Precision Guitar kits build 1959 les paul custom

PGK 1959 guitar kit .. 4A western flame top , 1 piece solid Honduran Mahogany body and neck , Macassar ebony finger board with block inlays , Gibson BB2 bridge and 57 neck pickups all original Gibson hardware and plastics , swichcraft 3 way and jack , Emerson bumble bee caps and bourne low fiction pots , Grover tuners , Hot hide glue long neck tenon , aniline dye and vintage nitro style lacquer

[@charleslivingston803]

I’ve been building & finishing guitars (and furniture professionally) for 10 years. Ben’s advice is spot-on. The truth is, finishing is both easier and harder than you might imagine. For period correct guitar finishing, using traditional materials like oil based grain filler and nitrocellulose lacquer not only looks great, but these materials are comparatively forgiving of mistakes and inexperience vs newer technology. I love that he didn’t try for a PRS-style “dipped in glass” look on the top coats. To achieve that, you must eliminate all uneven spots with each sanding, and to do that without sand-throughs is very difficult and time consuming. I doubt that they put that much work in at the factories during the golden era of classic electric guitars because they’d never make any money at it! A few passes of progressive grits plus some polishing at the end gives you a nice gloss but not blinding. Who wants to have a guitar that looks like it’s made out of plastic, anyway?

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

Looks killer, but the covered pickups gotta go. Black/white zebras are a must.

[@rossman265]

What did you use to apply the laquer? Looks amazing!

[@bengordon7635]

electric lvlp sprayer

[@sk8city476]

"I wanted to do a quick video..." 29.35 minutes.

[@REBELSCL]

Beautiful guitar..You did an outstanding job. The guitar sounds better than any Les Paul I’ve ever heard…

[@daveycrockett9447]

I bet you paid a fortune for it. Looks great though

[@bengordon7635]

clearance body paid $550 ,,check the clearance sales

[@addman34555]

so do you sand the sanding sealer before grain filling?

[@bengordon7635]

yes sand sand sand sand sand ,, lightly sand the roughness' and just lightly spray the sealer , you can use polyester based sealer but real thin and it will be super super smooth

[@eltigre8978]

Absolutely beautiful build Ben! Very nice. Now I want one hahaha! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

[@dananthony6258]

I love heavy les Paul’s. That a beautiful guitar brother. I want to try his myself.

[@alizarincrimson123]

Really Fantastic job! I'm getting ready to build the same guitar from PGK (Built a tele from Warmoth parts last year and it came out fantastic). Did you set the neck before or after you sprayed the lacquer? My plan right how is after and I plan to tape where necessary. Just wondering how you did it. Thanks.

[@bengordon7635]

before

[@Allguitarinfo]

Love tge finish.. nice job. I missed whatpickups??? And total $ if you would tell us... Its a veauty and sounds great .. precision guitars are awrsome

[@bengordon7635]

Gibson Burstbucker 2 in bridge ,, Gibson 57 classic in neck ,, with bumble bee caps , about 1000 total ,, I guitar on clearance 500 ,, keep checking the clearances some really good deals at times

[@rodrossi9749]

I've recently decided to build my own guitars. Your video was not only inspiring, but will be a great point of future reference. PS: anyone that plays "Lonely is the Night " gets extra points in my book, great tune and fun to play. Cheers. RR

[@riadmiah3342]

I am in the process of building a custom 59 kit from Precision. I have a question about the neck on your own build. Is the neck still stable, has it warped or bowed? Thanks

[@bengordon7635]

no

[@pskemster]

Beautiful. Great job.

[@Eyesofthasouth]

Is the top a veneer? Or is it a thicker cap?

[@fuzzmountain7583]

Thank you so much for all of this great info

[@stevengarlow2581]

as far as the neck is concerned, PGK offers a neck set too.

[@willdenham]

Thanks for the info!

[@BTbass68]

You need to do a video demo of how you build and finish your guitars.

[@bengordon7635]

Apply the aniline dye with water then Sand and fill .. grain fill with water based grain filling. Then spray the sealer .. sand then start your lacquer .. sanding spraying plenty of videos online

[@Joey_McElroy]

Wow that Chorus is so lush! What pedal are you using to get your chorus?

[@bengordon7635]

I use the old Japan Boss Ce-3 chorus about 80 used ebay make sure its made in japan the delay is the same as Rush Alex lifeson used the TC electronics G-Force the best effects rack

[@frostedhead]

I thought ABR-1 bridge are two post screwed directly into the wood with two thumb wheels for height adjustment?

