New Guitar Project!

[DetroitBlues]

My wife gave me an awesome present for Christmas! A new guitar kit from Precision Guitars! http://buy.precisionguitarkits.com/product/make-your-own-double-cut-jr-guitar-1

This is a Les Paul Jr double cut design. Single P90 Bridge route, one tone and volume controls, wrap around tailpiece, and all mahogany slab body.

I plan on finishing the guitar in Tru-Oil gunstock finish and using Wilkinson hardware. Bridge pickup will be a GFS P90. (Highly underrated pickup company).

Oh, for some real cool effect, I'm going to create my Pickguard and control cavity cover out of an old vinyl record.

[Robert]

Congrats!

[tjcurtin1]

The 'LP' pick guard is a great idea - especially for a LP!

[DetroitBlues]

I'm a bit torn though... Do I use a lightning body tailpeice and risk the chance of it not innotating or do I get a Wilkinson that can?

[tonebender]

A Hip Shot Baby Grand bridge/tailpiece will solve all of your intonation worries and they look really cool too. I put one on my Melody Maker. Shop around, I got mine off fleabay for $70. It comes with posts, inserts and tools. It works with existing inserts too or did for me on my MM.

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac76/tonebender1/IMG_2202_zps23d612c4.jpg (http://s887.photobucket.com/user/tonebender1/media/IMG_2202_zps23d612c4.jpg.html)

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/All_Hardware_and_Parts_by_Instrument/Electric_Guitar/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Non-trem_Tailpiecess/Hipshot_Baby_Grand_Bridge_Chrome.html

[yuominae]

I'm a bit torn though... Do I use a lightning body tailpeice and risk the chance of it not innotating or do I get a Wilkinson that can?

I'd say start with the one you like the looks of and if it sucks for whatever reason then you can always try the fancy intimating one.

My LP junior has the Lightning bold one and it seems to intimate fine by the way.

[DetroitBlues]

I decided to use the Wilkinson bridge after all. My biggest concern was one aspect about the stud placement. Sometimes they are angled, sometimes they're not. With an adjustable bridge, I don't need to worry about it.

I am using this idea for my Pickguard and control plate...

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/jjulch/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/AECF57A0-E98F-4EE0-AFBA-46B86D6353CD_zpssbqed6lr.jpg (http://s968.photobucket.com/user/jjulch/media/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/AECF57A0-E98F-4EE0-AFBA-46B86D6353CD_zpssbqed6lr.jpg.html)

Bought all the finishing supplies I need. The Tru-Oil kit has all sorts of stuff. Sandpaper, cloths, etc to finish the guitar. I just happen to have Titebond II on hand as well..

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/jjulch/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/B3322CD7-9BFA-4D37-8D86-2863F988AE3F_zps3po5mlp5.jpg (http://s968.photobucket.com/user/jjulch/media/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/B3322CD7-9BFA-4D37-8D86-2863F988AE3F_zps3po5mlp5.jpg.html)

Glued and clamped it up for overnight drying before I attempt filling in the grain and finishing it....

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/jjulch/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/5579C92A-4D77-445A-A56D-B7E5AC997F3C_zpsbwywtkdz.jpg (http://s968.photobucket.com/user/jjulch/media/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/5579C92A-4D77-445A-A56D-B7E5AC997F3C_zpsbwywtkdz.jpg.html)

[yuominae]

Wow, you've ready started? Cool!

Does that bridge you chose mount flat to the body? Or does it mount on studs? Just wondering because the body you have is pre drilled for inserts, right?

[DetroitBlues]

I have bought a bridge that mounts to studs...

[yuominae]

Oh, so that bridge in the pics mounts to studs? That's really cool.

Can't wait to see the rest of the build man!

[DetroitBlues]

The grain is filled and the first layer of several is curing now. I decided against filling the grain on the neck. I remembered some of my favorite Les Paul's were like that. I decided to not paint the headstock for now either. I may add a water slide, but I don't know what to design it as. My parts should be soon too.

For now, here's what I have...

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/jjulch/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/9D6FAA31-BA2F-4C54-AD11-41A958043180_zpsxkbjyk90.jpg (http://s968.photobucket.com/user/jjulch/media/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/9D6FAA31-BA2F-4C54-AD11-41A958043180_zpsxkbjyk90.jpg.html)

[yuominae]

Wow, that is some really nice grain! It really shines. Love it!

How about DB for the headstock? Or maybe DetroitBlues in Gibson style font?

[Robert]

Sweet looking!

[DetroitBlues]

I am really trying to think of what to put on the headstock.... I have a wood burning iron. I thought about using that. A Celetic cross perhaps (not too big though) that would be about the size of the Gibson Flower pot. As for a name, that's a tough call... Not sure if I want it called Detroit Blues.

[Jipes]

Great project it will be for sure a beauty and the happiness of doing it yourself a nice achievement !

[DetroitBlues]

Here's the finished (or nearly anyway) product!

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae167/jjulch/Current%20Guitars/Les%20Paul%20Junior%20Project/3F82C5E9-D949-4436-A1E0-37662D856D75_zpsihegbbtr.jpg

[marnold]

That really turned out nicely! You'll have all the kids wondering what the heck that pickguard is made out of.

[Monkus]

Awesome.. congrats!