this is my build

[chokkan]

i was able to fix that mistake with a little bit of sanding, with that i also shaped the belly just right


test fit:


i just hate that holes are burned, so i'll sand them

...

[chokkan]

why did reply went in the begining?

[chokkan]

hey guys!
after one year of gathering informations (especially this forum, its awesome), i got the courage to build a les paul. i have no experience with woodmaking, but i'll give it a shot.
here's the wood (sapelly mahagony+flamed maple):


improvised hide glue pot:


gluing the parts with hide glue:


making template:


body and top planed to thicknes:


almost a one piece neck:


todays work:


to be continued...

[treddingjr]

Nice work. I know exactly what you will be going through over the next weeks.
Almost a one piece neck? Three pieces is normal as the ears of the headstock are glued on to make that famous shape. Is that what you meant or a three piece like the Norlin era Les Pauls of the 70s?

[CzarIvan]

someone may be able to correct me on this, but if that is the Stewmac plan for a '59 les paul, doesn't it saw that it's not drawn to scale. that one should use the measurements from it only. So cutting out a template based on the drawing alone may not be the right size?

[kluson]

looking good

[xsouldriverx]

Originally Posted by CzarIvan

someone may be able to correct me on this, but if that is the Stewmac plan for a '59 les paul, doesn't it saw that it's not drawn to scale. that one should use the measurements from it only. So cutting out a template based on the drawing alone may not be the right size?

it does say that and someone else just posted about how he made a template from the shape of the plan.
i know my LP is smaller than the plan drawing but others say its the same size as theres.

but the real concern isnt shape its placement of bridge tail pups

[Jason]

Technical drawings should never be used as templates! At least not until you can confirm every measurement as being 1:1. But even then some of the shapes can be a bit off. But yea, as long as your crucial measurements are correct (neck pocket, bridge/pickup placement), it should work.

[IceGator8]

I was the one who used the Stew Mac plan as a template. I've been measuring the plans and so far they are dead on. I think Stew Mac put the disclaimer on the plan simply to absolve themselves if an error happens to be found.

[chokkan]

@treddingjr: i actually didn't know that there even are the "wings" glued to the headstock on factory les pauls?? i asumed that one piece necks is actually a one piece neck. i would truly have a one piece neck, accept from that little bit.

plans are not from stew mac, i found them on internet

back to the build

heating surfaces and gluing the top:


half sanded top:


top:


...

[Kølabrennern]

Nice work so far, I really want to do this someday as well. If you succeed, like I guess you will, maybe I'll get the courage to start planning it. I'm really interested in watching how you'll do the top carve.

And you're from Slovenia? My girlfriend is from there, I was just on a 5-week vacation in Ljubljana and Laško. What a fantastic country!

[treddingjr]

Look at my thread
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...l-replica.html
You will see pictures of what I mean. I used a 3in by 3in mahogany blank for the neck. There's enough wood for two necks in a piece like that but it's not quite wide enough and using a 4x4 would really be a waste of wood so the wings are glued on and then shaped. You can see it on the backs of every headstock in Beauty of the Burst.

Originally Posted by chokkan

@treddingjr: i actually didn't know that there even are the "wings" glued to the headstock on factory les pauls?? i asumed that one piece necks is actually a one piece neck. i would truly have a one piece neck, accept from that little bit.

plans are not from stew mac, i found them on internet

back to the build

heating surfaces and gluing the top:


half sanded top:


top:


...

[61LPSG]

Originally Posted by treddingjr

Look at my thread
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...l-replica.html
You will see pictures of what I mean. I used a 3in by 3in mahogany blank for the neck. There's enough wood for two necks in a piece like that but it's not quite wide enough and using a 4x4 would really be a waste of wood so the wings are glued on and then shaped. You can see it on the backs of every headstock in Beauty of the Burst.

Treddingjr, I think what chokkan means is that his blank isn't "thick" enough to get the 16 deg. for the headstock. I looks plenty wide. The wood I used was about 3/16 shy and I had to scab a small piece on the back to build it up. I took it from the piece that was removed from the topside, and matched it so it's almost impossible to see the seam. I was given enough of this mahogany to do 12 necks , and I don't mind the seam.
Keep us posted.

