Les Paul Studio Project

I was referring solely to the Gibson Les Paul derived Florentine pictured above in post 39

Seems like if they take THAT MUCH wood out of your Les Paul---- they oughta give you a discount! lol
 
eSGEe said:
I was referring solely to the Gibson Les Paul derived Florentine pictured above in post 39

Seems like if they take THAT MUCH wood out of your Les Paul---- they oughta give you a discount! lol
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They should. I bet all that waste mahogany goes to expensive MDF.
 
eSGEe said:
I was referring solely to the Gibson Les Paul derived Florentine pictured above in post 39

Seems like if they take THAT MUCH wood out of your Les Paul---- they oughta give you a discount! lol
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No doubt! This Studio husk has so much wood cut out of it, that it's about the same weight as my SGs. But, I don't have hardware on the Studio, yet.

It really doesn't need to be this light. I mean, I'm sure I'll be grateful when I'm playing it, but after hoisting my Custom around, I have to be careful not to lift the Studio with too much force, or I'll jam it into my ceiling!

One real stinker about this whole thing is that when I was researching the installation of this Kahler online, I learned that in the '80s, when Gibson was installing these in many of their models, the post spacing for the Kahler hybrids was drop-in perfect. However, when Gibson stopped installing the Kahlers in the late '80s/early '90s, the stop-tail stud spacing altered, making plugging and redrilling a pretty common necessity. I had already thought through how to do all of this, to include finishing the dowel ends. I was seriously within days of doing it!

Anyhoo, I'm glad I lucked into seeing that video, which caused me to do some more digging. Otherwise, I'd have drilled my first hole into a void and REALLY freaked out!
 
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I "get" the do it yourself gas and all ---been there done that---

Smitty......I am going to be a total DICK at this point .......(no offense intended--and as long as I announce it first its EXPECTED)

Do you remember the "coulda had a V-8 " commercials of the 70's er....was it 80's???? I dunno any way.....

425.00 dude.........seriously................
Agile AL-3100MCC Black Flame Floyd Rose - RondoMusic.com
 
smitty_p said:
No doubt! This Studio husk has so much wood cut out of it, that it's about the same weight as my SGs. But, I don't have hardware on the Studio, yet.

It really doesn't need to be this light. I mean, I'm sure I'll be grateful when I'm playing it, but after hoisting my Custom around, I have to be careful not to lift the Studio with too much force, or I'll jam it into my ceiling!

One real stinker about this whole thing is that when I was researching the installation of this Kahler online, I learned that in the '80s, when Gibson was installing these in many of their models, the post spacing for the Kahler hybrids was drop-in perfect. However, when Gibson stopped installing the Kahlers in the late '80s/early '90s, the stop-tail stud spacing altered, making plugging and redrilling a pretty common necessity. I had already thought through how to do all of this, to include finishing the dowel ends. I was seriously within days of doing it!

Anyhoo, I'm glad I lucked into seeing that video, which caused me to do some more digging. Otherwise, I'd have drilled my first hole into a void and REALLY freaked out!
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Smitty, I am jealous - those chambered (really, they are semi-hollow) LP's have a really sweet tone. They are a bit more compressed sounding and have a kind of midrange scoop that gives them a unique voice that still sounds like a Les Paul. I goofed around with one in the local shop over and over again and loved it, and when it sold I regretted not buying it. They are great guitars.
 
My LPC has holes everywhere...large and small...but I think that's why it is so perfectly balanced.

I love that it doesn't weigh 15 pounds like Mom's Norlin-era behemoth...IMG_20170415_14207.jpg
 
That's really great to hear! Thanks, man.

Now that I have no surgery to do on it, I'm actually getting a little psyched to get it up and running.
 
gball said:
Smitty, I am jealous - those chambered (really, they are semi-hollow) LP's have a really sweet tone. They are a bit more compressed sounding and have a kind of midrange scoop that gives them a unique voice that still sounds like a Les Paul. I goofed around with one in the local shop over and over again and loved it, and when it sold I regretted not buying it. They are great guitars.
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Thanks, gball. I'm glad to hear about your experiences with them. I think I'm going to get the hardware and electronics first. I'll finish it off with the pickups.

Now that the Kahler is out of the picture, I need to think about what I want to use for a bridge and tailpiece. I hadn't given it any thought before now. I may try that Faber thing that @Robert Herndon likes.
 
Your project is awesome!

