Les Paul Junior Style Guitar Scratch build Part 2

[@terryjohinke8065]

Ex Maths lecturer here. Please use Imperial measurements only, that's what the original instruments ( all ) were made by. You tend to use both in the same sentence. Imperial is correct to 1/1000 th. of an inch. I know both systems but talking to my luthier mate last week , who was schooled in metric, he had to learn Imperial and uses that only.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

No thanks. And don’t dictate to me. My show my rules

[@MouldyGuitars]

I use which ever fits the situation. Both systems are accurate to infinity. Just depends how far you go with the digits. Also metric is much easier to manipulate lol

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

@@MouldyGuitars I grew up with imperial and we went metric in my late childhood. I actually think in both. It’s not difficult. 1/2 inch is 12mm. That’s a useful peg.

[@martynharveythepoet5114]

@@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking Agreed! What arrogance! I was brung up with Shillings, Half Crowns, Guineas and Ha'pences....Inches, feet and Cubits! And then, as a 6-year-old in primary school, was indoctrinated with (converted to) the metric system and so, have been working and thinking in both for the last 50-odd years. I'm a semi-pro level guitar repairer/builder (having made my first when I was just 17) and I have to say that I now work exclusively in millimeters. It's just much simpler. As @MouldyGuitars says (below) they are both accurate to infinity (depending on your level of measuring precision). Don't take any notice - as you say - Your show - Your Rules! 🙂

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

@@martynharveythepoet5114 nice post and well said. Units are pretty irrelevant unless you get them wrong or mix them up. I think NASA missed mars once because of mix up in units. What kind of a maths teacher doesn’t get that. But then He is an EX maths lecturer not a practicing one.

[@entretantosmundosgaming4974]

“A beer in the shower.” That one made my day. Great channel, very inspirational. Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks my friend. I had forgotten that gag. More importantly I haven’t tried that yet but it does sound appealing.

[@thegreatwragginski3093]

I’m enjoying the one line in each video that makes me snort with laughter. This weeks candidate was “hanging baskets of Babylon” 😂😂

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

I try to get one pearler into each episode. It was almost ‘getting jiggy with it’ but I muffed the line.

[@martynharveythepoet5114]

Brilliant channel, style and videography Chris! Your woodworking expertise shows through and the light-hearted approach makes for great edutainment! Keep it up! Thanks 🙂

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Kind words. Thanks. I’m trying to show that guitar making isn’t a black art. Few rules, lots of options and great for the soul. C

[@jonwold]

The format and pacing of these videos is nice, well done. Thanks for sharing.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks Jon. The pleasure is mine. Thanks for watching. C

[@gab5450]

I love the fact that you are using a scarf joint and building up the heel . I like to save wood too and the Fender style heel is genius that's basically what the Frank Bros. do .

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks for your kind words. It’s very practical as you can’t get large pieces of quality mahogany here. I buy reclaimed mahogany table tops. They are old stable and super wood. The joint is simply the way it looks but actually isn’t. I think the B&G guitars use this simple method. I’m kinda baffled that Gibson don’t. It’s strong, stable works. C

[@mariobernier4606]

God bless the Queen - absolutely Been away for a couple of weeks - glad to see part 2 is up ! Awesome !

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Part three up shortly C

[@travistalkington9297]

There’s a lot of things I see you do that a router table could make an easier task. You should really look into getting one if you have the room. Great work and enjoy your videos

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

I built one into my main bench. It was a nightmare. I got fed up of having bodies thrown across the workshop. We all have our things. I’m not a router table guy I guess. I’m going to get one in my new workshop in France if that ever happens. C

[@6xcchamber971]

Love this series, I just started looking at the junior and SG for future builds. You do some really nice work My dear friend John Bailey lived in England and did a Cabinet making apprenticeship starting at 13 years of age. He came to Canada and taught in the Schools hear in Ontario. We met and he started teaching me some basic skills such as using a scraper and doing hand cut dove tails. I then built a table out of walnut and then I started to do guitar builds!!! I buit a Ibanez Jem guitar from a 1:1 drawing and now I am hooked. Now I am in the process of doing 2 62 Based Strats. Thanks for the detailed information and the saying like, Crack on! Lots of slang difference. B

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Great story. Always good to hear a tale of tuition and joy passed on. Yes we talk funny here. It’s the mother language with all its regional slangs and sayings. I spent a lifetime burying my accent but I’m proud of my West Country burr and I have finally embraced it. C

[@6xcchamber971]

@@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking Thank you!B

[@jackdoe8483]

Wonderful video, Chris. Thoroughly enjoying watching the Les Paul Junior videos. Tonight I was thinking to myself about whether I should pursue building my own guitar or not. After seeing this video, I feel encouraged to give it a try. I've subscribed.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Definitely go for it. It’s fun and rewarding. You will learn a lot on your first instrument. C

[@garthboyd3095]

Brilliant Chris, another very interesting episode. When you have completed the build please weight it, guitar nerds love that sort of detail especially with juniors. Thanks Garth

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Will do! That is going to be interesting. The body is very dense and I am expecting this one to be... H E A V Y

[@d.g.8506]

Very good video. Thank you Chris.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks very much. Took longer this time. Lots of editing and more footage than usual.

