First Build - LPA-1

Hi All,

First build kicking off with an LPA-1.
This one came with the Flame Maple top in the recent sale.

I've had it a couple of weeks now, there have been some delays in getting started. (I may have ordered the kit while halfway through redoing the kitchen and dining room. After some intense negotiations with my lovely wife, the rooms may need to be finished before more work is done on the guitar...)

Put together a mock build on the weekend, and it looks pretty good.
Only one issue, with one of the tuners not screwing in properly. It may work if I really forced it, but this one won't screw in properly to any of the tuners.

Here's the offending item...

Attachment 5559

The switch was a tight fit. I had to remove the nut from the bottom and just run with washer and nut on the top in order for it to fit. I guess I could sand a bit more out from under the body to give me some more space.

Rest of it seemed to fit really well. The neck was a pretty tight fit, I've put a few pictures in, I'm assuming it's fitting correctly? There's a tiny gap at the bottom that's no real issue I don't think.

Attachment 5560

Attachment 5561

Everything else lined up pretty well.
Here's some of the top etc:

Attachment 5564

Attachment 5565

Second post, won't go into too much detail:

I assume glue? How will I remove this from the veneer top? Super light sanding or wire brush?

Attachment 5566

Slight ding, no real dramas though. Tiny bit of sanding should be ok.

Attachment 5567

Lastly, the back:

Attachment 5568


Not sure of the colours yet. I have a bit of sanding to do before I even think about that.....

Really keen to get started. Excited to see how it's going to work out. (now to get painting my dining room....)

Nice guitar Sandman! I had some glue spots on the veneer as well as a few very serious tape marks. I was pretty nervous about sanding the veneer since I have never worked with veneer before, just solid wood. I just used some 150 and cut a small piece (about 7mm square) and just wrapped it around my index finger. Used very very light strokes with the grain, and when it was almost to where I wanted it, switched to some 220 and continued, then when it was almost completely gone, wrapped a bigger piece of 220 around a clean rag and went over the whole area. Worked great and didn't harm the veneer at all.

My switch cavity was really tight too. I ended up using a dremel with a plunge route bit, and took out 3.5mm before I could get the plate and nut on, and the switch fit perfectly. I used a caliper to measure the plate and nut (before routing the nut barely threaded on) and started at 2.5mm, then checked, then adjusted tiny bit, tested, repeat...

Good luck!

Thanks for the tip kenfu, I'll have a crack at it that way.

Can you flick me an email with a pic of the underside of the tuners, (so I can see the number stamp) and I will dig up a replacement for you.
Oh, and your postal address would help too :)

dingobass at pitbullguitars dot com

Sandman, consider replacing the tuners if you can. They are the weakest link in the factory hardware IMHO.

OK, finally had some time to start this build over the weekend.

Sanding. Lots of sanding. In fact that's all I've done so far.... down to 400. Probably give it another go this weekend as well.

A couple of questions about the body preparation.

I've read a lot here about Timbermate and grain filling?
What's the suggestion with this one (Ash Body, Maple cap)- is it something that people want to do, or is something that should definitely be done . I'm not going a solid colour, so it doesn't have to be perfectly flat.

I'm not yet 100% sure about the plans with colours etc, but currently I'm planning on the back and maybe the neck having some form of art/drawing on it - my daughters mate is pretty good, and wants to do a guitar. Has done a lot of work on surfboards and skateboards in the past.

He normally draws in sharpies or posca paint pens.

What's going to be the best way to firstly prepare the wood (some form of light stain I'm thinking to give a relatively blank canvas) - and then protect the drawing afterwards - obviously the back is going to get some wear and tear through playing?

The top I'll then work out depending on the colours he uses etc to see what will go with it.

dingobass, I emailed Adam about the part and he said he'd send a replacement. I haven't got it yet - but then I didn't send an address.... I'll send the photos through via email, thanks.

Hey Sandman, plans sound good

Sandman - Ads should be able to get your address by matching up a few things - order, guitar, email address, etc. That said, usually a couple of days for delivery - depending on Australia Post. Main thing is that someone's looking after you :).