Storing Mahogany /sapele, Ash

[LeeH]

Hello All,
I have just joined the forum, I am more of a metal worker than woodwork I will have ago at anything though , I need some advice Regarding How to store wood, My son as asked me if I could make him a electric Guitar, I have just acquired some nice quality Mahogany/Sapele and Ash, it's been cut plained and sanded, it just needs to be glued up, but I cannot do it for a weekor so, I am a bit worried about it curling up warping, It's being stored in a dry moderately warm room , my Brother said I should keep the wood stored standing upon their edges let the air circulate around the wood it should stay nice and flat, Is he correct, can someone advise me please, would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[OPJ]

Welcome to the forum, Lee.

Your brother is correct, in the sense that timber should remain stable conditions for as long as possible before and during the build. Ideally, this should be in the space where the piece will live - though, with larger items, that isn't always possible!

Instead of stacking boards "B&Q-style" :wink: (up on end of edge, where they could bow), wider boards are better laid out flat with a series of 'sticks' (18mm MDF would do) between each layer. That should allow the air to flow to around each board and, as they're lying flat with weight on top, they'll be far more likely to remain flat.

Where did you get your timber from, just out of interest?

 

[LeeH]

Hello Olly,
Thank's for the reply,
I got the wood from a joiners here in Bristol (Burbage joinery) small company, they do really nice work, the boss gave me the wood from their own stock , he was very helpful, he cut and planed it up for me, I asked for Mahogany, he gave me Sapely and said there were practically no difference with the type of wood, I have two 20''x 7x 1/34''sapely and two Ash 20''x 7'' 1'' or just under, he charged me £30 , Looking around the web for this specific type wood, I thought I save quite a bit of money, well my son did, really nice grain pattern, Guitar body will be the sapely with a ash cap, that I need to carve and shape.

lee

 

[miles_hot]

I assume that the wood is "tone" wood - never been too clear on what this means however I assume that it has to be knot free or something... Certainly people who see wood for instruments seem to make a big thing of it but maybe it's all hype?

I'm sure that someone will be along soon who will either tell me what "tone" wood is or tell me I'm talking rubbish!

Miles

 

[LeeH]

Here you go Miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonewood

 

[Benchwayze]

I assume that the wood is "tone" wood - never been too clear on what this means however I assume that it has to be knot free or something... Certainly people who see wood for instruments seem to make a big thing of it but maybe it's all hype?

I'm sure that someone will be along soon who will either tell me what "tone" wood is or tell me I'm talking rubbish!

Miles

It isn't hype at all. The better quality timber you use the better the guitar will sound. Some timbers resonate better than others. As for a solid guitar, some claim it's still important. To a point yes, but mostly it's accuracy and good electronics that matter the most.

The only hype I can see in guitar-making is the attitude of some one-man band luthiers. They charge more for making a left-handed guitar than for a right-handed one.

The big manufacturers have to set up machine tooling, so maybe the price-jacking is justified. For hand-work though, the labour is the same either way. (The only justification I can see is that they might be left with an instrument they find difficult to sell. Hmmm! Hard Luck!)

Someone will no doubt say I am wrong, but C'est la vie! :lol:

John

 

[jimi43]

So what type of electric are you building Lee?

I assume you are buying rather than making the neck based on your intital posts? Is it going to be fixed or bolt on?

Cheers

Jim

 

[LeeH]

I am hoping to build a les paul 59, If I can get my plans printed off from my computer, I have the plans in a PDF every measurement is there, I cant get any printing companies to print them off full size for me,

I need them for templates, because they have copyright they don't want to know it, these plans are fully available on the Internet, I don't want to sell them or anything like that, just need for my personal use,

I have tried to do it myself, but I am not much good with this sort of computer stuff, I have them on PDF and can zoom them up in Adobe Reader to the exact size/scale on my screen, but cant print them off , I don't have any software to support doing this.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? advice maybe

 

[OPJ]

Hi Lee,

Have a look at this thread and send Damian (Ironballs) a private message (PM). It might be a different guitar but I remember he bought these templates from somewhere in the UK.

Oh, and when you do get going with this project, don't forget to upload regular photos documenting the progress!! :wink:

 

[LeeH]

Olly,

Thanks for that, that is a real good thread/project on a guitar build, I am still reading it

I sent a PM To Damian, not sure now though what I said, I think he might think I am being bit cheeky, (I do hope not) I asked if he had the Templates for the les paul he built and if he might want to sell them to me
Searching around the thread on here, a company in USA sells the plans, Wondered how long they take to get them to the UK, I think this be my only option if I cant print them from my computer,
I have the plans but cant print um

lee

 

[jimi43]

Hi Lee....

Good luck with the Les Paul plans...

I have only worked on an old 70s copy that was in dire need of repair but that was a hollow body bolt on neck jobbie...I don't have it anymore otherwise I could take some dimensions for you.

