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Dr. Swamp
New member
So here's the scoop. One of my students built a handful of acoustic guitars as a hobby. He decided he wanted to try building an electric, and tricked me into giving him specs for a great Les Paul. I say tricked, because I thought I was just dreaming up an awesome LP. So I went the whole 9 yards, RS wiring kit, WCR pickups, Tonepros, flame maple binding, primo wood selection, etc.
Turns out, not only did he build the guitar exactly to those specs, but he gave me the guitar as a gift for teaching him how to play. Even put my initials in for the headstock inlay. I was completely floored. He revealed it to me when the guitar was about 70% finished, so that he could have me feel the neck profile and have him carve it exactly how I liked it.
Unfortunately, with the guitar about 95% complete, he was injured pretty badly, and was unable to complete the instrument. He gave it to me as it is now to have it finished up, but it has sat here in this state for quite some time since I wasn't sure what to do. The hole for the toggle switch isn't quite right, it needs to be counter sunk from the back a little bit so that the jack will fit (it can't accommodate the flange at the end of the tip assembly). The actual finish of the guitar, which he did in nitro, is incomplete. It's rather soft and delicate. He told me he wanted to do more coats with it, etc. It looks fantastic, like an old warn in LP finish, without any gloss. I fear it's too delicate though and will scratch very easily. I mounted the hardware so I could get a good look at the instrument. It's obviously not completed, just a mock up.
There are a few rough edges, but over all it's built very well. I'd like to find someone local to me in CA (I'm in central CA but the bay area is a short drive, and LA isn't far either) to put the final touches on the guitar, do any fret work that may not have been completed, and do the guitar justice. It was easily the kindest thing anyone has done for me, to hand carve a custom LP for me as a gift, and I feel terrible that I haven't yet completed it. Anyone have any advice on who to contact?
Sorry for a wall of text for my first real post here, I've just been a lurker for months.
Turns out, not only did he build the guitar exactly to those specs, but he gave me the guitar as a gift for teaching him how to play. Even put my initials in for the headstock inlay. I was completely floored. He revealed it to me when the guitar was about 70% finished, so that he could have me feel the neck profile and have him carve it exactly how I liked it.
Unfortunately, with the guitar about 95% complete, he was injured pretty badly, and was unable to complete the instrument. He gave it to me as it is now to have it finished up, but it has sat here in this state for quite some time since I wasn't sure what to do. The hole for the toggle switch isn't quite right, it needs to be counter sunk from the back a little bit so that the jack will fit (it can't accommodate the flange at the end of the tip assembly). The actual finish of the guitar, which he did in nitro, is incomplete. It's rather soft and delicate. He told me he wanted to do more coats with it, etc. It looks fantastic, like an old warn in LP finish, without any gloss. I fear it's too delicate though and will scratch very easily. I mounted the hardware so I could get a good look at the instrument. It's obviously not completed, just a mock up.
There are a few rough edges, but over all it's built very well. I'd like to find someone local to me in CA (I'm in central CA but the bay area is a short drive, and LA isn't far either) to put the final touches on the guitar, do any fret work that may not have been completed, and do the guitar justice. It was easily the kindest thing anyone has done for me, to hand carve a custom LP for me as a gift, and I feel terrible that I haven't yet completed it. Anyone have any advice on who to contact?
Sorry for a wall of text for my first real post here, I've just been a lurker for months.
