Les Paul Prototype Build

Jalapeno

Wowsers ! loving it !

rsvmark

This is a whole heap of awesome and I am bloody envious.... Of the skills of the man himself in creating such a beauty and the lucky so and so who is getting it!

PhilKing

It sounds great in its raw state.  It really has that old guitar feel and has great sustain and the neck feels perfect.   

GSPBASSES

WezV said:

Still a way off done but I decided to put some parts on.  It's cured enough for handling, but too soon for buffing.

anyway, I just wanted to do a test fit. I wired the neck pick straight to the jack.

The good - I have not levelled the frets yet, but it plays relatively buzz free with a 1.5mm action and sounds pretty good 

I also drilled if for a tune-o-matic.  The thought being i always have it as a back up plan and the holes will be covered by any alternative bridge choices.  it won;t have the one in the pic, but a more vintage correct ABR-1

the bad- I somehow messed up the tuner holes... only slightly but on more than one.  It's driving me crazy so I am going to plug and re-drill them... I think they are all close enough that it will be well hidden by the bushings

My tuner holes were a bit more than slightly off.



I plugged the holes with mahogany and re-drill them, unfortunately the plugs will still show when the tuners are fitted. I could put on a new head stock veneer to cover them. I've decided to fit the neck to a "B" grade LPJ body (slightly overweight) and sell it of with a good discount.

WezV

Glad it's not just me

WezV

i picked up a magazine today

TTony

^^^
That's a pretty poor relic job

WezV

....and that led to some razor work

I am going to show the post blade pics now.  some will want to look away.   some will have  seen this from me before and know that its the stage where it looks totally phoney before it starts to look right.

I will probably have another session with the blade adding more detail before i start to soften and add patina - the stages where it starts to look right

but i am happy to show this bit now knowing full well some will not like it no doubt tell me i have done it all wrong.




I just wiped it down with vinegar, which may prompt some green... if not i will use some dies and waxes to get there

Danielsguitars

Those beat up gold tops are so good looking, I just got my goldtop out the freezer and it's come out pretty good 

looking forward to seeing how yours turns out with a razor,  I'm still thinking about the greening so will be watching with interest

WezV

I have been trying both freezer and knife recently.  I felt more confident I could get the look I was after with the blade on this

paulnb57

Look bloody fantastic and I know it will be awe inspiring when done?

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

I have been trying both freezer and knife recently.  I felt more confident I could get the look I was after with the blade on this

I might have to try a bit of razor too, looks like you're after a similar look so yours is a good reference for me

i haven't done it that way before but I know I want a well beaten up look with the nice greening 

WezV

The magazine had quite a lot of detailed pics... lots of other guitars in it too.  Worth it for the pretty pictures alone

So far this top has about 45 mins work in it.  It will likely be closer to 5 hours by the time I am happy with wear, age, patina etc...

TTony

5 hours.

Ouch.

Danielsguitars

When was that magazine out, I should've got a copy for reference 

the old ones I've looked at have all been In really good condition

normula1

I'm in no way a relic lover, but I really wish my Goldtop looked like that. Crazed lacquer on a GT just looks right somehow.

WezV

customkits said:

When was that magazine out, I should've got a copy for reference 

the old ones I've looked at have all been In really good condition

I got it yesterday

WezV

TTony said:

5 hours.

Ouch.

The first few will be relaxing time sat in front of the TV with a guitar and knife.

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

customkits said:

When was that magazine out, I should've got a copy for reference 

I got it yesterday

Thanks I ordered it online today

PhilKing

That looks great Wes.  I thought it looked old when I saw it in the flesh, but I think that will make it look like it was built in the 50's.