Les Paul Special kit?

zedhex

I've had a hankering for a Les Paul Special for years (the one with P90's), mostly because I love the tone people like Steve Hunter and Johnny Thunders used to get from them. However, every time I try one I'm always put off by the baseball-bat style 50's neck profile. Even the Eastman SB55 has the same issue. So I had a thought: why not build one myself? I have built plenty of Fender type guitars over the years, but I've never done a set-neck before, and I've never had to cut my own fret slots - I would usually buy a neck for a build, and then do all the routing and body cutting myself (I have a workshop). So my next thought was: is it possible to get a kit? After a bit of googling, it wasn't hard to find one, but the quality always looks very dodgy to me. Most people selling such kits seem to assume that everyone wants something that is cheap, cheap, cheap - but that's not what I'm looking for. Does anyone have any recommendations? Ideally for a good quality body blank, and a decent neck to fit it. Everything else, I can do myself.

Funkfingers

zedhex said:

… I love the tone people like Steve Hunter and Johnny Thunders used to get from them … baseball-bat style 50's neck profile.

These two things might be connected. 

paulnb57

Id ask Graham @GSPBASSES if he could make me one..

I had a hankering for a Melody Maker (ish) LP and he made me this, its superb

TTony

I’d normally ask Graham too, though not sure if he’s spending much time in his workshop at the moment.

I’ve got a couple if his LPJrs, and they are just brilliant.

If you just want a neck, there are others here who might make one for you.

This is a brilliant fret slot cutting jig
https://www.bagpress.com/Guitar_Making_Products.html

GSPBASSES

TTony said:

I’d normally ask Graham too, though not sure if he’s spending much time in his workshop at the moment.

I’ve got a couple if his LPJrs, and they are just brilliant.

If you just want a neck, there are others here who might make one for you.

This is a brilliant fret slot cutting jig
https://www.bagpress.com/Guitar_Making_Products.html

I'm not sure when I'm going to be back in the workshop if ever. I'm going to wait a couple weeks to see what the doctors have to say before I take a decision. What I would say is, I have a lot of part built LPJ's on the shelf so if I do decide to go back in there will be some coming up for sale. But if you're in a hurry I would look elsewhere.

lovestrat74

Not sure if this is something that he would normally do but if you want quality then Darren @Danielsguitars is your man

Danielsguitars

lovestrat74 said:

Not sure if this is something that he would normally do but if you want quality then Darren @Danielsguitars is your man

Thanks for the mention, kits are always a tricky one for me as I don't build like that really, I string everything up and tweak a neck to final profile so I see how it feels to play.

Another point is if you want something more vintage based, then I'd go Spanish cedar Madagascan rosewood, vintage style truss rod and hot hide glue.