Guitar Gas / Build / Buy

[ibmorjamn]

So, I had a guitar when I was about 17 my dad bought it. I picked out of a pawn shop/ music store.

Leers Music in Riverside.
It was a custom built V with what I believe was a USA Tele neck and trim.
Strat bridge,humbuckers. I put a Super Distortion in the bridge.

I have been seriously attempting to make offers on MX player Strats but it came to mind maybe I should recreate the one off guitar I had.

Problem is, I'm not a luthier or even close.
Sure I can bolt it all together but making it work like a pro guitar might frustrate me.
I have a couple offers that were given to me. One at $600 for a player.
$550 for one but it's in HB. No shipping.
I can buy the neck and body for about $500 but I don't want to spend to much over $600.
Delema?

 

[fitz]

but it came to mind maybe I should recreate the one off guitar I had.

but I don't want to spend to much over $600.

Full stop.
Don't try a build if you have a budget.

I've done a few guitar builds that started out with a $100 or more mod platform.
Hundreds of dollars later, hours of frustration later, 3 paint jobs later, and more parts that were never part of the plan to get it the way I want.

Could I have bought one of the rack that plays better and cost less?
Yes.

But I also do it for the challenge, and for the satisfaction of knowing what I end up with, and what I started with, and that I did it.
If you want to re-create a childhood memory, and get a one-of-a-kind guitar, I'd say go for it - but throw out any sort of budget and timeframe.

 

[smitty_p]

Full stop.
Don't try a build if you have a budget.

I've done a few guitar builds that started out with a $100 or more mod platform.
Hundreds of dollars later, hours of frustration later, 3 paint jobs later, and more parts that were never part of the plan to get it the way I want.

Could I have bought one of the rack that plays better and cost less?
Yes.

But I also do it for the challenge, and for the satisfaction of knowing what I end up with, and what I started with, and that I did it.
If you want to re-create a childhood memory, and get a one-of-a-kind guitar, I'd say go for it - but throw out any sort of budget and timeframe.

Plus one to the above.

I haven’t done a ”from scratch” build, but I have built up a guitar from a husk and spent just about what I would have for the same thing on the used market. But, I really enjoyed the process and I enjoyed the resulting instrument. It had more meaning to me than others I have which cost much more.

 

[SG John]

All of my builds which were were done before the current pricing, started around $700-$900. All of the lumber I bought for guitars was around ten years ago. The Explorer I started, and need to jump back on, cost $270 plus shipping just for the piece of Korina big enough for a one piece body (ten years ago, because I knew I wanted to eventually build it). Hate to think what that would cost today. That was also not counting the neck blank and the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard blank. Then, there are all the other parts. Bits-O-Caster style builds will vary on pricing on all the parts, but you'll always find hidden costs that pop up during the build. Whether it's parts that don't fit, or having to modify stuff.

 

[ibmorjamn]

I had the body in a cart $300. Neck $200 from Warmoth. I might call them tomorrow just to chat.

 

[fitz]

I had the body in a cart $300. Neck $200 from Warmoth. I might call them tomorrow just to chat.

I hope I didn't come across too negatively.
Custom home builds can be extremely rewarding, and I'd highly encourage anyone to give it a try if so inclined.
But on top of the body and neck, don't forget the costs of decent pups, machines, bridge/tail & all the guts and trim.
It can add up quick, even without high end stuff.
Make a list of everything you can think of and add some fluff for the stuff you're not thinking about when you make a budget.
I've added up build projects afterwards and thought... well, I had a blast doing it.

 

[iblive]

Echo fitz. My ongoing Frankentele project guitar. Built from parts. I have a running tally of expenses. It embarrassing what I have into that thing. But…. When it’s finally finished, it’ll be one of a kind. No one on the planet will have a duplicate. And while it’s taken longer than anticipated. It has been fun.

 

[ibmorjamn]

It's not as much budget as it is justifying cost like was stated earlier.
I could buy a player under budget.
A custom build will not be under budget unless I built the body. My time until I retire is limited and I have multiple unfinished projects.

