Building a lightweight Les Paul style guitar. Ep 1: making the body

[@Ray-um3if]

Hi David, love seeing the care you take when you are working. Looking forward to the rest of the build.

[@flameguitars5770]

Thank you, appreciate your comment

[@klburroughsnz]

My understanding of common woods use for guitar bodies is that the maple cap is the heavier of the woods, so reducing the thickness (not suggesting here you use a laminate although you could) of the cap would reduce the weight for the same body thickness. Lighter wood like Basswood or Ash could replace the mahogany

[@markdalton6662]

Thats a beautiful guitar , you are a great guitar builder .

[@flameguitars5770]

Thank you very much!

[@TedP007]

Many Epiphone Les Pauls have flat tops. If you went that route You could use maple veneer to save weight. I use a CAD system to design my bodies. Using the correct density , the system can tell me the weight AND center of gravity , before I cut anything. Loved the video.

[@phillipalter6499]

I just discovered your channel just randomly. Very excited to see how this progresses! I have an interest in being a luthier and this is just so interesting to watch and hear you walk through this. Thank you!!

[@flameguitars5770]

Welcome. Episode 2 uploaded in next couple of days.

[@n0nyabznss]

@@flameguitars5770 How much do you charge for a guitar like that?

[@henryhunter5026]

So good to see a video from you once again. I never cease to be impressed by your amazing level of skill and precision when both building and repairing instruments. I have a couple of of excellent Gibson Melody Maker guitars that they made between 2003 and 2007 which were fitted with dogs ear pickups and tune o matic bridges. The necks of these simple little guitars were made from Spanish Cedar which I’ve found to be a very stable wood. Needless to say that I’m really looking forward to seeing the further episodes of this build.

[@flameguitars5770]

Thanks Henry. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@RUBBERTANK_3]

Impressive carving by eye it seems.

[@alonso21100]

gorgeous work

[@darielguitar]

Man! I can watch hours of this! Can't wait for the next 2 episodes! Great stuff!

[@flameguitars5770]

Thank you. Next episode will be uploaded in 2 or 3 weeks.

[@alanbrewer9454]

Smashing video a joy to watch such superb craftsmanship for which I thank you. I am very much looking forward to the next instalment

[@flameguitars5770]

Thanks Alan

[@The..Butterfly..Effect]

What a beautiful blue

[@guitarally7289]

That is gorgeous.

[@chrisphobia]

Ha, "Neck episode: making the neck." I love it cheers

[@stratnut]

Very enjoyable video, thank you

[@csnelling4]

A lovely video, thank you 👏👏👍👌

[@Yosser70]

Very nice work mate. I’m going to be building a Les Paul soon, I’ve built a fair few guitars before, tele’s, strats and a couple of Juniors, so got a decent grasp of the basics but the Paul is definitely a step up in difficulty, with the carved top and tenon neck joint. I’ve watched loads of build videos like yours, and while I wont be following any exactly, I always pick up ideas and tips from them all, that I can fit with my way of working and available tools. Thanks for taking the time to do them.

[@flameguitars5770]

Hope your LP build goes well

[@polymorphism1966]

Hi David it’s great to see you again.

[@flameguitars5770]

Thanks Richard

[@TheNaKio]

It is great indeed

[@TheNaKio]

Such a beautifulness

[@chickenlickin3820]

martin use this Cedrela for their necks

[@MikeFurth]

So excited for. This series! I love the care you’re taking. I’m trying to learn how to build les Paul style guitars. What resource have you used for some of the measurements? ou video you mention for example the importance of getting the neck angle right but where did you find the correct angle?

[@flameguitars5770]

Thanks Mike. I think the neck angle on this guitar was 4°. The angle depends on the thickness of the maple top and the bridge height you want achieve. I aim for a saddle height of 18mm above the body. I am fortunate to work on dozens of Les Paul's each you. Neck angle vary. But 4 or 5 ° should be fine.

[@TheKlauspc]

scottish pine is rather light as well, albeit it has poor sustain. the maple top should make up for it though.

[@NeoGeoEch13]

I was about to route the carved top in steps using my router, but your video inspired me !!! I used hand tools only with my 101 copy from Juuma and scrapers and it felt great so far. If you don't mind me asking what is that beautiful mini plane that you are using to carve the top?

[@flameguitars5770]

It is a Veritas palm planer. But I actually found curved scrapers to be more useful.

[@user-dr6tm4wc4m]

What was the thickness of the ceder after planing?

[@yellowcat1310]

i thought that Cedrela looked like Mohogany. i looked it up and in fact it is a Mahogany variety

[@RaxFx]

wonder is Paulownia wood would be even lighter - Paulownia Teles are about 2.7 Kg

[@flameguitars5770]

Certainly paulownia is a very light wood. But visually cedrela looks very similar to mahogany, but paulownia doesn't

[@hustlinc3540]

should have gone the BF Gibbons route when it comes to weight relief. Full hollow body and neck. great job btw. keep it up

[@jasonwaltham]

Hi, where do you source CEDRELLA from? great looking guitar by the way!

[@flameguitars5770]

I've been using the same place for guitar wood for the last 30 years. Luthier Supplies in East Sussex.

[@jasonwaltham]

@@flameguitars5770 thanks for the tip, keep up the good work!