Less Coverage Means More Concealment

A small but significant step in the Less Paul project was accomplished last week. I recessed the control cavity covers. That way, the back of the guitar doesn't have any protuberances.

Because we all know how uncomfortable that can be...

Using three screws, a pencil, an X-Acto knife, and a Dremel tool, I accomplished this step with varying degrees of success.

I didn't exhaustively photograph this process because I was a little pre-occupied doing it. Step 1: Put the cover over the hole, lining it up with the sections where I intentionally left wood for the screws that will hold it in.

Step 2: Drill screw holes and screw cover onto wood.

Step 3: Trace the cover onto the wood with a pencil.

Step 4: Leaving the cover on, cut along the cover outline with the X-Acto knife; this scores the wood and makes it easier (in theory) to get a nice clean circular recess. Do this a few times, being careful not to slip and gouge the back of the guitar.

Which I did at least once anyway.

Step 5: remove cover and use Dremel tool to rout the well-marked recess into the wood, being  careful to stay within the scribed line.

Step 6: Carefully trim the edges of the recess to allow the cover to fit into it. This one didn't come out very well.

It's not terrible, but it's sloppy and I am disappointed.This task was accomplished better with the toggle switch cover than the volume pot/input jack cover: Ahhhh, that's better. Circular circles are better than wavy, ugly ones.

I was so excited at this one turning out properly that I was shaking...Bonus: Just for giggles, I attached the strap and put the guitar on for the first time. It is always a pivotal point in any project, because you get your first impression of what it will be like when it's finished. In fairness, I ought to get a photo of the miniature guitar with someone who's not so... anti-miniature. But I guess it amplifies the miniaturity (?) of the Less Paul:Coming soon to theatres: Attack of the 50-Foot Jackass