• JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
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Topic: LP project

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: LP project

I don't think thats a stupid question at all.  The only difference to me is Les Pauls are not modular like strats so as far as wiring and things yeah its harder.   It has a very tight work space for you to get into with a soldering iron and even if you buy a prewired kit you'll still have to wire up the toggle switch on your own and the pickups too.  If it was all together it wouldn't fit in the guitar.  Epiphones are good guitars don't let anyone tell you different.  You could find a Standard for around $400 to $500 or even less depending on the condition.  Gibson LP are no cheaper then $1000 on Ebay.  You wont be able to replace the neck like a lot of stratocasters can, unless your a highly trained wood craftsman or something.  So you want to make sure you like the neck before you buy it.  Or another option is get a Warmoth body and then you can have a bolt on neck.  You can find those in a les paul body finished on their site.  The neck would be the expensive part if you make it that way.  Last for me, if you get anything replace the pots and the bridge tune o matic with anything besides gibson.  That makes a huge difference!  good luck and post pics when your done!!!

JBSRV wrote:

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric

AD3THREE's Website

  • JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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Re: LP project

Cool thanks. I have heard great things about Warmoth (my friend brings them up whenever I talk about LPs)

This looks to be a fun project to work on this summer... I hope it works out. I appreciate the input.

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: LP project

no problem, thats what were here for.  The warmoths are very nice too because I think you'll find a much better top then if you were to look at gibsons or epiphones and they are priced very low because your not buying all the stuff for it already on it.  Its just the body or just the body and neck, the hardware on a used guitar plus the electronics adds to the cost so if your not wanting to use any of it then your paying for basically nothing extra.  If I were you I'd go for the Warmoth, you can find a sick quilt top for maybe $500 and they also have finished one with a lower price tag then the unfinished one after you have them finish the body for you.

AD3THREE's Website

5 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-05-11 16:11:17)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: LP project

JBSRV wrote:

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric

This would be perfect for you. I've built two strats already, and might start building a LP.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BULLDOG-1-LP-Flame- … 1|294%3A50

you can buy LP kits with bolt-on necks, but that totally defeats the purpose. Those are all over the place. Every now and then, you can get a set-neck LP kit and build it all yourself.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • JBSRV
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Re: LP project

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
JBSRV wrote:

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric

This would be perfect for you. I've built two strats already, and might start building a LP.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BULLDOG-1-LP-Flame- … 1|294%3A50

you can buy LP kits with bolt-on necks, but that totally defeats the purpose. Those are all over the place. Every now and then, you can get a set-neck LP kit and build it all yourself.

Thanks for he link!! That is perfect... exactly what I need!! Thanks! cool

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • JBSRV
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Re: LP project

Ok... new question. What pickups should I look at? I don't want to drop a fortune, but I want something nice. I'm not very experienced with LPs (as you can tell by now tongue ) so any help is appreciated.

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: South England
  • Registered: 2009-04-23
  • Posts: 154

Re: LP project

Check out Bare Knuckle Pickups: http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

If you ask me they are making the best pickups in the world right now, they are quite expensive.. but so so worth it.

9 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-05-12 20:14:43)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: LP project

Boutique pickups will be expensive.
Burstbuckers will be $110 a piece.
Duncans will be a little cheaper than Gibson Burstbuckers.
If you wanted to play with some cheaper pickups that are good, I'd try GFS. They do a good job of explaining what kind of tone each can do as well. http://guitarfetish.com

There are lots of opinions on this forum as to what humbuckers are best for the LP. Do some research! smile
If not here, than Harmony Central has user reviews on almost every guitar pickup you can think of. http://harmony-central.com
-nic

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • JBSRV
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Re: LP project

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Boutique pickups will be expensive.
Burstbuckers will be $110 a piece.
Duncans will be a little cheaper than Gibson Burstbuckers.
If you wanted to play with some cheaper pickups that are good, I'd try GFS. They do a good job of explaining what kind of tone each can do as well. http://guitarfetish.com

There are lots of opinions on this forum as to what humbuckers are best for the LP. Do some research! smile
If not here, than Harmony Central has user reviews on almost every guitar pickup you can think of. http://harmony-central.com
-nic

Yeah I was looking at some burstbuckers. I'll try to start this thing soon.

-Eric

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-05-14
  • Posts: 196

Re: LP project

JBSRV wrote:

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric

Building your own guitar is a hugely rewarding, extremely frustrating and slightly toxic adventure.   I'd 100% recommend it.

There several good books out there which cover everything from selecting tone woods, routing bodies for part fitting, building necks, hand wiring your own picks and painting. 

