Members Grant Harding Posted November 22, 2011 Members Share Posted November 22, 2011 Maybe cherry red base with a soft burst to the medium brown? Looks great so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mazornus Posted November 22, 2011 Members Share Posted November 22, 2011 This is amazing! I didn't even know there was such a thing as build your own les paul kits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted November 22, 2011 Members Share Posted November 22, 2011 This is amazing! I didn't even know there was such a thing as build your own les paul kits!That's not a kit - he built the whole thing from hunks of wood. Amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Smilin' Bob Posted November 22, 2011 Members Share Posted November 22, 2011 How do building acoustics and electrics compare so far? I'd think the acoustic would be more difficult. I have to say that you also have a nice place to work and adequate tools, always a plus! I like your lifestyle. In some respects it's like my wife's and mine. No TV means lots more time in the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 How do building acoustics and electrics compare so far? I'd think the acoustic would be more difficult.I have to say that you also have a nice place to work and adequate tools, always a plus! I like your lifestyle. In some respects it's like my wife's and mine. No TV means lots more time in the day! I'll address this tomorrow - I have a date with my wife to go to yoga. I'm terrible at yoga but it is good for me, and besides there are all these sweet things in tight pants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 The reason that I asked about stains and colors and all is that all thru this build I hadn't really decided. I started out thinking an amber fading to brown, but fairly light - I guess what I have always called an "amber burst". I did a tobacco burst on my mandolin and briefly considered that, but I think I'll save it for a Tele (there is always another build...). I almost got seduced by a cherry burst - so when you look at that scrap of maple you'll see the cherry red, a nice vintage amber, another orangish amber that I used on a dobro and a basic brown. I've also got a redish brown and another medium brown. Cherry - amber - cherry - amber. I couldn't decide. I posted two question here - "Show me your amber burst" / "Show me your cherry burst" and all I saw were pictures of truely beautiful guitar. Finally one night I was reading a recent Fretboard Journal with an article about '59 Bursts and my wife looked over my shoulder. "I really like that one" she said. 59 burst it is. I'll go thru the basic finishing step - start by sanding everything to 220, then 320. I pore filled the mahogany with StewMac paste filler (I like epoxy for highly figured wood). I use a plastic card to force it into the pores and squeeze off the excess Sand back to the wood leaving just the filler in the pores Mask the fretboard and sides of the binding - the top is a hassle and will be scraped. Now I wiped two coats of the amber stain mixed about two drops to 3 or so oz of alcohol. Sand the first back to wood, but because the figure has the grain at a different angle it absorbs more stain. Another coat and the figure is pretty well "popped" I'm going to use a water based lacquer called KTM-9 - it is safe, gives pretty good results and is easy to clean up. Here is the finish, my little HPLV gun and the two stains that will be used A wash coat of clear KTM seals the top and back, the I put two drops of the amber dye in 8 oz of lacquer and shot two coats. I guess I didn't take a picture at this point - darn. However next I put one drop of the brown in the remaining 7 oz and shot one coat starting about 6 inches from the edge and going out Added two more drops of brown to what was left and another coat about 3 inches from the edge. The two more drops and 2 inches, then another coat at one inch. Its starting to look like this Flipped the guitar over after it had dried and shot two coats of the brown on the back - I'm going to stop at this point - there will be more finishing pictures but this at least answers the question of "what color are you going to paint it" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamdogg Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Lookin' good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members acefreely Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Keeps getting better...love the finish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 The burst looks very classy, and the figuring on the top is sweet. Keep the updates coming, FK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mistersully Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 it looks incredible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members photon9 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 I'm speechless. Seriously, thanks so much for sharing this build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kuz929 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 WOW! that is a fantastic looking burst! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Yep...that burst looks amazing. Nice work! I don't know how much more you're going to do but I really like how the dark part is quite thin on the outer edge. And I love how you matched the grain pattern on the control cavity cover to the back of the guitar. Great attention to detail there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Strenge Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Wow, great choice in colors imo. Can't wait to see more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s1120 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 That burst looks AWESOME!!! So many home done bursts come off looking kinda cheezy.... yours looks like a pro job!! Cant wait to do my build. I have a lap steel under my belt, and thinking of doing a kit next to get reved up for a scrach build!