coldnebraskablue Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Hi folks, Very new here, have recently started building a Saga Les Paul kit, noticed there were a few other people either doing or having done the same. Have managed a basic build, nothing missing and everything works (or at least it will do after I resolder the jack socket ). My plan is to get everything basically working and playable, and then disassemble and shield cavaties, paint/lacquer and maybe upgrade some bits. There are some pictures here of the bits and pieces so far. I have a question, hopefully someone can answer - the neck seems OK, but doesn't seat fully in the body - it protrudes about 3 or 4mm (close-up here: close-up ). Looking at other Les Pauls this doesn't seem right (they seem flush). Should I 1) remove a few mil from the heel of the neck (eg, sanding ?) ? 2) remove a few mil (somehow) from the body where the neck joins (eg, sanding ?) ? 3) live with it ? 4) something else entirely ? One other thing, there is plenty of electrical buzz until I touch something metal - is that likely to be a shielding issue, or a grounding issue ? Apart from this, the only real pain has been deepening the nut slots to get the thing to play in tune, but I'm pretty much there now on that. Any advice greatly appreciated ! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iskim86 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Hi folks, Very new here, have recently started building a Saga Les Paul kit, noticed there were a few other people either doing or having done the same. Have managed a basic build, nothing missing and everything works (or at least it will do after I resolder the jack socket ). My plan is to get everything basically working and playable, and then disassemble and shield cavaties, paint/lacquer and maybe upgrade some bits. There are some pictures here of the bits and pieces so far. I have a question, hopefully someone can answer - the neck seems OK, but doesn't seat fully in the body - it protrudes about 3 or 4mm (close-up here: close-up ). Looking at other Les Pauls this doesn't seem right (they seem flush). Should I 1) remove a few mil from the heel of the neck (eg, sanding ?) ? 2) remove a few mil (somehow) from the body where the neck joins (eg, sanding ?) ? 3) live with it ? 4) something else entirely ? One other thing, there is plenty of electrical buzz until I touch something metal - is that likely to be a shielding issue, or a grounding issue ? Apart from this, the only real pain has been deepening the nut slots to get the thing to play in tune, but I'm pretty much there now on that. Any advice greatly appreciated ! Thanks! you need to leave the neck like that. real pauls have necks that are glued into the body. the saga kit has a bolt-on construction. unless you're talking about the gap between the body and the sides of the neck? how's the action right now? and i think that would be a grounding issue. check solder joints, and if you can, just resolder everything or get an electronic overhaul. hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsnap Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Real Les Pauls are built with a neck angle to ensure proper action all the way along the neck. The body is contoured to hid the angle, so it looks like it is flush against a straight body. It is calculated using nut and bridge height. Any good guitar building book (such as Melvyn Hiscocks) will show you how to calculate and incorporate a neck angle as well as why it is needed. It sounds like, for ease, your kit uses the "Fender" method which is to raise the fretboard above the body (by the depth of the neck pocket) to a level that works with the height of the bridge. Using no neck angle is an easier build, especially for a beginner, which is most likely why your kit guitar is this way. Leave it alone if it plays well, it is correct. Peace ... Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldnebraskablue Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Guys, thanks for the quick replies. how's the action right now? Much improved and basically playable since I filed down the nut slots over the weekend. Just concerned that the neck was protruding too far from the body, height-wise. Also means bridge is quite high, but like I said, these things aside, it looks and sounds like a playable guitar. Thanks again, will post more pictures as build/rebuild progresses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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