First (Proper) Build Thread - Gibson Les Paul Junior DC

[cdscarter]

As it says in the title, I am going to building my first proper electric guitar. I have built one once before but it was a hack job and didn't turn out that great and the neck was huge because I had no idea what I was doing. Now, since being on this forum and seeing all the resources available, I feel confident in taking on a new challenge. The plan is to build a Les Paul Junior DC replica in cherry red however there is the possibility of changing this to make it look like a black beauty. Plans are on their way and I should be getting the wood for at least the body on Friday (there may be enough to get another one out of it as I can get good wood cheap through family if anyone is interested in it). This is going to be a fairly slow build. If I can get a one piece body I can start Friday, if not it may be this weekend or later. Any help anyone can offer me throughout the build will be greatly appreciated.

Specs will be either:

Mahogany Body
Mahogany Neck
P90 pickup
Wrap around bridge
Rosewood Fretboard
No binding

OR

Mahogany Body
Mahogany Neck
P90 pickup
Tune-O-Matic w/ stop tail piece
Custom binding and headstock
Ebony Fretboard

Hope you enjoy.

 

[Jozeph]

Looking forward to this. Love seeing the new builds

 

[cdscarter]

That's funny, I was just reading yours I hope to have caught up this weekend

 

[Jozeph]

Lol, havent even started really at this point. Shawn ordered a new bandsaw (I think he is as excited about this as I am) and I have just been putting together parts and figuring out the color. I have a feeling that once it starts it is going to go fairly quick which works for me as I am not the most patient person in the world

 

[cdscarter]

Wood is all sorted. Just got to get the headstock veneer and the fretboard. Spent most of the weekend working on this so will be posting pictures tonight... Hopefully. Still trying to work out what to do look wise. Can't find blank headstock veneers for Gibson's anywhere. Would like to do the silk screen logo but can't fine the one for the junior. In which case, I might just go for a custom style veneer and do the finishing touches accordingly. Should be interesting.

 

['59_Standard]

Probably not what you are after but crazyparts stock the fiberboard ones - should be available from Crox Guitars in the uk, too - and logo's under Headstock Inlays

Crazyparts

 

[cdscarter]

That was exactly what I was looking for actually. Thank you

 

[Barnaby]

I'm also looking forward to this thread. I really like Juniors, and you'll love playing a single-pickup guitar if you never have before. I do suggest the wraparound, as it seems to me to go much better with P-90s. I don't know why that is, but am sure that lots of people have their pet theories...

 

[cdscarter]

Right, bought myself two massive lumps of very nice mahogany. Only cost me £25. Looks great but really heavy. Hope that cuts out a little bit once I shape it some more. Have planed the wood, and cut the blanks. I even have another piece spare for another neck if anyone is interested? Looking forward to getting some shaping done.
Oh, btw, if anyone can make these pictures big for me I would appreciate that. Still don't get how to do it.

 

[cdscarter]

Those nails were a pain is the ass to get out. No idea what they were from but they were old and just snapped. Luckily we have got rid of all marks of them which is convenient to say the least. Neck blanks also got all cleaned up along with the body blank. Turned out we needed to do two piece. Couldn't fit it in the machine otherwise.

 

[cdscarter]

I'm thinking of going for the wrap around. Prefered it on my old SG Junior. The plans show one with the lighting ridge on it but it is straight (running parallel to the pickup) so I have had to make the bridge at the angle if I want to use the old style wrap around.
Oh, and before I forget, once I am done with the plans, would anyone like them? I'll include my tracing as well, saves some time. I'm sure they will come in handy for someone and I'm sure an agreement could be made

 

['59_Standard]

Oh, btw, if anyone can make these pictures big for me I would appreciate that. Still don't get how to do it.

Do you have a Photobucket or Flickr account with the pics on. If so you just Copy the URL/Address of that pictures page and Paste it in the Image upload Icon (small yellow box next to the quote mark) on the 'reply to thread' page.

Uploading an attachment from your computer to the page just seems to make them small - afaik, or when I've done that.

 

[cdscarter]

For those interested, this is my original build that I made nearly four years ago. I believe it is an ash body but can't remember what I made the neck from. It was roughly built althought I spent a lot of time on it. You can also see my awesome socks

 

['59_Standard]

They come up bigger if you click the attachment - I'm not sure why they're small, though.

 

[cdscarter]

I am so useless with working out these pictures.

Got the body traced and cutout. Started drilling the holes for the neck pocket and the P90. Going to clean those up later. Also cut the neck out and routed the trust rod channel which got a little too deep when the router bit slipped down. Should still have enough to work with though.

What do people think. Ebody board or Rosewood board?

 

[cdscarter]

 

[gtr-tek]

Rosewood is traditional and easy to work with. Ebony is nice but more brittle. Pick your poison. You can add a strip of wood in the TR channel if it is too deep. Looking good so far! I love a good Junior DC. I hope to get things together and build one for myself someday. Fortunately I have an original '59 to measure off of.

 

[cdscarter]

Alright show off Must be nice, seriously considering getting a real one soon. If you'd be so kind, mind sharing some pics of the bridge for me with the pickup. Want to see if what I'm doing on mine is right. Deviated a little from the plans.

Think I will go for rosewood if I can get the right stuff.

 

[lowatter]

Looking really nice there. When I built mine I made a vacuum hold-down box to secure the body down so it won't budge while routing the body. This box is also used as a router table with a fence using a different router holding top that vacuums the dust downward while routing.
Just use some foam insulation that has adhesive on one side stuck down in a square with a vacuum hole in the middle on the top and a vacuum hole on the bottom or side of the box that fits a shop vac hose. Like this...

 

[Barnaby]

I say go for the rosewood. Either that or, if you're feeling brave, cocobolo. Just be wary of the dust (don't ask me how I know...).