Wiring

 

     The next step and probably the most complicated is fully wiring the pickups, toggle switch, 2 volume pots, 2 tone pots, and the input jack. I have never dealt with any kind of free hand soldering of wires before so I spent days practicing and reading about different types of solder, the soldering iron, cleaning sponge, methods of soldering, and what not to do. I took this extra time to make sure I was descent at it because these parts were EXPENSIVE and I only had one shot to do it right. If I spent too much time on the wire then the part would burn up. On the other hand if I spent too little time on it, it would not be properly bonded. Just to give you an idea the pickups were $200 so it wasn't like I could just buy replacements.

     Again I used the trustworthy Stew Mac website to order a video that gave detailed steps on how to wire a Les Paul guitar. I'm not going to go into the details about how to wire it because it’s just too technical to explain each and every step. But I will say that in the picture you are looking at the back of the volume and tone knobs called Pots. These pots are what everything is wired to and then have a black connecting wire that runs to all the pots and to the input jack.

Installation

     The next step in making this guitar is to install the parts and accessories. First I installed the Nickel Plated Les Paul Golden Age Humbucker Pickups. To do this I ran the wires through the holes I drilled previously in order to meet at the bottom with the volume and tone knobs. Some sanding had to be done for the pickups to fit back into the routed holes. Then I fitted the nickel plated bridge on a 5 degree angle to the body and installed the rhythm/ treble toggle switch.

     These parts were installed first because they all contain wires that must be soldered to the volume and tone bases at the bottom right portion of the guitar. The other accessories will be installed after soldering is completed because in order to solder, the guitar must be stable and face down on a mat with no ambiguities. The heat from the melted metal can also damage the small and delicate parts. 

Buffing

     Many people wonder how they get guitars, pianos, and other instruments so shiny. Well I'll tell you. In order to achieve this "Piano Key" finish the secret is buffing. Buffing is when a paste or compound is applied with a rag or Buffing Wheel to the surface until desired shine can be seen. I used a buffing Compound from Stew Mac, a guitar parts company. I also bought a foam buffing wheel from them that can attach to a to a drill for easy maneuvering.

     To buff, I had someone hold the guitar in front in order to reach every crevice. I applied 2 coats and then wiped the excess off with a clean rag. After buffing I applied Stew Mac Swirl Remover to the surface, sides, and back. This got rid of any marks that the powered wheel might have made. Now we have gloss.

Smoothing

     After about 10 coats of gold paint, clear coats will then be applied. The type of clear that is best for this project would be Polyoxide Spar Urethane. You may have heard of polyurethane which is similar to polyoxide except polyoxide is water based and polyurethane is oil based. The benefit of using a water based paint is its less messy, easy to clean, and there are few toxic chemicals so its safer to paint outside. When painting, always use a mask. I have one that has two air filters since I frequently paint. 15 coats of clear is recommended or until a thick layer is achieved.

     The next step after painting is the micro mesh sanding and buffing. Start out with lightly wet sanding the entire body with 600 grit sandpaper then repeat the process with the following grits of sandpaper in this order: 1200, 1600, 1800, 2200, 2600, 3600, 4000, 5500, 6000, 12000. For those that don't know sand paper is a sheet of rough paper with small granules on it in order to smooth and level a surface. The higher the number the more granules there are and the finer the sand. 12000 feels like a piece of leather and that is what makes the glossy surface.

Gold Top Paint

     This step takes a lot of time but is definitely worth it if you take your time to get it right. The trademark gold paint that is used on the real Les Paul's is arguably impossible to find because Gibson owns the rights to it and they have never put it up for sale. There are companies that make a gold guitar paint that is close but still not the same. Therefore, I spoke to a guy that helped me come up with my own custom concoction of paint to use. This is now my trade secret which I can only say involves a mixture of gold flake mica powder and polyoxide. I spent weeks to come up with what I think is the perfect gold. It can be applied either by brush or by a spray gun. Each method reveals a different design. I used a Craftsman air compressor with my Husky spray gun to apply the paint. The way to spray paint is to always apply thin coats and wait 1 to 2 hours for it to dry in between.

