Members pekelnik Posted June 10, 2017 Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 I haven't posted anything substantial here in years, but perhaps the last guitar is interesting to some. (I also have a thread open on one of the LP fora) I was eye-ing the 2017 Honeyburst Les Paul Tribute T. It seemed to have everything I want and I wanted something similar to my SG that I won't be afraid I'll damage. Then suddenly, with a snap, they were gone in all stores on continental Europe (that I could find), with the exception of one in Luzern, half an hour away. So I went there and first time in a decade, bought a guitar in a brick-and-mortar store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 10, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 Well, I had plans for it, so off went the hardware, and I started sanding. and sanding and sanding This was a clear case of a job for one evening. Well after a week of evenings, it was done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 10, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 Then I patiently waited for a month as nitro I ordered from R&F lost it's labels and was sent back, and a new one was sent. Once I got it, I masked the sides and fretboard and started putting on layers. A single nitro rattle can, this is the nicest finish of any kind I have ever tried to put on anything, and easiest to work with. Last coat on, tape is coming off. Now I'll need to patiently wait until the finish cures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted June 10, 2017 Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 you made a sweet looking axe sweeter, nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted June 10, 2017 Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 That is a heck of a lot of work just to add some "binding" but it looks good. I've always liked the way PRS does that trick and I've always like wood binding instead of plastic. When I first saw this I thought "how is he dealing with the incompatibility with the factory poly finish" but then I realized that the Tribute T is lacquer. It should look nice when its all buffed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 10, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 10, 2017 It's a lot of work, but somehow the guitar seemed to be missing the binding, and I also like the faux binding though it doesn't really fulfill the protective function. And in addition, the lacquer on the front was really thin and this will protect more in addition to being deeper, a little darker, and more glossy. Initially I really thought I will be done with the sanding in an evening, but in order to do it really well one just has to take time. The sides weren't too difficult with the masking tape on, but for the top I needed to make this two-bits-of-wood jig that you can see, to make the binding uniformly thick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted June 11, 2017 Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 Oooh A+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted June 11, 2017 Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 I liked that two-bits-of-wood jig (and may borrow the idea). I've seen a little jig that holds a box cutter blade with just the tip sticking out - as you know Gibson finishes over their plastic binding, then scrapes the color off and shoots clear. Your solution is brilliant and seemed to work very well. I agree with you about how much better this looks. I had kind of an antithesis situation - I built an all mahogany copy of some of the cheap (acoustic) guitar from the Depression era - I didn't want to bind it but I wanted to protect the edge and make it look finished. I ended up putting mahogany binding with no purfling and made an extra effort to hide the glue line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 11, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 I have tried scraping it (not going all the way to the actual edge to see what it would have looked like) and I wasn't happy with the edge which was too jagged, and it seemed too likely that I will accidentally scratch the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted June 11, 2017 Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 Yeah, I think your method was much better here. Scraping works fine when you have a definite edge to the binding but in your case you were trying to define that edge. I've learned that when I scrape the binding if I go around it first with the tip of a box cutter and score at the glue line it scrapes much better. I know Paul Reed Smith does something like what you did but I don't actually know the method. Anyway, I think it looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing it all buffed and back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted June 11, 2017 Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 Congratulations and Happy New Guitar Day. Great job on the ''binding.'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted June 11, 2017 Members Share Posted June 11, 2017 Very nice job! Like Freeman, I plan on stealing that idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 20, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 20, 2017 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, novus #2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted June 20, 2017 Members Share Posted June 20, 2017 Much nicer then stock! Now put it together and play the damn thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted June 20, 2017 Members Share Posted June 20, 2017 That's the way it should look. Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members joecool1963 Posted June 20, 2017 Members Share Posted June 20, 2017 beautiful play it in good health Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 21, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted June 21, 2017 Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 Great work! Looks like it came from the factory like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Les Paul Lover Posted June 21, 2017 Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 This looks absolutely amazing. You make me wonder whether I should attempt something like that with my LP standard faded or my SG tribute 70s...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Excellent work - that really does look nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 21, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 Thanks everyone! Here's more photos. I still haven't wired it and I didn't set it up properly (the bridge is a new ABR-1). I'm keeping the pickups but replacing the wiring and caps for Russian NOS ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 21, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 This looks absolutely amazing. You make me wonder whether I should attempt something like that with my LP standard faded or my SG tribute 70s...... In case of the standard, you shouldn't need anything more than wet-sand and polish. I think it's the same with the SG but I don't know. If it isn't grain filled, you'll gain something but not full gloss... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I noticed you added a "poker chip" around the switch too. Nice touch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I wonder how clear-coating the satin goldtop version of that model would turn out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pekelnik Posted June 21, 2017 Author Members Share Posted June 21, 2017 Yes, I added the poker chip, I also changed rear covers to cream (the original ones were strange- black plastic with sort of tolex pattern??), and for now I'm not putting the pickguard back on because... it's just so pretty. It is still super light and resonant, 3.58kgs (7 lb 14oz). For the goldtop, I *think* it should be enough to wet-sand and polish. I put more lacquer on it because I already needed to cover the sanded sides, and because I thought the top was thin and not protective enough. The result is still much thinner than a production LP and about what a builder would put on it. I'm really happy with it, I can't find any defects (there is a bit of sanding residue left on the first photo that I cleaned meanwhile). On the minus side, it was supposed to be the "beater" guitar and now I feel like touching it in gloves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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