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Fixing up the Les Paul Studio - Tear Down to Custom Rebuild


Andy R

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Great job on the headstock. I'm glad the technique worked so well. What did you use on the top of the headstock at the v of the open book?

 

 

 

Thanks and yes it has worked out well so far. Thanks for the tips! As far as the actual headstock on my guitar and the original veneer cut I did that pretty much by hand with sand paper and files. When I cut the mdf using the veneer as a template I just used a flush cut router bit so it is close but lacks definition. Since I used the MDF as a template for cutting the veneer down with a binding bit it also lacks some definition. I plan on adding some more depth to the center of the "Moustache" to add a bit more of a defined point before I bind it.

 

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

 

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I have also been described as "fearless" on here and that I will except to some degree only in the fact that if you are going to do something like this or anyt DIY project you better be prepared to fail or ruin something. I didn't have much money wrapped up in this guitar and I was and am willing to lose what I have invested in the guitar and other pieces that are not salvageable. In the case of this project it is purely a learning experience for me. In the end this still might end up as an unplayable piece of crap. I'm willing to accept that. I am also not ashamed to share my failures/mistakes with you guys as it is a part of the learning experience and inevitable. I follow the thought of "If you strive for perfection then you better be prepared to accept your failures in the pursuit"

 

 

I believe these are wise words especially when you write, "I am also not ashamed to share my failures/mistakes..." That is what is courageous. We live in a society that doesn't want to admit mistakes.

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I believe these are wise words especially when you write, "I am also not ashamed to share my failures/mistakes..." That is what is courageous. We live in a society that doesn't want to admit mistakes.

 

djroge,

Thanks I appreciate it. I was hoping that ramble didn't turn too "Preachy". Sometimes I use way too many words to say something simple and in the case of the post you're referencing my main point may have been lost in the ramble.

 

The message that I really wanted to drive home and get across to everyone is that I truly appreciate their words of encouragement ( please don't stop ) but at the same time I'm not the type to take credit for ideas or techniques I am using that I borrowed from someone else. They are the one's that deserve the real praise for figuring these things out and sharing them with the world. I am just documenting some of the results ( good and bad ) that I have had in utilizing their ideas. I will lay claim to any tricks I feel that I figured out. [biggrin]

 

 

Andy

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So my new Gibby Mother of Pearl Logo arrived today!!!!! [biggrin] I am very happy with it. If anyone is interested in getting one of these or different style and or complete veneer with inlays for different models PM me and I will let you know where I got it.

 

 

First of all it came in a pretty good size packing box and contained this nice plastic protector inside:

 

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Here is the Logo. It came with the "dot" for the I but I think I am going to do the old school route and leave it off....

 

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So I now have my goal for the weekend to get the veneer inlays done, set, and binding finished for the headstock and get it all glued up.... Of course pictures of my process will follow!

 

 

 

Andy

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Got my "Custom" Triangles cut out. Still gotta tweak them a bit. Also Gotta figure out how I'm gonna lay it out so I can determine the cuts to embed the RR logo... Will probably just get it all tack glued where I want it and mark the cut out areas....

 

113d9869.jpg

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looks good Andy! this thread is truly spectacular! Ive shown this to 4 of my

fellow guitarist friends and they cant believe that you were able to do this!

great work! I presume youll be able to do more seeing as its the weekend?

keep it up Andy! cant wait!

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looks good Andy! this thread is truly spectacular! Ive shown this to 4 of my

fellow guitarist friends and they cant believe that you were able to do this!

great work! I presume youll be able to do more seeing as its the weekend?

keep it up Andy! cant wait!

 

+1 [thumbup]

 

And Andy has taken the extra time to post great images of his progress...... We truly appreciate your effort Andy

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Cool story, just before Katrina they mounted all the guitars at our Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi; his guitar was one that survived (using term very loosely) the storm. They found his Dean floating near the beach by some kids and they returned it to Hard Rock. Since majority of the guitars either did not survive or were stolen Hard Rock decided to remount that guitar; but without cleaning it or refinishing it. For the locals that guitar and the other wall mount with the other destroyed rock items mean allot to the locals here. She was one he11 of a ride (Katrina).

