The Les Paul Twins

[Christine]

Getting way ahead of myself here but a question. I'm planning on using a or at least trying an NSR Freeway 6 position switch to give me the following pickup options:

VT Neck
VT Bridge
VT Both
then sideways from that
Direct Neck
Direct Bridge
Direct both

The only bass I know of that uses a direct pickup is the Nikki Sixx Blackbird and I've never heard one but it's a concept I like the sound of for some reason. What could I expect from doing that?

Edit: Other than more top end obviously

 

[Christine]

Today I had a relaxing day, I got the plan drawn for the body, again on wallpaper (I really must invest in tome decent paper). Whatever it allows me to make a set of templates from it so it will be good enough. I drew a grid in 1" squares and plotted the shape of an OSLP onto it.

I also had an email from Mojo pickups saying my order has been made and have been shipped so with luck they'll be here by Saturday, or Monday at the latest so I can finalise the elevation but I'm probably good there already.

 

[JJR58]

Today I had a relaxing day, I got the plan drawn for the body, again on wallpaper (I really must invest in tome decent paper). Whatever it allows me to make a set of templates from it so it will be good enough. I drew a grid in 1" squares and plotted the shape of an OSLP onto it.

I also had an email from Mojo pickups saying my order has been made and have been shipped so with luck they'll be here by Saturday, or Monday at the latest so I can finalise the elevation but I'm probably good there already.

View attachment 3027596

Looking good Christine. Rockin good news on the pick ups! Don't be surprised if i ask you to build me one of those.

 

[Christine]

Today' thrilling updates, two of them!!

Instalment one, the jig
Well I'm in the habit of making a master jig for bass bodies from 5mm Perspex (acrylic), why? Well a couple of reasons:

1 it's very easy to transfer the pattern from paper to perspex, just copy through it
2 It's a lot easier to make an accurate jig from 5mm than 12 or even 18mm MDF
3 I like to keep a master jig to one side for when the production jig gets damaged accidentally

The pattern was drawn on the jig with a permanent marker and then bandsawed to slightly over side. I then used the disc sander and bobbin sander to get it pretty much spot on before using a file to really make those curves flow, from then it's just a matter of screwing it to some MDF cutting that oversize and routing it to dimension on the router table using a bearing guided bit, the result one accurate jig

I've also drawn some possible cavities for weight saving but I would really love some input on these. My thinking has been to keep a line between bridge and neck joint solid, as much as I can around the control cavity solid but to relive the top and bottom horn to reduce weight but also to try and keep the sound like a solid guitar but also to try and keep it balanced. The sections I was thinking of removing are marked in green; I really would like some thoughts on those before I cut them please

Part two in a bit, sat in the the hairdressers now

 

[Larry V]

Nice work, Christine!

 

[Christine]

Part 2 of today’s saga

Decided to sort out the back blanks of the body. So refaced those and thicknesses them down to 43.5 mm to be finished at 43mm after gluing. I edged one side on the planet to get them flat then rad a hand plane over them to get them ready for glueing. I’m not a believer than a surface straight off the planer is good enough for glueing, you may argue that but my workshop, my rules, end of argument! I also like to give an almost in perceivable hollow along the length of a glue joint, it helps keep the ends tight as the wood shrinks slightly over the years and you can’t do that on a flat bet planer. Both edges planed and put on each other to make sure they’re dead flat (only 0.5mm to spare) then glued and into clamps until tomorrow sometime.

Trail clamping (just nipped up) spot the glue line

 

[Jisch]

I love mahogany, looks great

 

[Christine]

I love mahogany, looks great

Almost a shame to paint it black

 

[Jisch]

Almost a shame to paint it black

That is a shame.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I’m gonna go out on a limb here, crazy devil may care attitude... don’t paint it. Or maybe a burst finish, that mahogany is way too nice to paint.

 

[JJR58]

I’m gonna go out on a limb here, crazy devil may care attitude... don’t paint it. Or maybe a burst finish, that mahogany is way too nice to paint.

I sort of agree. As much as i like a black LPB. Just a nice clear nitro finish would probably be beautiful.

 

[theFixer]

I sort of agree. As much as i like a black LPB. Just a nice clear nitro finish would probably be beautiful.

Well... not that you asked, but ya could do a black top, cream binding, and natural mahogany sides & back. Kinda "best o' both worlds" typa thang

 

[JJR58]

Well... not that you asked, but ya could do a black top, cream binding, and natural mahogany sides & back. Kinda "best o' both worlds" typa thang

That would be just as cool. Could also do that idea reversed. I know Christine, i should mind my own business.

 

[RedVee]

Well... not that you asked, but ya could do a black top, cream binding, and natural mahogany sides & back. Kinda "best o' both worlds" typa thang

Sounds nice!

 

[Christine]

Discussion, excellent

The top wood I have is less interesting, that will be better off painted black

The wood is just bog standard African Mahogany that has been quarter sawn, I only chose it for stability not figuring. I had been considering a black burst for the back but leaving the sides and back natural? Never considered that at all! I would need to order more binding, I've already ordered white but that's not the end of the world, maybe that Ivoroid stuff StewMac sell rather than cream [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Remember that the top and bottom edges of the bass will display flat/through sawn timber and will be a lot less interesting

Anyone know of any examples of something like that? I will consider it

 

[theFixer]

Discussion, excellent

The top wood I have is less interesting, that will be better off painted black

The wood is just bog standard African Mahogany that has been quarter sawn, I only chose it for stability not figuring. I had been considering a black burst for the back but leaving the sides and back natural? Never considered that at all! I would need to order more binding, I've already ordered white but that's not the end of the world, maybe that Ivoroid stuff StewMac sell rather than cream [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] Remember that the top and bottom edges of the bass will display flat/through sawn timber and will be a lot less interesting

Anyone know of any examples of something like that? I will consider it

I honestly expected to be able to find one like that. Maybe it only exists in imagination. Sounds like a damn fine idea to me though

Maybe somebody more clever than I, could photo-shop these into blackness...

 

[RedVee]

I honestly expected to be able to find one like that. Maybe it only exists in imagination. Sounds like a damn fine idea to me though

Maybe somebody more clever than me could photo-shop these into blackness...

View attachment 3029050 View attachment 3029051

You know, I could have sworn I’d seen one before... hmmm

Ok search Les Paul Blacktop natural back and lots come up... I was searching for Les Paul bass.

Here’s one though other pics are nicer
Gibson.com: Gibson Lou Pallo Signature Les Paul

 

[Christine]

Here's an option, The mahogany is a slightly pinky brown colour, I truly hate staining wood, I'm not very good at it and I have personal objections that are more furniture related than guitar related but something I do like is "fuming". *** I hear you cry! Well it's a process of of exposing wood to the fumes of .880 ammonia, it's a method of giving an aged colour to some woods, works best with Oak but is also quite good with the Mahoganies too. It changes the pink to a medium deep reddy purple colour but with a very natural look, I have no idea how it might affect the binding I would have to test but that might be a possibility?

 

[Christine]

They say google is your friend! Why didn't I look for les Paul weight relieving? Ah well whilst looking through Basshappy's thread and came across this which answers my question above pretty well

 

[BassHappy]

They say google is your friend! Why didn't I look for les Paul weight relieving? Ah well whilst looking through Basshappy's thread and came across this which answers my question above pretty well

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What a great project! I for one will be following along with great interest! That mahogany is really really nice!