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Staining

      The next step in this invigorating project would be to stain the sides and back of the guitar body. To do this I used a mixture of a coffee paste and a red wine liquid. You can adjust the intensity of the colors my adjusting the ratio of coffee to red. I used a 1:2 ratio and carefully applied the stain with a 2" wide sponge brush from Home Depot. I recommend applying thin coats and waiting 2 - 5 hours between coats to let it thoroughly dry. Some tips on having a good result would be 1.) Always keep your area clean and away from any possible dust. 2.) Never sand in between coats of stain, only between coats of paint.

    Stain and paint are very different. Stain is what to use if you wish to enhance the color of the wood and still have the wood grain visible. This is referred to as being translucent. Paint is used to cover something up such as the grain on the wood. It can transform the material being used and make it look like metal instead of wood.

Preperation for Paint

     Now that mostly everything is cut and shaped it requires one last look over. I recommend fitting all the parts. I fitted the pickups one last time and saw that it was too tight. I spent some time to sand out the hole to make it snug. To prepare for paint I sanded with 600 grit sand paper and made it buttery smooth. Then I got a can of Sanding Sealer which is used to fill in all the pores from the wood to make an even surface. The process of applying and sanding should be done 3 or 4 times or until smooth. About a minute before the paint or stain is applied you should take a microfiber cloth and wipe the surface from any dust or particles that could obstruct your paint job.

Positioning the Neck

      

     The next step in this rigorous project is to sand and position the neck of the guitar. The neck is the only part of this guitar that I bought pre-made and I recommend everyone to do the same. I say this because in order to make a neck is requires many more tools which are rare and expensive. Plus it would be near impossible to get the fret bars as perfect as a machine would. It was only $90 and I believe it was the best route to go.

      To place the neck in the body you must carve out a 5 degree angle. This is a rare case where everything must be calculated on an angle because of the arc in the wood (this is a signature of all Les Paul’s). In a real Les Paul they use industrial strength glue to attach the neck. However, I bolted on the neck with a metal plate and used glue to make sure there is no chance if it separating.

    

Drilling

     The next step in building your dream guitar would be to drill all the holes (about 18). It was extremely difficult to drill these holes perfectly straight by hand so I used a small version of a drill press. However, the guitar is not flat so I had nothing to rest the unit on. Therefore, I made a small contraption to lay an adjustable 1"x 2" across the guitar so I can rest the press on it. You really have to think ahead about what needs to be drilled because there is no going back once the final paint is applied. Out of all, the hardest one to drill was a 1ft. 1/4" hole on a specific angle going right through the middle of the guitar! I'm not going to lie, this actually gave me nightmares because one flinch and the project would be destroyed since there would be a bursting hole on the top. Thankfully I did it. This hole is where the wires from all sections of the guitar will be running through to reach the volume and tone knobs at the other end.

Routing

To make the necessary holes and spaces for all of the parts to go, such as the pickups, a router is needed. To use a router for carving something other than the edges of your wood you would need to make a template. I did this by carefully measuring the distances from the 12th fret to the front of where I want each pickup to go. This took a long time because I had to do a few test cuts to make sure I was in the right spot. The part that was most tedious would definitely have to be routing out multiple layers within the hole for electronics to rest on. Then there is the thin 1/4" thick cut to lay the plate to cover the parts. This had a magnanimous amount of risk involved but somehow it worked.

Shaping

    

To start, the first step would be to draw and cut out the shape of the body. Ordinarily you would have the exact measurements of every angle but I was smart and just traced one from Guitar Center. Then you would take a jig saw like in the picture and slowly cut through this massive chunk of wood. It will take about an hour because Maple is an extremely hard wood unlike Pine which is easily breakable. The purpose of using Maple is because it has been proven to have the most sustain from the strings. The exactness of this cut is not so important because you will sand down the excess later.

     Additionally, to make this cut proper I recommend making a brace to hold it in place. If not, you will end up chasing it all over the work bench. For safety, always keep someone near so if you accidently cut yourself there is always help. A rule when using any power tool is to always unplug whatever you were using when you stop. This is because it is easy to pick it up again not knowing it’s on and end up dropping it and cutting a limb off which is never fun.

The Dream

     In Spring 2008, I felt like I needed an outstanding project to complete. I am what you could say a handy man when working with wood, paint, and mechanics. My dad and I came up with the idea of building a 1957 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul because it is one of our favorite guitars plus it's one of the most expensive to buy. This is the kind of thing that requires patients, skill, and a whole lot of measuring.