These were made of plywood...so I only had to veneer it with sandbags and then some Tru-Oil (well quite a lot actually!) and spit and polish...

Try many of the guitar builders and Les Paul forums...most are in the USA but they are a wealth of information...

I will ask around and see if anyone has any to send you...

Jim

 

[LeeH]

OK, Jim, thank's

I 'am interested what you mean

"veneer it with sandbags"

Am I right in thinking that you put the veneer pieces on the Guitar, and the sand bags mold around to the shape to hold the veneer on there until dry?

lee

 

[jimi43]

Hi Lee

Exactly. The ways you can do it include vacuum bags but I couldn't afford the system at the time and it was a case of improvisation...

The bag of very fine sand is used as a press and then additional weight added to the top (lots of it).

One or two places didn't sit quite right after the first press so I injected glue with a hypodermic under these and repressed. Not ideal but thankfully the guitar was really crappy anyway with a semi-stripped finish...

Turned out ok in the end and as far as I know it still is.

On the subject of forums... Musical Instrument Makers Forum is a great start....

Tonetech is a UK based one also worth joining and for parts...

The Les Paul Forum is all you need on the models....but don't go asking them for plans!

There are a number of others but that should get you going and if you need any help please don't hesitate to PM me...and there are other guitar makers on this forum as well.

Good luck with the project but be aware that the cost MAY exceed that of a commercially built guitar but if made correctly will play and be worth a hell of a lot more (to your son at least!)

I started making instruments and amps for exactly the same reason...the day my young son said he wanted a Telecaster and a Vox AC30.....and he is a superb player now, playing in sessions and bands whenever he gets a chance.

Enjoy the project!

Jim

 

[LeeH]

That Guitar looks a fine instrument,

I did play guitar going back 10-15 year ago, not great, but I liked the sound I was making, I should of picked a guitar up at a much earlier age really , I have owned a few nice guitars in the past, a Les Paul Standard' 2 Telecasters and couple of Nice Strats, There is something about the Les Paul though, it is a cracking guitar to own, but only if you are going to play it, I payed £1200 for the one I had, going back 12 years ago, I had to sell it, I couldn't justify keeping it, but now my 13 year old son plays guitar and friends, all they go on about is owning a Les Paul, makes me wish I would kept it, I could of handed it to him, So I thought the next best thing is to Make him one, Like I stated in my early post, I am much more a metalworker make almost anything from metal, I am sure my skills will stretch to wood projects though,( I Hope so anyway, my son is counting on me) :lol:

 

[jimi43]

You'll be ok mate....the skills needed can be researched and if you are an engineer anyway then you are quids in!

I would say that for a first guitar the Les Paul is jumping right into the difficult stuff however. The problem areas will be:

1) Carving the top

2) Binding a curved top (if bound)

3) Set necks

4) Accurate and strong headstock grafting

5) Inlays

The Les Paul (as you will know if you owned one) is also a very heavy guitar for a youngster. In fact most adult guitarists find it difficult to lift a solid lump like that on stage for long.

This is my LP set neck:

It was made in the 70s by the Pearl drum making company...for one year until they were sued by Gibson (like they all were) in the "lawsuit" years and hence it has become a collectors rarity.

It too is solid mahogany with what looks like a spruce cap and weighs and absolute TON!

What I love is the tobacco sunburst....gorgeously aged nitro and the immaculate inlays which you would expect from Pearl!!! :wink:

Worth a few bob now I would think!

Jim

 

[LeeH]

Yes I be OK, I often jump in at the deep end.
I was a welder fabricator, but I can turn my hand to most things though usually with good results, well others tell me so anyway

Yes that Pearl is a nice Guitar, nice colour as well, I think Gibson only has copyright on the Headstock now, if I read correctly

I remember When I bought mine, I had to buy the burgundy standard, any other colour and price went up, I am sure I have some photos of it, I will have to dig them out, post them up

I am hoping to make the Gold Top version, I recon if painted properly with proper paint/lacquer code you cant beat the looks of that guitar.

I did try and explain to my son about the weight of these guitars, he has a Telecaster copy , I said you are looking at nearly twice the weight, he don't care he wants a Les Paul and made it clear he don't want the epiphone version, his friend has one he recons there is no difference with it than his Tel, I didnt try explaining about the pickups and things. I dont mind though, I will enjoy having a go at building him something special.

lee

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Lee

May I also recommend the tonetech forum - the guys that run it will give you any technical help you need.

Also buy Martyn Hiscock's How to build your own electric guitar - it is a fantastic book and tells you what you need to know. I got my copy on Amazon.

My guitar project remains a whole bunch of parts

Good luck

Steve

 

[LeeH]

Steve,
Sorry bit late, thanks for your reply, I'll have a look at that book.

Thanks
lee.