[IceGator8]

Originally Posted by chokkan

@treddingjr: i actually didn't know that there even are the "wings" glued to the headstock on factory les pauls?? i asumed that one piece necks is actually a one piece neck. i would truly have a one piece neck, accept from that little bit.

plans are not from stew mac, i found them on internet



...

Can you provide a link to the plans? I would like to see them.

[chokkan]

i'm back again
yes, iam from slovenia, and youre right its a nice country.
plans: http://www.zzjz-kkz.hr/ostalo/DWF%20format.rar

belly contours (copied from user EDDYM) and binding chanel:


...

routing fingerboard angle:


i made stupid mistake at the begining and set the router too deep, but i think it will be ok, becouse there will be a pickup cavity


...

after a little bit of chisel work and then a "mouse" sander:




argh, how will i repair these?!? after routing a pickup cavity, there will be still about a centimeter left on both edges, that i'll have to sand with surface. i hope it wont be vevry visable




...

[chokkan]

i started building the neck today:

truss rod channel. you can see steps (height of each is 0.5mm), becouse it will be a traditional truss rod


...

[Kølabrennern]

Speaking with absolutely no experience at all, couldn't you cut a matching piece of left-over top wood, glue it into the error area and sand to flush?

[chokkan]

yes, i did think of that too, but i'll wait first to see where exactly the pickup cavity will be. (keeping my )

[jhollon]

looking good, i dont have the patience, tools or skill for an undertaking like this, good luck and keep the pics coming

[chokkan]

thanks

about the tools:

i have only a borrowed router, i bought one ball-bearing router bit (25 eur), made myself an oak working bench(50 eur), and some time ago i wanted to be a modeller (which didnt last long), so i have an electric "dekupiere sage" (i dont know the english term - a saw for modellers)(around 40eur), and a sanding bit for the drill press(4 eur)(drill press is my fathers, who is a toolmaker), and a "mouse" sander (40 eur).

skills:
i made two model airplanes before (which didnt fly too good), thats it.

three things i've learned at the begining: -take your time
-sharpen your pencil good
- mistakes will accour constantly

bye

[chokkan]

since the first neck blank wasnt good (wrong grain), i got new blank, which i will use for the neck. but for fun i quickly made rough shape of the neck, to see where i'll have to be extra careful for the real neck


today i routed the neck cavity:


...

[shotgunlew]

Not bad buddy! Keep on rollin!

[chokkan]

holes for the screws, that regulate pickups height, will be routed tomorrow.

...

[chokkan]

...

Originally Posted by chokkan

i was able to fix that mistake with a little bit of sanding, with that i also shaped the belly just right


test fit:


i just hate that holes are burned, so i'll sand them

...

[chokkan]

so, from my father in law i borrowed a dremel, bought a dremel bit, made a little gadget and routed the binding channel to the end. it still needs a little bit of sanding and it will be ready for gluing the binding. i also sanded pickup holes:



...

[shotgunlew]

Wow thats turning out great!

[chokkan]

its been a really long time since the last post, some work has been done, but no time for posting.

so:

glued binding and color sample


parts arrived from stewmac


inlays cut out


fret slots sawn:


inlay slots rough routed with dremel, continued with chisel:


fretboard sanding block:


fretboard sanded to 600 grit:

i'm impressed with that keyboard reflection

frets inserted:


...

[chokkan]

frets are leveled and crowned. fretboard binding:


a piece of ebony veneer for headstock


every once in while you just have to clean the garage


...

[Kølabrennern]

This is turning out great! I really like your top carve, it has a nice fat belly.

[61LPSG]

Originally Posted by chokkan

so, from my father in law i borrowed a dremel, bought a dremel bit, made a little gadget and routed the binding channel to the end. it still needs a little bit of sanding and it will be ready for gluing the binding. i also sanded pickup holes:



...

Looking good chokkan...

How did the homemade gadget work for the binding? I was going to buy the one from Stew-Mac, since I'm only doing one guitar (for now) I could make a similar tool.