Thinking of undertaking HUGE project

[Hawk8789]

Hello all!

I have a Les Paul studio with a baked maple board. I do all my own refrets already, so I was thinking that when it's time, I'll replace the board with rosewood. Then I thought I'll add binding while I'm at it. Then I thought, if I'm gonna add binding I'll refinish the top while I'm at it because I don't like the rim burst as much as the tear drop. Then I thought I'll add a flame maple veneer while I'm at it.

I have plenty guitars, so I don't mind one being out of action for a while, but I've never done anything this big before. It's a great guitar so it's worth the work and I don't plan on selling it. I see it as a challenge, and I really want to do it just to see if I can.

Is it relatively painless to remove the neck on a studio, or should I give up on the binding?

Is a veneer thin enough to conform to the top carve or am I going to need to do something special?

Thanks everyone, and don't be afraid to tell me to tuck my tail between my legs and run...

 

[lowatter]

Well, it's been done and it IS a HUGE project. If your up for that amount of work go for it but consider this before you do...go on fleabay and buy a body and neck Standard husk and transfer all the parts from your Studio and sell the Studio body and neck back on fleabay to recoup some of your investment.
The Thruth did an incredible job on his extreme make-over here...
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/custom-shop/16506-extreme-makeover.html

BTW...welcome to the forum!

 

[Bgetraer]

I think that replacing the board with binding and rosewood is feasible, but high risk if you are not careful. i have never tried to conform a thin veneer to a top carve, but while i know that factories do it, it would be very hard to do it right... ESPECIALLY as a retrofit onto an already built guitar, and would mess up a whole bunch of specs and holes and binding, and the neck, and would be a pain in the butt and then some. You are probably better off sticking to a new board and a refinish which would already be a big project. also, i would try to avoid taking out the entire neck, and just take the board off.

Benjy Getraer

 

[fortwinnie]

You had me until "...add a flame maple veneer"

Pull the neck and REPLACE the top.

 

[Bgetraer]

You had me until "...add a flame maple veneer"

Pull the neck and REPLACE the top.

that would probably be easier as well as better.

benjy getraer

 

[Hawk8789]

This is actually my only plain top les Paul so I'm thinking I might just leave it that way. Definitely want to change the burst though.

 

[Hawk8789]

Here is a body I finished recently. I wanted the burst to be more gradual, but I purposely went too far so I would know when to stop next time.

 

[Hawk8789]

Where should I go for a fret board? I definitely do not want Brazilian. The guitars not that nice and I would rather save the good stuff for people who know what they're doing. I prefer one that already has the inlays and frets, but I can do that myself if I had to. I saw a few on eBay, but are there stores you guy trust that have their own websites?

 

[Bgetraer]

stew mac

benjy getraer