LP-1M Second Build

Got my LP-1M kit today in the post....two minutes later the door bell goes again and the Alnico IV vintage Gold Humbuckers have arrived.....so its all go go go.

Opened the kit and a looks good......and then......whats this Bolt On neck !!! check order form.....Yep ordered a glue in....

So Question......Preference....Bolt on or Glue in......your opinions.....especially sustain....etc....

will post some pictures.....

plus need to add some photos of the latest stage of Ben's (my 13 year old) SG build......

hey Bluesy, depends if you want to wait for the kit to be returned for a set neck kit.
I think bolt on kit will sound about the same as a set neck kit and you have the option of removing the neck if you ever have to re-finish the guitar

Have done a quick mock build and like the action so will probably have to get some screws and a back plate as they are missing from the kit.....

1 question i have is the intonation.....i measured nut to 12th and got 313mm and yet 12th to bridge saddles was about 318 mm (See attached picture)...do you reckon i will be okay with this length given the string compensation required ????

First thoughts on the build are to keep the back and sides natural just oiled as the grain is fantastic....and a deep blue oiled top......
Already got a list of needs....

Graphite Nut.
upgrade the Rhythm / Treble backing plate.....looks a tad nasty.
Upgrade three way switch......Feels awful and slack.....plus too much lateral movement...
Upgrade the Control Knobs.....Same reason....

anyway photos including the mysterious bolt on neck......I guess number 141 is gonna feel the wrath of god.....Attachment 9936Attachment 9937
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So it turns out that i accidentally received a quilted maple LP not a flamed......Happy and thank you Adam for your help so far.....

So got stuck into a little bit of light sanding and then thought....what the hell....time to try a nice golden teak stain with just a small drop of Jarrah thrown into the mix.....

Pics to follow....

Good stuff Bluesy, with your intonation the saddles have some forward movement so think you should be ok for intonation.
This kit has pre-drilled holes so must have come from the 'other' factory.
Golden teak on the quilt with jarrah should look excellent, look forward to pics !

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

Good stuff Bluesy, with your intonation the saddles have some forward movement so think you should be ok for intonation.
This kit has pre-drilled holes so must have come from the 'other' factory.
Golden teak on the quilt with jarrah should look excellent, look forward to pics !

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Pics after following your advice WB.....fine sand with 320 grit....then 1 coat of F&W Golden Teak with a Splash of Jarrah for the top....and wow it sings to me.....Attachment 9968Attachment 9969Attachment 9970

wow that looks unreal Bluesy, wait till you get some TO over that will pop like mad !

Wow that looks great! you've gotta be happy with that.

Looks very very nice mate

That will come up awesome after plenty of top coats.

that colour with the gold fittings......winner!

Oh, very nice! FW Golden Teak/ Jarrah has come up a treat

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Originally Posted by Bluesmartyboy

Pics after following your advice WB.....fine sand with 320 grit....then 1 coat of F&W Golden Teak with a Splash of Jarrah for the top....and wow it sings to me.....Attachment 9968Attachment 9969Attachment 9970

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That is unreal, an LP Tiger! Great work, absolutely love the way that top has come out, you've got to be chuffed with that.

Stunner of a top. That will look sweet with a deep clear

Thanks for all the encouraging comments guys.....now for the poll....

Do i go with Naughty Oil (Sorry, DB) or do i try wipe on Poly.......

Your thoughts......

Cheers Bluesmartyboy

Wow, that colour combo in the figure looks amazing! My advice is TO 100%. It will pop the grain even more than it is already. I have personally used Wipe on Poly as a final protective coat over TO, but definitely use TO.

cheers,
Gav.

Hey Bluesy I don't have any experience with wipe on poly but TO will give it a nice gloss

Thanks Wokka and Gav.....

I really do not want to stuff this up as i do believe i have scored myself a pretty special piece of wood....

Would you do a few neat coats of TO followed by a wet sand to pore fill then repeat the coat and wet sand route and if so, what grade of wetndry and is it the Wet n'dry they sell in the green warehouse of much naughtiness adequate.......

