Bench Report; Kiss Guitarist Tommy Thayer's Les Paul

[BCR Greg]

Well, what do we have here?

I picked this up backstage at a show, it's Tommy Thayer's favorite Les Paul. It needed frets and a new nut. The fingerboard had a ripple in it, so there will be a bit of work involved....

He plays this a bit, not artificial "relic" crap here....

Frets out, the board shows the uneven ripple after being hit with the level stick.

Leveled....

Some of the board was milled to the point that the fret slots needed to be deepened, so I used a dental burr and a Dremel to rout the slot deeper....

...and a saw that I modified to clean up the bottom of the slot...

Frets being installed....

And back to shape ready to hit the stage the next night....

How's this for a cool guitar?

Before it went out to Tommy, I couldn't resist putting MY picks on the tape....

Stay tuned for more fun.....

[Jason01]

In that pic showing the leveling of the fretboard did you get the board wet and then sand it so the wet area that remains is showing the low point? I'm just fascinated by these bench reports and trying to understand what the darker spots are that I'm looking at. I probably don't wanna know what an emergency refret in a day would cost! Cool guitar! and cool case!

[BubbaVO]

Very very cool.

[BCR Greg]

In that pic showing the leveling of the fretboard did you get the board wet and then sand it so the wet area that remains is showing the low point? I'm just fascinated by these bench reports and trying to understand what the darker spots are that I'm looking at. I probably don't wanna know what an emergency refret in a day would cost! Cool guitar! and cool case!

The lighter areas are the sanded areas.

[cmatthes]

Very cool.

I'm waiting for the smoking pickup bench report one of these days!

[specialk]

A cool guitar and a VERY cool emergency refret job. Great work and pics, Greg! Thanks for sharing.

[Disturber]

Did you check what pickups he has innit?

[tbonesullivan]

is the fretboard ripple from use, wood changes, or original manufacturing?

I do have to admit, this does have me jonesing somewhat for a Les Paul. that's a great looking one, and now, a great PLAYING one.

[backinit]

Greg, medium frets back in?

Thanks for sharing!

[duncans]

Always enjoy the Bench Reports!

[Armitage]

Did you check what pickups he has innit?

I'm curious too, it sounds like a Duncan Custom 5 or Gibson 498T... I can't tell them apart anyways.

[benjammin308]

Had the fret nibs on the binding (I don't know the proper name) been removed during a previous re-fret or was it done this time? I'm sure you have no choice when the board needs to be leveled like that...

[BCR Greg]

I had to remove the nibs. Gibson sent the original spec fretwire.

The pickup......I'll never tell......

[BubbaVO]

Isn't it cool that the same guy who works on all these guits used by the rich & famous is willing to put his time in effort into the $350 Hamer special that you picked up from a pawn shop?

I love this place.

[whiskeyzulu]

Another excellent job Greg - thx, for taking the time to document.

For those interested Tommy's guitars, including this one, & specs are here

[gorch]

Well, what do we have here?

...

How's this for a cool guitar?

...

The most authentic to me is this. Greg has put the guitar on wheels.

Perfect fret job btw.