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Project Refin: 1961 Les Paul

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I still think you should pop off the board and give it the Yuuki treatment- shim behind and widen it a touch at the top.

I laminated a board on a '62 Special once. Made a huge difference. My guy planned the old one to about halfway, and then added more than half back. Binding didn't look out of place.
 

CBRmatt600

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
I still think you should pop off the board and give it the Yuuki treatment- shim behind and widen it a touch at the top.


The issue with doing that, is that I don’t need additional height, putting a shim behind the board will raise the overall fretboard height and ultimately the bridge height. What I ended up doing is light shaving the binding channel to deepen it a hair, and sized the binding to fit. the binding ended up with a tapered triangle shape, wider at the top and narrowing at the bottom.

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T.Allen

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Sep 11, 2014
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2,662
Should make it an ebony block. I don't know if any were made in 1961, but it would look cool. :2cool
 

CBRmatt600

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Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
Should make it an ebony block. I don't know if any were made in 1961, but it would look cool. :2cool

Haha, they are even harder to find than an original side pull trem! I floated the idea of just making one by hand, but the owner wanted to keep it original
 

CBRmatt600

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Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
I’ve shaped and contoured the binding to fit the narrow channel on this shaved neck, and am now recreating the factory nibs out of this Royalite. Treble side of the neck has gone pretty smoothly, bass side with fret markers is up next.


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marshall1987

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Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Excellent work! I have got to add that the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is about as good as they come. It's perfect! I'll bet she plays like butter.
 

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Excellent work! I have got to add that the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is about as good as they come. It's perfect! I'll bet she plays like butter.

Matt does not fuck around

its going to be RIGHT..... whatever he does

The Gold-E-Caster he made me is incredible

 

CBRmatt600

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
Matt does not fuck around

its going to be RIGHT..... whatever he does

The Gold-E-Caster he made me is incredible


Thanks man! Damn I love that guitar...none of my P90 guitars are quite as satisfying after playing it.
 

marshall1987

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Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
Wow....that gold telecaster with p-90s is smokin' hot! What a beauty! Please put me on the waiting list for one of those. Thanks. :dude:
 

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Wow....that gold telecaster with p-90s is smokin' hot! What a beauty! Please put me on the waiting list for one of those. Thanks. :dude:

you have no idea... it is an insanely good guitar

I'm tellin ya brother--- get in line before its too late

Last night in ATL you had Benji Shanks, Marcus King and CW Starr on stage w at least 66% of the guitars up there having passed thru Matt's hands.

And the other 33% dude is a Banker customer as well
 

Pellman73

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Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
lots of touches that show he goes above and beyond...

put my name and the serial no on the jack plate... not that I'd ever sell it!

I just noticed this yesterday!

 

CBRmatt600

Member
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Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
Wow....that gold telecaster with p-90s is smokin' hot! What a beauty! Please put me on the waiting list for one of those. Thanks. :dude:


Hit me up and we can talk through a build....bankercustomguitars@gmail.com. My winter run is filled up but spring has openings
 

CBRmatt600

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
I finished up the treble side today and got the bass side glued up. That’s the side that’s going to be a real bitch. This turned out quite nice however, I rolled the edges and gave a nice worn feel.

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I also got a couple cool shots sent to me today of Paul Jackson from Blackberry Smoke playing a custom build that I did for him:


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CBRmatt600

Member
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Oct 27, 2015
Messages
280
Got the rest of this binding and fretwork knocked out over Christmas break. Even got the guitar grainfilled, and finish sprayed. I’ll be doing one more coat tomorrow and will have additional pics...but it’s looking damn good so far. Even found some curl in that old mahogany....


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