Has anyone here built a Les Paul???

[irishtele]

Hey guys
Im thinking of building a Les Paul next and was wondering if there are any build threads here? I couldnt find any but they might be hiding!!
Iv been looking on mylespaul.com but the build threads arent half as detailed as the build threads here!!
Its pretty complicated building a Les Paul! Lots of angles and precise joints!
If anyone could give any advice it would be great!!
I have plans for the body but I am still looking for neck plans and I do not want to get the stewmac ones!!
Thanks Guys
Conor

[TheGrouch]

Oooooooh.........

You're talking about the-guitar-which-shall-not-be-named.... :S
They get really offended on this site if ya do!!! xD

[tazzboy]

I have entertain about either getting Warmoth to do it or buying a BullDog Bodies one and having someone (other then myself) to paint it for me.

[ROADMAN]

Originally Posted by TheGrouch

Oooooooh.........

You're talking about the-guitar-which-shall-not-be-named.... :S
They get really offended on this site if ya do!!! xD

ye of only one post...aptly named The Grouch ...slinging accusations regarding guitar preferences ..I say do your homework and you shall be shown the light ...

a thousand lashes and banishment...

[dalandan]

Originally Posted by TheGrouch

Oooooooh.........

You're talking about the-guitar-which-shall-not-be-named.... :S
They get really offended on this site if ya do!!! xD

since when could we not say les pa.........


*dalandan was mysteriously taken away by men in black suits, leather boots, and cowboy hats*

[Schizotronic]

the-guitar-which-shall-not-be-named was made by me once.
What kind of help do ya................

*Schizotronic was taken by the Brazilian indians from Amazon. In a globalized move, we, the Amazons will make him and his guitarworks fit into a Kindle*

[Blazer]

I build a Les Paul.

And here's a second one which isn't finished yet.

[jkingma]

THIS GUY lives near me and has some info on his website. It's not as detailed as you are probably looking for but it might help a bit.

[Jakedog]

My brother has built several from scratch. He also built my tele. He swears after that experience that he will only build set neck guitars. He says bolt ons are twice as much a pain in the kiester, and far more labor intensive, he also says he's never making another maple neck. He asserts that mahogany is far easier to work with, and the Les style is just an all around easier instrument to build and build well.

He's not an internet guy, but if you have specific questions I can try to get some answers out of him for you.

[jkingma]

he also says he's never making another maple neck. He asserts that mahogany is far easier to work with

I agree 100%. Plus I really like working with mahogany. It's a great wood.

[Joe-Bob]

Has anyone here built a Les Paul???

I'm pretty sure Telenator has. He's built everything else, including custom Rickenbacker copies all himself.

[RodeoTex]

Thanks for that link Jkingma. I had always wondered what the proper angle of the neck-to-body should be.
Jackdog, it seems to me that if your brother builds set necks then a bolt on should be a walk in the park. I guess it depends what you learned first.

I have built 2 Les Paul style guitars (my friends call them Les Walts) but both were bolt on necks. I've also built a few (maybe 5) Zemaitis replicas with set neck and they were a nightmare of a chore.

Good luck to you IrishTele. Please keep this thread going.

(Let's all bug Preed for a LP build thread, OK? He's mentioned that he builds those too)

[tele12]

Originally Posted by irishtele

Its pretty complicated building a Les Paul! Lots of angles and precise joints!

Yes it is, but plenty of people think they should cost the same as a Tele or Strat.

[gionnio]

Rumor has it that pgambon has built a Les Paul or two from scratch. Maybe he'll weigh in on this.

[kelnet]

Originally Posted by TheGrouch

Oooooooh.........

You're talking about the-guitar-which-shall-not-be-named.... :S
They get really offended on this site if ya do!!! xD

What the heck are you talking about? Plenty of folks here have Les Pauls. People show off their LPs all the time.

[markito787]

Im planing on a bolt on LP too!!!

[ADK Teleman]

Originally Posted by kelnet

What the heck are you talking about? Plenty of folks here have Les Pauls. People show off their LPs all the time.

Not me..I am a Fender only guy...LPs just don't suit my style...plus way over priced for what you get...JMO

[toadman]

Originally Posted by tele12

Yes it is, but plenty of people think they should cost the same as a Tele or Strat.

they should!! and Teles and Strats should be a lot less expensive!!

[BoogerRooger]

Originally Posted by kelnet

What the heck are you talking about? Plenty of folks here have Les Pauls. People show off their LPs all the time.

+1

One of the classic guitars. The TDPRI Les Paul Owners Club is pretty popular.

[Tonetele]

I've built a Les Paul Jr. A great experience. We should always keep an open mind. "Different strokes............." Tonetele, Australia.

[redstringuitar]

Has anyone here built a Les Paul???

Yeah, but mine turned out looking more like Joe Pesci.

[irishtele]

Its funny how I started this thread in May and got no replies and now Im getting loads!! ha ha

Thanks for all the replies! I decided not to build a LP in the end and decided to do a Tele Deluxe instead! I have never made a neck before and thought a bolt on would be easier! I still want to see more pics, build threads and advice though because there are bound to be more people here who would like to build one and I would like to build one sometime too!

