Rob's Brand New Used 2016 Gibson Les Paul 50's Tribute Project:

[Inspector #20]

Frets are done....

 

[Inspector #20]

Surprise!!! The Gibson website described the 50's Tribute as having 498T/496R. This one has 498T/490R:

Stripped out for copper shielding

 

[Inspector #20]

Measured the PCB tonight. This is the best sounding guitar that I own. The 498T hits the amp really hard and it puts out more snarl than my other guitars. I have no intention of changing anything, other than shielding for noise reduction.

Bridge Volume: 530kΩ

Neck Volume: 250kΩ

Bridge Tone: 230kΩ

Neck Tone: 220kΩ

The capacitors appear to be

All pots are stamped 'Gibson' and '440 - 71080 1602'

Quite a variation in resistance values!!!!

 

[Inspector #20]

So, as far as shielding goes, I am going to approach this in a more 'Hybrid' sense. I have copper tape on hand with conductive adhesive. I buy this from Art-Of Tone in Ventura, California. It's worked very well on the past 20 or so projects with full continuity, even when installed looking like a patchwork quilt. My approach on this guitar will be to use shielding paint for a majority of the work, then use sections of copper to connect all the cavities together.

 

[jtcnj]

Nice work as usual, Robert.
I am envious of your worn frets - as an indicator of how much time you play.

I am getting the itch again to level a couple of guitars that are ok, maybe a few small dents, 1 or 2 hi/lo frets that would benefit from a full fret dress.

I just picked up a new fret end dressing file. My ignition points file is ok but its is small enough that my hand gets fatigued and it becomes hard to hold on to.
Well, it WILL be a fret end dressing file when I grind the edges safe.

I was going to treat my self to a store bought one but just couldn't do it lol.

Nicholson 6 in. Slim Taper File-21866N - The Home Depot

 

[Inspector #20]

Nice work as usual, Robert.
I am envious of your worn frets - as an indicator of how much time you play.

I am getting the itch again to level a couple of guitars that are ok, maybe a few small dents, 1 or 2 hi/lo frets that would benefit from a full fret dress.

I just picked up a new fret end dressing file. My ignition points file is ok but its is small enough that my hand gets fatigued and it becomes hard to hold on to.
Well, it WILL be a fret end dressing file when I grind the edges safe.

I was going to treat my self to a store bought one but just couldn't do it lol.

Nicholson 6 in. Slim Taper File-21866N - The Home Depot

This guitar hass seen almost daily/nightly play for almost a year. I had some pretty good grooves worn in the frets here and there, but what took it out of service was the super flat 14th and 15th fret that was allowing notes on the adjacenet frets to mute out. In all honesty, I should have just replaced 14 & 15, because I had to cut all the other frets down a lot to get this level, but I still have a pretty good fret profile, so I should still have decent feel.
I have found that if the frets are too low, it's harder for me to bend the strings efficiently.

I'm no expert, but I only use the curved profile crowning files, like this one by Stewie-Mac:

Double-edge Fret File | stewmac.com

I also do not use a flat beam for fret leveling. I only use a radius block, matched the the fretboard radius. I have them in just about every radius there is. They are relatively cheap and produce great results.

 

[jtcnj]

yep I have the Hosco brand crowning files; the triangle file referenced is for knocking down the sharp bevel edges.

 

[Inspector #20]

yep I have the Hosco brand crowning files; the triangle file referenced is for knocking down the sharp bevel edges.

There is a special tool just for fret ends.

 

[jtcnj]

Yes, I considered treating myself to a store bought one but wasnt willing to pay at least $22.50 shipped for it.

 

[Inspector #20]

Dig those frets, Man...

 

[Inspector #20]

 

[BlackSG91]

Lights, camera & so much action on your black & gold LP.

;>)/

 

[Inspector #20]

Think Goldmember will dig it?

 

[BlackSG91]

Think Goldmember will dig it?

;>)/

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Looks good.

 

[eSGEe]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! thats the way to BRING THE BLING!!!!

 

[Inspector #20]

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! thats the way to BRING THE BLING!!!!

You were supposed to stop me when I get spray cans and markers out.

 

[eSGEe]

I thought they were for party snacks--- I didnt KNOW you were going to USE THEM AS INTENDED --- geesh!

 

[Inspector #20]

Didn't want to wait the 2-3 hours for the shielding paint to dry. Went copper...





Even the channel between the switch cavity and the control cavity was fully shielded - and it was not easy!!!

 

[Inspector #20]

Almost 9 feet of copper thus far...all cavities - even the switch channel - have continuity.
The switch channel is shielded on all 4 sides the entire length of the channel.