wajobu
Boing Boom Tschak
I have a friend who builds acoustic guitars from scratch, beautiful pieces and occasionally he builds some electric guitars and modifies inexpensive finds with upgraded pick-ups, etc.
After Thanksgiving (2014), I noted to him that I needed a winter project (something to do indoors at my workbench when the weather is too nasty outdoors). I occasionally build small audio electronics projects, so he suggested I try a kit for an electric guitar. A few days later he jabbed me in the ribs holding his phone with a photo of a kit at the Guitarfetish website…even better they were having their Black Friday sale. The price was right and despite a number of reviews on youtube noting they weren't worth the money I decided to give it a try. The first photo is the box of parts that arrived at my house. After watching a bunch of youtube videos on assembling the kit, doing some reading on finishing, getting advice from my friend and having one abysmal paint failure, I've completed the kit (a lightweight Stratocaster clone) and despite its initial rough body shape, it sanded-up AOK and it sounds pretty darned good, even with the stock components. I used spray cans for both the paint and lacquer coats, then used some Meguiar auto finish products to hand buff the finish to a pretty decent gloss. At some point I can upgrade components if I decide to do that.
Could I have purchased a completed guitar for less? You bet, but I mostly had fun and learned a few things along the way. I had some issues with some of the screws breaking, but overall I say it was a success and a very satisfying project!
I have a page on my personal website where I post some sound experiments (see the fine print in my signature)...there are a few things that I've recorded with this Strat.
After Thanksgiving (2014), I noted to him that I needed a winter project (something to do indoors at my workbench when the weather is too nasty outdoors). I occasionally build small audio electronics projects, so he suggested I try a kit for an electric guitar. A few days later he jabbed me in the ribs holding his phone with a photo of a kit at the Guitarfetish website…even better they were having their Black Friday sale. The price was right and despite a number of reviews on youtube noting they weren't worth the money I decided to give it a try. The first photo is the box of parts that arrived at my house. After watching a bunch of youtube videos on assembling the kit, doing some reading on finishing, getting advice from my friend and having one abysmal paint failure, I've completed the kit (a lightweight Stratocaster clone) and despite its initial rough body shape, it sanded-up AOK and it sounds pretty darned good, even with the stock components. I used spray cans for both the paint and lacquer coats, then used some Meguiar auto finish products to hand buff the finish to a pretty decent gloss. At some point I can upgrade components if I decide to do that.
Could I have purchased a completed guitar for less? You bet, but I mostly had fun and learned a few things along the way. I had some issues with some of the screws breaking, but overall I say it was a success and a very satisfying project!
I have a page on my personal website where I post some sound experiments (see the fine print in my signature)...there are a few things that I've recorded with this Strat.