PGK '59 Single Cut' #1

chrisw67

This beastie was a kit build... the kit itself came from Precision Guitar Kits in Canada. Kits generally get a bad rap because of all the crap that's out there, but these things really are a bit special. I don't work for them, but I'm a BIG fan - my first was a 'Junior', which I've not given to one of my kids, and this is the second one... I've recently built a third as well, which is gonna be detailed in another thread...

So... here goes...

How the kit turned up - Eastern maple top over a chambered one-piece mahogany body with quarter-sawn, bound neck.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 01_zpsqn7j4cla.jpg

Hide glue was the order of the day...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 04_zpsgrdfwjdl.jpg

This was with no sanding or shaping the neck/body joint - perfect fit
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 05_zpszeppxk3g.jpg

Post-grain filler on the mahogany, but sanded back so that only the pores are filled
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 10_zps8rtkk55j.jpg

Measuring up for the tailpiece...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 12_zpsntjxlqcf.jpg

...and marking for that and the ABR-1 bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 14_zpsf125n6m7.jpg

After having sprayed the nitro colour coat on the back and sides
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 18_zpsbq4eppan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 23_zpsqes3afiw.jpg

And the base colour coat for the top. This is metal-complex alcohol-based dye, so it won't fade like yellow aniline does
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 26_zpssq9nc99k.jpg

I wanted to shoot for something like a cross between Page's #1 and a bourbon-burst... The burst coats were aniline red and a DIY brown, which will fade over time (in fact, it's already started... Removing the poker chip, the contrast is really cool!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 34_zps9x5apjpz.jpg

The headstock was sprayed black and had a white decal applied, which was then lacquered... Here it is mid-buffing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 35_zps09sozcmp.jpg

Wiring harness. Russian mil-spec paper-in-oil capacitors, CTS pots
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 36_zpstb94manr.jpg

And the finished article...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 40_zpst6ujlzs8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/walkdev/LP Builds/LP 59 Std 38_zpsylonjn3s.jpg

TTony

That looks like a very nice kit, which you've done proud with the finishing.

Can I ask the rude question - what was the delivered cost of the kit, incl shipping & duties (etc)?

chrisw67

TTony said:

That looks like a very nice kit, which you've done proud with the finishing.

Can I ask the rude question - what was the delivered cost of the kit, incl shipping & duties (etc)?

Thanks, Tony... I think I ended up paying about 600 quid, with the shipping and VAT, etc... Not cheap by any stretch, but not too bad either, considering what you can end up with! These days, with the drop in exchange rate, it would cost a little more, I think...

TTony

The cost depends on how you look at it really.

From one perspective, by the time you've added the hardware and spent the time/money finishing it, you'll have spent the best part of £1000, and that can buy some rather nice guitars.

From another perspective, for <£1000 you've got a stunning guitar that's specced and finished exactly to your own preferences, based on a pretty good quality base, and with the satisfaction of having put it together yourself.

I know which perspective I take

chrisw67

Ha! Yep, I'm the same... Thing is, for £1500 you can buy a Les Paul off the shelf which is finished with nitro that probably has plasticiser in it, and put together with titebond instead of hide glue so it won't be as resonant. For not as much of my money, I've got a guitar that really does play better than a new LP (in my opinion!), finished the way I want it, and the kind of hardware that people upgrade to... Plus, I've learned something in the process. To me, that makes it a no-brainer

GSPBASSES

chrisw67 said:

,and put together with titebond instead of hide glue so it won't be as resonant. 

    There are certainly beautiful guitars for the price, I certainly couldn't compete with and wouldn't try to. However  the comment hide glue titebond is a load of B********. haven't used melted down horses hooves etc since the late fifties and don't intend to start using it again ever.

Sporky

GSPBASSES said:

haven't used melted down horses hooves etc since the late fifties and don't intend to start using it again ever.

Hide glue is made from skin, not hooves. It is primarily collagen based, whereas hooves are pretty much all keratin.

Hoof glue has an entirely different set of uses - it stays slightly flexible, whereas hide glue is very brittle once set. Hoof glue is also water soluble even when cured. Hide glue is therefore a much better choice for instrument making.

If you don't want to use hide glue, Cascamite is a better choice than Titebond as it cures hard and brittle, and therefore transfers vibration better.

chrisw67

Thanks, Sporky - I didn't know that... the first PGK kit I put together used Titebond and it's just not as resonant. These kits are also considerably more resonant than my Gibson, and I put that largely down to the glue. Gil Yaron also recommended it, the Gibson custom shop use it, and to be honest those recommendations are enough for me!

