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Kit Guitars....Anybody build them?
Back in the mid 90's I bought a Warmoth Strat copy that to this day is the best sounding and playing Strat I've ever touched. I got lucky when I found this jewel at a guitar show (see pic)
Fast forward to now and I hardly play electric at all but I find myself wanting to build a Telecaster just for something to do. I am fairly sold on getting a Stewmac kit but thought I'd ask here if anyone enjoys these types of projects. The only part of the process that worries me is finishing. I have little skill or experience in finishing wood so I know it won't be perfect no matter how many youtube videos I watch Any thoughts/ideas/advise is welcomed! Last edited by 29er; 01-02-2022 at 11:21 AM. Reason: Bad grammar! |
#2
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You can get a pre-finished Telecaster body from Warmoth in any paint or stain finish you can imagine.
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I love playing guitar |
#3
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I have bought 2 Tele kits from SM. I bought the higher end Wilkinson kits. They are solid kits with descent parts. As with anything, the second one came out better because of what I learned from the first.
On both of those kits, I have since replaced the necks with an Allparts neck and different tuners. I like a bit beefier neck than what came with the kit. In the end you have a descent guitar worth way less than what you have into it. Especially if you have to buy some tools. However, I really like the ones I've made. More recently I built a Partscaster and just sourced everything for it. It can become quite a rabbit hole but lots of fun. I'm slowly collecting more parts for another build. There are a few threads on here if you do a search, |
#4
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I haven't built a guitar myself, but always interested. And there's been some mention of building and specifically the StewMac telecaster clone, recently. This one is Bluside's post as he was building one of those.
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=623334 Most recent on building? https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...highlight=Kits |
#5
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For finishing, there are many ways to go. If you want a perfect shiny sunburst, quite a bit of skill and patience is needed. I have a partscaster that the builder left feeling like wood and applied a thin layer of some furniture lacquer. Love that guitar.
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Breedlove, Landola, a couple of electrics, and a guitar-shaped-object |
#6
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I've been thinking about building one. My main motivation to build would be to use a neck with a 1-3/4" nut width, which I know Warmoth sells. Sure would be nice to have the same nut width on my electric as my acoustics.
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#7
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It was a fun build, but too advanced for my skill set. My crowning achievement was taking two big, flat paddles(which were the headstocks) and making stylized Fender and Gibson replicas! No worries though, this will never be confused with the “lawsuit era” headstock debacle. Bahahaha!
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I love playing guitar |
#8
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#9
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Frank d.
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I love playing guitar |
#10
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Good info here. Thanks for the input. I keep going back & forth between a 50's blackguard or the more modern 60's kit, both the Stewmac Wilkinson updrade. I prefer a meatier neck profile and the 50's model gives me that but I also like rosewood fretboards. I guess the neck can also be swapped out later on. Still, I'm in no rush because it won't be warm enough in my garage to do any finish work until spring. I have time for research. Keep the info/advise/opinions coming!
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#11
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The main reason I bought the modern kits was for the truss rod adjustment at the headstock. |
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#13
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And now Dan, I’ll drop it off with you to rebuild it the right way😂😭😂
Thanks for the positive nod, my friend.
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I love playing guitar |
#14
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This is what it sounds like (along with my 1954 reissue Les Paul and J45)... |
#15
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I love playing guitar |