Fully hollow and carved Les Paul

WezV · June 2020

JayGee said:

WezV said:

SteveF said:

Your bursts really are fantastic looking.

Thanks, it still has some imperfections.

It’s a hand built, hand finished one-off. It’s supposed to have imperfections... Or, as us (potentially) paying punters say “character”...

don't get me wrong, i'm okay with it.

I just know a lot of guitarists seem to think a unique hand made item should be absolutely perfect in every way. I will get this close in a lot of ways, but not all of them.

PeteC · June 2020

I think the rise of PRS has a lot to do with many guitarists now expecting pristine finishes.
Its made other companies up their game too regarding finishes.

I love my 94 McCarty, and the other PRSs I have owned, but have played quite a few of the mid range and budget PRSs that although they had very nice finishes indeed, were not that great to play.

I'd much rather have an amazing playing instrument with some flaws and imperfections, than a perfect looking guitar any day.

WezV · June 2020

The PRS factory do one thing over and over again for the most part, and they do it very well. That's the best way to help build consistency, but I have no interest in doing it that way

My finishing does compare well to the stuff on early hand made PRS

PeteC · June 2020

Yes - the early stuff has character as does your latest build. Is there a thread with your Thinline build Wez ?

WezV · June 2020

this was the latest one
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/176436/reviving-an-old-project#latest

with more construction pics scattered through this thread
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/116/the-world-of-wez/p4

PeteC · June 2020

thanks @WezV - will have a good read through.

GuyBoden · July 2020

A great guitar build, well done, it looks great, the pickguard is superb.

WezV · July 2020

i remembered i need to make a bridge for this.

its going to be carved from a single piece of African blackwood. I used an old european archtop bridge for the test fits so far, so that is my reference for the new bridge

WezV · July 2020

That actually became 2 bridges. one solid blackwood, and one base for a tune-o-matic. Nice to have options.

They are just rough cut here, will be shaped more once the bottom is sanded to fit the carve

Andyjr1515 · July 2020

This is all looking pretty special...

WezV · July 2020

why thank you.

I have started to buff it out a bit, frets are leveled and board has been cleaned up and oiled

Just trying to decide on an appropriate level of shininess, but i think it might be about there.

Knobs shown here are some rosewood ones i was trying on for size

merlin · July 2020

Insane @WezV. Another instrument that looks amazing. Cracking work Sir! Can't wait to hear it.

PhilKing · July 2020

How are your tortoiseshell knobs coming on? I think they will look great on it.

WezV · July 2020

PhilKing said:

How are your tortoiseshell knobs coming on? I think they will look great on it.

Inserts turned up the other day so I need to get around to finishing some more off

WezV · July 2020

just had delivery of 3 German spruce wedge sets. Buying archtop wood is not cheap, but Maderas barber in Spain had some lower grade sets in cheap and i decided to pick up a few.

These are full size archtop sets, so plenty of room to work around flaws for smaller sized instruments. But they are actually pretty nice tops. some colour variation and flaws around the edges, but nothing i wouldn't be happy with anyway. 1 will get used relatively soon, the other two will just be saved

I also have some english walnut being sawn for me soon - so that's a plan for the next one starting to form

PeteC · July 2020

Can’t wait to see what you have in store Wes. This last build has been fascinating to follow, thanks for sharing the build diary.

WezV · July 2020

started to put it together

weighs in at 6lb.

Bridge is still a little high, but sounding great. plenty of room to fettle it down to size

The plate here is another i made from the etsy material. Its a slightly different size and shape to the other one, also has the "grain" of the tort going in a different direction, and it is not bevelled... looks totally different to the one above

Roland · July 2020

I prefer that plate. The one above is too bright for the looks of the guitar.

Winny_Pooh · July 2020

Stunner! How did you do the finish? Do you have a full spraying setup?

Jez6345789 · July 2020

Definitely your nicest looking build threads.

WezV · July 2020

I have a smallish compressor and a few guns, but in all honesty I still need to work on doing it a bit better.... I used to have a dedicated space for spraying but am making do at the moment

danishbacon · July 2020

Absolutely amazing.

GuyBoden · July 2020

A truly excellent build, the tune-o-matic bridge option is very practical.

LastMantra · July 2020

Those last pics may be the nicest guitar I've ever seen!

Can't wait to see it totally finished.
Could you put some kind of mark on the knobs? I think even just a little dot/dimple would look perfect.

PhilKing · July 2020

It's looking great Wez. In the pictures though it looks almost like a 3/4 size (since there's nothing to judge it against). The new scratch plate looks excellent. Can't wait to see it with the electrics and knobs fitted.

WezV · July 2020

PhilKing said:

It's looking great Wez. In the pictures though it looks almost like a 3/4 size (since there's nothing to judge it against). The new scratch plate looks excellent. Can't wait to see it with the electrics and knobs fitted.

I think that's just the classic archtop look on a small body... Throws the perception off.

SteveF · July 2020

Those open-gear tuners really look great too.

kaypeejay · July 2020

I agree that the scratch plate is a much better fit for the guitar. Absolutely stunning build.

Sarge · July 2020

Absolutely stunning!
I don't go in for jazz box type guitars too often, but the size, the burst and the position of the one pickup just calls to me.
Beautifully done mate.

jmf1928 · July 2020

Awesome man! I’m genuinely in awe of people who can work wood into art like this.

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Fully hollow and carved Les Paul

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