1959 2013 LP Build

[vanhalen5150]

Roughed out the curves.

[vanhalen5150]

George, how much does your Yarron weigh?

I'm using Honduras for the bodies and the harder African for the necks on these ones. Not sure I've seen one done this way before. I want to get the weight down without chambered bodies but have the great stability in the necks the African provides. I didnt have to adjust the neck at all on the original build I did. In fact I didnt even have to tighten the truss yet.

Luck maybe?

When you add the fretboard the neck gets a little backbow. The strings bring it back straight all by themselves. I've read its the combo of the hide glue(water) and the frets expanding the fretboard that does this.

[rgorke]

So, which is no longer available? The Honduran or the African or are the both covered under CITES? What is Sipo and how does it differ? Is there truly a difference in tone or is it just what Gibson used in the 50s?

[VelvetGeorge]

George, how much does your Yarron weigh?

From memory, 8 pounds 4 ounces.

George

[Lefty Lou]

Hey VH, just wanted to congratulate you on your fine work. A lot of carpenters like my buddy Chris with 40+ years of overall carpentry and luthiery skills could still learn a thing or two from guys like yourself about guitar builds. Chris built a 3/4" scale SG body with a tightly flamed book matched maple cap, and very light south african Sapele (which I'm to understand is of the Mahogany family) for the back. I've noticed a recent trend, and have started seeing more Sapele in guitars calling for Mahogany these days.

[vanhalen5150]

So, which is no longer available? The Honduran or the African or are the both covered under CITES? What is Sipo and how does it differ? Is there truly a difference in tone or is it just what Gibson used in the 50s?

I'm not sure exactly what is going on, but noticed a few weeks ago StewMAc is only selling African now. Im scavenging as much Honduras locally as I can afford right now. Just never know when its done.

Sipo is the Africa version of Mahog. Its much denser because it has a tighter straighter grain. Some say its brighter sounding which does make sense. I think its the best for the neck portion anyways.

Its believed Gibson was using different woods and wasnt even really paing attention. Its a fact they had both African and South America wood to use. Some of the 58'-62' are said to be African. There is also receipts from the era showing Gibson did order African wood. Once its stained and filled its harder to tell which is which by looking. The weight is the major difference.

[vanhalen5150]

George, how much does your Yarron weigh?

From memory, 8 pounds 4 ounces.

George

Thanks.

Yeah, big difference. The African is hitting almost 10lbs

[vanhalen5150]

Hey VH, just wanted to congratulate you on your fine work. A lot of carpenters like my buddy Chris with 40+ years of overall carpentry and luthiery skills could still learn a thing or two from guys like yourself about guitar builds. Chris built a 3/4" scale SG body with a tightly flamed book matched maple cap, and very light south african Sapele (which I'm to understand is of the Mahogany family) for the back. I've noticed a recent trend, and have started seeing more Sapele in guitars calling for Mahogany these days.

Its definately cheaper. All of the stuff I know about building these I learned from forums. I really think anyone could do it.

[Tone Slinger]

My China paul has wat looks to be obsidian as paint,but, its Mahogany both neck and body. Weighs 8lbs 7 ounces. The bottom horn cut is a tad off from the 'standard' Gibson cut, but close enough. Best thing is this thing sounds REAL good.
My dream Les Paul is a 1973 (first year of a particulat tobacco burst) 'pancake' bodied Deluxe. I'd throw in a cream Super distortion in the bridge and a cream paf in the neck and call it a day. Ace used that spec guitar on all the early Kiss stuff. Problem is the weight and price (12lb average, $4 to $5 grand ).

[Lefty Lou]

All I can say about the Sapele that I personally handled at my friend's carpentry shop is that a "2 x 4" piece was like balsa wood in weight which was very surprising being that Sapele is from the Mahogany species of hardwoods.

[vanhalen5150]

Thats weird. Ususlly Honduras is about 3lbs/board foot and Sapele/Sipo is almost 5lbs/board foot.

There is alot of "mix up" wood in regards to what one is buying. I'm sure lots of different species of mahog is being sold as Honduras. $$$

[Lefty Lou]

Thats weird. Ususlly Honduras is about 3lbs/board foot and Sapele/Sipo is almost 5lbs/board foot.

There is alot of "mix up" wood in regards to what one is buying. I'm sure lots of different species of mahog is being sold as Honduras. $$$

There is a pronounced "ribboning" effect to the wood like in this pic:



But the wood is lighter in color, and appeared to be dried out sufficiently or kiln dried.

[vanhalen5150]

Yeah, the grain tends to run straighter, the pores look a bit smaller. Usually darker than South American species. I should have a few scraps around of each Ill get a pic of.

[axeman]

How does your last project feel in your hands, play-ability

[vanhalen5150]

How does your last project feel in your hands, play-ability

It feels really good. Takes a bit to adjust to the neck but once you play it a bit, but its really comfortable. Everyone thinks the old LP's had a big ass "baseball bat" sized neck. Thats a big misconception. Every one of them was different becuase they were hand made with hand/belt sanders. The top maple body contours were all a little different as were the necks. Looking at many photo's even the classic "open book" headstock design is slightly diffrent. It just depended on who was at the sander that day. Some had a thinner back while others had more beef in the middle. Almost like a point.

One can assume that once CNC machines came into use, there was less variation but the quality of individual workmanship greatly decreased. Pushing a button doesnt require much skill. Only your quality control about what passes or goes to the dumpster is your only check point. Even still, many vintage LP's have an off center midline, the truss rod is in crooked etc....

I constantly checked on real Gibsons locally and actually find they set the factory action fairly high. Not sure why they do but I was able to get my action much lower. Not really anything I couldnt play, even on the higher frets. No different than any strat neck I think.

The fret size selection also plays a big part in the string height and feel on the action. Bigger frets will still maintain the same string/fret height ratio, but the overall feel will be thicker.

Many vintage LP's have been re-fretted with smaller frets I think, as well as some sanding/tapering of the necks. The side fret binding "nibs" that are missing is an indicator. I personally dont like the nibs. Over time the binding wears down between the fret and you start to get a small "valley" of wear that can catch your string or cause the binding to separate there. I also think thats why many were removed and refretted to the outside binding edge.