Improving a Les Paul

Axe_meister · February 4

As I've said in a different thread I'm off to Crimson Guitars for a two week course and will be working on a Les Paul Style build.
What would you do to improve a Les Paul.
Specs so far
Traditional woods, (Mahogany Neck/Body, Maple Top and African Ebony fretboard.)
Headstock will be Narrower than a Gibson one with a straighter string pull.
Control knobs will be recessed (PRS Style)
I'm going for a scarf joint (so I can learn the process)

What else would you do.

Sporky · February 4

Thinner body and longer scale for me, but that might be straying too far from actually being an LP.

WezV · February 4

Full width neck tenon. Laminated neck. Reduced headstock angle. Chambering/weight relief

matt_sefton · February 4

Belly cut on the back.

ICBM · February 4

Basically, this.

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/en-gb/products/aria-pro-ii-pe-r80-sunburst-1982-1692172

Thinner body, carved front and back, sculpted neck joint, tapered headstock, recessed knobs, coil splits (though not necessarily with mini-switches), and some more interesting inlays.

Axe_meister · February 4

Oh yeah forgot, I'm going with a single F hole

ALMuti · February 4

ICBM said:

Basically, this.

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/en-gb/products/aria-pro-ii-pe-r80-sunburst-1982-1692172

Thinner body, carved front and back, sculpted neck joint, tapered headstock, recessed knobs, coil splits (though not necessarily with mini-switches), and some more interesting inlays.

shout-out to this because I've always thought that the Aria PE is the LP shape perfected.

(admittedly, a PE is my "one who got away" from when I was a teen - went back to the store the day after and they'd sold it)

stickyfiddle · February 4

Paint it gold if not already gold.

Add Bigsby if not already added

Profit?

NickBotfield · February 4

stickyfiddle said:

Paint it gold if not already gold.

Add Bigsby if not already added

Profit?

The only person to profit from adding a Bigsby to anything is the scrap metal merchant.

Rocker · February 5

Earvana nut.

prowla · February 5

A Freeway switch.

https://www.freewayswitch.com/

davros · February 5

Chambered body, full width neck tenon with carved body/neck transition, volute.

They're likely to have you freestyle the top carve with an angle grinder. If you want a really authentic carve, I'd suggest referring to the MyLesPaul forum definitive top carve thread and using some templates.

Hope you enjoy the course, I loved it!

GSPBASSES · February 6

Here you are everything you need to do to the back and neck of a Les Paul, the bodies are also fully chambered. The necks are three-piece quarter sown Honduras Mahogany, the bodies are African Mahogany.

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/af1a8941f8576031fd20f13a9b4926987ac34780f4ebe67967

Nerine · February 6

I’ll be the one to say it’s difficult to improve on a good Les Paul.

Axe2Grind · February 6

I have a Standard 60s LP so I am a fan of the traditional build although I would like a little more higher fret access, that would be good improvement. For hardware I would say improvements would be a locking bridge/stop tailpiece and locking tuners.
Alnico V neck / Ceramic bridge but with medium output. Push/pull pots on the tone knobs to split the humbuckers. Also I'd like to see a pic of the finished guitar

bad_alice · February 7

Getting it as close to your "perfect" weight as possible.
Next, a perfectly cut nut.
No burs on the saddles.
Glassy, polished frets.
And a good amount of time spent thinking through and planning your finishing options.
Finally, locking tuners.

IMO if a guitar stays in tune, is set up well, sounds killer and looks the dog's bollocks to your eye?
It's one you'll keep picking up.
And then keep playing.

Most of all though, have FUN!
Looking forward to following this thread while you at Crimson.

God speed!

Danielsguitars · February 8

I've already improved a LP with my Royale model

Id recommend a full width long tenon with a fully sculpted heel, add a belly contour and make a slightly slimmer body, it makes a massive difference imo and once you've done this you'll never go back, I know I won't.
My ones are typically under 7.5 lbs using Spanish cedar and it's not weight relieved
Forgot to add 12 degree headstock angle and narrower to straighten strings out over the nut

GSPBASSES · February 10

Considering all what's been said on improving a Les Paul, I think the title of this post should be "How to make a Les Paul more comfortable to play"

axisus · February 10

Three single coil pickups, one volume, two tones. six tuners on one side headstock, trem, 25.5 inch scale length, maybe a bit more stratty in shape ....

webrthomson · February 10

25" scale length, its just better

sweepy · February 10

Look at the original Aria PE1000 for how a Les Paul should be

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