Guitar kits

scott58 · #1 July 28th, 2007

After the first of the year I was planning on going on the hunt for an american strat. i need a guitar geared more toward blues and a lower end for some of the stuff i've been playing, but after reading the other thread about painting and what not I'm thinking to myself it would be easier to do something like that with a kit. I'm not a huge strat fan, but I believe in the right tool for the right job and they do have the tone i want. If I'm to spend another grand or so on a guitar it makes me wonder what could be done with a kit. All the personal touches and the fact you did it yourself has some appeal to me. I'm not saying I could duplicate a good strat, but if I could get a decent tone and do a personalized custom paint job that would be way cool! I've painted a few cars and built several dozen clocks (including a few grandfather clocks) with good results so i'm really not afraid to give it a shot. Any of you guys or gals attempted this?

Stratrat · #2 July 28th, 2007

Not yet, but I'm considering it. Another board I'm on has a lot of folks who build their own guitars, lots of good information about finishing, choosing bodies, necks, pups, etc. They're mostly building Telecasters, but the advice would apply to just about any guitar.

I wouldn't go the kit route myself - I'd buy the parts from some place like USA Custom Guitars, Stewart-MacDonald, Warmoth, Guitar Fetish, or a few other reputable places. You'll end up spending more, but you'll most likely also end up with a much better guitar.

Check out some of the guitar build threads here.

starsailor · #3 July 28th, 2007

Neat idea scott58, caught the other thread think you mentioned putting the Pink Floyd Dark side of the moon cover on a guitar, found this site, don't know if you know it but thought it might interest you

Project Guitar :: Kits, supplies and everything for building your personal guitar - 24k

scott58 · #4 July 28th, 2007

Thanks, this will keep me busy for a while. I know one thing it sure isn't going to be out of Rosewood. That is some seriously expensive stuff. At the other end of the spectrum, no basswood. Huge price range on materials though. Lots of really nice body styles. Thanks again

starsailor · #5 July 28th, 2007

Keep us posted on this one Scott, good project.

allthumbs · #6 July 28th, 2007

A friend of mine just had a tele made from the ground up using Warmoth parts for the whole thing. Probably about over 2 grand in parts and worth 5 grand finished. Just 3 saddles cost 90 bucks.

JessThrasher · #7 August 13th, 2007

I don't have time right now to look through all those sites that sell the parts for a 24 fret neck. I'm going to put one on my Ibanez S470 when I get it and I will do all the intonation myself since I have time. Do the sell an official ibanez neck? I'm fired from my job so I have all the time in the world...untill school starts that is.