Guitar Build [Complete Part 2]

By OurJud · Aug 1, 2020 · 851 · 11

So it's finished finished. I'm still not convinced the set-up is perfect. The action at the nut was very high so I adjusted the truss rod and got it closer. I must admit I was doing it blind, turning the allen key without really knowing what I was doing. I then had to play around with the height of the bridge and tailpiece because I was getting terrible buzz when fretting high up the neck.

It's far louder than my Epiphone Les Paul. Don't know if that's because my Epiphone is based on the Les Paul Junior, but it's quite significant. I'm probably only using about 3 of my 10 amps when playing it.

Anyway, pictures as promised.
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Cave Troll, pyroglyphian, RichardOgata and 2 others like this.

Comments

Hey...looks really slick. Love the color.

Friedrich Kugelschreiber, Aug 1, 2020
Thanks. I don't know how familiar you are with Red Dwarf (I remember you saying you liked it in a forum reply to me) but I've based it on Lister's 'authentic Les Paul copy' as he calls it.

OurJud, Aug 1, 2020
Just stumbled across your blog. Great work and congratulations with the build.

I play guitar myself although I could never quite get to grips with an electric. So I stick with my trusty acoustic.

Rad Scribbler, Aug 1, 2020
Thanks, Rad.

Funny you should say that about not being able to get to grips with an electric, as it's the complete opposite for me. The action on my acoustic is too high for me (really should look at sorting that) and the huge body just seems to restrict my (very limited) ability.

OurJud, Aug 1, 2020
It looks great @OurJud - well done! How's the tone?

pyroglyphian, Aug 2, 2020
@ Our Jud

Have you considered having a Luthier adjust the action on your acoustic? What gauge strings do use on your acoustic? I use 12's (medium light).

Rad Scribbler, Aug 2, 2020
@pyroglyphian - thank you. I think the tones are okay, but I’m not convinced everything is how it should be. It’s frustrating because I don’t know enough to know what’s not right. Sometimes it’s difficult to hear what difference (if any) the three-way rhythm / tone switch has on the sound. With my Epiphone I can hear the differences, from typical electric, to clean, to dirty, but I don’t get that with my build.

@Rad Scribbler - ask me another lol. I think the strings are fairly heavy gauge on my acoustic. I looked again and it doesn’t in fact have a high action. It’s just that the strings feel very tight so it feels like they’re harder to press, especially at the nut end of the scale.

OurJud, Aug 2, 2020
@ Our Jud

This might be of help; guitar string gauges.

Extra Light - .010 .014 .023 .030 .039 .047 - otherwise known as 10's

Custom Light - .011 .015 .023 .032 .042 .052 - otherwise known as 11's

Light - .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 - otherwise known as 12’s

Medium - .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 - otherwise known as 13’s

Heavy - .014 .018 .027 .039 .049 .059 - otherwise known as 14’s

It appears that you either have Medium (13's) or Heavy (14's) on your acoustic.

Give light (12's) gauge strings a try. When ever you change string gauges you will also need to adjust the action to suit.
Rad Scribbler, Aug 2, 2020
@Rad Scribbler - just checked the gig bag and found it came with a spare set of strings. Assuming what’s already on are the same, it’s already using light gauge.

Maybe I just need to stop looking for excuses and get better.

OurJud, Aug 2, 2020
Very nice!! I told you getting the truss rod, nut, and action right was a bitch!

Homer Potvin, Aug 3, 2020
Thank you, and yes you did, @Homer Potvin, you did.

OurJud, Aug 3, 2020

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Guitar Build [Complete Part 2]

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