1952 Les Paul - Next Project

[R'nien]

I know you already decided but # 3 if I was hiring you.

 

[LPTDMSV]

Thl but i gueat „repair“ is awfuss the pick guard will hide it?

Mind boggling to me how people consider a retop on a vintage LP with such spectacular flame. Even the upper bout maple strip is absolutely stunning.

I suppose Gibson had "good stocks on hand" of nice figured maple back in the day, and this was one way of using up the bits that weren't quite thick enough to split for book matching?

Still fine timber, and that off-centre join is enough character/history for anyone!

 

[boogieongtr]

Today I'll make the fixture for my OH router. First, I make a template out of 1/4" plywood the shape of the plug and transfer it to the guitar.

Then make a fixture to mount on the bottom side of the sled I use on my OH router.

To transfer the shape, I'll use the 1/4" ply template, mark it on the fixture then use 1/2" pieces of wood and screw them onto the fixture.

I removed most of the excess MDF with my jig saw then the rest with a 1/4" router bit.

I now have the fixture made for the bottom of the router sled.

For those who don't know how an overhead pin router works here's the deal. There is a pin that comes up from the table. It is the same size as the bit used in the router and is also centered.

I line up the bit to the template and I'm ready to turn on the machine.

5 minutes and I'm down to the mahogany. I didn't know that the plug was into the mahogany. I'll take care of that tomorrow.

 

[LPTDMSV]

5 minutes and I'm down to the mahogany. I didn't know that the plug was into the mahogany

Got to find out what's behind that thing!

 

[Brek]

Hack repair is right… looking forward to watching this thread

that hack repair is an insult to hacks lol

 

[Mick51]

Got to find out what's behind that thing!

Jimmy Hoffa?

 

[fretboarder]

57 Goldtop conversion..

 

[R'nien]

Makes me wonder what could have happened to the guitar that would call for that type of repair (repair used loosely).

 

[Vtg]

Makes me wonder what could have happened to the guitar that would call for that type of repair (repair used loosely).

I was thinking maybe some type of Page inspired switching setup

 

[1970Deluxe]

I'd do a goldtop 57 conversion. Great score!!

Strongly advise against retopping...no point getting old wood and then replacing a bunch of it!! Don't get it when people do that, but just my opinion

Agree....I wouldn't remove any original wood from that guitar, unless absolute necessary for: (1) repairing the altered pickup routes, and/or; (2) as required for a proper neck reset to accommodate an ABR-1 and stop-tailpiece.

 

[boogieongtr]

I routed out the maple and stopped flush with the bottom of the wire channel. Then I made a mahogany plug.

Next I'll use hot hide glue and glue in the mahogany plug.

I'll route the mahogany plug so it flushes out with the glue line of the maple top to mahogany body.



After going thru a bunch of maple I found the piece to use for the plug.

I glued it in and used the head of my OH router as a clamp. The air cylinder applies 90 lbs of pressure. I'll let this set for 24 hours to let the glue set up.

 

[Vtg]

That maple piece matches so nice

 

[WayneLawKid]

Incredible work so far! The grain of the maple plug looks like a great match as well!

As far as guessing what the hack-route was for, I'm guessing a 9V battery for active pickups...

Having seen Jim's Goldtop work before, I'm voting for a 57' Goldtop.

 

[Brek]

That maple piece matches so nice

its spot on, like it is from same piece of wood. amazing.

 

[yamariv]

its spot on, like it is from same piece of wood. amazing.

Exactly!! How the heck did he find a piece to match that nice!?

 

[musicmaniac]

Lookin' good!

 

[boogieongtr]

Yesterday I steamed the neck out. First, I mark the tenon joint and layout where to bore for the needles. Precision is very important on this step.


View attachment 582915

After the layout, I use my drill press to bore the holes for the steam needles.

I use 2 pressure cookers so I can apply steam to both sides at the same time.

10 minutes later the neck is removed.

View attachment 582919

 

[LPTDMSV]

This isn't your first rodeo, is it?

 

[WayneLawKid]

Even your neck jig is flamed maple. You get some style points. Cool thread so far. Keep em' coming!

 

[sws1]

Every time I see a thread like this, I am transported back to high school where I was forced to drop shop class because I couldn't successfully pass the first project...making a wooden box.

I get anxious watching the attention to woodworking detail.