[@bengordon7635]

Not on the regular standards they screw into a grommet like the Nashville bridge but have a Abr-1 conversion post .. This is the original ABR-1 like the custom shops

[@Joey_McElroy]

I actually purchased the Flying V from PGK. The white African Limba aka Korina is so so so good. Also I plugged my bushing holes for the bridge. Redrilled them for an ABR-1. You can actually get the drill bit and the tap for the hole from Stew Mac. Just measure from the nut to where the bridge should go. I just made sure to drill center of the plugs I made. That was the exact measurement I needed to place the bridge. So PGK who built the husk did a very accurate job on bridge locations.

[@InfoWithheld]

Did you go for chambered or solid? What kind of overall weight did it end up?

[@bengordon7635]

solid 10lbs

[@jeffmann4201]

Great work! Thanks for all the information!

[@deandee8082]

I heard these are drilled with metric spacings, can they do USA ABR-1 spacings if you ask? only thing that stops me I am not spending that money for an Asian les paul, no way also have you ever bought a headstock veneer with the Gibson logo and crown? wondering how they size up to a standard sized gibson headstock, smaller? larger? you could put your own deep stamp on the back so no one could come along and try to forge a gibson serial number and USA on it.. but the front would look real good like this.. I had the idea to buy one of those headstock veneers, remove the inlay so there is just the Gibson routing, have precision glue up a flamed maple headstock veneer.. then when I finish the body finish the headstock same color, that flamed maple veneer will pop... then take the headstock veneer stencil I removed the inlay from and glue it up over the flamed maple headstock laminate, Gibson and the Hornbeam will show through to the stained maple underneath, that be pretty cool and different, no one would mistake it for a real Gibson but it would look so good won't matter... then considering a cellulose tortoise binding around everything so have them send me a body with just the routing all the way around body neck and headstock glue up a nice cellulose tortoise would look so good on that finish you have even a lemon burst, a red eye.. has to be genuine cellulose the see through type like warby glasses frames..

[@bengordon7635]

Yes they will drill ABR-1 Gibson holes

[@bengordon7635]

yes here i a link of Gibson replica with real gibson veneer .. this was a ground up build .. real celluloid inlays ,, real gibson headstock veneer kzbin.info/www/bejne/noWmaGeMj7RgbJY not a real gibson , I used a les paul slide on wet sticker ,, and aged the Gibson pearl logo with amber nitro , I used Light weight figured african mahogany ,, 8.02 lbs

[@deandee8082]

why don't they cup the edges? all that work and it's an Epiphone cut..

[@willdenham]

What is 'cupping'? Are you referring to the carve on the cap, near the binding?

[@jameshughes6049]

Beautiful top on that guitar.

[@surephat]

Great video! I was looking to purchase a 59 kit with the 60's neck from PGK. I read that they changed the style of the kit due to threats of litigation by Gibson. Is the guitar in this video one of the "updated" designs, or the old style? What were the changes they had to make to the kits? Looks like a LP to me. Thanks Matt

[@bengordon7635]

same kit as I have the headstock just isnt an open book and the neck angle is slightly less just very slightly...same kits as I have

[@surephat]

@@bengordon7635 Thank you. You mentioned the Honduran Mahogany body. Could you tell me what your whole rig weighs? I am definitely going with the Honduran (probably 2 piece), but not sure if I want chambered or not. Thank you

[@bengordon7635]

@@surephat 10bls even

[@bengordon7635]

@@surephat 10lbs solid 1 piece body , the solid is more like an old custom or 70s standard really warm and full sounding , I prefer solid

[@vt750dc]

Looks great man. Think you made my mind up on the Macassar board.

[@MacPro8CoreMan]

She’s a stunner.

[@frostedhead]

Excellent build excellent tone.

[@kevinking2468]

Beautiful build.

[@fredriknordin]

It looks amazing! What grade did you pick for the carved top?

[@bengordon7635]

AAA Western

[@pooshNchums]

You did such an incredible pro job with that finish I would love you to finish my kit!

[@bengordon7635]

I stopped building takes over a month on one guitar very stressful and your back hurts after 😂 ..but rub in your finish with a wet cloth and use aniline dyes like the 50s

[@pooshNchums]

@@bengordon7635 thanks for the tip. What finish brands did you use?

[@bryantcochran5065]

Turned out gorgeous love the real pearl in the neck.