The time and effort might not be worth it.
I think I talked myself out of it.
It could still be a future thing.
I could grab a strat to play or just fix the Squire I have. Parts are waiting for the Squire on hand. Will the Squire body work with a mx 22 fret neck ?

 

[DirtySteve]

I started out to build my dream guitar around 10 years ago, 8 builds and a few grand later I have one or 2 keepers out of them all and only one of them actually turned out the way I'd hoped.

 

[ibmorjamn]

I started out to build my dream guitar around 10 years ago, 8 builds and a few grand later I have one or 2 keepers out of them all and only one of them actually turned out the way I'd hoped.

I hoped you would speak up in here Steve.
All that being said you spent less money than going to luthier school and probably learned more.
I will put the build on hold.

 

[Session 5]

Like many things , it takes time to learn, and if one has not built a guitar ever, there would be many challenges and learning curves one would need to know, I would say. If you are willing to take the risks go for it, could cost you some serious cash and possibly a guitar sitting in its case not getting used.

Personally I like to go to my local guitar hub, and try out guitars that are built by builders who have already gone through the growing pains, and know how to produce great playing guitars.

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

I had the body in a cart $300. Neck $200 from Warmoth. I might call them tomorrow just to chat.

To have all the right tools to finish it...
the parts you buy will not be ideally finished. The nut, neck angle pitch , fret finishing, are all part of the final set up.
"Not screw driver adjustable"-------- these set ups take skill and tools.
For example the nut: I'm going to have a set of gauged slot files to lower the strings way down to where I want them.
I'm going to have fret files....to level and crown those pups as needed.
I'm going to use a temperature controlled soldering station...
I'm going to shield the whole insides...

When you build a guitar from parts, it's not set up when you put the screws in....
But: this is a learning experience and an investment in tools which will last your whole life long.

 

[Don O]

I’ve done many Warmoth builds. I tape a ”parts list” to the inside cover of the electronic bay.

 

[smitty_p]

I’ve done many Warmoth builds. I tape a ”parts list” to the inside cover of the electronic bay.

Ahhh...that's the secret. A "Tone List".

 

[smitty_p]

Bits-O-Caster style builds ...

"Bits-O-Caster".

That's funny, right there!

 

[ibmorjamn]

To have all the right tools to finish it...
the parts you buy will not be ideally finished. The nut, neck angle pitch , fret finishing, are all part of the final set up.
"Not screw driver adjustable"-------- these set ups take skill and tools.
For example the nut: I'm going to have a set of gauged slot files to lower the strings way down to where I want them.
I'm going to have fret files....to level and crown those pups as needed.
I'm going to use a temperature controlled soldering station...
I'm going to shield the whole insides...

When you build a guitar from parts, it's not set up when you put the screws in....
But: this is a learning experience and an investment in tools which will last your whole life long.

Not really, finishing frets(polish) maybe
Warmoth does the neck so it bolts on.
The body can have the tremolo pins installed so it's not all from blank pieces of wood. None of that including tooling scares but it would suck if I spent $1000-$1200 and it was horrible.

I already decided against building it for now, maybe in the future.

 

[smitty_p]

Not really, finishing frets(polish) maybe
Warmoth does the neck so it bolts on.
The body can have the tremolo pins installed so it's not all from blank pieces of wood. None of that including tooling scares but it would suck if I spent $1000-$1200 and it was horrible.

I already decided against building it for now, maybe in the future.

If you have a Stratocaster (or other suitable Stratocaster-Shaped Object), you could take it completely apart and put it back together as practice.

 

[Don O]

If you have a Stratocaster (or other suitable Stratocaster-Shaped Object), you could take it completely apart and put it back together as practice.

The tough part is figuring out what to do with the left over parts

 

[ibmorjamn]

If you have a Stratocaster (or other suitable Stratocaster-Shaped Object), you could take it completely apart and put it back together as practice.

I have done that a couple times.

 

[smitty_p]

I have done that a couple times.

Well, then...you could probably put a Warmoth build together if you order things so all the holes are predrilled and bushings installed and stuff.

I've been contemplating a Warmoth build for awhile. I have the idea to make a Strat-ish thing with a Gibson scale conversion neck. It would be different from anything I have now.