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I recommend the contour map approach to carving, especially for a first go
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But I am very much put off by the idea of making a neck, as it seems there's a lot to get right (angles, lengths, not to mention the complexity of fitting frets properly). I might have to buy one.
I think its doable. It is obviously more complex, but its still just a series of jigs to make and steps to follow
I would suggest some kind of router thicknesser jig with adjustable angle. You will need to make some carving templates. also think about binding channels but you can d those before the carve the same way you would on a flat top guitar.
Work holding and clamping becomes a bit more difficult, especially when trying to use small pickup templates on a non lfat surface they way you would on a flat top.
Neck join decision will affect tooling for that, a full width long tenon is similar to a fender join, just longer, deeper and angled... or you can go for a traditional handcut tenon but its still just a case of routing a slot in a body
Photobucket has ruined my first LP thread thread, so you will need to install a plugin to view http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/112304/getting-around-the-photobucket-curse
This one is quite detailed
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/55672/build-thread-pancake-body-les-paul-deluxe/p1
Less detail on this - but the same steps are shown and pictures work without a plugin
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/108084/les-paul-prototype-build#latest
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I wouldn't do a les paul or any set-neck as your first build. get all that stuff right on bolt on styles where a neck failure doesn't compromise the whole project and there are less angles to think about
There are more angles on a les paul neck so you need something that can cut through the full side profile accurately. You can build a spliced or stacked neck with little more than handtools to get the same look, but it would be a struggle to do a 1-piece neck with hand tools alone
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Anyway, 4 more bolt-ons in the pipeline, I may tackle some of them first
honestly though, I think you could do it. You seem to be good at making a plan and sticking to it and i reckon a long as you took it in small steps it would turn out well. My first proper les paul carve had me worrried, but the router step method made it really simple. Simple enough that i got great results first time - better and easier than expected
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If so, that takes you through the process step by step, in as foolproof a way as can possibly be.
There are lots of builds and the jig building ideas are great, particularly the angled box jig for people home building Lp style as you can route from above and alter angles for neck plane and pickup plane
(formerly customkits)
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Yep, he meant My Les Paul
(formerly customkits)
i will I’ll make a rainbow dash guitar!!
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(formerly customkits)
time has prevented me from starting my Les Paul build this year but did a load of research as already said WezV build threads are very educational.
if you are looking for a quicker (costlier)route all the stuff talked about here in terms of jigs and templates are all available over the counter for stuff like contours, neck angles, body routs
i cheated on the top and brought a ready made one from a US eBay guy got it shipped to friends and brought it back to the uk whilst on holiday. That was prebrexit exchange rate so a good bit cheaper than now but it is nice enough and the guy was good in getting it delivered to my travel window.
its correct to the Bartlet plans,
These days there is a mass of diy Les Paul information way more than say 10 years ago when I last looked at building one.
(formerly customkits)