Fully hollow and carved Les Paul

WezV

normula1 said:

That's stunning. Does it actually need a pickguard?

Yes!

WezV

got some knob making material.  this is a 1" imitation tortoiseshell turning blank.


it has the advantage of already being the right diameter for a guitar knob, just a bit smaller than a speed knob size



I have some brass inserts with set-screws on the way from here
https://www.thonk.co.uk/shop/knob-insert-for-diy-knobs/

i will cut off some slices of the right depth, drill for the inserts, mount on a stick, then turn to final shape and polish on the drill press

PeteC

that's a great solution - and looks like an absolutely perfect match. 

WezV

had a quick play and managed to make a torty knob very quickly.   might not be right for this so i will start a new thread with the method and more pics

Corvus

Lovely stuff Wez, the burst colour's great.

MattNovak

Ingenious knob solution! Whole build looks great. Also, thanks for the etsy tip - some great craft stuff on there, suitable for guitar making...

Rocker

I think the guitar looks better without the pickguard.  Either way, top class work.

WezV

the plastics from etsy have turned up, and i'm rather happy.  the tort looks as good as any of the options out there.  the other one looks like marble, which I am sure will come in handy for something at some point



white backing really shows the pattern


doesnt quite match the knobs, but they my still work together... i will decide on that later

PeteC

Looks great.  Would a dark greenish tint on the back of the tort help match the knobs? 

Inspired by your build I’ve ordered the Benedetto  book to learn about archtops.   

WezV

Yeah, I think the knobs will get dark paint on the back and inside anyway so I don't think it will be massively out when done... But if it looks bad I will just revert to standard options

LastMantra

Amazing stuff! 

The home made knobs will be a great touch. I'm wondering what they look like next to the other material. Are the colours not closer?

WezV

nothing a coat of amber wouldn't sort, but that material wont be used for this, it was just an impulse buy

LastMantra

Ah yeah I see it now. Thanks for posting 

mrkb

WezV said:

the plastics from etsy have turned up, and i'm rather happy.  the tort looks as good as any of the options out there.  the other one looks like marble, which I am sure will come in handy for something at some point



white backing really shows the pattern


doesnt quite match the knobs, but they my still work together... i will decide on that later

Ooh, I want some of that tort style to make a cabronita style scratchplate for my acoustasonic tele. Do you have a link to the source?

WezV

WezV said:

i have a couple of other options coming.  I will make a guard out of each and see what i prefer

this


https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/554592754/3mm-w204-blown-and-dark-brown-marble?ref=shop_home_active_24&frs=1

and this



https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/240113210/3mm-w308-dark-brown-white-and-drown?ref=shop_home_active_25&frs=1&crt=1


will see how the sheets look when they arrive and put this decision off for now

Page 8

mrkb

Thanks, I didn’t scroll back far enough! 

WezV

gotta say, i'm really happy with this tort.  i made a bevelled edge guard and truss rod cover.  still needs  a final polish as I hand buff them to remove the shiny new look

PhilKing

That looks great on the guitar Wez.  I hope that you still have it when I can come an try it out!  I'm not back there until Christmas, by which time I hope the lockdown has ended (as I want to bring you a couple of things )

JGTay

Looking really good Wez, much prefer the new pick guard. Makes a big difference  

TTony

WezV said:

Thats looks a much better match to my eye.

Nice find - and nice work of course!