Full fat Les Paul build

davros

Mini update, I have plugged and redrilled one of the tuner holes. It was about 1.5mm out and meant the A string touched the E string at the headstock. Also added a 1mm maple filler on one side of the P90 route. I think the template slipped a bit when routing and with the pickup fitted the treble side gap was a little too large.

Also just about finish sanded and grain filled. I used Rustins mahogany for my TV Yellow build but that was too pinky for a natural mahogany back. So, this time I'm using Dartford's thixotropic grain filler in Brown Mahogany. It's very dark but I think highlights the grain nicely and in a natural looking way. It also darkens the wood slightly.

I applied it with a credit card, wiped off the excess with a dry dishcloth, then a gentle wipe with white spirit to clean off the surface. It's a wierd texture, very thin in the tin but thickens up when you spread it on.

Here are some pics with a wipe of white spirit. Hopefully it will look similar after spraying.

danishbacon

Superb work

danishbacon

Vote for Dakota re

davros

danishbacon said:

Vote for Dakota re

Good job you say that as I've just ordered the nitro!!

PeteC

Fab - love everything about this build ! 

davros

Thanks, Phil + Danish.

Not sure how quickly I'll be able to get it painted with it being so cold at the moment, but will try and get some coats on when the air is dry.

davros

Painting has begun. I've sealed and coloured the top and headstock. Scraping the binding was nervewracking and I had to respray the horn for a second attempt but it turned out looking pretty sharp!

The Dakota Red is hard to photograph and in real life looks different in different lights. It looks a bit darker than the pic below.

Next up 3 cans of clear. Debating whether to play cat and mouse with the temperature and humidity, spraying in the garage or set up a spray booth (fold down wardrobe) in the bathroom. I'd spray, let it dry a little then open the windows to vent, leaving the door closed to keep fumes out of the rest of the house. dunno...

MattNovak

Looks great @davros - I'm a fan of colour / binding / natural backs on LP alikes:

SRich

The Dakota Red + light back is an unusual and very compelling choice.....looks great. Neck joint is superb. Really impressed with your skills and luck!

davros

Thanks Rich and Matt. Plenty of luck involved, some bad but it helps me learn (how to fix them and not make them next time!).

The neck joint looks even nicer with some finish on it. the wood colour is more consistent between the 2 pieces.

Any more pics of that build @MattNovak?

davros

Here's the neck joint with just sanding sealer. Looking smooooth

benvall

Looking really good. 

MattNovak

davros said:

Thanks Rich and Matt. Plenty of luck involved, some bad but it helps me learn (how to fix them and not make them next time!).

The neck joint looks even nicer with some finish on it. the wood colour is more consistent between the 2 pieces.

Any more pics of that build @MattNovak?

Not to hijack your thread on a gorgeous guitar, but the whole sorry episode is here: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/179686/zemaitis-bonabyrd-type-thing/p1 ;

Its been through a few colours, and there's still one high fret (dammit) but its on my 'to finally complete' list. 

Are you planning on doing the whole 3 cans of clear? 

davros

I must have missed that thread. I'll have a read this evening!

My last build I used 2 cans, it needed more. Steve Robinson suggested 4 for a really smooth finish. I'm splitting the difference.

greggreg66

Looking so good! Like @MattNovak, I'm also a fan of colour, binding, natural. Frank Brothers do this really also.

Corvus

Lovely stuff, another fan of the colour + natural thing going on there.

Slash'N'burn

davros said:

Here's the neck joint with just sanding sealer. Looking smooooth

Beautiful, I could reach the 37th fret with ease! 

PeteC

Looks great - I really like that neck transition 

Natural finish and coloured cap looks great already 

davros

Clear coats are going on. Since it's so bloody cold at the moment, I picked up a cheap portable wardrobe and set it up in the bathroom. I can leave the bathroom door shut and windows open a bit to keep the fumes out of the house. Seems to be working well. 1.5 cans down, 1.5 to go.

Jazzthat

Very good build !