First Build - Precision LP Jnr Kit

[AndrewLP1081996]

Thanks and it looks great. My aria is a js model and sounds good with stock pickups

 

[Riku]

My flippin goodness, that's exceptional!! Like really fantastic! I am in awe; still kicking myself for not putting curly maple on my Junior. This is looking awesome, ten times better than mine!

 

[ChrisW]

Thank, Riku... Difference is, yours is a scratch build - this is a kit...! My own 'skills' and confidence aren't up to a scratch just yet! We still need photos of yours on your thread though!

 

[poro78]

Thank, Riku... Difference is, yours is a scratch build - this is a kit...! My own 'skills' and confidence aren't up to a scratch just yet!

After you're done with this, I...well...WE are expecting you to do a scratch build.

 

[ChrisW]

After you're done with this, I...well...WE are expecting you to do a scratch build.

Hahaha! That's funny!

At the moment, I'd say I'm quite good at cutting out and shaping a bit of veneer - like the pickguard... but there's a world of difference between using a Dremel sanding drum to fine-tune a pickguard and doing a whole build! At the moment, I just don't have the chops... so I really do take my hat off to anyone that can build (or rather, craft) a guitar and can post their progress on here!

I know what I want to do as a full build, and it IS in the pipeline... But before that, as I've said, I want to have a go at another kit or two...

 

[poro78]

Well...
Last time I had a chisel in my hand before my build was about 15 years ago in school.
(And my school grade for workshop classes on a scale 4 to 10 was 6...)

I didn't think I could build anything before I met my wife (luthier's daughter).

 

[ChrisW]

That's better than I did! Hahaha! Still, one step at a time, and learn as I go!

 

[Mungo Park]

It is just a matter of time, once you get this project under your belt your confidence will grow and the skills will follow. You have the samrts for this sort of thing which is evedent in the guitar you are working on now.
Anyways enjoying the thread.
Cheers Ron.

 

[ChrisW]

You think, Ron? Thanks very much! I have to admit, I'm spending more and more time thinking about builds... and not the next one or the one after that either!

 

[Mungo Park]

Chris, man, you got the chops for this. With the tools you have you could scratch build a LP Junior body like the one you have and buy a neck and be 3/4rs their without breaking a sweat. Or easily do a Tele body like you mentioned.
Cheers Ron.

 

[ChrisW]

Thank you, Ron! I think I'd need to practice on some proper wood first, and get a few bits and pieces - what I have is good for the little stuff - the binding channel, the pickguard, the little thing I want to do to a headstock overlay... But to do a body will need a bit more practice yet, I think...!

 

[poro78]

But to do a body will need a bit more practice yet, I think...!

Why?
It's just a block of wood that you cut a little here and there to make it look like a guitar.

 

[ChrisW]

Why?
It's just a block of wood that you cut a little here and there to make it look like a guitar.

Cos I want to get it right, and make any mistakes on a bit of wood that doesn't matter first, so I can learn from it! But if you put it like that...! Hahaha!

 

[rockdog]

... still kicking myself for not putting curly maple on my Junior.

... and it looks so damn good !
(especially on a simple Junior)

 

[ChrisW]

... and it looks so damn good !
(especially on a simple Junior)

I used to think they were Gibson's best seller because they were cheap... now I'm beginning to think that it's because they were so damn good... I thought that when I played a '59 a few years ago - that thing would sing...

 

[ChrisW]

Well I made what I'd say is probably one of the best purchase for this kit yet...

A Sealey SG6VC spray gun, a 24L 2HP Draper compressor, and some lacquer, sanding sealer and thinner from Rothko and Frost - The Finishing Touch

I hope I'm not counting my chickens before they've hatched, but as it stood, I really wasn't happy with the cracks and everything that had appeared in the top veneer after having used some rattle cans. So I sanded the top back a little with 320 wet n dry, and re-applied the sealer coat (with 50% thinner) for the top, as well as for the back, sides, neck and headstock. Left that to dry, and then re-applied an hour or so later, only with almost neat sealer.

On the second go, the sealer more-or-less crystalised (is that the right word?) on impact, turning into a white powder almost immediately. The only way to get a proper wet coat was going to lead to uneven build ups. So I thought, why not use that method on the cracks, leave it to dry and then sand - and see what it does.

Well, now, after sanding it back with more 320, I have a satin-feel top veneer that is almost smooth all over with only a few remaining low points (it still has some low points, but I'm due to spray on another couple of coats of the sealer tomorrow...), and the mahogany back, sides and neck, which are all looking richer and richer, and, again, feels like satin...

The difference in texture after the rattle cans I was using and the spray gun is amazing. I dunno if Sealey are highly regarded, but I'd say that it's money that's been very well spent - especially when everything together probably cost the same as about 10 rattle cans... It atomises very nicely, and even a newbie like me found it dead easy to control...

More sealer tomorrow, and I need to sort out the headstock veneer that I'm making, cos it ain't gonna be long now until I start spraying the clear on there...

EDIT: Oh yeah, almost forgot - the nozzle on the gun is 0.8mm... the compressor also came with its own 1.5mm gun, but I thought I'd go with the Sealey one for now... Spray pattern at about 6" is about 6 or 7cm, which I reckon is gonna be good enough for the top clear coats...

 

[ChrisW]

It's been about a week since I've been able to do anything to the guitar, what with life and recording getting in the way, but here's a bit of an update...

I managed to get a veneer cut to size for the headstock and put a bit of an emblem on there. I was going to go with a kind of signature of my name, but I think at the moment it's probably a little beyond me. I had actually cut it out on a different veneer but wasn't really that happy with it, so I went for something altogether a little simpler. It's one of the symbols on the coat of arms associated with my surname. Instead of using MOP or anything, I actually just used wood filler, and I must admit, I kinda like the effect. Next build will probably have something a little more elaborate. The staining needs to be tidied up a little, but that can be done with no great hardship. I also have enough sanding sealer left to do that... I also drilled the holes in the veneer for the machines

Talking of sanding sealer, I drop filled the cracks and blemishes where the sealer coat had been sinking into the veneer, which was leaving it way too lumpy after the aerosol coats that I'd put on. (Truth be known, at one point, before I got the spray gun and compressor, I honestly thought I might have to strip it back and redo the veneer and binding, which I was not particularly happy about...)

Well, this is what I have now. There are still a couple of areas that need more drop-filling and sanding back, but as soon as that's out of the way, I can start to put the top coats on. I'm quite chuffed with this bit - I never thought I'd be able to get it this smooth in a month of Sundays...

 

[AndrewLP1081996]

Looking good cant wait to see it done and hear it! I think I'm gonna hold off on a kit for a while and get an epiphone les paul. But I could always use a jr. Great job again!

 

[ChrisW]

Thanks Andrew!

 

[AndrewLP1081996]

Love how the flame top looks on a jr maybe Gibson should take a hint.