[@6xcchamber971]

I am about to try and make a scarf joint myself for the first time. Great example of how to do it!!!! B

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Once you’ve cut it and reversed it, get it as flat as possible. It’ll work so much better the flatter it is. It’s a very satisfying process.

[@juliomorel5516]

Nice job!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks Julio glad you enjoyed it.

[@DKentization]

As a kid, my 1st good guitar was a 58 Junior. I grew up about 60 miles northwest of Chicago and in the mid 70's you could score these for about a hundred bucks. About a year later I found another, a 62 Junior( SG style), that really spoke to me. Both guitars were very lively. Not sure if it was attributed to the neck joint...but maybe. I appreciate your video series, absolutely some of the best guitar geekery out there. Thank you!!!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks for the great story. I’m still agonising over the neck but I’m past the point where I could do the standard tenon. It’s going to be a make it work on the day scenario. I kinda like that to be honest. C

[@HarpinJScott]

Absolutely brilliant! Love the quality of your videos and very much appreciate the time it must take to put these together. Looking forward to Part 3 as I collect tools and bits to get started on my own guitar build journey! Thanks so much, Chris!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Glad to hear it has spurred you on to having a go yourself. I’ll be doing more guitar making in the coming week. I hope to have part three done by the weekend.

[@chrisr8618]

I really love the pace/tone or your videos, it makes for a great watching experience. P.S. I love the green and gold shirt. Thanks. Chris R

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Glad you like them! As always, thanks Chris R from Chris R. I went to film school and was an editor for 35 Years in TV and so I hope I have learned something about film making. The guitar making has always been a passion and when I stepped back from editing I guess this was a logical step. Best regards Chris R

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Oh the shirt is by Vatpave and from Amazon. I have a few. www.amazon.co.uk/VATPAVE-Floral-Hawaiian-Shirts-3X-Large/dp/B08D3HQT14/ref=sr_1_49_sspa?keywords=vatpave%2Bmens%2Bhawaiian%2Bshirts&qid=1662852895&sprefix=vatpave%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-49-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFSSlpRUEdKTUhUUzMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1MTU4NjkxRlNaMDFRR0xLSjlYJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NjQ5NDNRVjFBWTJOR0lFWUwmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1&psc=1

[@scottwilliams1902]

Superb!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Cheers Scott, thanks for your superb word. C

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Great idea to buy reclaimed mahogany👍🏼

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

It really is! I’ve been doing it for years. It’s the best and cheapest way to get great wood for very little. It works so easy too. A real pleasure. C

[@islanderwinder]

Jigs exclusive to a router may be a problem ,it's probably better to design them around a universal router faceplate . I blew up 4 routers in one year with very little use to them ..after that I've never had a problem so things like that can happen ....damn you Craftsman !!!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks for your insight. Routers scare me. If I can avoid them I will. I’ve had too much stuff thrown at the wall by them. C

[@pedromarquesmusic]

Fun, informative and relaxing to watch. Yours are the guitar building videos I've enjoyed the most. As always, I'm looking forward to the next part. Cheers!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Awesome, thank you! Such a wonderful thing to hear. Next part next week all things being good and I get into the workshop ASAP. C

[@stevev8592]

I have been just loving your videos. I have yet to dive into building a neck as I couldn’t quite visualize a process I could follow with the tools I have. This video changed that perspective. The way you talk through what you’re doing is not only informative but entertaining! Cheers mate

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Steve, that is so lovely to hear. I talk a lot and narrate what I am doing and it is so good to hear that people like it. Making a neck seems a big deal and yet its the most joyous part of guitar making. A guitar with your neck on it is a huge buzz. Just go at it slow and keep touching it. Hands and feeling are the essence of guitar playing AND making. C

[@jah8859]

Love the straight forward no nonsense explanations you give...although dare I say, simple not easy?... also, love the shirt. ☮️❤️

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks Jah. Simple and easy. I guess it depends on your approach. Some folks can make the simplest thing seem daunting. If you take it slow and proceed mindfully and carefully you generally get there. I suffer from impatience and tend to rush stuff. Filming slows me doen and my work actually improves. Once you have done something once it seems a whole lot easier the next time. C. Its my fave shirt BTW

[@tonya5809]

Thanks Chris another highly entertaining, inspiring and informative video. I think l mentioned it before, but your videos are such enjoyable viewing, l usually end up watching them twice😊☺

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks Tony. I’m inspired to do better when I hear comments like this. I’m pretty tired at the moment after 3 days hard at the LPJ. There’s some pics in my instagram page I posted earlier that show where I am at. Cx

[@johnnymiller5112]

Have you tried a little bit of table salt sprinkled into the wood glue to prevent the 2 pieces of wood from slipping during glue up and clamping?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

I have heard about this. I have not tried it as I’m a little concerned about undermining the glue and/or the consequences of the contamination. Fine sand may be more inert.

