1 Topic by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2012-07-30 13:07:49)

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

Topic: Les Paul kits

So I'm looking at making my best friend a LesPaul for his bachelor party gift. It won't say Gibson on it, I might have his last name made in that same letter style. I'm also going to wind the pickups and do the finish. After all that, I'll have my guitar tech do a pro setup cool

The thing is, I'm finding a great difference in quality between some kits. I've listed these from high to low in both quality and price.

Precision Guitar kits
http://precisionguitarkits.com/

Bulldog
http://bulldogbodies.com/

BYO Guitar
http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitar_Kits/Guitar-Kits.aspx

Guitar Fetish
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Guitar-And- … _c_74.html

Saga (immediately disqualified because of a bolt-on neck)
http://www.guitarpartsusa.com/item--Sag … e--PROD341

I'm interested to hear any feedback if any of you have built one of these kits. I've built two partsbuilt strats before, this will be my first set neck project.

PS: I have no intentions of the headstock saying Gibson, plus I'm going to include a printed book with snapshots throughout my process to also give to him so he can see all the work that went into it.

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

Re: Les Paul kits

That first build would be awesome...  its funny how the price drops drastically from Precision guitar kits to BYO guitars!

AD3THREE's Website

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

Re: Les Paul kits

Wow Nic.  He must be some kind of friend to put that much work into a bachelor party gift.  I can't add any kit quality experience, but still...wow!

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

4 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2012-07-30 16:05:25)

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

Re: Les Paul kits

Story is, we've been best friends since we were four years old. His dad always had bands, as did my two older brothers who were 10 years older than me. So no matter whose house we were at, there were always instruments around. We learned how to play guitar together, never had a band. He eventually got out of it in college, and I started playing in bands in college. He still tinkers a bit, and never had anything but his dad's blackie strat squire. After 26 years of friendship, I figure I could make him something that if he doesn't play it all the time, he can hang it up in his office to remind him of our friendship.

I'm the best man in his wedding and I want to make sure he'll never forget the bachelor party or the wedding.

- 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
  • Space
  • Space
  • Bronze Member
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  • From: Exeter, NH
  • Registered: 2011-07-24
  • Posts: 26

Re: Les Paul kits

I was always interested in these.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/category/235040

They sell machine tools but the owner is a guitar nut I guess.

6 Reply by guido (edited by guido 2012-07-30 18:21:02)

  • From: El Dorado Hills, Ca.
  • Registered: 2010-01-01
  • Posts: 797

Re: Les Paul kits

Talk about your coinkydinks! I was looking just this morning to see if there were any kits or plans that I could get to build a guitar. I have a full blown woodshop at my disposal and several suppliers of exotic hardwoods in the area so I thought I would like to build one myself. Even though I'm not a player, I think guitars are the sexiest things around next to my girlfriend and Italian sports cars.
Does anyone have any idea if it's possible to get just the templates and/or plans for a guitar as I may want to form the body and neck out of other woods than what the kits have in them. Also, what would be the best woods for quality, tone and beauty for the neck and body?
Like you Nic, I may/probably give this as a gift to someone if it turns out well.

Why don't we eliminate all the warning labels and let things sort themselves out?
  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Re: Les Paul kits

I think I might try out the MM kit on the byo guitars site. Thanks for the link...

8 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2012-07-30 20:07:24)

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

Re: Les Paul kits

guido wrote:

Does anyone have any idea if it's possible to get just the templates and/or plans for a guitar as I may want to form the body and neck out of other woods than what the kits have in them. Also, what would be the best woods for quality, tone and beauty for the neck and body?
Like you Nic, I may/probably give this as a gift to someone if it turns out well.

Stewmac is the place for plans.. and specialized tools for you shop wink
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans.html

BYO guitar is probably where I'd order mine. They are only $13 and look decent.
http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitar_Kits/Guitar-Plans.aspx

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

Re: Les Paul kits

I think part of the cost of these are the parts, however I think some the the parts are cheap and I wouldn't suggest using them... the body looked great though.

Space wrote:

I was always interested in these.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/category/235040

They sell machine tools but the owner is a guitar nut I guess.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Les Paul kits

Good luck in your project.......what a cool idea/gift for him....:)

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: Danville, IL
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 458

Re: Les Paul kits

Rather than a kit (echo AD3THREE here!), buy a body and then the components so you get exactly what you want!

Another to throw in the mix: http://warmoth.com

Good luck and be sure to post in-progress pics! smile

kestrou

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

Re: Les Paul kits

I don't see any Warmoths with set necks... and I'd like to be finished creating bolt-ons. They do however have nice woods and customization options.

- 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: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Les Paul kits

Musikraft do a LP body and neck which you could then finish and add the hardware to:

http://www.musikraft.com/product-info.php?pid224.html

I have no idea what they're like, but I've heard their Fender bodies and necks are pretty good....

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Les Paul kits

Adrian J wrote:

Musikraft do a LP body and neck which you could then finish and add the hardware to:

http://www.musikraft.com/product-info.php?pid224.html

I have no idea what they're like, but I've heard their Fender bodies and necks are pretty good....

$895 for a les paul kit? JEEZ! that's the most expensive one yet! That had better be good...

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

Re: Les Paul kits

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
Adrian J wrote:

Musikraft do a LP body and neck which you could then finish and add the hardware to:

http://www.musikraft.com/product-info.php?pid224.html

I have no idea what they're like, but I've heard their Fender bodies and necks are pretty good....

$895 for a les paul kit? JEEZ! that's the most expensive one yet! That had better be good...

Ok, so the new plan is buy a Gibson, then strip it of finish and hardware and redo it! wink

kestrou

  • Registered: 2012-05-30
  • Posts: 485

Re: Les Paul kits

kestrou wrote:
NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
Adrian J wrote:

Musikraft do a LP body and neck which you could then finish and add the hardware to:

http://www.musikraft.com/product-info.php?pid224.html

I have no idea what they're like, but I've heard their Fender bodies and necks are pretty good....

$895 for a les paul kit? JEEZ! that's the most expensive one yet! That had better be good...

Ok, so the new plan is buy a Gibson, then strip it of finish and hardware and redo it! wink

kestrou

An R9 yes? tongue

Guitars: Fender American Original 60s Strat, Fender American Vintage 52 Tele, Gibson Les Paul Traditional
FX: Various including - Ceriatone Centura, Fire Custom Shop Carpe Diem
Amp: Fender ML212 Deville + 212 extention cabinet
  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: Les Paul kits

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I don't see any Warmoths with set necks... and I'd like to be finished creating bolt-ons. They do however have nice woods and customization options.

You can glue the neck in instead of bolting it.  Warmoth will sell it undrilled and I hear they will work with you if you want a set neck.  They do offer nice wood options.

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

Re: Les Paul kits

Found another builder. Sent an email to ask about their quality

http://www.rmolsonguitars.com/LesPaulSolidBody.html


I ended up getting the $200 kit from Guitar Fetish, and I'm sending it back.

  • the flame top had a huge gouge in the end that had filler on it - right on the face near pickup toggle
    binding was coming off
    neck heel was cracked
    cutaway horn had a gouge in it.
    frets had a huge dip, would need a complete refret
    humbuckers metered at 4.35 and 4.5k

Right now I need to decide if I want to pay $400 for the precision kit, they at least guararntee a good neck fitting and frets.

- 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