Sporky

Titebond red isn't awful - it's easy to work with and cures harder than PVA. Cascamite's a bugger 'cos there's no room for error. Hiide glue has a certain ick factor, but it dries hard and brittle and can be reopened. I should point out that this is from a materials engineering point of view; GSP makes more guitars a month than I have altogether.

Also, forgot to say, sorry - lovely work there!

chrisw67

Thanks very much! I've never used Cascamite... And while it is a bit of a hassle using hide glue, I have to admit, I do like the 'ritual' aspect to it - heating the glue up, heating the neck/body joint area and so on... I used on the other kit I did as well (posted some build pics earlier as well...)

Of course, if I was building full time, I might have a completely different opinion of the stuff - the smell alone would do my head in!

GSPBASSES

Oh dear, did you miss the "etc" I do know hide glue is not melted down horses hooves I was being facetious. I don't really care who recommends hide glue is still a load of B*******. The next thing your be telling me is you went to see a band last night but they sounded awful because they guitars were glued together with titebond. 

I will concede that if I was making acoustic guitars then possibly I would consider using hide glue, but for solid guitars, makes no difference what so ever. 

I think we off are topic now, let's get back to the fact that these are beautiful kits certainly well worth the money.

Sporky

Calm down dear.

WezV

If the join is good the type of glue makes less difference.  Gibsons issue was never the type of glue, but the sloppiness they designed into the join.

the problem is some are convinced they need to remove the neck on their new £9k Gibson to re set with hide glue.  I even believe it could sound better afterwards, but thats just as likely the careful refit and setup the guitar gets as it is the hide glue.  Obviously hide glue won't do anything for a badly made guitar made with poor materials.... Hide glue alone won't make a guitar resonant.

i like it because it reminds me of watching my grandad fix pianos.  That's enough for me to want to use it occasionally, but titebond original has got me through 15 years of guitar building without letting me down

Sporky

WezV said:

the problem is some are convinced they need to remove the neck on their new £9k Gibson to re set with hide glue.

Now that is 90-proof insanity.

All mine thus far have been made with Titebond. The glue is unlikely to be the limiting factor in any instrument I've cobbled together.

TimmyO

Beautiful looking work there sir! 

PVO_Dave

Lovely looking kit, excellent finish too

I've got two PGK's and they really are excellent. Word of caution to anyone thinking of ordering one, they've recently just tweaked the designs slightly (rumour of pressure from Gibson), they will still be of excellent quality, just make sure you're happy with the changes. 

They have sadly also stopped doing the V and X kits too. 

IvisonGuitars

Gets a Wow from me, great work!

I believe the Precision Kits are about the best out there currently and are used by some bigger companies too....Rock n' Roll Relics started out as Precision Kits.

chrisw67

Sporky said:

WezV said:

the problem is some are convinced they need to remove the neck on their new £9k Gibson to re set with hide glue.

Now that is 90-proof insanity.

Agreed! And thanks for your input, Wez and GSP... Obviously, I'm more than happy to defer to your experience - maybe it is just down to the quality of the joint - the second one I put together could be picked up by the neck with no glue in the joint at all, it was that tight

TimmyO said:

Beautiful looking work there sir! 

PVO_Dave said:

Lovely looking kit, excellent finish too

Thanks, guys... Yes, Dave, they've just changed the line up. I believe the new headstock design is the main change on the Single Cuts - it's more like a Gretsch headstock now, from what I can work out. I think the rest of the guitar is the same - there were enough differences - the shape of the neck joint, the neck angle, the headstock angle, and so on... I think they're fantastic kits - I'm sure I'll be putting another one together before too long!

chrisw67

Sporky said:

WezV said:

the problem is some are convinced they need to remove the neck on their new £9k Gibson to re set with hide glue.

Now that is 90-proof insanity.

Agreed! And thanks for your input, Wez and GSP... Obviously, I'm more than happy to defer to your experience - maybe it is just down to the quality of the joint - the second one I put together could be picked up by the neck with no glue in the joint at all, it was that tight

TimmyO said:

Beautiful looking work there sir! 

PVO_Dave said:

Lovely looking kit, excellent finish too

Thanks, guys... Yes, Dave, they've just changed the line up. I believe the new headstock design is the main change on the Single Cuts - it's more like a Gretsch headstock now, from what I can work out. I think the rest of the guitar is the same - there were enough differences - the shape of the neck joint, the neck angle, the headstock angle, and so on... I think they're fantastic kits - I'm sure I'll be putting another one together before too long!