ES-1TL Build by MrMayhem Thread

[MrMayhem75]

I ordered a ES-1TL kit the other day, now I'm patiently waiting for it to come in. I'm a first time builder, and I'm building the kit for my son who is 8...with his help of course. He's been playing for about a year, and has wanted a semi-hollow for a while now. This is the perfect one, since he is a HUGE Dave Grohl fan, and we could never afford a real Trini.

I've started gathering supplies, he wants it to look as close to Grohl's guitar as possible. I have been searching for the paint for a while now, and finally tracked it down. My local NAPA store was able to get the exact Gibson Pelham Blue color formula and custom mix it for us. It ran about $25 a can, which really isn't that bad.

We'll be doing a video diary on Youtube as soon as the guitar kit arrives. I hope you'll check it out, watch as we learn and surely make a few mistakes. In the end, I hope she'll be a real screamer just like Dave's "Lou".

[Fretworn]

Welcome MrMayhem. Enjoy the build, and ask any questions you have as someone here has probably already had the same issue and found the work around.

[FrankenWashie]

Welcome on board to you and your little Grohl Fan! Look forward to seeing how you guys go with it.

[HoneyBadgerJM]

I ordered a ES-1TL kit the other day, now I'm patiently waiting for it to come in. I'm a first time builder, and I'm building the kit for my son who is 8...with his help of course. He's been playing for about a year, and has wanted a semi-hollow for a while now. This is the perfect one, since he is a HUGE Dave Grohl fan, and we could never afford a real Trini.

I've started gathering supplies, he wants it to look as close to Grohl's guitar as possible. I have been searching for the paint for a while now, and finally tracked it down. My local NAPA store was able to get the exact Gibson Pelham Blue color formula and custom mix it for us. It ran about $25 a can, which really isn't that bad.

We'll be doing a video diary on Youtube as soon as the guitar kit arrives. I hope you'll check it out, watch as we learn and surely make a few mistakes. In the end, I hope she'll be a real screamer just like Dave's "Lou".

Hey Mr Mayhem, being a MASSIVE Foo fighters fan the trini is on my build radar, I dont know if you notice but the stop piece on the
ES-1Tl is floating style and Dave uses a hardtail on his, similar to Les Paul guitars. Are you thinking of changing it as this was what I plan to do but dont know if there a hard block under where it should go..

[MrMayhem75]

The plan is to install a stop tail on it, if the structure permits. It seems that there just isn't a hole drilled for it because of obvious trademark issues. I anticipate it working, but I won't know 100% until the kit arrives. I know that to get that certain sound, it will need the stop tail rather than a floater.

Obviously that and the head shape are the #1 priorities on the layout when we start.

[HoneyBadgerJM]

Most PBG dont come pre drilled, but easy fix just ask the guys here and you will get the nut to tail measurement for the scale length so intonation is right.The floating bridge causes string vibration from the body giving unwanted feedback, which can be stopped by glueing a thin layer of cork on underside..But you lose sustain, thats why Grohl swapped to fixed hardtail, increase sustain without feedback..At least that was the case on the Gibson Trini..Cant speak fir the PBG model you purchased...

[Dedman]

get an inspection mirror on a stick and look inside before making a decision, not sure of the internal bracing structure, some of the guys here that have built them will know.

[Andy40]

Hi MrMayhem75, I would check it with a mirror like Deadman said but, most likley it will have a centreblock of basswood running through the middle. (It would need one anyway to mount the trapeze). I think you'll be good to put a stop-tail on it.

Have you settled on a type of stop-tail yet? I see you are from the USA. Just bear in mind that these kits are cut with metric system measurements, so if you are considering USA made parts, such as the stop-tail (which should be compatible with the kit bridge), before you buy it, just post the measurements on this build diary and one of us Aussies can check its compatibility with the kit stop-tails.

Its not a big deal, if you have to get a USA made bridge, most likely you'll have to dowel up the pre-drilled bridge post holes and re-drill with imperial measurements. If you are painting it Pelham Blue no-one will know

I see that the headstock is not pre-drilled for the tuning machines, which will be a plus if you want to get USA tuning machines you'll probably need to drill 11/32" holes (about 8.75mm). If you are using the kit machine heads or getting some mini-grovers (like on the Dave Grohl ES-335 Signature) the holes will be slightly bigger I think about 9.5mm.

Sorry, if I complicated anything.

It'll be great.

[MrMayhem75]

Thank you for the input. I hadn't considered the size of the pre-cut holes being metric. I'm hoping they'll be smaller and only need opened up a hair? I also didn't get as far as thinking about what machines we would use either, but now that you mention it, I'm sure my son will want the right ones.

My son's guitar teacher has built several guitars and will be helping us with the build, most likely doing the wiring and set up for us. I plan on doing all of the body work myself. I can't wait to see that blue hit the wood. The sample I got from the can is unbelievably beautiful.

Thank you all for your help so far. My son and I are so excited for you all to see it when she's done. Now.....what to name it. I suggested "Babe the Big Blue Axe"......

[MrMayhem75]

The kit arrived the other day, a total of five days to get here to Ohio from Australia. I was shocked when it showed up, I thought for sure it would take 4-6 weeks.

Here is Stage 1, sanded down to 2000 grit, masked off and ready for the first coat of primer.