Build thread: Pancake body les paul deluxe

WezV

I have had this wired up with strings on for a few weeks, but been so busy I have only just got around to slotted the nut deeper so its actually playable.

got it all intonated today  and am very happy with the way it sounds.   I still need to work a few kinks out of the pickup height adjustment- its still not very reliable, and I have the second dodgy switchcraft I have had in the last year after never having a dodgy new switchcraft switch before???

Acoustically its still very much a les paul.  still has the brightness of a maple topped one, the pancake stack and/or choice of dense mahogany for the top probably helps with that.   Weight is 8lb 10oz, although i still need to add backplates to that.   It feels very solid and it has a extra special resonance I associate with full width set-necks.

Moss

Pic?

WezV

Need daylight for that really, I will probably wait till I have the backplates done

Moss

The suspense is killing me...

Andyjr1515

WezV said:

, and I have the second dodgy switchcraft I have had in the last year after never having a dodgy new switchcraft switch before???

..I've had one of those recently. That's a bit concerning...

WezV

after doing my junior style yesterday I have finally plucked up the courage to start the relicing on this.

yesterday was my first attempt at razor checking, this is the second and i switched to an exacto blade for this.  Wheras I was about 60% happy with yesterdays attempt, I am 90% happy with this one.

the pics are after the blade - nothing has been done to soften the impact yet  I sat down, watched a film and just went with it

This is the first bit


I worked my way around


from another angle


the top done


the last two pics are in full sunlight, in doors you can only see it from certain angles.  I am probably still being a bit too "organic" with my patterns but I am pretty happy with this

WezV

WezV

just been doing some edge wear and softening the gloss a bit, although it still doesn't have the feel I am after just yet, but its a lot closer

WezV

i have started ageing the hardware for this.  I had two pots, one of big parts, one of small.  I was totally focused on the big parts and left the small too long... but better that way than the other way around... but I can still work with these, some special magic mix* will cure a lot of evils.  




but oh my, I am happy with this (other than some chrome thumb wheels that have not aged at all)



Anyway, the above ageing was all done with some etchant - not ferric chloride,  Sodium Persulphate which is a bit gentler, especially at room temperature.


*special magic mix is liquid scratch filler - it does this

chrisw67

Wow! Stunning work!!

WezV

It's actually been together as a playable guitar since Feb.... just building up the courage to do this. I already like it a lot more with the ageing 

chrisw67

WezV said:

It's actually been together as a playable guitar since Feb.... just building up the courage to do this. I already like it a lot more with the ageing 

The raging looks superb... you some relic jobs and they look so artificial. Not this one! 

WezV

i have carried on ageing the parts during the evenings this week - not done any more  to the body finish yet but its so nearly there anyway it wont take much

anyway, first the over aged parts from the other day... I  had removed all the nickel to show the copper, decided to just carry on through the copper which leaves us with a pot of old looking  metal parts


I also aged the pickup covers and tuners slightly

Then all the plastics and the pickups get a fine sanding with 1200 grit and/or 0000 wire wool and the special magic mix treatment

started from this


Then looks like this


left for 10 minutes, then thoroughly buffed off




and a test fit on the guitar

WezV

juansolo

Initially I was a bit shocked with the relicing. But now I see it together, it looks natural as hell. Kudos Mr V.

WezV

It's the process.... gotta work through the stage and get past the bad bits you don't normally see

WezV

I got this back together and strung up last night, but not wired yet.

Its probably the 3rd guitar in a row where I am convinced it sounds better for the relicing.   I know this can't be true!

I also noticed an error.  I gently aged 4 matching knobs, exept one of them goes to 11.  Not sure where that appeared from but I think I will keep it on this guitar as the bridge volume.  Its not like any of the other parts or spec are "authentic" to an original

I want to do another relic whilst I am in the swing of it... might finally be time to refinish my epi but I am also in the mood to do a telecaster

olafgarten

Turn the bridge to 11 for the solo.

thermionic

juansolo said:

Initially I was a bit shocked with the relicing. But now I see it together, it looks natural as hell. Kudos Mr V.

I agree. The first photos of the razor blade checking looked terrible, but that last photo I have to say looks totally convincing.

WezV

thermionic said:

juansolo said:

Initially I was a bit shocked with the relicing. But now I see it together, it looks natural as hell. Kudos Mr V.

I agree. The first photos of the razor blade checking looked terrible, but that last photo I have to say looks totally convincing.

There has probably never been a relic which didn't start with an "oh my god, what have I done" feeling.