has been allowed to "relax" into its new form for at least a week, the next step is to cut the the front face of the neck and headstock.
I have done this several different ways. From hand planes to belt sanders. Currently I use a spindle moulder (shaper) which allows me to more easily remove a little more material.

The neck blank is mounted in this jig:


There is a large guide bearing at the bottom of the cutter whch runs against the jig as the cutter trims the face of the neck and the headstock face at a 17` angle:

As I`ve removed some material, I leave the neck for another week to settle before the next stage.

[Harvey T]

[QUOTE=Damian Probett;2415118]So do I.


After I`d used it a few times I was determined to get one of my own. £250 and a 500 mile round trip later, I do.


Hey, didn't we on the old continent force you to go metric? You mean 800 km?

[bertzie]

[quote=Harvey T;2449028]

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

So do I.


After I`d used it a few times I was determined to get one of my own. £250 and a 500 mile round trip later, I do.


Hey, didn't we on the old continent force you to go metric? You mean 800 km?

What's a metric?

[ptate]

Wish I had a shop like that.....

Must be great not tripping over wires, tools and timber...

[Damian Probett]

[quote=Harvey T;2449028]

Originally Posted by Damian Probett

So do I.


After I`d used it a few times I was determined to get one of my own. £250 and a 500 mile round trip later, I do.


Hey, didn't we on the old continent force you to go metric? You mean 800 km?

Ha! We use an odd mix of systems. Guaranteed to confuse.