My Les Paul Special Turned Archedtop!

[Adam Brown]

Hey Folks, it's been a long while since I've stopped by... and I wish I had more pictures to share...

In about 2002, I purchased a hacked Les Paul Special off of Ebay... the p-90 pickup cavities had been chiseled in order to fit humbuckers... and well... it didn't end up fitting either! Humbucking pickups would just end up falling out while I was playing. Another problem I had, was that it was a 98 model Special, and that year, they had adopted an earlier design in which the cutaway never actually meets the neck... so upper fret access was a little hard.

Well... In December of 2003, after being so intrigued by this site, I decided it was time to work on this girl. I had bought a heat gun, and used it to strip the guitar... Boy... I don't know what finish Gibson was using... but the paint just came of in flakes, without any effort!

I then, with a lot of time and patience, removed the fretboard, then the neck... (it took a LONG time to wiggle the neck off... a lot of steam too... not just the heat gun)

and rasped then sanded the cutaway.

then, Long Story short:

-planed the top

-shaped and attached some eastern rock maple

-routed around it in levels like a Mayan temple.

-sanded it with a sanding disc equipped drill and belt sander and mouse sander

-Added some mahogany to the neck joint, and angled it

-attached the neck

-glued on a 70s LP custom fretboard

-scooped a little at the back of the body where the neck meets (using the sanding disc)

-Fastened adhesive holographic squares.

-spray painted the edges black

-clear coated for weeks!!

Since this picture I've actually done a lot. I mis-measured the scale, and it's intonation was always off... so ... I stripped it again... plugged up the bridge holes... made proper ones, added a thin strip of wood in between the fretboard and neck to make due for the difference in thickness from the 70's custom fretboard and the 90's special one.

The finish was done the same way.

I have since added De Armond goldtone pickups and a graphtech nut.

I have scars all over my hands from this project!

The most difficult time I had was finding the right neck angle, and getting the neck to stay in.

I will NEVER use spray cans to do a clear coat again!

Sorry for the lack of pictures... I have some that need to be scanned.. and some that need to be taken!

Thanks for reading! And thanks to this site for giving me the inspiration... this is now my number one guitar! plays like a dream!

Edited December 28, 2007 by Adam Brown

[Hector]

Another problem I had, was that it was a 98 model Special, and that year, they had adopted an earlier design in which the cutaway never actually meets the neck... so upper fret access was a little hard.

I thought all specials had that extra wood in the cutaway area.

I feel kinda sad because to me a lp special is one cool guitar, but I'm glad you like it now. and welcome to the guitar building world.

[Adam Brown]

Another problem I had, was that it was a 98 model Special, and that year, they had adopted an earlier design in which the cutaway never actually meets the neck... so upper fret access was a little hard.

I thought all specials had that extra wood in the cutaway area.

I feel kinda sad because to me a lp special is one cool guitar, but I'm glad you like it now. and welcome to the guitar building world.

Hey Hector, thanks, and just to let you know... I love Les Paul Specials... I love p90s.. I wouldn't have done this on any guitar that hadn't already been hacked up!

[Xanthus]

That is one badass project, my friend

Definitely get some pictures together, this would make a great and unique tutorial!

[Adam Brown]

thanks man! Your flying V is awesome!