I build a Les Paul.

And here's a second one which isn't finished yet.
This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 669x1024 and weights 90KB.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 731x1024 and weights 48KB.

That looks great blazer! I think I rather plain top LPs compared to flame! How are you going to finish it? A sunburst would be sweet, I like the headstock veneer too its much nicer that the plain black! How did you find it to build?

THIS GUY lives near me and has some info on his website. It's not as detailed as you are probably looking for but it might help a bit.

Thanks i bookmarked that! Would you ever think of building one?

I have built 2 Les Paul style guitars (my friends call them Les Walts) but both were bolt on necks. I've also built a few (maybe 5) Zemaitis replicas with set neck and they were a nightmare of a chore.

Good luck to you IrishTele. Please keep this thread going.

(Let's all bug Preeb for a LP build thread, OK? He's mentioned that he builds those too)

Thanks rodeo! Got any build pics? I agree that we should all bug preeb to do a LP build thread! It would be a REALLy good read and newbies like me could learn the ways of the master!!

Sorry about the mega post!

[preeb]

Is it a good idea to post a burst build on the TDPRI forum?
I'd rather do it on a Les-Paul forum (Which one is the best LP forum BTW?)
I'm trying to get real feather weight QS Honduran for a while now... I might have located something... We'll see. I actually canceled 2 burst builds this year because I could not find the correct wood... a heavy LP is not a part of my vocabulary sorry (-;

[Groovey Records]

I think at TDPRI this is a close as you are going to get

My LesQuire Jr. Build thread

[preeb]

Thank you. That answered my question.

[Groovey Records]

Yep Home Depot is for T style guitars.

The LesQuire Jr. and one of its predecessors from Taipan pushed the outer limits of TDPRI hospitality.

They ruffled a few traditionalists feathers, a few years down the road they aren't quite so unorthodox in appearance but some might not agree.

Really only one round upper bout different from a Tele.


Sorry 0le Fuzzy you know I love ya! (maple neck aside)

[guitarbuilder]

Yes I have. You can get all the drawings you need on the net. John Catto's drawings show up on Mimf and elsewhere. The 59 afficianados are pretty anal about all the details, maybe more so than the tele ones. Occasionally you'll find a LP standard neck on Ebay and many times you can get a copy. If you have access to a cnc there is information on the CNCzone as well. I'm seriously thinking about doing a pine LP standard just for the heck of it. I also just finished retopping a '59 EB-1 bass which I thought was extremely cool. Body is a DC 59 body with a short scale mahogany neck. It had 4 banjo tuners. I ordered some banjo tuners off ebay that I hope will do the trick for a similar instrument. There are some nice DC LP drawings on the net too. If I knew I wouldn't get slaughtered here, I'd do a build for y'all.

[tuuur]

Originally Posted by preeb

Is it a good idea to post a burst build on the TDPRI forum?
I'd rather do it on a Les-Paul forum (Which one is the best LP forum BTW?)
I'm trying to get real feather weight QS Honduran for a while now... I might have located something... We'll see. I actually canceled 2 burst builds this year because I could not find the correct wood... a heavy LP is not a part of my vocabulary sorry (-;

Of course it's ok! I for one would LOVE to see that.
We all like to see beauty guitars build threads. And you know you can post (almost) anything you want in the Bad Dog Cafe...

[Shepherd]

Lots of builds and all the info you'll ever need at the MLP forum. The guys are very helpful and the forum doesn't have a problem with freedom of speech .
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...-lp-build.html
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...build-1-a.html
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...mbered-lp.html
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luth...aul-build.html

[Blazer]

Here's my TelePaul, (sorry for the crappy quality)

[Groovey Records]

Originally Posted by Blazer

Here's my TelePaul, (sorry for the crappy quality)

Rear control cavity very junior !
How do you select pups ?

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Rear control cavity very junior !
How do you select pups ?

What you think is a tone knob actually is a rotary pickup selector.

[Groovey Records]

I'm using a 4 way switch and two push pull pots

[RodeoTex]

One of my attempts:

[PaisleyIsGod]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

I think at TDPRI this is a close as you are going to get

My LesQuire Jr.

I love the look of that thing! Gonna go drool at the build thread now.

[Telenator]

Funny you should mention building a Les Paul.

I have all the material I need to build my "Fender scale" Les Paul. I just need some time to get to it!

If you're a Fender guy, you like the longer 25 1/2" scale over Gibson's 24 3/4" scale.

Just buy a set of Les Paul plans from Stew Mac, yes, Stew Mac, and have Staples enlarge them 4% and you have a Fender scale Les Paul! Just a little bigger.

[Schizotronic]

Originally Posted by RodeoTex

One of my attempts:

How did you finish it? Looks like "oil" and wax. Beautiful satin thing!

[RodeoTex]

That finish was some left over black automotive paint I had. Some of that sloooooow drying PITA poly-whatever stuff.