Alloy LP-Style Guitar Kit User manual

LP-Style
Guitar Kit
Assembly Instructions
Version 1.1
25 August 2016
www.alloyguitars.com
[email protected]
888-214-8314

LPAssem Version 1.1 25 August 2016
Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016 Alloy Instruments, Inc.
Alloy Instruments Inc. disclaims all liability, including infringement on proprietary rights, relating to
the use of the information in this document. No license, express or implied, by estoppal or
otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is granted herein.
This material is protected under copyright and trade secret protections.
* Third-part brands and names are property of their respective owners.
Revision Number Release Date Comments
1.0 1 August 2016 Initial release
1.1 25 August 2016 Added photos and revised copy

LPAssem Version 1.1 1 25 August 2016
1.0 Welcome and Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1. Contacting Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2.0 Prepare for assembly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1. Unpack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2. Tools you will need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.0 Neck Attachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4.0 Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.0 Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.1. Warnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.2. Controls assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.3. Clear all screw holes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5.4. Install the Neck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.5. Install the Tuning Machines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5.6. Install the Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.7. Install the Bridge and Tailpiece. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.8. Install The Jack Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.9. Install the Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.10. Install the Pickups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.11. Make Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.12. Installing the Strap Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.13. Install the strings and initial tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.14. Sound Check! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.0 Final Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.1. Truss Rod Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.2. Set the Bridge/String Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.3. Adjust the Intonation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.4. Adjust the Nut Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.5. Set Pickup Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7.0 The End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

25 August 2016 2 LPAssem Version 1.1

LPAssem Version 1.1 1 25 August 2016
1.0 Welcome and Introduction
Thanks and congratulations on your purchase of an Alloy Guitars Kit!
We believe that after you build your first kit, you will be hooked! We hope that you will come back to us for
future kits - perhaps a different model, or a “fancier” kit with better components - or just to try a different
finishing technique.
1.1. Contacting Us
You can contact us by phone, email, on the web, or postal mail:
Alloy Guitars
10940 SW Barnes Rd. #252
Portland, OR 97225
888-214-8314
www.alloyguitars.com
[email protected]

25 August 2016 2 LPAssem Version 1.1
2.0 Prepare for assembly.
Get a cup of coffee. Have a snack.Assembling a guitar is a process that takes time, patience, and thought.
It is not to be rushed. You will want to cherish this instrument for years to come. Go slow and be patient.
The assembly process is broken into the following sections:
• Unpacking and Parts Review
• Finishing
• Assembly
• Final Setup
Let’s get started. Open the box.
2.1. Unpack
Gently take out and unwrap the body and neck. Place them on a towel or work cloth. Remove all the
hardware and spread on a towel or large work cloth.
• Inspect the neck and body for any shipping damage.
• The neck should be smooth and ready for final sanding and finishing.
• The body should be ready for finish sanding and either sealing, staining, or painting. (You will have
to do finish work on the body and neck. That is half the fun of assembling your own guitar. Make it
yours!!)
Identify all the hardware components. Please see the photos below, but note that some of these photos
may differ slightly from the components that you received.
1.Body
2.Neck
3.Pickups x 2
4.Prewired volume and tone control harness, and switch
5.Strings
6.Bridge and stop tailpiece
7.Back Body Covers x 2
Figure 1 Box Contents

LPAssem Version 1.1 3 25 August 2016
8.Tuning Machines (Body, post, washer) X 6
9.Prewired Output Jack and Plate
10.Strap Pins (Pin, Screw, Washer) X 2
11.Truss rod cover and pickup selector plate
12.Screws
13.Allen Wenches
14.Alloy Guitars Pick!
If anything is missing or not correct, please contact our customer service department ASAP!
(www.AlloyGuitars.com, 888-214-8314, [email protected])
Figure 2 Body Figure 3 Neck
Figure 4 Output Jack and Plate Figure 5 Pickups

25 August 2016 4 LPAssem Version 1.1
Figure 6 Strings
Figure 7 Pickup selector switch Figure 8 Bridge and tailpiece parts
Figure 9 Back Body Covers Figure 10 Knobs
Figure 11 (optional) Plates Figure 12 Tuning Machines

LPAssem Version 1.1 5 25 August 2016
Figure 13 Wiring Harness Figure 14 Alloy Pick!

25 August 2016 6 LPAssem Version 1.1
2.2. Tools you will need
We do everything we can to make building your guitar straight-forward. Besides the materials to finish the
guitar (paint, stain, sealant, etc.) you shouldn’t need anything else that most people don’t already have in
their garages (such as a soldering iron, or saws). Nor do you need to do any exacting measurements that
might make it difficult to get a high quality instrument. You do, however, need a short list of tools and
supplies:
• #1 Phillips Screwdriver (small)
• #2 Phillips Screwdriver (medium)
• Short metal ruler (6”) with 1/32” markings or feeler gauges
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Painters or Masking Tape
• Wood Finishing Materials
• Bar soap or wax candle
• Large towel or work cloth (big enough to lay a guitar on)
• 10mm socket or box wrench for tuning machines and pot/switch nuts
• Allen wrench for truss rod adjustments (provided with kit)
• Wood glue (Titebond III recommended)
• Clamps and wood blocks
Additionally, you will be much happier and the setup steps detailed belove will be much easier to perform if
you have the following:
•acapo
• a chromatic electronic tuner
Figure 15 Tools