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 How do building acoustics and electrics compare so far? I'd think the acoustic would be more difficult. I have to say that you also have a nice place to work and adequate tools, always a plus! I like your lifestyle. In some respects it's like my wife's and mine. No TV means lots more time in the day! These are good questions so I'd like to come back to them. How does building an electric compare with an acoustic? Remember this is my first electric so my experience is pretty limited, but as I see it with the electric its the pups that make the sound so really what you are doing is building something to hold them and to present the strings to them. Neck and playability are paramount - I think electric players are much more into the subtle shape and feel of their necks. And of course cosmetics is everything - wood choice and finish are so important to an electric player. The carved top and set neck make this guitar a little harder than say a Tele with its flat top and bolt on - I may make a Tele some day just because I want one, but with this I really wanted the challenge of carving that top. Obviously you can make this easier by buying a precarved top and a preshaped neck - cnc's make absolutely perfect ones over and over and over - but there is something very satisfying about a scary sharp chisel or plane working the wood. With an acoustic the sound is all in the wood, the size and shape and bracing and thickness of the plates. You have to be aware of all of that as you work - and again, there is a real joy in carving a brace with a sharp chisel and listening to the tap tone change. I think the actual word working is harder - bending the sides, all the radius (nothing is flat on a flat top guitar). There is certainly a lot more fitting and figiting - many more steps in the build. The hardest parts of any guitar for a home builder are (1) setting the neck angle - this is the basis of playability. A dovetail is a nightmare for a first timer (I've done a few) - an MT neck like this is easier and a bolt on even more so. (2) binding is hard for either an acoustic or electric, tight curves like a cutaway are tricky, if the top and side are not at right angles it is hard to cut the channels. I did an F5 mandolin one time - those scrolls are a bitch. (3) And finish is also hard - the amature builder will never get a factory looking finish no matter what method we use. Each of mine has flaws, I get better each time, but as my wife says, "no piece of art is 'perfect' " (thanks, dear). I work in my garage. I covet a truely nice shop with heat and humidity control. I have had serious problems with some acoustics during the winter when humidity goes up and down. I also buy one major tool with each build - I think of something that I had trouble with on the last one and add it to the collection. The only thing worse than GAS is TAS ("honey, I need a new router...") Last, thank you for the comments on our life style. Our family has made decisions over the years where life style has trumped jobs or moves - I'd probably be making a lot more money today but I sure wouldn't be as happy. Music, books, the mountains, my wife and family are the most important things in my life - I'm blessed. Sorry about the long reply, back to your regularly scheduled building thread.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 oh man, oh man, oh man...that guitar is looking more beautiful every single day! Do you have an estimate as to what the finished weight will be? No, sorry, no idea. Its a whole lot heavier than a D18, however. I'll probably have to buy one of those strap thingies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 I have been following silently, but I have to say "Holy CRAP, that is turning out gorgeous!" I wish I had your skills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jimash Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 No, sorry, no idea. Its a whole lot heavier than a D18, however. I'll probably have to buy one of those strap thingies. You're going to MAKE the guitar and then BUY the strap ? It is a piece of leather with holes in it ! Cheater ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members linusâ„¢ Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 thank you for posting this. your confident and descriptive posts are both helpful and descriptive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GomezAddams1 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Thanks for posting. I've enjoyed seeing your work a great deal. Awesome job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 23, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 You're going to MAKE the guitar and then BUY the strap ? It is a piece of leather with holes in it ! Cheater ! Where can I get the plans and special router bit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s1120 Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Where can I get the plans and special router bit? you can buy the kit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jimash Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 Have at it !http://www.leathersmithdesigns.com/guitar-straps-making.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrChitlins Posted November 23, 2011 Members Share Posted November 23, 2011 *shivers* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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