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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,099
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Anyone built a guitar from a kit?
I've ordered a Fretwire Telecaster kit. I've always wanted to try and build one and am open to any suggestions or experiences you might want to share.
Thanks
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1982 SC |
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05-20-2021, 09:02 PM
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Location: Texas
Posts: 11,257
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Good luck..
Slodave build one years ago.. simply amazing.. he has done shift knobs and boards for Singer... Rika |
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05-21-2021, 05:51 AM
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I've cobbled lots of Partscasters together out of stuff I had laying around. But I've never installed new frets on a new neck. I would think it's a false economy to do it that way unless you end up totally in love with the guitar and never want to sell it. I have a Musikraft neck on order now. It will run me $450 by the time I get it and DIY the oiling process. But it's exactly what I want and it's going on a Partscaster I otherwise love except for the neck I want replaced.
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05-21-2021, 06:05 AM
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Slodave didn't build his from much of a kit.
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Brent The X15 was the only aircraft I flew where I was glad the engine quit. - Milt Thompson. "Don't get so caught up in your right to dissent that you forget your obligation to contribute." Mrs. James to her son Chappie. |
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05-21-2021, 07:08 AM
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I got to fondle Slodave's LP clone build at Hugh's house a few years ago. It was as good as they come. BUT it was a major project from scratch, and would not hold anything close to the value of a real LP.
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2022 BMW 530i 2021 MB GLA250 2020 BMW R1250GS |
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05-21-2021, 07:10 AM
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That project was a labor of love and craftsmanship.
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Brent The X15 was the only aircraft I flew where I was glad the engine quit. - Milt Thompson. "Don't get so caught up in your right to dissent that you forget your obligation to contribute." Mrs. James to her son Chappie. |
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05-21-2021, 07:15 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Lacey, WA. USA
Posts: 25,310
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Guys build guitars from parts all the time. Like Rick, I would recommend starting with a neck that already has frets.
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Man of Carbon Fiber (stronger than steel) Mocha 1978 911SC. "Coco" |
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05-21-2021, 07:46 AM
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Location: Langley,B.C.
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I Have a kit (strat style) I bought from an outfit is Australia. Pittbull Guitars. I have had it for a while. Hardware looks good (I checked a lot of the option boxes lol). However, I have no spare time to build it, will likely get on it after the summer. I will send the body out to get painted (viper green) as I will never have time to get that perfect.
We have 16 guitars between my son and I so not highly motivated to put off other projects to get this put together.... Looking forward to the day it is done. Even if it sucks to play, It will look good on the wall  Cheers
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Turn3 Autosport- Full Service and Race Prep www.turn3autosport.com 997 S 4.0, Cayman S 3.8, Cayenne Turbo, Macan Turbo, 69 911, Mini R53 JCW , RADICAL SR3 |
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05-21-2021, 07:23 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: bottom left corner of the world
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It's a shame we don't live closer. I'd love to paint or clear coat it for you. I did some furniture with automotive clear coat and it looks great.
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05-21-2021, 09:17 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
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I have built up several using a complete neck.
No big deal. If you have to instal the frets and level them? I would make a jig with a drill press to press the frets in uniformly. Finishing is the trick. Reranch has a whole bunch of cool colors in lacquer. |
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05-22-2021, 06:12 AM
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05-22-2021, 07:11 AM
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Thanks for mentioning Reranch. I had not heard of them. I'm going to start with the body. Filler, sanding, filler sanding then prime, paint clear coat, wet sand polish.
Sound about right? I'm not attempting to do anything like Slodave's build. I don't have anywhere near the skills
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1982 SC |
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05-22-2021, 08:55 AM
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Location: the beach
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I've built 5 acoustic guitars from scratch; no kit. And I've not built an electric guitar. As the plek machine concept illustrates, getting the action correct is the most critical thing. When building an acoustic from scratch, you measure 100 times and glue once.
With a kit, the fit between the neck and the body should be spot on. I could see a cheap kit getting this wrong. I think the kit you have has the frets already installed. But they probably have to be filed properly. Anyway, you should pay most attention to the fit of the neck to the body. At least it's bolted on and can easily be removed to adjust the fit. When you glue the neck onto an acoustic body, put the strings on, file the frets, adjust the stress rod, and then find that the action is off, that sucks.
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Charlie 1966 912 Polo Red 1950 VW Bug 1983 VW Westfalia; 1989 VW Syncro Tristar Doka |
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05-22-2021, 12:09 PM
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just my 2 cenrs, but there are a number of low priced well built teles out there now
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2000 Boxster S tip...arena red ....black 1981 911sc targa...grey mkt.import...Rosewood 1978 911SC, guards red sunroof delete .much missed 73 VW Thing- a lot of fun 4 sure.. 73 914 2.0 found in a bunch of cardboard boxes, and brought back from the dead. |
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10-27-2021, 12:29 PM
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weekend wOrrier
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 6,215
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Cool thing about kits, is-
There are a lot of options out there. Find out how deep you want to jump in. And jump. I use a drill press to press in frets with a stewart Mcdonald fret press. Don't want to bother?- start with the frets already installed. No right or wrong. Pick your pleasure. Setup and action is where you want to spend your time (on any guitar). Good luck. |
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10-27-2021, 12:47 PM
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Control Group
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My brother built a guitar and some effects pedals many years ago
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10-27-2021, 02:20 PM
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mechanic by night
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: south of atlanta
Posts: 110
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i've built three. All three from parts. The thought of fretting a neck...no thanks. I aint that dedicated.
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76 911 "The Blond B_ch" (what the wife calls it) 09 Mazda 3 06 subaru legacy spec B 91 track miata |
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10-28-2021, 01:39 AM
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Finished it. I still need to do a proper set up on the neck
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1982 SC |
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10-28-2021, 08:51 AM
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Sweet play on!
Sent from my SM-G991U1 using Tapatalk
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2000 Boxster S tip...arena red ....black 1981 911sc targa...grey mkt.import...Rosewood 1978 911SC, guards red sunroof delete .much missed 73 VW Thing- a lot of fun 4 sure.. 73 914 2.0 found in a bunch of cardboard boxes, and brought back from the dead. |
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10-28-2021, 08:57 AM
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Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: chula vista ca usa
Posts: 5,695
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I put together on of the semi-hollow body guitar kits from a company named "Bad Cat" which makes their kits in China. The fit of the neck was great, aligned just fine and only had to tweak the neck very slightly to take out some dip in the middle. It came with their own humbucker pickups that were already soldered together and sounded okay. I installed a pair of Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" pickups with 500k pots that could split the coils and also installed a 5 position switch. It can sound like ZZ Top or Eric Clapton if I pull the knobs up. I stained the body with a sun burst color scheme and 10 coats of clear lacquer and lots of sanding!
John |
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10-28-2021, 10:48 AM
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Only Porsche
Only bike
1978 Porsche 911SC 3.0
My boxster..s
2004 Mazda Miata
