So I guess I start here

Hi,

I've just placed an order with Pit Bull for a LP-1S kit. These are on back order at the moment but I hope to have it, here in the UK, in late August.

I am 50 years old, and have only been playing guitar for a little over 3 years, but I love it and decided that I would really like a Les Paul style guitar to add to my Gibson SG and 1985 Epiphone Sheraton II. In particular I want it to be a deep translucent blue. Epiphone do a really nice one, but at the same time I want to learn about how guitars work, how to fix them and how to maintain them properly. I doubt that by the time the build is finished I will have spent less that I would have done on the Epi, but I will be more knowledgeable, more experienced and I will hopefully have had more fun. I also aim to have the same amount of hair as I do today.

It is the existence of this forum that in large part swayed my decision to first go ahead with a build, and to buy from Pit Bull. The tireless and endless patience that I have already noted even after a quick spin through the posts here makes up a remarkable resource for a complete beginner like me.

So I've got about a month, but I've got a lot to read, and a lot of videos to watch, so I'm off to make a start, but there will be a lot of very basic questions incoming :)

RB

Welcome to the distinguished club. This place is quite a wealth of knowledge and it's been quite helpful and entertaining. I look forward to seeing how the blue LP-1S turns out.

Hi and welcome from an even older UK forumee. We're all here to help and answer any questions, so start a build diary once you get the kit and ask away.

Hi and welcome from another oldie, I can't play, but will do one day, all I can say is the enjoyment I've had so far building my first guitar is immense, (2 more yet on a back burner) The forum has helped me immensely, no negative stuff all very very helpful. Good luck with the build, the one i am completing now is an LP-1S,

Thanks for the welcome guys. I spent a wonderful 3 weeks in BC about 5 years ago traveling from Vancouver to Banff and Jasper, a wonderful part of the world.

Chris, I read your whole build diary yesterday with great interest. I have already learned a lot from it and your finish is similar to what I'm aiming for, just in blue rather than red. It also made me realise just how much Simon helps out here :)

Simon has been a great help for sure, no doubt will help me more too on the next 2 builds as I get stuck, Funnily enough my next LP currently getting sanded is going to be an Azure lagoon (blue) top from Wudtone

I have been looking at the Wudtone finishes and also the ones from Crimson Guitars. There are some beautiful colours out there. I'm looking forward to seeing the finish you get.

Welcome from another oldie nextdoor (Amsterdam). This forum is awesome! I've got great help from these guys and learned a lot :)

Welcome Rubber Bullets

Welcome aboard RB!

Welcome along RB! Looks like you're planning the right approach!

So it's all getting a lot closer, but I am a bit perplexed.

The guitar finally arrived in Australia the week before last and was despatched on August 14th. It only took 2 days to reach Coventry, UK and the most recent entry in the tracking is on august 18th when it says In Transit, attempted delivery this was at 6.37 in the morning!

There was no attempt, and I've heard nothing since. I'm assuming that it is sat somewhere having the VAT and import duty worked out, but does anyone in the UK know how long this process takes and if there is any one I can contact to chase it up? I'm off Thursday and have a good opportunity to sort it out.

Thanks

I've had that before and 'attempted delivery' here is as you suspected, the VAT and duty stage. They 'would' have sent it out but there's money to pay. You should get a card in the post very shortly stating the amount due. Then you can either go down to the listed sorting office with the card and some ID and pay + collect there, or pay on-line and you then get typically get it delivered two working days later.

Thanks Simon, so pretty much as I suspected. I'll just watch the post for the notification. Is it a Post Office sorting office or other company?

Post Office once it gets to the UK.

I go to the local sorting office to pay and collect it at the same time.. can't be bothered waiting in for the postie I get too excited, I've learnt now to order the guitar over the weekend, Adam then ships it on the Monday, normally in Coventry like yours on the Wed night, Saturday the little card comes through the post and If I'm sat ready can get to the sorting office before it closes. My last order was done on a Tuesday night, shipped the next day, arrived at Coventry last Friday night and not heard a thing since....

Well nothing came n the post today :( fingers crossed for tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.

So frustrating that it managed to come 3900 miles or so in 2 days and has now taken the best part of a week to come the last 162 miles :). Sounds like your sorting office are more switched on than mine Chrissy
inbkk!

Decided on a stain / spray job / colour yet?

I think so. Having read around I decided that the blue I really wanted wouldn't suit the spalting so I'm going with yellow with possibly a very fine orange burst. I couldn't give up the blue entirely though so the back and neck will be blue.

I've bought stains from Crimson Guitars, along with some of their finishing oil.

I've bought some flame maple veneer that I'm going to stick to some scrap wood so I can have a practice with the finishing. I know it's not quite the same, but it'll help.

Funnily enough I've just ordered a couple of stains from crimson and the oil to try too, good idea to get some veneer, never even thought of that

I got it from eBay, about £8 or so delivered, sadly they didn't have any spalted though so I had to go with the next closest thing.

Finally got the letter today, £56 to pay, but it is paid and delivery is due tomorrow :)

Need to start a build thread I think.

RB

Good news. Yes, indeed start the build diary. I hope the parcel is fully intact.

I hadn't worried about the state of the parcel.... Until now :eek:

Both of mine were fine. The boxes are fairly solid, they aren't too heavy and there's nothing inside that's going to be damaged by being shaken around a bit.

Welcome Rubber bullets