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My journey with Jaeger Guitars Bavarian Makeover ...

zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
Dear Les Paul Forum Members,

after years of considering i have decided to give my beloved R0 in the magic hands of a well known luthier, Mr. Florian Jaeger of Jaeger Guitars.
i would like to share with you my journey from a pretty much standard 2003 R0 plaintop, in so called Tak Burst, towards a beautifully light aged early 1960 faded teaburst.

Hope you do enjoy it as much as i do.

I have had a very warm welcome at Florian in his workshop a few weeks ago. He is such a nice guy with an unbelievable deep knowledge of guitars especially original Bursts.

We discussed the makeover and he will send pictures and emails while working on my guitar to discuss the next step in detail.
With my following Posts i would like to keep you updated of my journey to make my dream come true.

1. Lets get started! Hardware removed

IMG_8170.JPG

2. new inlays ; vintage correct authentic Cellulose Nitrat inlys in correct Color and pattern. Florian says they come form the original italian company that produced the inlays in the 50th.

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to be continued ….
 
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zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
some updates:

fret dressing, trimmed and polished

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sticky Gibson lacquer stripped off!

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The maple top of the Tak Burst Les Paul coated is pickled (dont know if this is the correct translation for "gebeizt") in yellow. Florian is using pigment to replicate the original 50th paint.

Handcarving the top
"... with drawing blade I start working on the vault. This is a very elaborate, artistic handicraft that will take many days. Bleeding fingers!!! "


IMG_8282.JPG



… to be continued
 
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zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
...and after days of handwork and with bleeding fingers: authentic vintage topcarve contours with a beautiful recurve and a deep dish..!"

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... with a bronze sledschiel I take the unpleasant shoulders from the neck...!

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… with rasp and sanding paper. Shaping the neck.

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...short TP bushings removed..

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zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
... the plug for the discant side. A sandwich made of hard rockmaple and Honduras mahogany…

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… new hole for studs on the discant side (slanted)

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...don't forget a new tiny hole and the groundwire...
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And now: the slanted tailpiece, almost parallel with the Bridge
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btw i forgot to mention that i have decided to do the "small" makeover (Bavarian makeover I )
Florian offers Bavarian Makeover II which contains : neck reset, hide glue, remove the Thrussrod condom and apply a brazillian rosewood fretboard , binding in original material … … …
i like the board on my Les Paul and i am happy with it.
 
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fakejake

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
1,274
Super cool, it really was about time for another makeover thread :dude:
Will you keep the rest of the hardware and electronics stock?
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Awesome and very exciting to follow the progress of the Master Craftsman plying his trade ! Love the photos of the work in progress !
 

zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
Super cool, it really was about time for another makeover thread :dude:
Will you keep the rest of the hardware and electronics stock?

The capacitors have been updated to old 60s black beauties already.
Pots come from "Vintage inspired Pickups" and 50s wiring of course.
I might want a different Bridge ...
As Pickups i have a Set of aged double whites OX4

The rest will be aged slightly but remain stock 2003
 
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Pekri 59

New member
Joined
Feb 19, 2015
Messages
27
Absolutley famous work from Florian. He is a one of the best Guitarbuilder in Europe.:)
 

zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
...neck-headstock-transition rounded and sanded .... for that smooth Feeling:

before:
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after:
IMG_8720.JPG

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… to be continued
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
I am not seeing any photos at all.

Is it just me? :hmm
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I can't see the photos also , the first several posts I was able to see them , not now (bummer )
 

mdubya

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
1,020
I can see them in Google Chrome.

Great thread.

I am using Chrome, but I have a lot of protection, too.

I will make some adjustments for LPF so, hopefully, I can see the photos! :peace2
 

zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
Dear Forum,

after a few days of not updating this thread i would like to continue to tell our story.
Florian kept working continuosly on my guitar but unfortunately i could not find the time to share the latest pix.

Here we go:

...entire back fine sanded...

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… Red Aniline Oilbased Filler …

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Florian send me a very interesting voice message about any detail, manufacturing process and so on of what Gibson used to do in the 50s and what they do nowadays.
This deep knowledge is so much more than i coulde share here and i could not even explain it as he can at all. He is the luthier, not me. So if you want to know more about all of this maybe you can get in touch with him via his website or even better … start your own makover with him :)


... the highly pigmented filler looks almost black in the pore. Here without first Clearcoat!


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to be continued
 
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zakk5

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
91
a few new updates:


Headstock sprayed and logo cleaned
...and a Gibbie again…

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...1st clearcoat on red filler on Body.

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the next step will be super exciting! THE BURST COLOR!

to be continued ...
 

thin sissy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2006
Messages
2,691
I love these threads, thank you!

I have to comment on another thing though. Always glad to see a Daniel Johns reference. I still listen to Diorama regularly, it's a masterpiece! :salude
 
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