Back to Building! Let's See What I Remember ;) (5 builds and counting inside)

[dickjonesify]

Part of me doesn’t want to post anything until these are all done haha. But, even if everyone else has lost interest after all these years, this is my way to document my descent into madness.

I got stuck not being able to build for a few years for a number of reasons. Time, space and money being the biggest ones. I’ve worked full time in AVL integration for 20 years. My last job was especially demanding of my time. Late last year however, I went full time in a salary position as the Tech Director and sound guy of my church. It has parts of the year where the workload is crazy but I have plenty of weeks where I can get my job done in like 25-30 hours tops. I also have Mondays off in leu of working about 6 hours on Sundays. It took a while to get into that rhythm but I’m to where I can make time to build and I’ve been seriously itching to.

Another cool thing that changed was a new hardwood store in town about 15 minutes away! They have a cool selection and a lot of cheap “scraps” that can possibly to 2-3 piece bodies or necks. Their normal clientele doesn’t use the small stuff. I have two builds in this thread that have needed mahogany necks for years and I grabbed some for about $30.

I also picked up two nice looking pieces of ash for so cheap, I couldn’t say no haha. So now there are 5 builds in this thread!

My money situation…isn’t much better haha but I have a decent amount of progress to share in the next few posts. Currently, I have my Fractal FM9 for sale to majorly downsize my guitar rig, since I’m running sound every weekend instead of playing. A good chunk of that cash will go toward parts and supplies to get these finished. I’m not stopping this time, come Hell or high water.

I’ve missed this place.

 

[dickjonesify]

Jumping ahead just a bit but here’s the current family photo of unfinished builds…

 

[dickjonesify]

I forgot to mention another recent development. I’ve been full time at this job for 9 months and helped on an hourly basis for a year before that and I only just found out like 2 weeks ago that this room existed…

It’s in an annex building I had never been in until recently. The woodworking stuff is barely used by anyone. Now I have a key and 24-hour access to this space. Most of my work is done in my crazy hot garage but this space is climate controlled! They also have a 13” planer, which I’ve wanted for yeeeeeears but never found a good deal on. They also have an OSS which, again, I’ve wanted for a long time. Very excited to have this space in my arsenal. I should also be able to spray lacquer here in a make-shift plastic booth type thing, which is a huge deal because Missouri humidity is awful year round.

 

[lowatter]

^^^doesn't get much better than that^^^. The addition of an overhead sander would pretty much make it complete. I'm more than jealous.

 

[dickjonesify]

^^^doesn't get much better than that^^^. The addition of an overhead sander would pretty much make it complete. I'm more than jealous.

Oh man that would’ve been epic. I suppose it’s still possible that one is hiding somewhere (not really haha). It’s a big place.

 

[dickjonesify]

Working on two mahogany necks and one ash Tele body at the same time with my new wood purchases!

Glued up, rough cut and routed!

Still can't believe I scored this bit on clearance for $15!

After some sanding...

 

[dickjonesify]

13" planer appreciation

Cut the mahogany and glued it up with a 1/4" piece of walnut in the middle. Seems to be very stable!

Then I laid it out for 2 necks. If I had gone for just one, I could've avoided the scarf joints. Maybe next time.

Face to face. They haven't moved a bit!

I have since made a not terrible jig for this but I scarf jointed with a hand saw and sanding...

I went with putting the peghead piece behind the neck so the joint would be strengthened by the ears and the overlay. Either way would've been fine, though.

Laying them out. They will be different from each other. One is for the SG Junior and one for the DC carved top.

 

[dickjonesify]

Got some ears ready

I need to make a fancier one but I whipped this up for the 2nd scarf joint. Definitely worked a bit cleaner.

Some dang day I'll get a 12" table saw haha. 10" is always juuuuuust too short :/

Used my granite block to clamp flat against

Ears

Squaring it up

Routed for truss rods

This will always be scary lol

Cleaned it up a bit with a Dremel sanding drum. Will do a little more yet. Just a quick test fit...

She's stuck in there now!

 

[dickjonesify]

Working on fitting the necks

Closer

For the other one with more of a Les Paul tenon, I quick made a 'Freddy G box' with my ~4º angle cut into one side

 

[dickjonesify]

So I made this pickguard earlier out of B/W/B and thinking two black P90 covers...

But I still have this laying around...

So! New idea

Oh yes. I like that!

 

[dickjonesify]

FYI these are my main inspirations for finish ideas...

 

[LPTDMSV]

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Oh yes. I like that!

Great progress on those builds!

 

[dickjonesify]

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Great progress on those builds!

You are correct! That inspired my change. I already had the pickguard but couldn’t picture it. Thank you haha

 

[dickjonesify]

@LPTDMSV is yours also just a single volume and tone control with a switch?

That’s what I’m doing also. I want it to look like it was originally a single pickup Junior but it’s been modified.

 

[LPTDMSV]

@LPTDMSV is yours also just a single volume and tone control with a switch?

That’s what I’m doing also. I want it to look like it was originally a single pickup Junior but it’s been modified.

Yes it is, because my project really did start out as a Junior. 500K for volume and 250K for tone with a 0.022 cap seems to be optimal for vintage-spec P90s.

p.s. you could fit a dog-ear cover to your bridge p/u for the full effect …

 

[dickjonesify]

Yes it is, because my project really did start out as a Junior. 500K for volume and 250K for tone with a 0.022 cap seems to be optimal for vintage-spec P90s.

Sweet. I think that’s what my first build ended up with.

p.s. you could fit a dog-ear cover to your bridge p/u for the full effect …

Oh I will! I have one. This one was just closer when I took the picture

 

[LPTDMSV]

@LPTDMSV is yours also just a single volume and tone control with a switch?

That’s what I’m doing also. I want it to look like it was originally a single pickup Junior but it’s been modified.

By the way, are you familiar with this old thread and the linked pdf https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/les-paul-junior-pdf.212273/ ?

There’s a ton of information in there, some very specific to the ultimate detail of building a Les Paul DC, but also a lot of more general build tips, info about scale lengths, bridge positioning, etc.

 

[dickjonesify]

By the way, are you familiar with this old thread and the linked pdf https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/les-paul-junior-pdf.212273/ ?

There’s a ton of information in there, some very specific to the ultimate detail of building a Les Paul DC, but also a lot of more general build tips, info about scale lengths, bridge positioning, etc.

I have a decent collection of scale drawings but I did not have that one. Wow! Thanks for the link.

 

[LtDave32]

Working on two mahogany necks and one ash Tele body at the same time with my new wood purchases!

Glued up, rough cut and routed!

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Still can't believe I scored this bit on clearance for $15!

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After some sanding...

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That's a $110.00 bit. Where did you get it?

 

[LPTDMSV]

That's a $110.00 bit. Where did you get it?

Indeed, a spiral cut bearing-guided trimmer for $15?? - that is a healthy discount!