Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey all,
I need some solid advice on my next project because I want to go big, and I can't afford to mess up. I have never built an acoustic, but I built an electric for my senior project in high school 3 years ago and it ended up pretty well. I am gonna be in Alaska fishing this coming summer so I will have money to drop on this project when I return in September. So far I have decided that I want to make it a chambered body with a mahogany base and 5A Quilted maple laminate. I am unsure about the neck, I was thinking of going full Indian rosewood. Indian Rosewood shaft and fretboard. I want a really warm kinda dark Les Paul tone; but I don't want it too dark. What would you recommend for the neck? Also do you know of people that are good with inlays? I want to get a fairly simple inlay on the headshaft and fretboard. I also want to get the neck half scalloped. What are your thoughts!? When the project starts I will update with pics often. Thank you so much for any help or insight you can offer.

May the tone be with you,
VI6Guitars

Mahogany neck to match the body.

^^^^ What Mike said. ^^^^

Ebony board.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Besides most Les Paul's being Mahogany neck & body, they all have a pretty short scale which has impact on the tone, along with the pickups & the wood.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Keep the guitar stored in a room above 80*F and it will always be warm.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I live in Oregon. That's not possible. lol

You will have to settle for a bright, cold sounding guitar then. Sorry!
Lol
I don't build electrics so I have nothing to offer but my humor, poor as it is.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Mohackeny makes an excellent neck.

I agree with the majority opinion. Mahogany neck and rosewood or ebony board. That's the Les Paul formula. And since you're already going with the rest of the formula(mahogany back and maple laminate for the top) I don't see a need to deviate.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

No worries Tony! I enjoy humor! It's funny because we almost have the same name. By that I mean that half of the time when I introduce myself I say Cody and they reply oooohhhh Tony got it. haha

Rosewood is fun, but heavy and relatively pricey. Mahogany neck to match the body will do what you want it to, like the others have mentioned. Most of the 'warmth' in your electric tone will boil down to pickup and amp choices, however. A chambered body will also contribute to a slightly 'rounder' tone. As for scalloping and inlay, both are perfectly doable on your own, but there are also a number of folks that should be able to provide you with said items, for a price.