+1 for the TO

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I have used both TO was the easier of the 2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bluesmartyboy

Would you do a few neat coats of TO followed by a wet sand to pore fill then repeat the coat and wet sand route and if so,

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Although I haven't tried this method, I've read that a good idea is to apply the first coat of TO with (I think...) 600 grit W&D. [EDIT! I found the video - it's actually 1200 grit.]

This works as a grain/scratch filler as the first TO coat takes on the colour of the finish.

Like I said, I haven't tried this method yet, but I intend to with my first build. I'm still only at the intensifier stage at the moment, so watch this space...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Muzza

Although I haven't tried this method, I've read that a good idea is to apply the first coat of TO with (I think...) 600 grit W&D.

This works as a grain/scratch filler as the first TO coat takes on the colour of the finish.

Like I said, I haven't tried this method yet, but I intend to with my first build. I'm still only at the intensifier stage at the moment, so watch this space...

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Watched a YouTube video of a guy doing this about 15 minutes ago

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Hi Fuzzy, my Builds # 1 & #2 were done with DT Stain & Intensifier followed by multiple coats of TO. Applied first couple of coats with a 1" paint brush and bodies soaked up plenty and this helped to pore/grain fill. Wet sanded with 1500 & 2000 and you will not find this stuff at the big green shed. I ended up buying some at Autobarn as this fine grade of paper is often used in finishing cars. The trick is to just smooth things off a bit and not take too much of the extra fine coats of hand rubbed TO off in the process. Eventually bought some micro mesh pads that range from 4000, 6000, 8000, up to 12,000 and are great for final prepping before applying Maguires polish.

To apply TO as the wetting agent and using 600 grit paper may just be to coarse and end up stripping layers of stain off or thinning it down as using dry 0000 steel wool can do the same thing if not careful.

For Builds #3 & #4 I brushed initial TO coat on one as I was nervous that ragging would cause issues with colour potentially bleeding and ragged the other. Main difference I have noted is that on the one ragged straight up seems to need pore & grain filling, if I can be bothered, as being ash it has helped to accentuate the grain even more. Will wet sand starting with 4000 micro mesh pad on the weekend on both to see if that helps with the small amount of levelling required.

Short answer, best to wet sand after 4-6 coats of TO as it goes on very thin and too coarse a grit will strip it back in no time.

So......First two coats of Naughty oil have been applied and wow..........The Colour.....

Couldn't wait to try a mock build of sorts to check on the colour contrast with the hardware and the pick guard / pup surrounds.....Still can't decide if the black guard and surrounds makes the guitar look to dark and maybe i should source a cream set as an option....especially seeing that the binding is Cream / White...

finished the headstock and have applied TO to that too....any way here are the pictures...

Attachment 10038Attachment 10039Attachment 10040Attachment 10041Attachment 10040Attachment 10042

Spectacular. I'm really liking all the Tru Oil finished guitars.

BTW, I edited my post above as I found the YouTube video I got the idea from, and he uses 1200 grit, not 600 grit.

I like the idea of using 0000 wool too.

:cool: Beautiful! :cool:

I like the black pick guard but i think I would go no pick guard

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I'm with Fuzzbeard, drop the GOPP (Grain obscuring plastic part), that top is too pretty to hide behind a pick guard mate.

+2
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Attachment 10067

Hey Bluesy,
no pickguard for sure, don't hide that beautiful quilted maple.
Looks like you haven't cleaned up the binding stiill has a fair bit of stain on it. The binding will pop much more with a clean cream edge so I'd clean that up before any more TO coats. I carefully use a small piece of fine steel wool
You seem to be moving fast on the build, rule #1 is don't rush it to get it finished and plugged in. slower build will give you much better results

Agree with no pick guard but would swap black for cream PUP surrounds plus cream 3 way switch tip. What colour are the knobs? Amber speed ones, maybe even clear or gold would look better than black.

Right,

Finally finished the LP.....Very happy with the results.....plays like a dream......

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very nice BSB, so any upgrades or is this stock ? The LP-1M kits never used to be bolt on necks

Wow your top veneer looks spectacular. Great job! I agree that the cream surrounds look the best. A really beautiful axe.

cheers,
Gav.

Such a unique burst. Well done mate