     This particular guitar is arguably the hardest to build from scratch because of the arced top of it. Most guitars are flat but since the Les Paul is curved, all the cutting and levelness has to compensate for the curve. The supplies for this project are almost endless so the basic materials which are VITAL are a 2'x1' block of pure Maple that is 2" thick, router, jig saw, belt sander, drill/drill press, 15 different grades of sand paper, stain, and a special mixture of gold paint.

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Judging Your Own Music

   

Often the musicians hear their music differently than others. Mainly because they are the ones who created it and they notice every little detail. To eliminate the bias musicians have toward their music they can do a few things. First it is important to always listen to your music through monitors rather than speakers. This is because the monitors are brutal in the way that they show every intricate mistake. Even with professionals it almost never gets to the point where the song is perfect on the monitors because they always amplify faults. The main goal when doing this is to edit it until it’s the best it can be, and then hope that when it’s played through regular speakers it will sound much better. Speakers improve the sound quality because they contain bass, middle, and treble which evens out the sound.
     If it's just too hard to quibble over your own songs, then just ask a neutral friend or neighbor to listen to it and give you some feedback. After hours of listening to the same song a million times, it is likely that one could not even hear what is actually being played since the origional version is now etched into your brain forever.

Networking Your Music

Once the final recording has been made, all the band members are satisfied, and you've mastered your music then the next step is to market your music. It’s important to advertise your music otherwise no one will know that it even exists. The first method you could use would be to create a preview with only a couple songs and put it on a CD. Then you could distribute it by either selling it for about two dollars or just giving it away free as a promotional item. If making CDs is inconvenient, there another option.

     Social Networking sites are infested with millions of people a day which makes it the perfect way to get your music out there. Sites like MySpace Music and Reverb Nation are perfect for creating a page for your band where you and your fans can check you out at any time. On the page it will allow you to have a music player to holster your songs. Facebook is probably the most used site these days; however, it lacks the band page feature. The way to get around this is to make a group with the link to your page. Also people will definitely check it out if the link is posted as your status often enough.

Fun Effects On Your Music

    In today's music special effects are widely used on almost all types of music. These effects are meant to digitally alter the sound of the band, voice, instruments, or it can add artificial sounds. Some that people would recognize would be reverb. Adding a certain amount of reverb makes it seem like there is an echo such as there would be in a large room or hall. Rapers use reverb to echo their voice constantly to the point that it helps make a beat with their raping. Another commonly applied effect would be the phaser. The phaser effect adds a swooshing noise with slight distortion. It's generally used as a build up to a chorus or an intense verse. These and many more effects can be downloaded using the specific software that the user owns.

To listen to the phaser effect CLICK HERE

Proper Environment Condusive to Recording

     The most important thing to remember about recording is keeping everyone cool, calm, and collected. Playing the same song over and over again is very repetitive and tiresome so its vital to sustain the alive vibe of the room. Supply your singer or singers with oily foods or sprays to keep their voice from getting horse from so many repetitions. Always record everything played because you never know when its going to be perfect or not. Keep a cool temperature in the room to about 76 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce people from over heating and getting frustrated. When a band is tired or angry it is always evident in their recording. Stay relaxed and have patience even though by the end of the recording you will most likely hate the song and everyone who kept messing up.

Techniques of How to Record Band Members

     There are multiple ways of when to record the instruments of your band. None are wrong, but some sound better than others. One method of recording is to record everyone except the vocals at the same time. This will give you what people call a "live sound". Using this technique it is very difficult to manipulate since the sound from the other instruments are bleeding into your recording. This is the most simple but it also gives you the least quality recording since you can't improve on each specific part when editing.

     The other, better quality, way of recording is to record each person separately. In most studios this is the preferred way because the rooms are small and dedicated to each type of instrument. The pros of recording one at a time is that they can redo a performance easily without having to deal with getting the band back in sinc. Also, now you can reap the benefits of easily editing each specific sound with every minute detail without having extraneous sound. The cons of this type of recording is it takes much longer to finish the song. Also, it might be hard for the people playing because it might be hard for them to keep in time with the rest of the band while just listening to them through headphones rather than live where there is chemistry.