 

 

Do you know which one it was? I am trying to track down the DemonDime Guitar just to see where it is now. I have his old phone number and address but it has been years since I got it and am not sure it is the same. I've started to write Rita a few times over the years but always felt it to be too soon to ask and felt weird about asking. I did finally send her a message through facebook with a picture but got no reply, but I'm sure she gets so much stuff she might not have paid much attention or didn't care to respond. I might try the old phone number and address some time and see if one might still be the same or try to get a hold of Grady Champion his old Guitar Tech and see if he knows what's up.

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+1 [thumbup]

 

And Andy has taken the extra time to post great images of his progress...... We truly appreciate your effort Andy

 

 

Thanks Duane. You have helped me along with this and I appreciate it. You have been great help to me since my first post back in November. I also appreciate you and the other mods for keeping this posted and pinned here as I know it is probably more of a MLP type of post.

 

 

Regards,

 

Andy

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Thanks Duane. You have helped me along with this and I appreciate it. You have been great help to me since my first post back in November. I also appreciate you and the other mods for keeping this posted and pinned here as I know it is probably more of a MLP type of post.

 

 

Regards,

 

Andy

 

 

No prob!!!

 

there's been some other good DIY threads around these parts lately as well

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Didn't get completely finished but here is progress.

 

Used my MDF "headstock" and used some wood glue to attach the rough cut triangles after drawing them on the headstock. Then used a file to get the angle cuts to align.

 

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Glued the RR on so I can mark what i will cut out

 

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Sprayed the veneer with some white paint with logo in place to provide routing path

 

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Next is route for inlays and glue on binding....

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Looking really good Andy!

 

I'm curious. What are you using to route out the headstock to fit the inlays? Does a Dremel and a steady hand get the job done, or are you using something else to get those routes so precise?

 

I looked back in the thread to see if you mentioned this anywhere, but couldn't find anything. Sorry if I missed the answer to this question.

 

- B

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Looking really good Andy!

 

I'm curious. What are you using to route out the headstock to fit the inlays? Does a Dremel and a steady hand get the job done, or are you using something else to get those routes so precise?

 

I looked back in the thread to see if you mentioned this anywhere, but couldn't find anything. Sorry if I missed the answer to this question.

 

- B

 

Yeah I have a Stew Mac Router base for my Dremel for inlay cut outs. Depending on what material you are putting the inlay in the more precise you need to be. It's always good practice to be as precise as you can but it is pretty hard to free hand a perfect fit especially for something as intricate as the Gibson logo. I should have took a pic before I finished the inlay. I actually just cut out the basic outline of the logo completely through the veneer ( and not very well at that) Luckily the vulcanized headstock veneer takes to 5 minute epoxy with some black "Transfast" powder dye mixed in well and makes it pretty much invisible. You can do the same with Testers model glue, or super glue, mixed with fine dust from the material you are inlaying in to. It is still best practice to make the routes as precise as possible especially on open grained unfinished wood like fretboards and clear finished headstock veneers because the filler can be a little darker and or shinier which makes it more obvious.

 

I will be working on the rest of the headstock inlays later and will take some pics of the rough routes, adding the epoxy mix and what it looks like once it is sanded down.

 

 

Andy

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Well the headstock Inlays are finished except a couple spots I have to fill. Here's how i did it. Retrosurfer look away now because this is Ugly compared to the art you do!

 

First I got the RR logo layd out here i wanted it... I'm glad i decided to add the custom triangle because I think this would have been just too plain. IMHO

 

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A little white paint to mark my spot...

 

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Glued the R on and used it to figure out how I was going to cut the Triangles to integrate the RR design.

 

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Initial route

 

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Final route - Not as exact as you thought aye??!!!

 

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Test fit

 

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Now to fill it and make it look purrty....

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Mix up some 5 minute epoxy and black pigment....

 

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Slather some in the route....

 

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Insert Inlay...

 

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Let it dry and sand it flush ... Tah Dah!!!

 

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On to the triangles...

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Now for the "Custom" Diamond

 

pretty much same procedure as above...

 

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went a little wild the the epoxy here

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After Sanding... Still a couple of voids I need to fill but looks pretty good with a shot of clear on it . It's not perfect but it turned out about like I had envisioned... What do you guys think?

 

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You can see the little spot I still need to fill here but that's a quicky fix.

 

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On to the binding!

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