Making the body...

I cut the router template out using a jig saw, this took about 10 minutes.  Sanding it smooth and getting the edges square whilst keeping the shape right?  That took about two hours!

I then cut out the middle, this is to form the chamber of the guitar.  The solid block in the middle is for mounting the neck, pickups and bridge.  This should also prevent feedback from occurring.

The body plank ready for rough cutting out.  I don't need to worry about the knot as it doesn't go all the way through and will be removed with the router.

Rough shape cut out, now to screw on the template and let the router do the neat work.

 Template screwed in place, now for the router - this is the first time I've ever used a router...

Drilling out the acoustic chamber, this removes a lot of wood very quickly and makes the routing a lot easier.

Routing done, didn't go exactly to plan.  I got a little bit of tear out and also managed to wobble a bit in a few places.  I future I will probably make two templates, one for the outside and one for inside that way there router will have a bigger surface to sit on and be more stable.  Still it's the first time I've used a router so not too bad, and certainly nothing a little filler wont fix!

Getting started...

Les Paul Florentine style guitar build

After successfully building a couple of kits, a Les Paul ( www.lilsguitarproject.blogspot.com ), and a TPCP-60 dual cut away kit ( http://andysguitarkitbuild.blogspot.co.uk ), my brother asked me if I'd build him one too.   Well after completing two kit builds I'm clearly an expert builder... *cough* yeah about that... I thought what the hell I've always like the florentine semi-acoustic Les Pauls so that what I decided I was going to build for him.

Now I don't have a lot of wood working experience and only have a few diy power tools but I do have lots of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn as I go along.

So after a little bit of research I settled on my construction design, downloaded a schematic plan of a '59 Les Paul, found some cheap lumber that I wouldn't mind ruining if it all goes horribly wrong and got started.

 

 

'59 Les Paul schematic on some 12mm ply to make a router template

Construction grade pine with the edges squared off.  Whilst it has been air dried under cover by the lumber company and they recon it's stable, I still chose to store it in my attic at home for 8 months to make sure it's as dry and stable as possible.  I cut and positioned the planks so that the knots are outside the template and will be cut away.  I also lined the grains up opposing each other so that any natural twisting will be resisted by the adjoining plank

I have neither the tools, nor the woodworking experience or confidence to make a neck so I bought this one fairly cheap off eBay.  It's Fender style 25.5" scale length appears to be nice and straight.

The edges were squared off with a hand plane, and prior to gluing the wood I glued in some metal pins about 5mm from the back.  This is to add strength to the joints because I plan to hollow out the body to about 10mm thickness to create the acoustic chamber. I would have used biscuit joints but I don't have a biscuit jointer, a tool to added to my wish list!