[@tickmann]

Are you of the Wisconsin Gordon clan? My great uncle was Ben Gordon

[@and1424]

Hello! I purchased one of this kits from PGK. I have ordered it with abr1 holes for the bridge. But they are not 6/32 inch. What bridge did you install? Thanks!

[@bengordon7635]

go to faber bridges online either you have 8mm are the big holes or Nashville you can use the bswkit

[@and1424]

@@bengordon7635 no. I have ordered it with abr1 holes at PGK, but they are 1/8 inch. Not the 6/32 that faber offers for abr.. Did you ordered it with abr1 holes at PGK as well?

[@bengordon7635]

@@and1424 yes I Intalled abr 1 posts 6 32 screw the posts directly into wood do a short video so I can see the hole send me link .. they could be the 4mm posts

[@and1424]

@@bengordon7635 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJjUmWSqo8dlqJY

[@and1424]

Thanks for your help!

[@j.p.sixgunner7194]

I'd like to share a helpful tip for those who aren't in the know.... When it comes to finishing/final polishing, 3M micro mesh pads are a must..!!! You can get an assortment of like 9-12 different "grits" for $15-$20 . They are not like traditional abrasives, they are much finer...washable/reuseable. They do such a great job that you virtually polish bare wood to a glass like finish Running thru' the recommended abrasive progression, you can absolutely remove any and all visible scratches. At any rate, i discovered 'em late in the game after a recommendation from someone over on TDPRI and they are so remarkable I felt compelled to pass the tip along. Take care!

[@bengordon7635]

i use them for the frets .. a must

[@peterlukach310]

Do remember around when you ordered the kit. The we site has been out of the one peice Honduran bodies for a while :/

[@phruetsaphapholon143]

สวยครับ ผมชอบเลยตัวนี้

[@borger9952]

at 3:45 you say the control knobs are spaced a little closer... does this mean the guitar cannot use a Gibson PCB or Obsidianwire kit?

[@bengordon7635]

yes cannot use Gibson PCB 's

[@frostedhead]

Bumble Bee capacitors

[@geoc3956]

Madagascar

[@bengordon7635]

yes

[@OGStinkywizzleteats]

No. Macassar. Mah-Cass-R

[@deandee8082]

man that's heavy, do they have any lighter woods?

[@frostedhead]

I thought aniline dye is solvent based?

[@LP5369GT]

Aniline mixes with water or alcohol. You can buy it in powder form and mix it your self, or buy it pre-mixed.

[@donarmando916]

Very nice

[@bengordon7635]

got the new Gibson 60 faded series really impressed 8.11lbs and no weight relief .. there is no satin finish on neck binding I shaved it to the way I shave my builds ,, its the only Gibson I will play

[@DamianoftheRyans]

Dude, you just put Gibson to SHAME! That's 3 times better than anything they make! You have quite the gift. 😎Within a few days, I'm getting the M6 double-cut I ordered from Precision Guitar! I can't wait! I am going to use black stain I got from Stew-Mac. Linseed oil too. Do you have any recommendations on how to do that exactly? Stain 1st, then Linseed oil 2nd, yes? I heard that Linseed oil helps with certain stains, but this StewMac stain says not to mix with such things. It does say I can stain, then after the stain is dry I can finish it with Linseed. I am an artist, musician and perfectionist, but I don't have much experience in this area. 🤣

[@timhallas4275]

You failed to get the glue off the top near the joint, and it fucked up your dye job. Don't tell me it's part of your relic look.

[@bengordon7635]

if you know anything about hot hide glue .. put a wet rag in microwave get it real hot and the glue will come off if it dried '''''

[@timhallas4275]

@@bengordon7635 That is a kit. Nobody uses hide glue to glue together a body top. They use wood glue.. They left the squeeze-out on the top and you were supposed to sand that away. Once you start to dye it, if any glue shows up, you stop and sand til it's gone. It's not too late. Sand it and refinish it.

[@bengordon7635]

@@timhallas4275 I got this kit discounted for $400 because of the seam I sanded as far as I could go without exposing the mahogany.. and there are tiny knots in that area too .. this is my personal guitar anyway ...but the sound is what's important

[@timhallas4275]

@@bengordon7635 So you got the kit with the thin veneer top? That should have been under $250. For $400 you can get an LP kit with a full half inch flamed maple top... just like a Gibson.

[@bengordon7635]

@@timhallas4275 it's not a veneer ..solid 4a western maple top ... 1 piece Honduras body .. 1 piece neck .. not thin veneer just where I sanded is thin