Author Topic: Custom Les Paul Design (Read 5791 times)

Bainzy · « **on:** March 13, 2007, 03:08:57 PM »

I'm going to be building a run of 6 Les Pauls, so many simply because the wood worked out very cheap in bulk (the 4x4 neck timber and body/top all work out to roughly 3m lengths of timber). 2 are going to be for friends, and I'm just charging the basic cost of materials (wood/plastic/paint etc) to cover my costs for doing it, and one of those friends is a guy called Cameron. We've discussed what he wants his LP to look like, and I made a rough mockup:

What do you guys think? After seeing Fred Gabrsek's work, we both decided it would be really cool to ebonise the Madagascar Rosewood and write Cameron's name on as the inlay in Chinese symbols or a phrase instead in Chinese and maybe add some other graphic designs. The placement wouldn't be the same as on that mockup, we still haven't designed anything yet for it, but any writing would be in that style and font.

Anything else that might customise the guitar too, I'd like suggestions on that :)

metal_god · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2007, 03:27:58 PM »

hey dude how much are these gonna work out at? and have you made guitars before? :)

Bainzy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:14:13 PM »

Quote from: metal_god

hey dude how much are these gonna work out at? and have you made guitars before? :)

I haven't worked out the cost of the MOP and paint, but it should cost about £50 in wood, binding, inlays and frets. I'll leave it to Cameron to decide what brand of hardware/pickups he uses, although I'll explain to him the differences between them. Also yes, I have made guitars before - bodies, necks - but this is the first time I've made the whole thing at once, since these are my first set-necks.

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:20:26 PM »

If they turn out well, I may well be interested in buying one, if you fancy doing one in a vintage/creamy white :)

edit - I also agree with the people below, I dont like the inlays but as they say "the customer is always right" :P

greeny · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:25:26 PM »

That neck is too busy for my particular preferance, but good luck. I think I'd try one with a simple neck first to see how it turns out!

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:49:35 PM »

Quote from: greeny

That neck is too busy for my particular preferance, but good luck. I think I'd try one with a simple neck first to see how it turns out!

What this one said.

Would look much sleeker with dots.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:54:36 PM »

Quote from: Bainzy

Quote from: metal_god
hey dude how much are these gonna work out at? and have you made guitars before? :)

I haven't worked out the cost of the MOP and paint, but it should cost about £50 in wood, binding, inlays and frets. I'll leave it to Cameron to decide what brand of hardware/pickups he uses, although I'll explain to him the differences between them. Also yes, I have made guitars before - bodies, necks - but this is the first time I've made the whole thing at once, since these are my first set-necks.

Sheesh Bainzy - where are you buying your wood, mother of pearl and stuff
And what timbers are you using at that price?

metal_god · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2007, 05:01:13 PM »

i designed this thing so if you want to make it youve got yourself a customer

Bainzy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2007, 05:17:32 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

Sheesh Bainzy - where are you buying your wood, mother of pearl and stuff
And what timbers are you using at that price?

The chambered body and neck timber will be K/D FAS Sapele from SL Hardwoods, I bought it at 10% m/c but have had it stored for quite a while so it should be perfect next time I check m/c on it. I had to buy 6 LP's worth to get it down in price so much. The top will be canadian maple from either SL hardwoods or my local Arnold Laver, depends whether AL can do it any cheaper than the quote I got from SL. MOP will be from ebay or from some I've got stored away, I'm wondering whether to use synthetic stuff or not - I don't think he'll mind too much as long as it looks good.

The only reason I'm building 2 guitars for friends without labour cost is because I needed to buy this much wood to get it cheap, and they offered to help out by giving me the cost of materials and providing me with a bit of more building practice on LP's. I don't think I'd be building any more any time soon, but thanks for the interest - if you guys want a quality custom LP built for a reasonable price, Feline is the man to do it. Right now I'm waaayyy to busy at Uni to be able to build people complete set neck guitars, and bear in mind £50 doesn't include labour cost, paint, hardware, pickups etc - these guitars will take ages to build by hand lol.

Ratrod · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2007, 06:11:27 PM »

Some more Les Paul ideas:

Burl maple:

Hawaii burst:

Real flames:

Kilby · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2007, 06:28:14 PM »

Heh, I'm a sucker for greenbursts (also purple and bluebursts too).

Have a look at the falling Maple leaves markers on Eggle guitars, they really nice looking (to me)

rob...

Mr Ed · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2007, 06:42:38 PM »

£50?! For them materials?! You must be nicking them. :lol:

BloodMountain · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:26:52 PM »

if it is possible to make one with that "Real Flames" finish, then i would buy one without a second glance.

Ratrod · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2007, 08:33:06 PM »

This guy can paint something like that.

http://www.killerpaint.com/gallery/index.html

Here's just one example.

indysmith · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2007, 09:50:23 PM »

Ratrod's designs are pretty nice there. everyone else WTF?!
Good luck bainzy! i truly admire you man - yu seem to be so talented with guitar gear. ur amp modding and guitar building at such a young age is awesome. You gotta be going places 8)