cazaron LP-1M Build Diary

[Dedman]

This is looking really cool, and I admit I like green guitars. The fret buzz maybe because the are not in level, sometimes a tap with a plastic hammer or a block of wood will square them up

[Simon Barden]

To test whether the frets are level, you first need to get the fretboard level (It's not a good test if the neck has a concave bow set up in it to start with). For this you will need a notched straight-edge. I believe I read that someone on the forum used to make them for less money than you could buy from a shop. The notches fit over the frets (so the edge is scale-length dependent) and you adjust the truss rod until the edge is sitting flat on the board. Then you can check with both a long straight edge and a short 'rocker' straight edge to see if the frets are of uneven height. The 'rocker' is useful for determining if only one or two frets are proud, the longer one for determining if there is a section with lower frets compared to the rest.

The 'rocker' edge is normally roughly parallelogram shaped, with different lengths of edges available. You need to put it across three frets. If you put it across three frets and it can rock, then the middle fret of those three is high. You may also find that it's just at one side of the fretboard.

Mark the high frets with something like a Sharpie pen, and as Dedman says, look at those frets to see if there's an obvious gap between the underside of the fret and the fretboard. You may very well be able to seat these frets a bit harder - but only use a hammer with a plastic or brass end to it iof using directly, or else put some wood between the fret and a normal hammer. Tap, don't whack!

Then check again. If that doesn't sort it, then you'll need to level the frets, then re-profile and polish them.

[cazaron]

Original order - 420
Pickups - 550
Tools - a lot
Total build to date - 1660

I fell victim to one of the most enjoyable, eye-opening, hands-on traps that I've ever seen.

This might not have the build quality of a Gibson LP Tribute Goldtop that I would have bought with this kind of money, but it's roughly a thousand times more special to me.

I don't name my guitars. I don't name anything really, but this thing's so personal. It doesn't even have pickups and I can't fix the fret buzz till next week but I have barely put it down the whole weekend.

[Kick]

I think 'Cazaron' would be a great name for such a beautiful build

[cazaron]

Guitar isn't finished yet because pickups still haven't arrived, but new addition to the family.
Hello to my new Vox AC15C1!

I love that British crunch tone, this will be fun to play with. Can't wait to run the green one through it :P

[Simon Barden]

Nice amp! If I had a bit more space for storage I'd be tempted to get an AC30C2X.

[cazaron]

I've always wanted an AC30, since I was much smaller than I am now; but as I mostly play at home there's just no way I can justify spending twice the money on a really, really heavy amp that I'll never quite get to crank to do justice.

But this thing sounds truly wonderful.

[Simon Barden]

I've got the luxury of having a house that I can turn my guitar amps up in pretty loud without annoying the neighbours (as long as the windows are closed), though I did once had a 100W Mesa Nomad that didn't sound good until it was ridiculously loud - far too loud for the house and my hearing. My biggest amp is now 40W, though that has been fitted with a less efficient (but great sounding) speaker, so it's around the same output as my 22W Two Rock.

[Kick]

Have fun with the Vox Cazaron

[Andy40]

Guitar isn't finished yet because pickups still haven't arrived, but new addition to the family.
Hello to my new Vox AC15C1!

I love that British crunch tone, this will be fun to play with. Can't wait to run the green one through it :P

Awesome! wouldn;t mind a sound bite!