Techniques of Using/Placing Microphones

     Most bands starting out have just one or maybe two microphones for each instrument. When you listen to the playback and compare it to a professional recording, such as a band on I-tunes, the difference is monumental. Most people would just accept that their expensive equipment and studio is the reason that the average garage band doesn't have as good sound. Well you would happy to know that it's not always that case. One way of boosting your sound presence and overall quality is to use maybe three or four different kinds of mics placed at varying distances and angles. The combination of microphones usually consists of a condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphone. Each of these are specially made to detect varying levels of tone. The mix of these mics will create a well balanced sound that isn't too tinny or too deep.

     This combination of microphones is usually used on guitar and bass guitar amplifiers. However it has been known to use different mics on drums and/or singing too. For instance, the snare drum might have three mics on order to pick up the light and soft hits, the deep tone, and the high pitched snap when it's hot hard. Again the purpose of all the mics is to create a well rounded sound. Just be creative and see what fits the specific sound type of the band. Remember nothing is wrong, only misplaced.

The Mixing Board

     The Mixing Board also known as a Mixer has been used in every song you've ever heard on your I-pod or on the radio. Its purpose is to level out or enhance all of the different elements of the music to make it flow together. It would be obvious is a mixer was not used on a song because one instrument would always be overpowering the other and would just be a jumble of sound that nobody wants to hear. If you have ever seen a mixer it has hundreds of knobs depending on how big or how many instruments you are planning on recording. Each knob has different effects on the individual sound. A mixer has the ability to change the volume, tone, presence, and special effects on the individual track. A mixer can have from two to 200 or more channels so there is a lot of choices. I am planning on eventually buying a four or six channel mixer called the  Peavey PV6 usb mixer because I just need something small and portable. Plus, anything nicer than this could cost about $400 or more. This one costs $130 which is already a decent price.

The Interface

     Many whom have not recorded before, semi-professionally, many not know what a Digital Recording Audio Interface is. Well it's actually not that complex. The so called interface is used to convert sound, which is inputted to it my means of a microphone or guitar cable, into a "digital code" so it can be uploaded to your computer. The music has to be converted into a digital code because otherwise it won't be in a language in which a computer could understand and process. Usually an Interface will be relatively small like a metal box, not weighing more than 3lbs. The basic ones have controls like volume for each mic, volume for the playback, and an indicator to let you know if it's too loud or too quiet. I personally own the Tascam us-122 Interface which is a descent choice if you want to be basic. It cost me $99.99 which is about the cheapest that they go for. If you want a more upgraded one I suggest the Digidesign M box 2 which is $350 brand new but you can get them for about $200 on Ebay. The M box has high sound quality and many features but there is a downfall. The M box only works with the Pro Tools recording software which is no problem if you already have it but is a hassle for someone who doesn't since it's pretty pricey.

The Recording Software

     No matter who you are or how much money you have, if you are going to record something you are going to need to choose a specific recording software. The prices range from $30 to $200 but you really don't want to purchase anything less than $65 because the others do not have the proper features and are known for their glitches. Buying software really is a personal favorite depending on what kind of set up you like. The main brands are Pro Tools, Mixcraft, and Audacity. I have Mixcraft 4.5 because the format is much easier to understand than other programs. In this specific program they give you the ability to adjust the volume of each track and add effects while the song is playing like most quality programs. What sets this one apart from the others is it's much more simple to add effects to the music because it's just a couple of clicks to add something unlike Pro Tools where you have to click a million icons before you get to select what you want.
     Pro Tools is also another well respected recording program. It is also the most used in professional recording studios around the globe. This software will run you about $100 to $150 depending on what version you get and what comes with it. Pro Tools is good because it has more customizing features than any other product out there. The combinations are almost endless. The down side is people say that  it might be difficult to learn because of all the options. This program also is only compatible with certain interfaces like the M-box which limits your choices when it comes to the equipment you use.

Recording Drums

     Up to now I have mentioned how to record using a single microphone for either a singer or a guitarist. This time you will learn how and what to use to record a standard drum set. Initially, it's obvious that there are many more things to put a mic to than on an amp so you will need many more mics. The key to this is to make a decision as to what parts you want to hear most clearly. A professional drum recording can have up to 10 mics but that's not necessary. All that's needed is three to four mics which covers the snare, bass drum, cymbals, and possibly a high or floor tom. There are specially made mics to record drums but a set can cost about $300. Because bands are always on a budget I came up with a cheap solution. Instead of using regular dynamic mics, I use three Guitar Hero or Rock Band mics from the video game. I had my doubts at first but they actually work pretty good. If you look on the back of them they say Logitech USB which means they are actual mics, all you have to do is plug them straight into your computer.

