Has anyone built a Les paul jr.

[ampmike]

I have been drawn to this simple guitar,had one as a kid and it did not have very good action.However it was cool lookin tobacco sunburst.Has anyone built one of these?And Precision guitar kits would be my choice.I would love to relic one.Or do you guys think Gibson makes a decent production one,Any thought on this idea.Should I try to build one or find one made?mikey.

[Reeltarded]

It's all in the wood buddy. Best to build it yourself if you can find pattern grade mahogany. You can cheat and buy a slotted board.

You looking to make a single cut or a double cut?

[Zippy]

I like the concept too. I have G&L's twist on the theme, the ASAT Jr. (mahogany neck and body).

[img:199:504]http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/US ... Junior.gif[/img]

[ampmike]

Thanks Guys,I saw a 1957 tobacco burst Jr on ebay,he demo the guitar and man it sounded nice,he worked the vol pot from clean rhythm to smokin lead tone.What a nice simple guitar.the price on that was a 2nd mortgage but the guitar looked brand new.I would have to sell something to get one to build.The key for me is the neck,I wouldn't mind a fat neck but the action would be the deal breaker.And I have never built a guitar.It would be a set neck deal as well.Its fun to dream about getting one for now.Then painting and doing the finish would be a challenge.I love that aged TV yellow!,Dream on,Mikey

[overtone]

Building your own guitar is very satisfying but, like building amps , the process is fraught with setbacks. Plus it makes no economic sense.
But I persist to build because it keeps my twitching fingers off the old ones.

It started way back, when I was a wee lad, I started to make a 1:1 copy of my '61 SG Junior - that's many moons ago in the days when there was a thing called time on your hands.
My father found me some amazing mahogany, had the joiners at his work rout the truss slot and from there onwards I was on my own.
You could carve that mahogany with scalpel blades. It had a Brazilian RW board and I was aiming for an exact duplicate. That was a lot of work.
I lost the plot along the way. There was some distraction in longhaired she-devils.

If I could get me some timber like that and time again... na, I still have the original SG Jr, one of the first, which is enough.
Even so, the DCs which I tried before settling on the SG still haunt me, especially the ones with really pale TV finishes.
I would still like to get the chance to try a single cut in anger.

[MGW]

Building guitars is a blast. Hope this helps.

[skyboltone]

I think I'd explore the idea not the copy you know? Start with a Melody Maker and get some really nice P90s to play with.

[Noval_novice]

If you're thinking of going with a neck and body from precision guitar kits, I can vouch for the quality of their work. Still in the finishing phase on this double cut.

[Structo]

I always liked the double cut Juniors.

Those precision kits look pretty darn good!

[briane]

And I have never built a guitar

me neither till I did it - just take a guitar you really like - and copy it - thats how I built my first.

They take a heck of a lot more work to build than an amp though.

They have 1 week classes at some universitys down south (summer course) - show up with the wood and parts - and if your good and quick have a guitar by friday - I recall that ran about 700 - lacking the cash and time off - I just decided to do it.

sometimes a thick head is a strong point.

[romberg]

I'd say give it a go. In the end it is just wood + alot of time. Back when I was young, I had more time and a pile of hardwood from my grandfather. I was short on money and any sort of woodworking experience what so ever. But I did manage to make a playable electric (including the neck) with nothing more than a wood rasp and skill saw.

I had no clue about wood dye at the time so my effort to do the birdseye maple top was a complete mess. But it sorta turned out ok. It is the only guitar I have ever had stolen. This picture is all I have left of it. The handmade one is on the left (Leo and all did the right

Mike

[M Fowler]

Mikey go for it and enjoy the time building it.

I gave the two kits I've built away to relatives and they appreciated them.

Mark

[LeftyStrat]

I've enjoyed building several guitars, but I didn't enjoy finishing them. I did a tele copy in Lake Placid Blue using the Reranch sprays. It must have took me six months to apply the metal flake blue followed by enough clear coats to cover it.

Miles (Reeltarded) mentioned to me the MIM Fenders are freaking dipped in a vat of coating, multiple times.

I will eventually build another, when I discover a way to do a minimal finish. Tung Oil, or woods that can last without a finish (oily woods).

[cbass]

I find finishing to be the easiest part.It just takes some patience and knowing when to stop.
You can get a cheap spray gun from the autobody supply store. For about $40 you will be miles ahead of a spraycan.

[Reeltarded]

I like it too. The word finish is a favorite.

Real guitars came with 4 coats. Don't glaze your guitar. Let it breathe. The film thickness over 40 years will cure to nearly nothing and then it will really wake up. All the overcoats go on in one hour. 12-15 minutes between coats and three hours later do all the leveling you are ever going to do. Do not wait until tomorrow!

If you use anti-blushing agent and wait a week you are going to be there for a while. Like sanding glass panes.

Don't be there for a while.