Paul’s Gibson Moderne replica build

[MelbourneExplorer]

Paul’s Gibson Moderne replica build

OK – so I had finished my Explorer ‘replica’ from the kit I got from Pitbull and I wanted to move on a do a replica Moderne and a Flying V.

Because there were some missing ‘wiring holes’ from my original Explorer kit I had got a replacement from Pitbull – which meant that I had another complete kit with everything but the body. I wanted to use this kit to make a Moderne. It would mean the headstock was wrong – but I am not brave enough to try to fashion a ‘Gumby’ headstock …

I didn’t have any wood for it – but I did have a dead Black Alder tree at the foot of the garden so I borrowed a chainsaw from a friend a hacked off the lowest limb (the council had already hacked off most of it).

Here it is:




I don’t have a lot of fancy power tools so I got out my old handsaw (it’s a ripsaw, I discovered) and got to work. Ended up with big muscles too …

It was backbreaking work and it took me nearly a week (on and off) to get the thing cut down the middle (they call it quartersawn):

Although the tree had been dead for ages – the wood was not quite dry so it decided to split on me – just when I wasn’t looking. There was a lot of cursing – but I carried on regardless. The smaller the pieces got the quicker they dried out – and it was pretty hot and dry in Melbourne throughout (just look at the lawn!)



I won’t bore you with every misstep I made but needless to say EVENTUALLY I go a piece of timber that I could use:

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I then had to repeat the process until I had two pieces, splits and all:

Here they are sitting next to a printout of the Moderne PDF build plan that I had downloaded from here https://sites.google.com/site/guitarplanscollection/ in the Gibsonesque section.



Hmm... I can't seem to add any more photos ...

[adam]

A week to saw through a log... now THAT is commitment.

[MelbourneExplorer]

I then had to repeat the process until I had two pieces, splits and all:



Here they are sitting next to a printout of the Moderne PDF build plan that I had downloaded from here https://sites.google.com/site/guitarplanscollection/ in the Gibsonesque section.

I had to get the edges of the wood as flat as I could – but I don’t have routers or thicknessers or anything else fancy – so I used a jigsaw and a steady hand. It was quite a tight fit – and where there was a tiny gap I used some wood filler. Then I applied some wood glue that I had bought for the Explorer build and presto:



(I borrowed the workbench too! Although I have since bought a cheap one for 20 bucks from the local hardware store)

Then I clamped them together and left them for 48 hours:


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[MelbourneExplorer]

The wood is a great colour – yellow and brown and pink with bits of black. Here it is with the template on top:



It’s not yet flat or even but it looks the right shape (and still has some double sided tape on it!)



I borrowed a little palm sander and did a LOT of levelling and flattening and did a roundover of the edges using the sander too.

Then I went to the hardware store and bought a Forstner bit for my drill and started to rout some cavities:



Pretty ugly compared to a pro’s build – but at least the neck and the pickup fit!



This was the hardest part – and I had to use the router, a rasp that I had and eventually some sandpaper. I also needed to trim a bit of depth and width off the Explorer neck to make it fit. Kinda messy too


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[MelbourneExplorer]

The colour of the wood was so cool that I didn’t want to ruin it with lacquer – but I had no choice. Holes all drilled as per the template – and I measured the placement of the bridge from the 12th fret of the neck to make sure that it was in the right position.

The lacquer really brought out the black in the wood. I guess that’s why they call it Black Alder. Here it is after the first VERY light coat

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[MelbourneExplorer]

Here it is with a bit more lacquer


Two cans of acrylic lacquer later – and then a week to let the lacquer ‘cure’

While that is happening a book I ordered from Amazon turned up!



And then it is out with the cut and polish and adding the hardware. I did the headstock in black just like I had done with the Explorer so that they would look a bot like a pair.



And here she is – all strung up. Sounds just like the Explorer, as it happens, perhaps not unusual since the hardware is all the same. I couldn’t decide on a black or a white pickguard – and since there were never any ‘originals’ to go by I decided on black. Almost every picture of the Moderne that you see on the Internet has a black pickguard – apart from the cover of the book. Anyway, I thought black looked better with the black pickups and so on.



And here she sits – with the Explorer by her side. All I need now is a Flying V and I will have the set that I have been after!

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[MelbourneExplorer]

Next stop will be a Flying V I hope - in the same style - when I have saved up enough pennies.
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[stui]

Quote from MelbourneExplorer on March 21, 2013, 14:14
Next stop will be a Flying V I hope - in the same style - when I have saved up enough pennies.
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THAT.....

Is freaking amazing Paul.

You've just done what I hope to do with a double cut LP junior one day. Building a body from scratch is super cool!!!

[Gavin1393]

Nicely done!

[keloooe]

Quote from stui on March 21, 2013, 14:55

Quote from MelbourneExplorer on March 21, 2013, 14:14
Next stop will be a Flying V I hope - in the same style - when I have saved up enough pennies.
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/5xqxa-18.JPG
http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/3f702-19.JPG
THAT.....

Is freaking amazing Paul.

You've just done what I hope to do with a double cut LP junior one day. Building a body from scratch is super cool!!!
That is so *cendored* amazing Paul... Now it's time to see if I can track down what part of Melbs he is in...

[tigertune]

Amazing!!!Looks really cool!

[pablopepper]

First of all, that is amazing work dude! I love that you made this from a tree in your yard.

Here's the thing, I've never liked Modernes. I've seen them in books and magazines and something about the shape has always put me right off. But, looking at this it's just hit me. It's a Flying V you can play sitting down!!! Why I have never seen this before? I may have to rethink my position.

[keloooe]

Quote from pablopepper on March 21, 2013, 18:53
First of all, that is amazing work dude! I love that you made this from a tree in your yard.

Here's the thing, I've never liked Modernes. I've seen them in books and magazines and something about the shape has always put me right off. But, looking at this it's just hit me. It's a Flying V you can play sitting down!!! Why I have never seen this before? I may have to rethink my position.
Yeah, that scratch build just made me want to get one....

[MelbourneExplorer]

Thanks everyone for the kind words! Yes, the Flying V and Moderne are pretty close cousins when you look at them. In fact if you look at the ORIGINAL design for the Explorer (the Futura) you can see the same themes coming through.

I am ashamed to say that I am also falling in love with the Reverse Flying V - so maybe I just like unpopular guitars!

The bad news for the guitar world is that we had HUGE winds in Melbourne yesterday and 50% of that old dead Black Alder fell down in the garden ... some more timber for me to play with! A Reverse V or a Flying V Bass! I would LOOOOVE a Flying V Bass (tho I can't play bass (yet)

[pablopepper]

Quote from MelbourneExplorer on March 22, 2013, 06:56

I am ashamed to say that I am also falling in love with the Reverse Flying V - so maybe I just like unpopular guitars!



Oh god [shudder] ;) . Whatever you do don't google reverse explorer. That thing is an abomination.

[MelbourneExplorer]

LOL - the Reverse Explorer is certainly unusual! I couldn't imagine Ace Frehley playing that somehow....

Below is the pic of what is supposed to be the original concept of the Explorer/Futura - and you can see all they have done is angled a traditional acoustic shape and then pushed it over on its side. Amazing.

Maybe I should design a Reverse Moderne???

(Only kidding - promise I won't!)

http://pitbullguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/w15h5-Original-Explorer-concept.jpg