     Now the secret to them sounding good is the positioning and presentation. I recommend going to Radio Shack and picking up a few Windscreens which look like soft foam balls that go over the microphone. This reduces the air coming out of the drums and creates a warmer sound in the recording. The positioning of the mics can get a little tricky depending on the amount of space available. It will be a lot of trial and error to get your desired sound. The general location to place each mic is one towards the edge of the snare but still pointing at the center. The next one will go either inside the bass drum sitting on top of pillows or just outside the hole. The third one should be on a boom arm stand facing towards the cymbals that are being used most in the song but far enough away to reduce distortion.

The Vocal Microphone and Methods of Recording Vocals

     Another important factor when recording your musical masterpiece is the type of vocal microphone you use. There are two types, Dynamic and Condenser. Dynamic mics are usually used for live performances or recording the guitars. Condenser mics are ideal for vocals because of ther sensitivity and mid to high range of sound detection. For someone on a budget the MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount is the perfect mic especially since its only $79.99. If you think that is a lot of money than just consider the fact that most condenser mics are $149.99 and up.


MXL mic with pop filter

      Now that you know a good mic to use it would be wise to take advice on different atmospheres to record. The ideal position of a vocal recording would be in a small room with acoustic foam covering the walls to reduce the reverb which could cost arount $1,500. Since most people can't afford that, people have come up with alternatives that still have the same effect. One method would be to go in a roomy closet and, if you can, purchase a $20 Foam Mattress Topper to cover some of the walls around you. Finally if that is too much money or effort you can find the most enclosed room in your house and get a pop filter which will reduce the popping sound of the p's and t's in the song. You will place this pop filter between the singer and the microphone.

Your First Microphone



SM57

      Basically your first mic will stay with you for a while so you want to make a descent choice. Now regular people may be thinking that a microphone would only be for singing, well they're wrong. Your microphone can be used for singing but also for recording the electric guitar, bass guitar or drums. It is important to take this into consideration in order to stretch your dollar. There are many types of microphones so first we're going to explain a guitar mic.
     The Shure sm57 , a dynamic mic, is my preference because of its unique ability to be right up against the amplifier which is the best spot to get closest to the actual sound of the guitar. I also enjoy using it because of its ability to use it overhead on the drums and for back up vocals. This would cost about $100 which is standard even though the quality matches $150 to $200 competitors.

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Getting Started

     If you want to learn how to create a successful home studio your going to need some advice and equipment. The equipment that's required varies depending if you are a solo artist and are just doing maybe one instrument or if you are recording your four person rock band. I'm going to cover how to record with the four person rock band consisting of a guitar, bass, drums, and vocals so you can take the info that you need for maybe just a section of it. The basic equipment you'll need will be about four to six microphones and mic stands, a recording program for your computer, and a recording interface. Yes, this is all going to cost a pretty penny but once you have these materials you'll be set for a while.
     In later entries I will go in depth with the brand, cost, and price of all these tools. First and foremost you should talk to your band members and make sure they are willing to split the cost with you otherwise your stuck buying everyone else equipment. You can purchase all of this at you local Sam Ash, Guitar Center, or any other music store. Also make sure you research all your stuff before you go into the store and get overwhellmed with all the choices. Quality equipment creates better music. Just don't go overboard with the cost and make sure you want to get into this hobby before going out and purchaseing everything I tell you.

Introduction to Recording

     When you listen to a song on the radio or on your I-Pod do you ever wonder how they get such a good sound? How do they even record all the different instruments and combine them into one song? Well that my followers is what I'm going to explain. For the average guitar player, drummer, or singer who wants to show the world their talents but don't know how to capture their sound and broadcast it on the Internet, this is the blog for you. If you think that recording is just placing a microphone up so something and play into it, your wrong. Well, you could do that but it won't sound very good.
     Recording is the process of capturing sound and encoding it into many devices where you can edit and amplify it to your preference. Now you may believe that this is no simple task. It requires acute hearing, skill, time, and most of all patience. When your sitting in your studio for hours on end editing your sound, the key is to stay focused and dedicated to your work until it meets perfection if you want to be the best. The work you publish will directly reflect you and your skill. Those big rock, rap, or R&B sounds come from quality equipment and quality editors. If you want to eventually become one of those big names in music or if you just want to impress your friends you have to definitely step up your game.