This began five years ago when I had an idea to redesign the first great guitar I had ever owned: a ’59 Les Paul Junior.

I wanted to keep the amazing playability and neck of that instrument, but have a proper carved top, two humbuckers… all the good bits of a ’59 standard but with the ergonomic perfection of the Junior.

I had never built a guitar, but had made some furniture, so I set out to find somebody who could teach me the basics. I little knew the journey I was getting myself into…