I bought "Make you own electric guitar" by Melvyn Hiscock and "Building Electric Guitars" by Martin Koch.     Both gave great information and advice.

I built myself a Tele-paul-caster.   Two piece magohany body which I routed to a Telecaster shape, fitted Seymour Duncans (his website is also awesome for information, wiring digrams and vids of the man himself showing you how to work on a Les Paul).    Adorned it with Lic. Fender parts.    It basically looks like a Tele Custom, but has a touch of an LP vibe.

I won't lie, it did cost me, but I love it.   

I want to build another.    Just keep 3 things in mind.

Telecaster - Easy, no body contours, bolt on neck, use a shim to adjust the neck
Stratocaster - Harder because of contours, bolt on neck, again use a shim to adjust angle
Les Paul - Complicated, carving a maple top is easy to get wrong, setting the neck angle badly will ruin the guitar. 

Good Luck
Morgan

"I learned to like carrots" - JB

"Schiffer broke a bottle on Morgan's head"
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: LP project

it can be rewarding and it can be the biggest pain the butt you'll ever take on as well.  Take last night I had just put a Bigsby on my LP and the down side to it is I had to come up with a way to plug the old brige holes and connect my ground to the bridge.  So I take off the bigsby no problem.  then I rig up these bolts that are big enough to stick up a bit so it touches the bigsby, that was maybe 10 mins on a lay to get the bolts to the right size then just screw them down.  That goes fine.  then I go to screw my bigsby back on and the screw head bold snaps before I even came close to tightening it down.  So now I had a screw that broke off below the surface of the wood that I can't get into.  Its too small for an easy out and it looks like drilling would be my best bet...  Now I have a huge ugly hole in my body of the guitar and I have to go back and plug it, at least I got the screw out.  But I'll never be able to go back to a stop tail piece again!  Pissed just isn't the word for how mad I was.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-05-14
  • Posts: 196

Re: LP project

AD3THREE wrote:

it can be rewarding and it can be the biggest pain the butt you'll ever take on as well.  Take last night I had just put a Bigsby on my LP and the down side to it is I had to come up with a way to plug the old brige holes and connect my ground to the bridge.  So I take off the bigsby no problem.  then I rig up these bolts that are big enough to stick up a bit so it touches the bigsby, that was maybe 10 mins on a lay to get the bolts to the right size then just screw them down.  That goes fine.  then I go to screw my bigsby back on and the screw head bold snaps before I even came close to tightening it down.  So now I had a screw that broke off below the surface of the wood that I can't get into.  Its too small for an easy out and it looks like drilling would be my best bet...  Now I have a huge ugly hole in my body of the guitar and I have to go back and plug it, at least I got the screw out.  But I'll never be able to go back to a stop tail piece again!  Pissed just isn't the word for how mad I was.

Why won't you be able to go back to a stop tail piece?

"I learned to like carrots" - JB

"Schiffer broke a bottle on Morgan's head"
  • Registered: 2008-07-05
  • Posts: 85

Re: LP project

JBSRV wrote:

This may sound a little dumb.

I was looking to start a guitar project and I was wondering if it was possible to order the parts for an LP and build it myself? I was thinking of building my own JB LP. I don't know if LPs are as easy to work on as strats are... so that's where the "stupid question" part comes in.

Would it be more practical to buy and Epiphone LP and work on it from there? Any thoughts?

-Eric


Here you go - best deal out there wink

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth … p?t=508118

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: LP project

Its not that I physically couldn't its that it will look horrible compaired to havig the bigsby cover up the place.

InspiredbyJB wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

it can be rewarding and it can be the biggest pain the butt you'll ever take on as well.  Take last night I had just put a Bigsby on my LP and the down side to it is I had to come up with a way to plug the old brige holes and connect my ground to the bridge.  So I take off the bigsby no problem.  then I rig up these bolts that are big enough to stick up a bit so it touches the bigsby, that was maybe 10 mins on a lay to get the bolts to the right size then just screw them down.  That goes fine.  then I go to screw my bigsby back on and the screw head bold snaps before I even came close to tightening it down.  So now I had a screw that broke off below the surface of the wood that I can't get into.  Its too small for an easy out and it looks like drilling would be my best bet...  Now I have a huge ugly hole in my body of the guitar and I have to go back and plug it, at least I got the screw out.  But I'll never be able to go back to a stop tail piece again!  Pissed just isn't the word for how mad I was.

Why won't you be able to go back to a stop tail piece?

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: LP project

Steve E wrote:

Here you go - best deal out there wink

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth … p?t=508118

That does seem pretty sweet. I'd like it more if the neck was already glued in... less margin of error then. I will remember this one!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool