Building a Chambered LP

[BOBBO]

I hope Nick doesn't mind but here goes.... Great MLP contest to benefit charity !!! Please click the link to find out more !!

MyLesPaul Pickups for Charity !!! Contest !!!


MyLesPaul Pickups for Charity !!! Contest !!!

[PoorMan]

Originally Posted by nmguitars

Here is a teaser. I can't get the color to show right without messing with it more, so here is just a quick shot. Once the amber coats go on, I think the finish will be pretty close.


BTW, ran into a million problem today, and came pretty close to going pete townsend on the guitar! Finally got the binding issue resolved though.

(Where's the drool emoticon?)

[NotEnoughGuitars]

I just discovered this website while researching my own LP project. After reading this thread about your hollow LP, I have to join to compliment you on your craftsmanship! Enjoyed viewing each step of the build. I'd love to hear more about your finishing techniques, and can't wait to see and hear the final product!

I'm thinking about attempting a lefty LP classic this spring, warmouth parts and finishing myself.

Off to explore the forums more!

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by NotEnoughGuitars

I just discovered this website while researching my own LP project. After reading this thread about your hollow LP, I have to join to compliment you on your craftsmanship! Enjoyed viewing each step of the build. I'd love to hear more about your finishing techniques, and can't wait to see and hear the final product!

I'm thinking about attempting a lefty LP classic this spring, warmouth parts and finishing myself.

Off to explore the forums more!

Glad you dig it !! Welcome to MLP

[stevedave]

I read through this thread, and I just wanted to let you know that this is awesome showing us the pictures from start to finish (can't wait to see the final product)

It looks great right now, job well done!

[Mr Bones]

Hi guys and NotEnoughGuitars welcome. Here are some shots from today, the weather finally warmed up enough to spray. This is the final look, its just clear from here on out. Its hard to get it too photo without the little bit of red in the burst looking like a lot of red. In person it looks a little more brown, but the darkness is about right in these shots:



I've started using the Behlen's regular nitro lacquer and it is a million times better than the stringed instrument type I've used until now.

[pinefd]

Wow, Nick, it's looking killer! How 'bout doing my little guitars for me?

And when you say the Behlen's is better, in what way?

[BluesZep]

Very very beautiful!
Fantastic thread. I can look the pics and read every single post many times.
BTW, I've already bookmarked your website.

Congrats for the fantastic job!

[Mr Bones]

It was kind of tricky to "un-white" the binding, but Im fairly happy with how it turned out. I wanted it to have the ambered look of pearly, but not the aging. The problem is what will happen 10 years from now when the nitro ambers?

The Behlen's qualalacq verses the Behlen's stringed instrument lacquer: The Qualalacq just seems to flow out smoother with less orange peeling. I also didn't need to use any retarder to prevent blushing. I sprayed both yesterday as I have another guitar I was just doing a top refinish on and the rest of the body had the instrument lacquer so I used it. Both were thinned to the same ratio, but the instrument lacquer needed a little retarder. It just seems a little goopier. From reading it seems like the instrument lacquer is jacked up with plasticizers too, so won't check. The Qualalacq is supposedly harder and unfortunately make check down the road.

[Axeman16]

wow. i LOVE the color. you're doing an amazing job. keep the updates coming!

[diceman]

Wow - she is beautiful. Very, very nice work so far - can't wait to see how she looks when finished!

[GibsonGuitars119]

Nick, the guitar is Gorgeous. Beautiful top too!

[NotEnoughGuitars]

NM, nice finish on the guitar, I especially like the tinting of the binding. Can't wait to see it with the clearcoats with the gloss that looks like it's a foot deep!

[tiedstick]

Originally Posted by nmguitars

Hi guys and NotEnoughGuitars welcome. Here are some shots from today, the weather finally warmed up enough to spray. This is the final look, its just clear from here on out. Its hard to get it too photo without the little bit of red in the burst looking like a lot of red. In person it looks a little more brown, but the darkness is about right in these shots:

I've started using the Behlen's regular nitro lacquer and it is a million times better than the stringed instrument type I've used until now.

Incredible. Just wondering, when you sprayed the burst, how did you prevent paint from getting on the bit of binding that is actually part of the top? You know what I mean?...The the sides of the binding can be covered, but there is a little thats part of the top that I'd think would be hard to cover because of the curve. How ya doin' that?

[Mr Bones]

Originally Posted by slash

Incredible. Just wondering, when you sprayed the burst, how did you prevent paint from getting on the bit of binding that is actually part of the top? You know what I mean?...The the sides of the binding can be covered, but there is a little thats part of the top that I'd think would be hard to cover because of the curve. How ya doin' that?

That is the part I still have the hardest part with. You have to scrape the paint off the binding

[Mr Bones]

I sanded the guitar tonight with 400grit sandpaper to level the lacquer. This weekend I hope to spray one final thinned flow coat, then let it dry for a couple weeks then do a final sanding with 800/1200 grit then buff it out. Then its time to find out what this thing sounds like!

[tiedstick]

Originally Posted by nmguitars

That is the part I still have the hardest part with. You have to scrape the paint off the binding

Thats what I was thinking. Thanks man.

[stevedave]

Are you set on what pickups you're going to put in?

I don't think you said it yet, if you have though I apologize.

[Mr Bones]

I'm going to try some WBs, which I haven't tried before. I will do some sound clips to round out the thread when it is done. I would say were about 2 weeks out at this point. I'm more excited about finishing this guitar than any I've finished to date, because the little wiggly flame is by far my favorite, and because this guitar is so different than anything else I've tried. I've got an idea up my sleeve already for the next project that will be unique.

[decoy205]

This is the coolest thread. I can't wait to see and hear the finished product.

[mapleflame]

Awesome job man. I have enjoyed the whole process.

[drewbertca]

I wish I had your skill.....or I wish you lived next door so I could commission one...awesome....I wish you were sellong this hollow LP I would sell my collection (except my strat, 12 string, bfg and my harmony acoustic) to buy it

[Bluesyzep]

Awesome! I just read this entire thread start to finish.

[FLICKOFLASH]

Thought this would be of interest to some as it can be printed out in actual size





http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/cust...templates.html

[mdr40z]

love the plaintop look, you have mad guitar maker skills (drools) I built an acoustic years ago, it's not real easy

[djd100]

Outstanding Nick, well done Sir!

What do you think she'll weigh with all H/W etc?

Thanks for sharing, what a read...

[Mr Bones]

Well, it's assembled and has some temporary PUs in it right now. 7.16 lbs! No more backaching for me. Just getting acquainted with her right now. A very different sound from the LP tone. I was expecting the usual LP sound when I plugged her in, but its much more open with a more scooped-mid sound. I was aiming for 335 type territory and went past it. I'm really surprised how much this thing sounds like a hollowbody, even though there is a lot more wood that an HB. The sound is very open, and chords are really clear, and the guitar really shines with the volume on about 7-8 and the tone rolled off a hair. I'm not sure how this guitar will go in a rock setting (I will find out tomorrow though a band practice), but will make a great blues guitar for cleaner stuff. You can hit a note even without pushing the amp, and it just rings out with a nice sweet sustain. I've got it setup an dialed in, and I've been playing it all night tonight with a big grin. Even wrote some new song ideas, which is saying something. A different sound often does that, gets you to think of new chord formations or licks.

I went through a bunch of PUs that I have around the shop, and found it really likes a pretty weak neck PU (the one in there now is 7.3 alnico 2), and a stronger bridge (the one in there now is 8.3). I'm looking forward to see how the WBs sound in here.

I went with I higher neck angle to try and get more of a jazz box setup. The only downside to this is that there is less stud in contact with the body, so I called pigtail to see if they can make me some longer studs. Will hopefully find out about that tomorrow.

Overall, I'm happy with the outcome, but I definitely understand why gibson leaves the wood under the pickups, it just gives it that extra midrange that is needed for that LP sound.

I have some ideas for changes for the next chambered guitar.

I ordered some cream plastic from allparts for the pickguard, hoping that it would be whiter than the stewmac cream plastic. It's not, but I'm gonna cut a pickguard for it this weekend. Of course I already out a ding in her

Soundclips to come down the line.