Mike Doyle Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Hey guys, after mucking around with my strat (its almost done...can't wait to strap it on again), I'm totally into guitar modifying and whatnot. My next project I think will be my 1999 Les Paul Studio. Right now its finished in black, and the paint job isn't the best. It's chipped all around the edges, but hasn't dented the wood yet. I want to redo the entire finish before the wood suffers, and because black sucks. In any case, a natural finish might be nice. Has anyone stripped down a Maple top/Mahogany body and finished it naturally? It's not going to be quilt or flame...so should I determine that after I see what the top looks like? Also, I might keept the neck and headstock black, because I am in love with this guitar (its like my baby) and I want the feel I trust and rely on still. As for the truss rod cover, and covers for the electronics, I want to redo them in wood, a nice color that works with the top and the mahogany. Any advice or opinions would be appreciated, I love the looks of those old 70's Customs that have the natural finish, but I think the maple top is stained darker, in a walnut-type dye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killahworm Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 it'll probably look a lot like the flat earth heresy in the pro GOTM, only a full breed LP. and that looks really cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Hint: Unfigured maple is beautiful too! Actually, a clear finish on reg maple over mahog would still be truly beautiful. I say go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 i love the look of plain maple, but i dont think you should do the WHOLE thing clear. i think you should spray the back and mahogany sides(leave ALL the maple alone) some color, maybe a red? then leave the maple natural. mahogany isn't that great a looking wood(in my opinion) to do clear...so...take it as you will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82DeanZ Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Hey Doyle, You've seen this USA Custom right? http://www.jemsite.com/usa/gallery/ucew1/ucew1qm/index.htm Nice example of a natural finish mahagony back/maple top axe. I personally like the natural finish over the mahagony back in this case. I say go for it! I'm 90% sure that I'm going with a natural finish on mine because I like the look of that USA Custom: My Guitar Project Best Regards, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Doyle Posted July 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Thanks for the input. 82DeanZ, weren't you on the Petrucci Forums? We need more of your good natured-kind over there again, especially now that I know you are building a guitar!!! That Ibanez Custom looks fantastic! I am not a fan of high-gloss myself, I love the look of satin, or semi-gloss at best. I know pictures amplify it, but to me a gloss ruins the finish and makes it look like its under a glass case. Also, that is a MASSIVE maple top eh? Well its like Mahogany/Maple/Maple Top. I'd laugh my ass off if Gibson decided to put a 1/2" top on my Studio I'm also thinking of giving a better heel access like Warmoth does with their Les Pauls, so that should be fun. As for painting the sides and back, its mighty tempting, because I ultimately want a nice binding around the bottom, but don't quite have the patience for it yet, but after the paint is off I'll figure that out! Again, depending on how easy it is to strip off the paint, I will decide if the neck and headstock need a new look...I'm gonna try piece together a few images on the net to make a photoshop image of what I want my LP to look like. Your opinions help me alot. I want to start this project by the start of the Olympics, and have it ready by the end of the Olympics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 it'll probably look a lot like the flat earth heresy in the pro GOTM, only a full breed LP. and that looks really cool Maybe...but I'd bet it'll look a whole lot more like this. My '76. I've owned this baby since 1985. $500.00 cash and we drove home together. In all the years since, I've sold every other production guitar I had except one other and this one, and I've had some nice ones. Great guitar. Maybe not as pretty as a beautiful bursted Custom, but the tone is why I bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Doyle Posted July 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 Drak, that looks great! I always love seeing Maple on the Les Pauls, especially with the block inlays! That guitar seems worn in and perfect. I have the same relationship (albeit much shorter...2000-2004) with this guitar, I don't know if I could EVER sell it. It just FITS, and I've gotten from point A to point B in my guitar playing with it. I personally had a different look in mind. I want to stain the front and back. Here is a mock picture I drew up. The headstock I want to redo with a custom graphic. That body wood is the COLOR I want, my god I doubt the grain will be that The pickguard will be made of wood, as will the rear cavity covers. I want the mahogany to be stained that color as well...and I want it all to 'somewhat' match the rosewood of the fretboard. I will also make a custom wood engraved truss rod cover, haven't decent on a color or anything yet. Look decent? I would LOVE to bind the top in black, but I don't think I have to skills for that yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 That's cool, it's your dream, not mine, that's whats important. I kinda dislike a guitar with too many wooden parts on it, at some point it starts to lose that 'rock-n-roll' look, and to me, an electric guitar 'has' to have a certain amount of plastic and metal to make it 'rock', if you know what I mean. But that's just me, you build exactly what your dreams tell you to. PS, I wouldn't be surprised if the stain on the guitar doesn't run too deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvertonessuckbutigotone Posted July 26, 2004 Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 i personally think it would look terrible and i would call the whole thing stupid... just kidding no hard feelings or nothing, i think that would look really cool, especially on an LP, it really wouldnt look very good on anything but those vintage hollow body types, i think it would be really cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Doyle Posted July 26, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2004 That's cool, it's your dream, not mine, that's whats important. I kinda dislike a guitar with too many wooden parts on it, at some point it starts to lose that 'rock-n-roll' look, and to me, an electric guitar 'has' to have a certain amount of plastic and metal to make it 'rock', if you know what I mean. But that's just me, you build exactly what your dreams tell you to. PS, I wouldn't be surprised if the stain on the guitar doesn't run too deep. I hear ya....but I have 8 other guitars for my rocking out and whatever. I am young, and still getting into guitar building, so doing stuff like this is more practice than anything. If it works, thats awesome, if it doesn't...then I'll have to cover it up with something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82DeanZ Posted July 27, 2004 Report Share Posted July 27, 2004 Thanks for the input. 82DeanZ, weren't you on the Petrucci Forums? We need more of your good natured-kind over there again, especially now that I know you are building a guitar!!! Yes, we've met on the Petrucci board Mike. I've been spending most of my time here lately now that I've gotten into building (as you have)! I check in over there now and then and it seems like it's been a bit slow there. Also, that is a MASSIVE maple top eh? Well its likeMahogany/Maple/Maple Top. Yeah, it sure is massive. I think one reason they did that was so they didn't have to bend the maple for the forearm drop. I'm sure it affects the tone as well. On my project, I never intended to have a maple top, but I over planed my alder blank and had to add the top to get the 1 3/4 in thickness I needed. I didn't feel like trying a drop top on my first guitar, so it's going to be a flat top. Although I didn't show the back of my guitar, I too am going to contour the heel similar to the AANJ and use neck ferrules instead of a neck plate. Should be quite comfortable to play. Good to see you over here Mike. When we finish our projects maybe we can take our expertise over to the Petrucci board and help some of those guys out! Best Regards, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Doyle Posted August 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2004 Ok, the olympics are comming around and I want to get this sucker started. With the methods I am using, I don't think I will have to spend more than a day or so drying between coats...I've heard of people waiting weeks between coats with some finishes I dunno if I want to strip the whole thing right now or not. It's dented and chipped everywhere, but I might just repaint the neck and headstock black anyway, so maybe I'm just asking for too much extra work? Or is it worth doing the neck as well as the body? I want to contour the heel joint, but I can do that without touching the neck. Also...how do I remove these Tune-o-matic studs? Do I just grab them with a set of pliers and unscrew them, or should I just leave them in? Help with that would be appreciated! Also, I am rethinking whether I want to stain it dark. I have a feeling I want it lighter now like Drak's. I want to put a faux black binding around the top (and bottom if I leave it natural)...otherwise paint the back black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.