1959 Les Paul Build

[bluesforstevie]

Originally Posted by Bob J

Speaking of playing the real thing, I find myself in an odd position. I've fallen hard for the '59 burst because of this thread, but have no idea what one sounds like! I'm sure I've heard them over the years, but until I started following this thread I never really thought much about what makes different guitars sound different (I know, I am a real gear rookie!). Now, every song I hear, I am listening for the unique sound of the guitars, whereas in the past I never really paid attention (kind of makes all the old songs sound new!). So, where am I going to hear a '59 burst? Stairway to Heaven? Black Magic Woman? I really have no clue.

Listen to the old Allman Brothers with Duane and especially Peter Green...his tone is so pure and his dynamics are second to none.

Blues for Greeny by Gary Moore for a little more of a modern sound with a '59.

Also, James Gang Live with Joe Walsh...that's a burst too I beieve.

The Beano Album (John Mayall and Eric Clapton) is a '60 burst, but you get the idea.

[bluesforstevie]

Hey Gil,

Do you have a good stock of Honduran Mahogany? I know you said you like the African and you have a good supply of that, but if someone should want to have a burst made of Honduran....can you? Thanks in advance Gil!!!

[preeb]

Originally Posted by bluesforstevie

Hey Gil,

Do you have a good stock of Honduran Mahogany? I know you said you like the African and you have a good supply of that, but if someone should want to have a burst made of Honduran....can you? Thanks in advance Gil!!!

Welcome bluesforstevie,

I stock both. My Honduran is genuine light weight Honduras Mahogany (-;
Here's a matched body/top set for one of the next builds with a mega eastern top and a lightweight Honduran.



and a close up on the Honduran. Very light and resonant batch and no bad "dead"sections at all this time which is pretty rare.

[bluesforstevie]

Originally Posted by preeb

Welcome bluesforstevie,

I stock both. My Honduran is genuine light weight Honduras Mahogany (-;
Here's a matched body/top set for one of the next builds with a mega eastern top and a lightweight Honduran.



and a close up on the Honduran. Very light and resonant batch and no bad "dead"sections at all this time which is pretty rare.

Thanks Gil,

I see the distinction!! Well, that's going to make some fine guitars!!! Hopefully a killer burst!!!!!

[backalleyblues]

First off, Dynamo hum, that was some GREAT Clapton! I needed that...

Another reference point for a '59 sound is Bloomfield with the Electric Flag, and Super Sessions-some quintessential Lester tones there, fer sure...

Gil, I need to win the lotto, so I can afford to have you build me one of these-this is just absolutely incredible work all around! Take a VERRRRYYYY deep bow when you're done (and a double-thick sandwich!) you totally deserve it!

As an aside, have you got the screenprinting thing for the headstock noodled out yet?

Franc Robert

[MikeBluetele]

Originally Posted by preeb

I humbly thank you.
I'm very happy (and surprised) to see people interested in all these small details.

It's those small details that make these threads of yours fascinating. I'll probably never build a guitar, but when aficionados like yourself start delving into minutiae about components, I find it strangely riveting. It's a genuine pleasure watching this build coming together. It doesn't seem to matter that I'll never remember more than a small fraction of the knowledge that you've shared, it's just fun to be a fly on the wall...

[preeb]

Originally Posted by backalleyblues

First off, Dynamo hum, that was some GREAT Clapton! I needed that...

Another reference point for a '59 sound is Bloomfield with the Electric Flag, and Super Sessions-some quintessential Lester tones there, fer sure...

Gil, I need to win the lotto, so I can afford to have you build me one of these-this is just absolutely incredible work all around! Take a VERRRRYYYY deep bow when you're done (and a double-thick sandwich!) you totally deserve it!

As an aside, have you got the screenprinting thing for the headstock noodled out yet?

Franc Robert

Thanks Franc!

I have the "quicky" screenprinting I already made but I'll have to do another one since I found out that the paint was solvent based (not acrylic...), so I'll have to use a different emulsion material... etc...

