Thread: My First LP Build

This week I've managed to route the body outline after removing the bulk with the drop saw. Also got to cut and glue the neck head.
The tape on the body is the double sided tape used to hold the template.

Looking great Kerry. Gotta luv the Mens Shed, especially if you live in a tiny box in the city.
What are you using for the fretboard?
Are you concidering any cavities in the body or going full solid?
Btw, check out Wal cen's thread (if you havent already). He's been building an LP since forever, but he's done an imaculate job of it so far, and he's a top bloke!
Cant wait to see how you go with this one

Thanks Aussie yes he is a good bloke. He has helped me with several things and sent me a couple of templates for back covers, plus some other bits and pieces too.
I've cut the caveties and the wiring channel from the back but yet to do the topside caveties. I've just started drilling the bulk out of the neck mortise and will finish it with the router.
Just got an all signing all dancing drill press and a set of faucner bits at the Shed. I can't believe what a dream it was with the new gear. I'll take some snaps to show you. I'll also photograph the jigs used for both jobs and add them too.

A bit more progress with the neck slot drilled out using a forstner bit to remove the bulk. I'd already fitted the template for the routing which you can see on top of the body. I decided to leave it there while I did the drilling.
Between the body and the drill press table is a jig which is inclined 4.4 degrees to the slot is on an angle. Not really necessary for the drilling process but is for the routing.
Getting the base of this slot to the correct depth and angle is giving me nightmares.....we'll get there. The first jig I made is useless as the router is too high and cannot reach the template guide. I'm trying another approach and making another jig. See how we go and I'll be sure to get more shots. Any suggestions are welcome.

The other big job this week was the truss rod slot. This was pretty easy and done on our new router table which is amazing.

Some more progress this week.
The mortise for the neck is done and is very snug. Did it using the router table for the mortise and did the tenon with a hand held router and an angled template to give me the right angle to throw the neck back on a 4.4 degrees.

Have also spent some time shaping the body top. This needs more work but is close to finished. I have drilled the four pot holes and want to use a spade drill bit to countersink the top washer and nut as there is not a lot of thread protruding through when the pots are held in place. I used a drill press to drill the pot holes out and then a spade drill bit. Finally I used my Dremel to get the shape right so the pots would sit flat.

I've also drilled the holes for the string anchor points on the body. Again I used our brand new drill press after spending time doing a trial run on some scrap wood just to make sure I'd got the diameter right and the anchor points were tight. Once I was happy I had it all right I drilled the body. I've decided to not fit the screw anchor points till after painting. Please let me know if this is a mistake?

Now I understand the comments I've read over and over again about the pleasure in guitar building it is such a buzz and as other people have said - It get's in the blood.....
Thanks everyone for your help thus far

Looks good. Starting to resemble a strummer.

Really nice!

Finally got my Drumel drop router accessory which has enable me to do the inlays. You'll notice the photo is not a close up....inlays could be better. More practise needed to get to Peter Browns level a lot more. Some saw dust and epoxy and some sins will be hidden. I'll sand this down and go agin to be sure to get every cavity....feel like a dentist especially using the Dremel.
All in all I'm pretty happy for a first time effort.

Then it was onto fitting the truss Rod which was not too difficult. Routed the channel on a router table. I just cut the filler from the neck off cuts and routed a channel up the centre.
Went to Cost Less Bolts in Moorabin to get a thread die to thread the end of the Truss Rod. I never realised it wasn't threaded both ends till it arrived but then it makes sense to leave that till you know exactly what length is required. Threading was a breeze just small increments forward then back a little each time plus some oil and Bobs ya uncle.
So in these shots you can see both ends just prior to gluing in the filler piece.

Next is fitting the headstock laminate and drilling the holes for the headstock gear. Getting lots of comments from the boys at the shed. And some I'm not able to repeat but all in good spirits and with a lot of humour which is great.