[@Marvulle22]

Muito show

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks very much. I’m glad you enjoyed the show. C

[@elducko1951]

Nice video... Great to watch; it made for a pleasant distraction as I am waiting for a lift to a festival gig that I am playing this afternoon. Concentrating on your methods and progress is a great way to quell my pre-gig jitters. I've been playing forever and I still get nervous and anxious before a gig. I'm only playing a 45-minute set, but as a bass player, I sweat every single note from the downbeat to the end. Still, I'll enjoy every minute and be VERY relieved on the drive home. Maybe you could build a Fender-type 4-string bass next? Can't wait for episode 3! Take care!! Have a great day!!

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Hi Tom. I hope or you had a great gig. I know the nerves thing. The older I get the more nervy I get. Thanks also for your kind words. Big love C

[@CMRWoodworks]

“Hanging baskets of babylon” 😂

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

That was just for you. I try to get a gag in every episode. C ;)

[@jonahguitarguy]

Everything looks very traditional. I think stick with the original neck joint. However if you don’t plan on a neck pup you could shorten the tenon so you don’t need a scratch plate.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

If you watch Ep 3 that went up yesterday you will see what I did. No daft tenon for me Dane. The silly thing is that the disguised tenon in a Gibson need dot be disguised. I just did it how it looks and it works brilliantly. I have no idea why Gibson adopted the tenon at all.

[@ronniejarvis2679]

Another fabulous video, Chris. Your production value just keeps getting better and it seems that you’ve hit a nice stride. Great explanations of the techniques too

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Thanks Ronnie. The Harmony series was done on the selfie cam of my iPhone. Things have definitely moved on from there. Two cameras now mostly and now I’m 4K. Still no returns from KZbin but that’s not why I do it. Glad you are enjoying the show.

[@phredbed827]

You're videos just keep getting better and better. Well done! I'd love to see a series in the future in which you make a bass guitar. I've noticed a bass neck hanging on your wall in the background so I assume it's within your area of expertise. Please don't feel pressured to make one though, I wouldn't want this suggestion to interrupt any video lineup you have planned.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

A bass would be a welcome change. I love bass in general so this makes sense. I have built one for my son and it was a joy. I may do this soon. C

[@martinpettit9721]

Thanks Chris. You are absolutely the most entertaining and informative Luthier that I have seen on KZbin. Love the detail and small tips as you go along. I have a decent set of woodworking tools, you are tempting me into making that strat I keep pondering over .. One question, you use a lot of templates, are they necessary or are the dimensions online somewhere?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Ha. In real life I rarely use templates. I use the basic dimensions from drawings. There is but one critical dimension in guitar building Scale length. A strat it 25.5 inches. The fret spacing relevant to that scale length is absolute and cannot be messed with. If you stick to that golden rule you shouldn’t have any problems

[@martinpettit9721]

@@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking Thanks Chris, wise words.

[@user-qr7wf4li9l]

Do you know how many degrees the cut is on the jig you made to make the scarf joint? Do you end up with the same angle that your factory built LPJ has? Thank you.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

@@user-qr7wf4li9l My jig is 15 degrees if I remember correctly. I believe the les Paul is generally at 17 degrees. I prefer a very slightly softer angle as I think it may relieve a little pressure, particularly as we tend to use lighter string these days. I can’t actually see the difference and the guitar is an absolute belter anyway. C

[@mauricelavergne3434]

Hi just wondering if you could tell me what your headstock angle is? What is the neck break angle? Do you put the angle in the heel of the neck or in the neck pocket?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

16 degrees. I have the jig made up already and 16 looks and feels good to me. The angle is in the pocket. All this info and demonstration of the process is in the series. There are 8 or 9 parts in this series. C

[@dougckelly]

Thanks for the video Chris, new to the channel. What are the clamps you used for the scarf joint?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

I don’t remember. I’ll have to watch the video. I use a lots of clamps. The wooden ones are luthiers cam clamps. They are incredible and have a small pressure zone and don’t slip. C

[@dougckelly]

@@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking Cam clamps, thats the one, I couldn't quite hear what you said in the video. cheers

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

@@dougckelly Cam clamps are favoured by luthiers because they have a small grip area around the tip. They don’t squidge and slip laterally. You can make your own too. I have a ton of them and you can get ones with a deep throat (reach) so they can be used to glue bridges etc. Klempsia I think is the maker.

[@EbonyPope]

At what angle did you glue the headstock on? Nice work by the way.

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

15 degrees. Why?

[@nallgood32]

I'm curious, would your method for cutting the truss rod channel differ with a fender tele style neck vs this angled LP neck (assuming similar truss rod access in the head stock)? Do you have a preference for head stock vs body side truss rod access for fender style guitars?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Headstock end access is way easier but with fender style necks I prefer heel adjustments. I simply don’t like seeing a truss Rod cover on a fender type headstock. Good questions Nathan thanks.

[@nallgood32]

@@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking Thanks for your wisdom Chris, I’m really enjoying your channel!

[@matthewatkinson7558]

Should headstock end of that scarf joint be 1/2” thick?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Oh I dunno. A bit thinner I think. Not much though. C

[@ralphb09]

where did you get your templates from?

[@chrisreynoldsguitarmaking]

Crimson Guitars although that was a surprise to me when I got it from eBay.