S KITS?
- Thread starter Jermo3178
- Start date
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: S KITS?
I would probably either go with Warmoth or Precision, due to their reputation.
I would probably either go with Warmoth or Precision, due to their reputation.
Stratman
Guitaris Maximus
Re: S KITS?
Warmoth has nicely finished bodies, but expensive.
USA Custom Guitars has nicer necks, but not finished.
Stew-Mac uses bodies and necks made by others... Same items can be purchased from other online suppliers.
Which is why I invested in a CNC machine and CNC programs... As well as coating (Painting) equipment.
Fender also sells bodies and guitars...
Warmoth has nicely finished bodies, but expensive.
USA Custom Guitars has nicer necks, but not finished.
Stew-Mac uses bodies and necks made by others... Same items can be purchased from other online suppliers.
Which is why I invested in a CNC machine and CNC programs... As well as coating (Painting) equipment.
Fender also sells bodies and guitars...
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: S KITS?
I have an idea! Why dont you make him the kit with your cnc machine?
And here i was thinking they only made amps :33:
I have an idea! Why dont you make him the kit with your cnc machine?
And here i was thinking they only made amps :33:
Re: S KITS?
A raw wood kit allows you the option of paint type, and also some routing options should you choose that. I've had some great stuff from Warmoth over the years, and it ships quite quickly without the finishing.
I did contact USACG a couple of times about bodies and necks, but both times they never responded after the initial query.
B.Hefner is also another option. They do good work with vintage shapes and neck profiles, but they take forever. I've also had 2 piece bodies with both off centre joins and the join going diagonally across the body. This is with Ash too, something you expect to have a see-through finish on.
A raw wood kit allows you the option of paint type, and also some routing options should you choose that. I've had some great stuff from Warmoth over the years, and it ships quite quickly without the finishing.
I did contact USACG a couple of times about bodies and necks, but both times they never responded after the initial query.
B.Hefner is also another option. They do good work with vintage shapes and neck profiles, but they take forever. I've also had 2 piece bodies with both off centre joins and the join going diagonally across the body. This is with Ash too, something you expect to have a see-through finish on.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: S KITS?
What I would do would be to order templates for the body, and get a neck from a licensed neck/body maker, like Musikraft, Warmoth, USACG, etc. (Or get a used Fender neck off of something good like a MIM Classic Series, MIJ Fender, MIA Fender, etc.) Without building the body yourself, you really aren't doing much more than putting a bunch of parts together. It's fun for a bit, but only minimally educational. Building the body from raw materials will teach him good, basic, and fun woodworking things, like wood selection, jointing, gluing/clamping, planing, routing, and sanding (not to mention finishing). Building a neck is a bit more advanced. It is not the hardest thing in the world to do, if you are set up for it. However, it might be a bit beyond the level of "building" you want to do with him, at least for now. The radiusing, fretwork, and nut work in particular are better suited for a second or third build IMO.
For that look, you probably want to scavenge some old, weathered wood, or take the body you've already made to a sandblasting company. Have them minimally blast the wood, just to sink the areas in between the grain a tiny bit. Then stain, then carefully sand down the high spots to lighten them. You can do this in multiple stages with various colors of stain for a more natural look.
What I would do would be to order templates for the body, and get a neck from a licensed neck/body maker, like Musikraft, Warmoth, USACG, etc. (Or get a used Fender neck off of something good like a MIM Classic Series, MIJ Fender, MIA Fender, etc.) Without building the body yourself, you really aren't doing much more than putting a bunch of parts together. It's fun for a bit, but only minimally educational. Building the body from raw materials will teach him good, basic, and fun woodworking things, like wood selection, jointing, gluing/clamping, planing, routing, and sanding (not to mention finishing). Building a neck is a bit more advanced. It is not the hardest thing in the world to do, if you are set up for it. However, it might be a bit beyond the level of "building" you want to do with him, at least for now. The radiusing, fretwork, and nut work in particular are better suited for a second or third build IMO.
For that look, you probably want to scavenge some old, weathered wood, or take the body you've already made to a sandblasting company. Have them minimally blast the wood, just to sink the areas in between the grain a tiny bit. Then stain, then carefully sand down the high spots to lighten them. You can do this in multiple stages with various colors of stain for a more natural look.
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Re: S KITS?
Problem is you really ramp up the cost. You generally start to need a lot of specialist tools plus the templates themselves. I'd guess that this would triple the cost of a body if there is only 1 made.
Finishing a guitar is a good project for a first time if there is no prior woodworking experience or no previous woodworking tools about.
Problem is you really ramp up the cost. You generally start to need a lot of specialist tools plus the templates themselves. I'd guess that this would triple the cost of a body if there is only 1 made.