That was my number 2 choice - a Stratosphere husk!

I do like the Faber TP-59 locking Aluminum Tailpiece, but IMHO, the spacers are only needed if the neck angle is off enough that the tailpiece has to be raised...
 
And I went ahead and bought the Roller ABR-1 version with big posts and 14" radius. I'm going to try it....but, on my replica, all my saddles are in a straight line....
 
Robert Herndon said:
Smitty...if you want to try a Faber Aluminium Tailpiece, I have an extra one...Nickel Plated...
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Now that is a cool DEAL!

Smitty --- I am bustin yer hump as you know.........secretly------down deep I want you to finish that beastie-------AND SEND IT TO ME!

I had a white SG with Floyd Rose in High School .........and I have wanted another FOREVER.........

ROCK ON !
 
eSGEe said:
Now that is a cool DEAL!

Smitty --- I am bustin yer hump as you know.........secretly------down deep I want you to finish that beastie-------AND SEND IT TO ME!

I had a white SG with Floyd Rose in High School .........and I have wanted another FOREVER.........

ROCK ON !
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I found you a SG/FR.... :-)
 
Robert Herndon said:
I do like the Faber TP-59 locking Aluminum Tailpiece, but IMHO, the spacers are only needed if the neck angle is off enough that the tailpiece has to be raised...
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I understand, but I do like the idea of being able to lock the stop-tail and the bridge to their respective posts. I'm not so sure of any tone benefits, though. I know you say it really improved your SG, so I take that at face value.

I just like the idea of the bridge and stop-tail remaining locked to the posts if I ever do a full string removal.

Call it a personal OCD thing!

I appreciate the offer, but I'm going with all gold hardware. I'm not too concerned about the finish. I have gold hardware on my Washburn and it's been fine. It's a really cheap finish, too. It has worn off on the very end of the bridge where I tend to rest my palm. The stop tail still looks good.

Also, looking at the chrome pickup covers on my Les Paul, that finish is nearly like new. No scratches at all. My strumming and picking pattern is such that I never hit the pickup covers. So, I'm pretty confident that I can keep gold pickup covers looking good.
 
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smitty_p said:
I understand, but I do like the idea of being able to lock the stop-tail and the bridge to their respective posts. I'm not so sure of any tone benefits, though. I know you say it really improved your SG, so I take that at face value.

I just like the idea of the bridge and stop-tail remaining locked to the posts if I ever do a full string removal.

Call it a personal OCD thing!

I appreciate the offer, but I'm going with all gold hardware. I'm not too concerned about the finish. I have gold hardware on my Washburn and it's been fine. It's a really cheap finish, too. It has worn off on the very end of the bridge where I tend to rest my palm. The stop tail still looks good.

Also, looking at the chrome pickup covers on my Les Paul, that finish is nearly like new. No scratches at all. My strumming and picking pattern is such that I never hit the pickup covers. So, I'm pretty confident that I can keep gold pickup covers looking good.
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I believe that locking the tailpiece is always a good idea...especially on my SG with the tailpiece a 1/2" up off the body.

I paid $100 for the TP59 Locking Aluminum Tailpiece with studs and spacers.

Here's a suggestion. Order a Gotoh gold plated aluminum tailpiece from Philadelphia Luthier Tools for $20. Then order the gold plated steel studs and spacers from Faber for $40.

On my Les Paul Custom Project, I just used regular studs and the Gotoh gold plated aluminum tailpiece, since mine is on the body anyways...
 
smitty_p said:
I understand, but I do like the idea of being able to lock the stop-tail and the bridge to their respective posts. I'm not so sure of any tone benefits, though. I know you say it really improved your SG, so I take that at face value.

I just like the idea of the bridge and stop-tail remaining locked to the posts if I ever do a full string removal.

Call it a personal OCD thing!

I appreciate the offer, but I'm going with all gold hardware. I'm not too concerned about the finish. I have gold hardware on my Washburn and it's been fine. It's a really cheap finish, too. It has worn off on the very end of the bridge where I tend to rest my palm. The stop tail still looks good.

Also, looking at the chrome pickup covers on my Les Paul, that finish is nearly like new. No scratches at all. My strumming and picking pattern is such that I never hit the pickup covers. So, I'm pretty confident that I can keep gold pickup covers looking good.
Click to expand...

I love the gold hardware. I been buying up the best quality plated parts I can find...
 
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