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Is there an Electric guitar kit you would recommend for a total beginner?

I was talking to the wife of the intended recipient when the question came up. I have only ever glanced at the Grizzly Products catalog for solid-body electrics as I have little interest in them myself.

He has more tools than I have (the wretch!) so that's not an issue - any Thoughts?

To be honest with you I would just build one from scratch. They are really pretty straight forward if you don't build a carved top.

If you want to use a premade neck Stewmac has pretty nice ones at reasonable rates. But even these aren't that hard to build.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

+1

The Saga kits look pretty darn cheap, to be honest. If you want to build a telecaster or similar (easiest first guitar, no trem or any of that), making the body is simple enough. Making a neck isn't that hard, although buying one pre-made is an option.

Hi,

Let's not forget Warmoth or USA Custom Guitars.

Guitar Ed

I used Stewmac's body and neck (Tele & Strat). They're not cheap but the quality was quite good. It sure is a quick way to get started.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=guitar_ed] Hi,

Let's not forget Warmoth or USA Custom Guitars.

Guitar Ed[/QUOTE]

If you want a pro quality parts then defiantly Warmoth. Be aware that these are not packaged as complete kits but components. This is pro line stuff. I really love their LP carved tops.

Wow - more involved than I thought! I confess I figured that building an electric was just a matter of routing the body then adding a neck.
And - if StewMac has a kit, I didn't find it.

Warmoth looks great but it's definitely not for a rookie.

It is a good gift idea - I think - I guess my part will be doing the legwork to come up with a kit.

Thanks for the input!

JJDonahue - I just re-read what you said and I apologize for thinking you said Stew-Mac had a kit.

[QUOTE=Jimson] Wow - more involved than I thought! I confess I figured that building an electric was just a matter of routing the body then adding a neck.
And - if StewMac has a kit, I didn't find it.

Warmoth looks great but it's definitely not for a rookie.

It is a good gift idea - I think - I guess my part will be doing the legwork to come up with a kit.

Thanks for the input! [/QUOTE]

As far as the rookie thing Warmoth is actually easer than most kits you will find as far as assembly and neck is conserned. This is because the build toerances is ideal, everything fits perfect. It may be a bit pricie but you get a body and neck as good as it gets with high grade wood. If I was going to invest $300-$400 in a full kit I had just as soon invest $.6k-$1k for an instument on par or better than the big name factory 1.2k-2.5k guitars. But that is just me.

In fact I may do another LP this winter via a Warmoth bodu and neck, just for the fun.MichaelP38659.6396296296

[QUOTE=Jimson] Wow - more involved than I thought! I confess I figured that building an electric was just a matter of routing the body then adding a neck.
And - if StewMac has a kit, I didn't find it.

Warmoth looks great but it's definitely not for a rookie.

It is a good gift idea - I think - I guess my part will be doing the legwork to come up with a kit.

Thanks for the input! [/QUOTE]

Heh.

Frankly, a tele is little more than a plank with some routes and holes in the right places. But you still want a nice, accurate and snug neck pocket, stuff like that. And a neck is a neck is a neck, after all.

Now, a chambered, carved top and back electric, that's getting a touch more fiddly...

[QUOTE=Mattia Valente]
Heh.

Frankly, a tele is little more than a plank with some routes and holes in the right places. But you still want a nice, accurate and snug neck pocket, stuff like that. And a neck is a neck is a neck, after all.

Now, a chambered, carved top and back electric, that's getting a touch more fiddly...[/QUOTE]

But fiddly = fun right? If it was too easy we'd get bored with it too quickly

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Oh yes. Lots and lots of fun. Although there's also something to be said for the realtive simplicity of strats and teles as well. I think I could make a strat or tele body in a day without breaking too much of a sweat. The pair I've got waiting for finishes now (strat and tele) have about 4-5 moderate length working days worth of work in them, bodies and necks from boards of planed wood. My carved tops are my passion when it comes to electrics, though.