PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

That is one sweet guitar bro - excellent job!

Looks like I'll have to live up to my name and start another project!
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

I haven't seen this thread in a while..... WOW!

AMAZING JOB! You should rock taht thing PROUDLY!

Congrats & Ejoy!
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

nice guitar.

i am considering their v kit. what is your take on the quality, particularly the fret and fingerboard work, and the neck joint? worth the money?



I was a little nervous when the kit was on it's way, thinking there is no way all the reviews could be that good; after all, most things that seem too good to be true are usually just that ... but the moment I opened the box and slid the neck in there for the first time, it actually took a little effort, but then slid in there perfectly, and was tight enough to actually hold the guitar up by the neck without any fear of it falling apart ... without glue !! There is a reason these guys put the word 'precision' in their company name. You couldn't screw it up if you tried. It's uncanny how well the frets were installed; those boys have that down to a science too. The one little issue with the frets is that it's so damn dry here in the winter the edges of the frets could use a tiny bit of filing, but the neck didn't show up like that - also, I've had to do that with every other guitar I own. It's just a fact of life here. They definitely don't need any levelling.
I know these kits seem expensive compared to most, especially their kits with the 4A figured tops, but the wood is top quality, even in the 'cheap' kit that I bought. The ebony fretboard is flawless.
All I can say is I spent about a grand total and got a guitar worth more than twice that . . . but it did take some effort, only because I set the bar pretty high for myself. It was challenging, but FAR from impossible, and actually even more fun than stressful at times.

68.jpg66.jpg69.jpg

My little youtube clip hardly does this thing justice. It feels and plays way better than it looks. To answer your question : Yes... WAY worth the money. I'm already scheming to get my next kit, and I'm hoping Precision Guitar Kits are going to be around a long time. I did a lot of research, and there ain't a whole lot out there in the 'set-neck' kits that comes anywhere close to this, except for maybe PVX guitars , but I couldn't find nearly as many resounding awesome reviews as I did for PGK (maybe PVX aren't as popular yet . . . Paul Vogt seems like a stand-up guy and his video tutorials are great). If you have the patience and even the tiniest bit of skill you will wind up with an AWESOME guitar.

DO IT ! !
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

Excellent work. That came out awesome. From the way you're describing things, sounds like my experience in that it came out better than anticipated. I love my PGK SG Jr. Easily one of my best sounding and playing guitars. I too was very impressed with the neck to body fit as well as the frets. It's very resonant. Just great quality. Make sure you submit it to them to add to the customer builds gallery. Mine is one of the first ones on there.
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

I put a SH11 in the bridge and a APH1n in the neck. The SH11 isn't used in Les Pauls very often , but the body in this kit is chambered; also the neck is ebony so it is very 'snappy' sounding acoustically. They are both alnico II pickups. The APH1n I was sure about , but the SH11 was a bit of a gamble seeing as how it's usually a super-strat pickup, apparently. If it didn't work in this guitar I was going to use it in another and save up for the BKP VHII that my luthier friend recommended, but I'm liking the SH11 a lot !
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

I saw your guitar on pgk site, really cool. A few questions, how heavy is the guitar with the chambered body? And which neck did you choose? Also what color did you use? Also how smooth is the wood and how did it end up without grain filler? thanks
 
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Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

Great great job man. That guitar looks awesome. Also, thanks for making such a detailed thread about the progress. Always fun to read.
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

just checked out the website...

Swamp ash tele kit is on sale...so hard to resist. Im seriously tempted. I havent built a new guitar in a few years now.
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

Mmm, mmmm. That is a tasty build!

JulesPulpFiction.gif
 
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Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

^^You won't find any.....nor for a 75, or an 82 or 94 etc.

Truth be told, a 68 is essentially a 59, but with a lower headstock angle. Make sure you buy it with Indian rosewood fretboard too for period accuracy.

And given the '59 kit is deliberately inaccurate with the body and headstock shape, what does it really matter in the end???
 
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Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

^^You won't find any.....nor for a 75, or an 82 or 94 etc.

Truth be told, a 68 is essentially a 59, but with a lower headstock angle. Make sure you buy it with Indian rosewood fretboard too for period accuracy.

And given the '59 kit is deliberately inaccurate with the body and headstock shape, what does it really matter in the end???

Good point. And rather than paying extra for a reissue or signature model, the 2013 here looks pretty sweet!
http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-USA-LP...=1373769273&sr=8-2&keywords=2013+les+paul+koa
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

I saw your guitar on pgk site, really cool. A few questions, how heavy is the guitar with the chambered body? And which neck did you choose? Also what color did you use? Also how smooth is the wood and how did it end up without grain filler? thanks

bump...just curious...thanks
 
Re: PGK carved top '59 kit ... first build !!

Wow it's been a long time . . . sorry for the late reply but here goes :
The guitar is 8 lbs on the nose. The neck is the 60's 'C' that comes with the '59 carved top 'best seller' kit, although they now have a few other options in the neck dept. It's slim alright, but very comfortable. I bought my dye online from a company called Keda (10 bucks for a package of 5 different colors in little ziploc bags) and had to do some experiments on several test planks of maple to get the color just right . . . taking the extra time really paid off, and I also finished the test pieces with tru-oil to make sure nothing funky was going to happen on the real deal. I had to do quite a bit of sanding, starting with 280 grit, on up to scotch pads (wouldn't recommend steel wool on account of the little metal filings that get EVERYWHERE). Tru-oil requires a bit more attention to detail when it comes to final sanding. I didn't use any sealer (didn't want to mess with the dye) or grain-filler (didn't want to mess with the tone). Tru-oil works great and it's shiny enough, but it's definitely only there to keep the sweat and beer off. . . it's not a super tough finish, that's for sure . . .
I'm dying to build one of their ash teles . . . anyone done one of those yet ?
 
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