Finishing a guitar is a good project for a first time if there is no prior woodworking experience or no previous woodworking tools about.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: S KITS?
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that anyone talking about building a guitar not only won't stop at just one, but also already owns basic woodworking tools – a drill, a jigsaw, and a router, at the very least. Planing, plane sanding, and jointing can be done at any proper lumber yard or hardwoods store if you don't own the equipment, and then the kid at least gets to at least understand (and usually see) the process. Even if only a router is owned, you're talking about spending the same amount on a body as you would on the raw materials and milling.
I guess it all depends on what experience you intend for the kid. If you just want to do something light and fun together, by all means just get the stuff pre-made. But if you want to actually begin to teach the kid a vocational skill, and how to approach building projects in general – something which fewer and fewer kids learn as we move farther into the future – then build the body from scratch. It isn't hard or expensive. I'm not trying to force that approach on anyone, just naming its merits.
I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that anyone talking about building a guitar not only won't stop at just one, but also already owns basic woodworking tools – a drill, a jigsaw, and a router, at the very least. Planing, plane sanding, and jointing can be done at any proper lumber yard or hardwoods store if you don't own the equipment, and then the kid at least gets to at least understand (and usually see) the process. Even if only a router is owned, you're talking about spending the same amount on a body as you would on the raw materials and milling.
I guess it all depends on what experience you intend for the kid. If you just want to do something light and fun together, by all means just get the stuff pre-made. But if you want to actually begin to teach the kid a vocational skill, and how to approach building projects in general – something which fewer and fewer kids learn as we move farther into the future – then build the body from scratch. It isn't hard or expensive. I'm not trying to force that approach on anyone, just naming its merits.
Re: S KITS?
It is certainly good to encourage people into building, especially kids who will get a great deal of personal satisfaction from a hands on project with Dad. I started scratch builds a short while back having started on fender 'kits' which I finished, progressing to glue-in kits, then making from wood blanks.
Thing is, I'm not getting that level of involvement wanted from the OP - the first post seemed to indicate shaped bodies. All the suppliers mentioned have their main business as this - either raw wood or finished.
It is certainly good to encourage people into building, especially kids who will get a great deal of personal satisfaction from a hands on project with Dad. I started scratch builds a short while back having started on fender 'kits' which I finished, progressing to glue-in kits, then making from wood blanks.
Thing is, I'm not getting that level of involvement wanted from the OP - the first post seemed to indicate shaped bodies. All the suppliers mentioned have their main business as this - either raw wood or finished.
Jermo3178
Active member
Re: S KITS?
Oh I'd love to build a guitar... The whole guitar... But I don't have the woodworking equipment that my dad and grandpa had when I was a kid.. We built furniture, tables, chests and such... I do have drills, a cpl routers and things, but that's the limit of my shed in the subdivision I live in. So a finished shape is unfortunately my limit for the time being. Sad but true... Nonetheless I do appreciate it!
And to all the other replies too... Please keep em coming
Oh I'd love to build a guitar... The whole guitar... But I don't have the woodworking equipment that my dad and grandpa had when I was a kid.. We built furniture, tables, chests and such... I do have drills, a cpl routers and things, but that's the limit of my shed in the subdivision I live in. So a finished shape is unfortunately my limit for the time being. Sad but true... Nonetheless I do appreciate it!
And to all the other replies too... Please keep em coming
Jermo3178
Active member
Re: S KITS?
Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried anything like this...
http://www.micromark.com/AGE-IT-EASY-GRAY-3-1and2-FL-OZ,7567.html
I'm not wanting to do this on this kit when I get it, thought I might get one of those CHEAP kits and see what it would do. Just wondered if anyone had used anything like this, and what the outcome was?
Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried anything like this...
http://www.micromark.com/AGE-IT-EASY-GRAY-3-1and2-FL-OZ,7567.html
I'm not wanting to do this on this kit when I get it, thought I might get one of those CHEAP kits and see what it would do. Just wondered if anyone had used anything like this, and what the outcome was?
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Jermo3178
Active member
Re: S KITS?
I have looked, and Carvin may be dear ol' dads first DIY..lol. I have seen a couple vids on UTube about the torch method. How hard is it to do?
I have looked, and Carvin may be dear ol' dads first DIY..lol. I have seen a couple vids on UTube about the torch method. How hard is it to do?
BeatTheBastard
New member
Re: S KITS?
It´s easy, I finished one Pinecaster that way. Just torch the body to your own taste, less or more to your own liking. Then just sanding.
Here´s the one I did back in the summer.
It´s easy, I finished one Pinecaster that way. Just torch the body to your own taste, less or more to your own liking. Then just sanding.
Here´s the one I did back in the summer.
