Top Routed Les Paul?

Ragamuffin23

Ragamuffin23

New member
I've been wanting to build a guitar (from scratch, no kits, etc) for a while now, and I think I've settled on the Les Paul Jr. Double Cutaway body shape.

The only problem is I want to be able to experiment with all kinds of different pickups in this guitar (humbuckers, P90s, singles, and Jazzmaster pups), and this would require a universal/swimming pool route. Obviously, the standard Gibson-style pickup route would drastically narrow down what pickups I could put in (shape-wise).

I was wondering if anyone had heard of a template for an LP with a top route and pickguard. Moreover, where could I get a custom shaped pickguard if (as I suspect) I have to design my own pickguard template? Thanks!
 
Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

Don't know if you want to pool route on a double-cut Gibson body shape. That wouldn't leave much neck tenon in there to hold the guitar together. Maybe pool route on a single cut might be stronger? Or make the body thicker on the double-cut?
 
Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

Sorry, neglected to mention it'd be a bolt-on. (Basically a Fender with a Gibson body shape.)

I was planning on making it a bit thicker as well, anyway.
 
Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

There would be plenty of room for a swimming pool route. He wants to make a double cut JR. They only have one pickup in the bridge. A special would have two pickups.
 
Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

I'm actually looking to make a Jr. Special.

Like this one, but with the control cavity on the front, strat knob layout, and a bolt-on neck.

DV016_Jpg_Large_430806.083_heritage_cherry.jpg

The neck would obviously have to come further into the body.

Worst-case scenario, I just get all the specs I want in a JM, which would be a whole lot easier, but not quite as interesting.

Screen Shot 2013-07-20 at 1.37.00 PM.jpg
 
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Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

Im not trying to be a jerk but there is no such thing as a Jr. Special. One pickup= Junior Two pickups=special.
 
Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

Its a new modal then. I guess im wrong. :scratchch Not like the originals. New marketing from Gibson. I dont follow their new stuff. No interest.
 
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Re: Top Routed Les Paul?

The Gibson Sonex and some earlier Seventies SG variants had front mounted electronics. So did the Les Paul Personal/Professional/Recording/Triumph low impedance series.

EDIT - I own a Gibson Les Paul Junior Special. Mine started life with P-100 pickups. Okay, so the nomenclature is messed up. Junior does normally indicate one P90 and Special does normally indicate two. A Special would normally also have a bound fingerboard whereas a Junior would not. (This was Gibson's drift, I think.) Historically, none of these models should have a Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece combination, just the wrapover bridge.
 
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