Les Paul Copy Build

[SmurfJ]

Well, i decided i wanted to build a guitar. So i looked for plans online so that i could get something right. So i found a set of LP Plans on Stewmac.com. I bought them and got started. But, i didnt want to buy a piece of african mahogany OR curly maple for fear of screwing it up, considering htis is my first build. SO! i devised a plan.
For my body i used Birch Plywood. I glued a 1/4" piece between 2 3/4" pieces of the birch. Then i cut it. Here are some pics of the body thus far.
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/449/backbodytn5.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=backbodytn5.jpg)http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/2435/topbodydc6.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=topbodydc6.jpg)
(The white on the body is from the paper stencil i spray glued on so i would cut it right.)

Now, curly/flamed maple is normally used on the top of Les Pauls, but i didn't want to spend so much money in fear of ruining the wood. So i opted for some Poplar from home depot. I bought it and cut it and glued it together. It was slightly warped, but i can sand that out with a beltsander. Here is the poplar (top) being glued:
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/6512/archtopbeinggluedyn6.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=archtopbeinggluedyn6.jpg)http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/3860/archtopbeingglued2ba4.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=archtopbeingglued2ba4.jpg)
My plan is to stain it midnight blue, with gold hardware. What do you all think? Got any pointers?? Right now my biggest concerns are arching the top, doing the neck, and making th 4 degree neck angle.

[SmurfJ]

I just calculated all of the parts... and well with inlay from ebay, and between guitarfetish.com, stewmac, and guitar and bass parts resource.. i've managed aroudn $220 without pickups. About the pickups, ifound a set of gold buckers here: http://www.guitarpartsonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=187 for 40 bucks. I dont know if theya re worth it though... I'm really short on cash... but im thinking the GFS pickups at guitarfetish.com might be better... Im trying to decide between vintge '59 or dream 180s. Any advice?? I want a warm classic sound, btu punch when i set tone higher. I was also considering a modboard, probably delay or wah, with a stock knob setup... I know itsmore cash, but it is a CUSTOM guitar. Tell me what you think... Oh and does anyone know of where i can get cheap inlay?

[DLR Guitars]

As far as pickups go, guitarfetish usually has some pickups in the clearance section. maybe worth a look there. as far as inlay goes, what do you want in terms of look?

[DLR Guitars]

By the way, let me know how it turns out. I've been toying around with maybe building a plywood guitar.

[SmurfJ]

No pictures yet, but i cut out the top to match the body. Then i routed out 1/8th inch sections like steps aroudn for teh curve, and now im dremeling and sanding down to make it flow even. It's painstaking but i know in the end itll be worth it. I got my stop tailpiece in but the bushings dont fit. Next im going to get my electronics and the pickups. then ill worry over the neck.....