Members voneville Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I was killing some time in the carpenter shop onboard my ship today and decided to make some shavings with a spokeshave. Man was it fun, and surprisingly relaxing. I grabbed a piece of Mahogany scrap and started shapping a neck. Once I got the shape how I wanted it I hit it up with some sand paper and then slapped on some thinned out spar varnish. It turned out really nice, I wish I would have used a full size piece of stock rather then just a scrap piece. I've been dreaming about it for years, I even bought a couple of books. I've been watching with envy as talented people like AJC build really nice guitars for themselves. After today I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge if I can decide on what I want to build. I'm gonna do a poll, maybe you guys can help me decide. My top three choices are: Les Paul Standard. I've always wanted one but could never afford one. Telecaster. What can I say, I love the feel of Tele's. Currently I have two (HH and P-90). When it comes to guitars there's always room for a third. Les Paul Junior. If this goes well I could see myself turning into an addict and building all of the above eventually. Logic tells me start with the Tele first since it's what I know best and seems like the most straight forward to build, but I like a challenge and the LP Standard seems like it may be a little bit more fulfilling or gratifying. Maybe the LP Junior would be a good comprimise?:blah: Also, I'm gonna say doing my own design is not on the table, not right now anyway. I like the classic designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Electric Blues Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Tele.I'm not an expert but it seems like a bolt on neck would be easier than a set neck, as a first project?Anyway, good luck with the project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeremylp Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 les paul should be a difficult build but def worth it. there are too many tele builds anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob14 Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 All sound nice but consider a thru neck, great sustain and actualy easier to do than a set neck, I kid you not. Made a lot of them in the late 70's and through the 80's , great for those high notes too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Tele makes the most sense to me. Those LP's should be setnecks, which seems like a lot more work/skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JC777 Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Jr. You never see a build thread for those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stormin1155 Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I've built several guitars, both set neck and bolt-on. I really don't find the set necks to be that much more difficult. Either way you still have to get the angle and neck cavity right. I think the hardest part of a LP would be the carved top.... that's the only thing keeping me from attempting one. I've done LP jr. style, and that's pretty easy. For a first build you can't get much simpler than a tele. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hubert Stumblin Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I'd be hard pressed to choose between the Tele and the Jr. But I'd say do the Tele first and make the Jr. your next project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Jr. You never see a build thread for those. Hasn't AJC done some Junior builds posted here? I fink so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ArKay Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Make something cool, build a Mosrite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MahaloVision Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I've built several guitars, both set neck and bolt-on. I really don't find the set necks to be that much more difficult. Either way you still have to get the angle and neck cavity right. I think the hardest part of a LP would be the carved top.... that's the only thing keeping me from attempting one. I've done LP jr. style, and that's pretty easy. For a first build you can't get much simpler than a tele. I find set necks to be easier to build than neck throughs, but then again I like making the mortise and tenon on the set necks. Neck throughs are a bit more cumbersome and you sometimes have to finalize the body profile after you put the fingerboard on. As for carved tops, it's addictive and not that hard to do as long as you leave the area under the fingerboard flat. There's a great article in a past issue of American Lutherie that shows how to layout a carving map (kinda like a topographic map), and it works every time, as well as for other body outlines. FWIW, it's easy to carve a perfect neck every time if you layout the facets with pencil lines then spokeshave/chisel/scrape/sureform to the lines. After a primary, secondary, and tertiary facets, all you're left with are some ridges to smooth out with the scraper then do the shoeshine sanding thing. Done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JC777 Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Hasn't AJC done some Junior builds posted here?I fink so. Has he?OK I never see Jr. build threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GilmourD Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Double cut LP Special? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Quarter Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Tele or Jr would both be great places to start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zatoichi Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Make something cool, build a Mosrite. probably not enough masonite in ship's stores.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voneville Posted June 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 probably not enough masonite in ship's stores.... There's plenty of it peeling of the counter tops in the heads though. I hear recycling and re-purposing reclaimed material is really hip right now Hmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wats Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Jr. Hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zatoichi Posted June 30, 2008 Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Re: Arkay's suggested Mosrite build: There's plenty of it peeling of the counter tops in the heads though. I hear recycling and re-purposing reclaimed material is really hip right now Hmmm... Recycled headwood, eh?A bold 'venture' indeed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voneville Posted June 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 I find set necks to be easier to build than neck throughs, but then again I like making the mortise and tenon on the set necks. Neck throughs are a bit more cumbersome and you sometimes have to finalize the body profile after you put the fingerboard on.As for carved tops, it's addictive and not that hard to do as long as you leave the area under the fingerboard flat. There's a great article in a past issue of American Lutherie that shows how to layout a carving map (kinda like a topographic map), and it works every time, as well as for other body outlines.FWIW, it's easy to carve a perfect neck every time if you layout the facets with pencil lines then spokeshave/chisel/scrape/sureform to the lines. After a primary, secondary, and tertiary facets, all you're left with are some ridges to smooth out with the scraper then do the shoeshine sanding thing. Done. That's a great tip on the laying out lines. It's funny how easy it is to take away too much material when you get in the groove of things. I'm not scared of the neck joint on a set neck guitar. I do woodworking as a hobby and that's part of the appeal with the LP Standard, there's a lot more woodworking involved. But then again, if I don't like the neck on the tele I could build another neck and the body won't be firewood. Hmm... Still on the fence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members voneville Posted June 30, 2008 Author Members Share Posted June 30, 2008 Appreciate all of the input from everyone! Keep it coming please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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