[Telecaster52]

Hi Everyone, I'm Carlos, new here!

preeb, let me say, good work, realy good, i mean, i wish every brands works like you...! That guitar that you're building, certainly gonna be very good and very prety!
Many thanks for show us your great job.

[preeb]

Originally Posted by Telecaster52

Hi Everyone, I'm Carlos, new here!

preeb, let me say, good work, realy good, i mean, i wish every brands works like you...! That guitar that you're building, certainly gonna be very good and very prety!
Many thanks for show us your great job.

Muito obrigado Carlos e acolher !

[preeb]

Here's the AWG 30 7 strands bobbin lead wire that I'll be using.
It's identical to the original.



I'll start by gently removing the insulation with a fine sanding paper



wrapped around the leaded stripped wire



and soldered. like that

[preeb]

I leave about 10mm and fold the wire to a square angle



and tape it down tightly against the bobbin core bottom



Bobbin attached to the winding machine



and the wire is secured to the back

[preeb]

I go very smooth and steady to mimic an automatic traverse mechanism.
I reverse direction every 50 wounds (for the poles bobbin only) and keep an even tension.



I stop after hitting the 5000 on the counter but I let it slow down gradually to get that extra winding I wanted... (-;



I make sure the coil is OK.. it looks very nice and tight.



The coil wire end is stripped from the enamel and soldered to a short 1 1/2" lead.

[preeb]

I set it to come out through the bottom side and reverse the lead direction (if it will get pulled it will not break the magnet wire).



A thin paper tape is used to lock the lead wire in place and protect the coil. 2 wraparounds are enough...



This is how it suppose to look. The start lead is coming through the rectangular bottom hole and the end lead is popping out from the side

[preeb]

I repeat the same process for the slugs bobbin but I use a different winding pattern in order to duplicate the PAF I destroyed... It had a different winding pattern and was probably wound on a different machine or with a different traverse (probably machine...).



The other bobbin set is done in the same way but with a lower DCR, trying to get a 7.6K neck pu. I also want a slight DCR difference between the coils to get that "zing" effect (-;



Winding is complete...
Neck
s 3.86K
p 3.75K
Bridge
s 3.99K
p 4.05K

[preeb]

Lead wires are cut to length



and pushed through the back



I prepare the solder joint on the base plates



like that



and complete the ground connection



on both base plates

[preeb]

Slugs are inserted



and firmly pushed down to place



Poles are screwed into the pre threaded holes. I use a special tool to do the threading prior to poles insertion otherwise the soft poles material will dent from the tight screwing...



like that

[Big Red]

Originally Posted by bluesforstevie

More....please!!!

Like bluesforstevie, pinefd and others I am also a refugee from the LP Forum(s) and having spent days reading this amazing thread, I am virtually struck dumb at finding LP building craftsmanship of this standard and quality ..... on a Telecaster Forum!

Needless to say I am now hopelessly addicted to this thread and will be checking out others by Preeb. I don't want to take up too much space with gushing compliments, but will only echo what others have rightly said.

Hi Preeb, do you mind me asking which part of Israel you inhabit? I have visited Jerusalem and the nearby area and found it a fascinating part of your country. My sister spent some years on a Kibbutz and was later married at the Church of Scotland in Jerusalem. I was particularly taken with all the atractive females carrying M16 rifles, although I wish it wasn't necessary. Peace and thanks for this thread!

[preeb]

PU's are ready for final assembly



grounding solder connection is added on the bottom center



Maple bars are placed on the slugs side



and keepers are pushed to place

[preeb]

I'll use a couple of rough sand cast AlNiCo 5



with a 35° off axis magnetic field I get from my incredible 35° off axis magnetizer (-;



Magnets are placed after making sure the polarity is correct (unless someone wants an out of phase green style middle position tone...)




Note how the solder spots keep the long (2 1/2") magnets in place (-;

[preeb]

Both end leads are soldered together



and insulated with the same thin paper tape used for the bobbins



Slug start lead wire is the "hot" and therefore soldered to the main lead cloth covered hot wire



and insulated