Lefty Tele Paul project: new body or new neck first?

[rainfall]

Hey guys, help out a lefty friend

I wanted to build a guitar that has a vintage PAF HH sound, but with better ergonomics than my Les Paul. I'm thinking about building a Tele Paul (a tele w/ mahogany body, fender hard tail bridge and PAF style pickups)
I know nothing sounds like a Les Paul than a Les Paul or its copies, but I need something more ergonomic
In case I decide to go full blown on a new custom guitar, what should I do first?

Here are some things that the guitar MUST have:
Neck:
- At least 22 frets
- Stainless steel frets
- Shorter scale length (24.75")

Body:
- Tummy cut, forearm cut and a reasonable heel access (like Warmoth's recessed heel cut)
- 2 PAF humbuckers

The question is, to get "closer" to a LP, what should I do first? New body or new neck?

If I were to get a new neck, I would stick it into my current MIJ tele, with SS configuration
If I were to get a new tele body, I would put my warmoth roasted maple neck

 

[Logrinn]

I was first going to say you should get a new body, but when I saw that you were going to use a roasted maple on it, then I thought that such a combo might get a sound too far from a LP sound. Probably brighter than what you want.
Better then to get the mahogany neck and put it on whatever body, since the body will probably influence the sound much less than a neck would. And a mahogany neck would be right there in LP territory.

 

[rgand]

I agree with Logrinn. Get the neck first. A Warmoth 24-3/4" conversion neck gives you the scale you want. I put one on my Jazzmaster when I built it and it really is a great scale. Slap it on your Tele and see how it sounds. You could even route it for the PAF's if you were so inclined. Then you could pick up the new mahogany body when you feel the urge.

 

[Cagey]

A good part of what makes an LP sound the way it does is the geometry of the neck and its heel, as well as how it's attached. Of course, there's the shorter scale, but beyond that, the neck has a reinforcing fillet that starts at about the 14th fret and extends down to almost the height of those very thick bodies...

Then, it's not only a mortise and tenon joint holding it on, it's deep joint, extending well into that body with all its mass. The net result is a very rigid neck that's solidly attached, which works wonders for sustain. Between that rigid neck and the chunky body, there's much less energy absorption from the strings. You really just can't duplicate that with a typical bolt-on, no matter what wood species you use. Lord knows guys have been trying to for years.

One way to get a little closer is to use a thicker neck, but that substantially affects playability and so is a non-starter for many. If that's doable, then in combination with that, maybe using a species for the body with a bit more mass, like Walnut. Use threaded inserts in the neck heel to bolt the thing on so it's tighter than dammit and makes a good solid connection.

I think if you just bolt a shorter scale standard profile Mahogany neck on a Tele, you're not going to get any closer to an LP, you're going to get a duller Tele.

 

[pabloman]

I would also go with a TOM/Stoptail setup or a nice wraparound bridge. A Fender hardtail is going to keep you in Fender territory probably more than you'd prefer. ccasion14:

 

[rainfall]

I appreciate the answers!
Yeah, I really like the resonance and sustain of the LPs. I remember when I played it for the first time 10+ years ago and it was a game changer.

But the belly cut and heel access is more important, so I'll make some sacrifice to get more comfort.

 

[rainfall]

I would also go with a TOM/Stoptail setup or a nice wraparound bridge. A Fender hardtail is going to keep you in Fender territory probably more than you'd prefer. ccasion14:

Good call, but how would that affect the tone?

 

[stratamania]

I would wait until you can get a mahogany body with maple cap, and a 24 3/4 mahogany neck with a fingerboard of choice and make it from the ground up.

Follow Cagey's advice of inserts for the neck and machine screws. (It won't be quite the same as a set neck but will be as close as you will get with a bolt on)

I would also definitely use a TOM bridge and tailpiece, as it is part of the characteristic of a Les Paul.

For the body, you could also consider a carved top with an angled pocket, but if you use a TOM and tailpiece you will need the angled pocket. Unless you go recessed TOM and string ferrules which can use a straight neck pocket.

You then need a nice pair of PAF type pickups of some sort and you will end up with a nice Tele Paul.

 

[Great Ape]

I would wait until you can get a mahogany body with maple cap, and a 24 3/4 mahogany neck with a fingerboard of choice and make it from the ground up.

Follow Cagey's advice of inserts for the neck and machine screws. (It won't be quite the same as a set neck but will be as close as you will get with a bolt on)

I would also definitely use a TOM bridge and tailpiece, as it is part of the characteristic of a Les Paul.

For the body, you could also consider a carved top with an angled pocket, but if you use a TOM and tailpiece you will need the angled pocket. Unless you go recessed TOM and string ferrules which can use a straight neck pocket.

You then need a nice pair of PAF type pickups of some sort and you will end up with a nice Tele Paul.

That's really the complete and best solution...