les paul build

[pie_man_25]

now that you mention it, I'm starting to wonder why I've never noticed it before now.

 

[pie_man_25]

Hey guys, no photos in this update, I'm going to wait until tuesday for that one. Basically, I haven't done much work on it, since I ended up having some kind of sickness, I was pretty lightheaded the whole time, so I figured that a state in which it is difficult to focus is probably not good to do any precision work or any work involving power tools. So go figure, not much progress. I have decided to mark out the holes for tuners, the bridge, the covers, pickups, etc... today. I'll be drilling them all up and giving the hardware a dry-fit tomorrow before looking for somebody to paint it.

I think I'm going to go with black - as nice as the white with black pickguard and binging, it is easier for me to switch to gold hardware later on than it is (at least for me) to take out and then install black binding.

 

[pie_man_25]

Hey, I've got some bad news, I took a couple of days to measure out where to place the holes for the bridge. I drilled the holes and they were slightly off - I imagine because I did the holes using my hands and a cordless drill instead of the drill press that we have. That being said, I'm going to have to wait until I get some dowell to plug the holes with.

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any ideas as to how to drill out the holes more accurately on this thing? It's fairly difficult arranging the body around the drill press. I've already got my measurements down, and I'm really only just barely off, it's just the drilling part that I need to refine a bit. Also, that blur on the top photo is an arm from a pair of safety glasses.

 

[pie_man_25]

I'm thinking, perhaps I should use a centre punch to punch the centre of where the hole should be, then drill a smaller hole first to "guide" the drill to when drilling the full-sized hole.

 

[Hopkins]

I'm thinking, perhaps I should use a centre punch to punch the centre of where the hole should be, then drill a smaller hole first to "guide" the drill to when drilling the full-sized hole.

Use an awl to make a pilot mark, then use a drill press with a forstner or brad point bit to drill your holes. These bits have a spike in the center of them that keeps them from walking like a regular bit can do.

 

[pie_man_25]

Use an awl to make a pilot mark, then use a drill press with a forstner or brad point bit to drill your holes. These bits have a spike in the center of them that keeps them from walking like a regular bit can do.

it's funny that I read your helpful comment AFTER doing the research and coming to a similar conclusion.

 

[pie_man_25]

Alright, time for another update, this one will be photo-less, as there isn't much to show. All holes have been drilled, properly this time, all hardware fits now, and fits where it should. I plugged the holes with dowels, and re-drilled the holes with a brad-point drill bit, they're in the proper places now. I also contacted a guy about painting the guitar, I'll be sending it in to him sometime later next week, and he'll have it about 2 or 3 weeks. I'm deciding on black, as it's basically the cheapest out of the list of black, gold-top, or cherry burst, and while I could certainly afford the other options, I personally think that black would be the best option and the price is simply an extra perk.

 

[pie_man_25]

so, I'm practically done the guitar. Everything that isn't stringing it up and giving it a good setup is completely done.

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[Meddle]

Glad to see it all up and working! I wouldn't worry about the original bridge holes being wrong. You see some Norlin era Les Pauls with big black washers known as "goof hiders" covering shoddy work around the bridge posts.

Are you going to fit a poker chip?

 

[pie_man_25]

Glad to see it all up and working! I wouldn't worry about the original bridge holes being wrong. You see some Norlin era Les Pauls with big black washers known as "goof hiders" covering shoddy work around the bridge posts.

Are you going to fit a poker chip?

no poker chip, I'm not really sure where I'd put it.

 

[Meddle]

Under the 3-way switch.

 

[pie_man_25]

Under the 3-way switch.

DUDE! that's not a bad idea! maybe I'll do that with this $5 poker chip from the casino in town that I found.

 

[Meddle]

Sorry man I think we are talking cross-purposes. The 'poker chip' is the slang name for the "Rhythm/Treble" indicator ring that sits under the switch on most Les Pauls.

However a genuine poker chip would look cool AND raise a smile from the My Les Paul crowd (not a member over there).

I say you drill it out and see how it looks!

 

[pie_man_25]

Sorry man I think we are talking cross-purposes. The 'poker chip' is the slang name for the "Rhythm/Treble" indicator ring that sits under the switch on most Les Pauls.

However a genuine poker chip would look cool AND raise a smile from the My Les Paul crowd (not a member over there).

I say you drill it out and see how it looks!

oh, yeah, I got one of those indicator rings, I just decided to not install it.

 

[Meddle]

Still going for the genuine poker chip? Brilliant looking build btw! What did you do for the back of the guitar? Dark grainfill, dye then clear or what?