DYI Guitar Kits

[KR Ullrich]

I see a couple of companies out there that sell DYI kits.  Though most reviews say you don't save money by building a guitar from a kit, I'd like to have the experience of building my own.  I love working with wood.  I thought I'd start out with a solid body electric first--seems easier.  Can anyone recommend a company with quality materials at a reasonable price?

Many thanks,  Kathy

[Fretless]

Warmouth is the standard against which all others are compared - and there are quite a lot of similar companies so do look around to see what is on offer. I am not sure whether you can buy complete kits from Warmouth and the others at the quality end of the market, just top quality bodies and necks, raw or finished as per your wishes.

Thomann, for example, sells cheap kits that might be a good starting point as you get everything, albeit at a lower quality level.

Edited October 12, 2021 by Fretless

[Oldjock]

Kathy, if you are in Canada, I would suggest Solo Guitars. They have a wide range of styles and reasonable prices.

Six years ago I purchased the Solo ADK-10 DIY Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Kit for $250 CAD. It was a learning but fun experience. This guitar now stays at the cottage for campfire songs with the Grandkids.

Henk

https://www.solomusicgear.com/product-category/diy-kits/

 

[gotto]

Also from Canada, I purchased an electric Junior neck/body kit from Precision Guitars. The workmanship and finish  was excellent with a precise neck pocket fit. Very little sanding was required. The rest of the materials I purchased separately and the final artwork and finish was done by an artist in Florida. The Twilight Zone guitar in my avatar here is that guitar.

Stewmac makes complete kits as does Grizzly Tools, from the latter I have also purchased and built an electric  strat guitar . The wood required considerable finish sanding and the pocket needed some adjustment, but both companies provide all the necessary parts for completion of the guitar. Finishing materials are extra to purchase from Stewmac, were part of the purchase from Grizzly.

It's great fun to build these.  Best wishes on your project. I will concur, the cost is likely not a savings over a built guitar, particularly if you have custom painting. I went for high end pickups, electronics and tuners. 

Greg

Edited October 13, 2021 by gotto

[baritone]

Kits are great if you want to learn how to build guitars. They are cheap and don't sound good. But after you build it yourself, then you can buy a a high-quality parts and build a custom guitar.

[DrumBob]

I think you meant DIY, didn't you? I too would recommend Precision Guitar kits. I have been mulling over a purchase from them for a long time. I have always wanted a double cutaway Les Paul TV Yellow Junior. All told, it would cost me about $1000 or so for all the parts and to have it assembled and done in a relic style finish. 

[Kbore]

Check out the kits at Stewart-Macdonald (Stew-Mac).

They have several price levels....