More Guitar Stuff
I’ve been able to make some progress on this project since my zipline related mishap. I’m only able to do a little at a time before I need to crash out on the couch with an ice pack, but it gives me something to look forward to and I don’t feel completely useless.
Here it is with the top glued on. The pickup holes have been cut and the depressed area for the bridge has been routed.
The neck pocket required alot of hand scraping and sanding to get the neck to seat at the proper height and angle. I made the mistake of cutting the neck pocket before I had the neck. Next time Ill take measurements from the neck first and then rout a pocket to fit. Anyway, It fits pretty nicely now.
Here is the beautiful neck I ordered from Warmoth Direct. It was by far the most expensive part of this guitar, but its really the most important part. With all the work I’m putting in to this project I want it to be playable. It is a 25.5″ scale rock maple neck with a dual action truss rod and a compound radius Indian rosewood fingerboard. I decided to go with a professionally made neck this time because I don’t have the expertise of tools to make one (yet). My next guitar project will be a 4 string “cigar Box” style blues slide guitar. I plan on building and fretting the neck on that for practice.
Here you can see the Les Paul style headstock. The tuner holes are smaller then my tuners so I’ll have to take the drill press to it (very carefully). The nut is a Graphtech which was fitted and slotted for me at Warmoth.
Here you can see the rear access for the volume and tone controls. I cut the hole with my scroll saw and used my Dremel tool with a router attachment to cut the ledge.
I originally intended to make the body with out having to use a router but as I progressed I realized that there were a few things I really needed to rout for a clean, professional look. This cheap plunge router attachment for my trusty Dremel tool saved the day!
Its nice to see it coming together. I’m still not sure if I like my freakish large f-holes. It does distinguish it from other Les Paul style guitars.
These inexpensive GFS pickups from Guitar Fetish come recommended by a friend.
The plastic pickup rings looked cheap so I made some rosewood rings out of an old acoustic guitar back Lydia had lying around. This picture doesn’t do it justice, the new rings look awesome!
They fit! and match the neck nicely.
So that’s it for now. So far the build has gone pretty well considering its my first time. I cant wait to plug it in and rock out!
Tags: F-Holes, Guitars, hollow body, soundboard