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

Re: Les Paul kits

I gotta say I was a bit bummed out when I got a few parts from Guitar fetish as well.  Such as their solid steel trem block for a USA American Standard...  It was only the width of the strings so the wammy bar didn't have any steel going to it, plus you had to use their ancors.  The other issue I had was I bought a body and a neck from them.  The body was strat sized looking at it but it was really thin like a cheaper Squire guitar, pluse the neck didn't fit the pocket or any pocket for any strat style guitar I've owned...  That took some work to make it fit.  Metal parts have minimum amounts of chrome and look cheap.  But I will say they make some great sounding pickups!

AD3THREE's Website

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

Re: Les Paul kits

UPDATE!

So... my best friend is getting married. I wanted to build him a Les Paul. I've made two strats already, and his only guitar is a strat - so I figured I could try my first set neck for his wedding gift.

I ended up ordering a Guitar Fetish kit LesPaul. I ended up returning it because:
the neck heel was cracked
the layered neck was splitting between layers
the binding was coming up
the maple top had a large gash on the end.
the pickups were covered humbuckers that read 4.2k and 4.38, respectively

After getting a refund, I went on Craigslist. I found a 1991 Les Paul Studio Lite... sunburst. It had been completely taken apart and all parts were in the box. the neck had been cracked off, repaired, and wrapped in some kind of fiberglass mesh. $300.

I figured I could take a chance. I went to Woodcraft and bought some furniture stripper. The paint slid right off. I'm currenly selling the reliced (naturally) gold hardware if anyone is interested... gotoh tailpiece and abr-1 bridge. The 3x3 tuners have Gibson printed on the back in black ink.

Sanding it down was a b-word. There was a lot of dings and scratches in it. And I had to delicately sand off the fiberglass tape.

After stripping the sunburst off, I dyed the maple cap blue. I'm leaving the sides and back natural. The maple cap around the outside look like binding a'la PRS cool

Right now I have it dyed and 4 coats of sanding sealer. I'll being spraying nitro soon.

While the finish is curing, I'm going to wind him some of my own humbucker design

I'm already into this project as much as a new epiphone guitar, but this has more 'thought' into it than just buying something. I'll post pics when I get time!

- 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

21 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2012-09-19 20:42:11)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Les Paul kits

Sounds like its going to be a very cool axe Nic!  The blue and natural sounds especially appealing.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

The defects on the kit are kinda shocking.  I would have expected better from GF.  Yikes.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

Re: Les Paul kits

Can't wait for the pics Nic!!

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website

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

Re: Les Paul kits

No this is typical of gutiar Fetish.  Great pickups, decent replacement parts if they work without you having to drill new holes, poor wood work.  My strat build I did had a route on it around the neck slot that was cut so deep you can see an 8th inch of the bottom of the side of the neck sticking out.  But I didn't care because it wasn't like I was getting a high quality instrument here.  It ended up sounding really good though.

dknight16 wrote:

Sounds like its going to be a very cool axe Nic!  The blue and natural sounds especially appealing.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

The defects on the kit are kinda shocking.  I would have expected better from GF.  Yikes.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2010-11-16
  • Posts: 366

Re: Les Paul kits

Wow, that sounds like a fun project.

I'm sure your friend will be really chuffed with the present and the guitar will be a great symbol of your friendship.

Be sure to post some pictures and a tone report when you get it all buttoned up; the blue top with the natural sounds like a great combination.

I've built a couple of tele-style guitars myself and am currently working on a LP JR DC.  It's definitely fun and relaxing.

conorb

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Les Paul kits

Musikraft is making a set neck LP. I haven't found any reviews of them yet. I use them for F style necks and bodies and they're always top quality. I would like to talk with Jim (owner) about them before placing a order. If the specs on them are right, I'd like to send one off to HM for the finish work. However, right now I have enough that my buying/building days are at a standstill.

  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: Les Paul kits

Come on, Nic - pics, pics, pics! smile

kestrou

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

Re: Les Paul kits

Spider wrote:

Musikraft is making a set neck LP

$895 is pretty expensive for one of those, but they look nice.

I'll have around $500-700 into this by the time I'm done... and it will still be a Gibson smile

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

Re: Les Paul kits

UPDATE!

I just found a new brand of kit for under $400
they do a sort of PRS single or double cut... but they have a 10" neck tenon that seems fool-proof.
Very nice looking, and make in North Carolina.

http://www.pvxguitars.com/index.html

- 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
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Les Paul kits

Wow.  That looks really promising.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster