Dreaming MY 1959 Les Paul Standard!

[mojito79]

Hi everybody!!! I'm new here...

I decided to build a 1959 Les Paul Standard replica...
Or something similar!!
I know it'll be a really (really really) difficult work, but it's not a good reason to throw this dream away!
Naturally I'm in need of “some” help!
I've got 1000 questions, or maybe more, and I found this luthier section simply GREAT...

I'm preparing my workspace (trying to find some "special solution") and some tools, ready to begin.
But...
What should the thickness of the top maple board be?
What should the perfect neck angle be (4 or 3.5)?
And... Wouldn't be it good to route holes (pots, switch) and pickup cavitys before the top carving process?

Many many thanks

Mario

[Mr Bones]

Well, you have some play with both the neck angle and the maple top, but they are both related to each other. 59 LPs are between 1/2" and 5/8".

[Ejecto]

Can't offer any help, I'm just learning by proxy from the excellent threads, but if you do go ahead with this, please post plenty pics.
I love these sort, and I'd take a wild guess these build threads ranks high with alot of other folk too.
Some real skill on this forum, mad worrying crazy skill.

[CyborgCNC]

I was dreaming one up as well, and I finally decided to do something about it...


http://www.cncguitar.org:7171/lespaul



As you can see, I decided to dream it up in Solidworks first, using the Stewmac '59 plans. I will soon have a link to my cnc machine cutting and carving the body out. Currently in the process of binding the body. By the way, if you are wondering about the extra cavity in the back, it is for some USB circuitry, since I have decided to place a USB port on the guitar, for some computer jamming and effects.

BTW: The plans call for a 4.4 degree angle. They do not mention drilling the hole before or after the carve, but after should not be a problem, since "slightly" tilting the body on your drill press will create the holes perpendicular to the surfaceif that is what you are after