Most guitarists are turning towards buying the best DIY guitar kits because of the numerous benefits that come with them.
When you are looking for a guitar, it can be tough choosing one, especially if you are on a budget. The reason is that cheap guitars might be a temporary solution for a beginner, but as he or she advances, the need to change and get a better one comes into play.
But if you really want to save some money, especially when you need a quality guitar, building one can be a super solution. Besides saving some money, building a DIY guitar helps you customize or personalize your guitar to your preference, especially in terms of aesthetics, tone, and the components of the guitar.
The truth is that DIY guitars are affordable. For instance, let’s say you want a Les Paul. You’ll need several hundreds of dollars to acquire a quality one. But if you have the time, you can buy a DIY kit, which costs way lower than what you would use to buy a new Les Paul from the store.
And by the way, building a DIY guitar does not need you to have a huge workshop. It’s not necessary. With simple tools, you can create something so unique that your fellow musicians drool over it when they come to your studio.
DIY guitar kits come in different sizes and shapes. There are brands out there who are coming up with superb kits. Hence, choosing one for yourself can be daunting and time-consuming.
We went out to check out some of the best DIY kits in the market. It took hours of research and review. But we found ten of the best kits you can buy today. And that’s what we’ll be highlighting in this article.
Here are the best DIY Guitar kits you’ll find in the market today.
Best DIY Guitar Kits 2022 Summary:
- Easy To Build
- Superior On Sound
- Kit is upgradable
- Ideal for both beginners & pros
- Sounds fantastic
- Easy to build
- Classic Stratocaster Design
- Sensitive Electronics
- Good Value For Money
- Easy To Build
- Superior On Sound
- Kit is upgradable
- Ideal for both beginners & pros
- Sounds fantastic
- Easy to build
- Classic Stratocaster Design
- Sensitive Electronics
- Good Value For Money
Top 10 DIY Guitar Kits 2022
1. DIY SG Style Electric Guitar Kits – Best Buy
Ever wanted an Epiphone SG guitar but didn’t have the money to buy one? Well, here is an affordable DIY kit that gives you a guitar that looks and functions exactly like an Epiphone guitar.
The first thing you need to know about this guitar kit is that it’s easy to build. It comes with everything you need for assembly, including an okoume body with a natural finish, an ebony fingerboard with fret inlays, a pre-drilled headstock, a jack to connect to your amp, and all the electronics you need to get you started.
With the manual provided, you’ll be able to build your guitar within a short time.
Epiphone guitars are superior on sound. And if you want something that comes close to that, this is the kit to buy. The humbucker pickups will provide the sound you need. If they are not what you need, you have the freedom to upgrade your electronics, since it’s possible.
Besides that, the guitar is easy to tune and fits into any rig without any problem.
The DIY SG Style electric guitar kit is an ideal option for guitarists who want to save money. Not only will this guitar serve you as a beginner, but it will also be useful as you advance musically. Other than that, you have everything you need to play right out of the box. And as long as you assemble everything appropriately, this guitar will stand the test of time.
- Easy to assemble
- The guitar kit is upgradable
- Provides quality sound for the professional player
- The natural finish on the body
- Smooth fingerboard for fast movement
- Some users say that the okoume body is not as sturdy as mahogany
2. StewMac Build Your Own S-Style Electric Guitar Kit – Best For The Money
If you’d like to go big on a great Stratocaster to use with your musical adventures, here’s the StewMac electrical guitar kit.
The package comes with everything you need to play out of the box. It comes with a body with a mahogany material, a maple neck, and a smooth fingerboard. The seller also provides an extra set of strings, installed single-coil pickups, adjustable two-way truss rod, fretboard inlays, and pre-drilled headstock.
You’ll also get an easy-to-use manual, which makes it easy for beginners to use.
Stratocasters are famous for their sound. And with this best DIY guitar kit, you can be sure that the sound is superb, similar to any other high-quality electric guitar. You can customize the electronics to your preference, and with the installed single-coil pickups, you can be sure that the sound won’t embarrass you while on stage.
Another thing about the sound is that the guitar is easy to tune, and the truss rod ensures that the player has the right action on the guitar.
Instead of buying a cheap strat, buying this will guarantee you fantastic sound and use for years. And for guitarists who are getting into the DIY guitar world, you shouldn’t have problems while assembling the unit since everything you need is within the package.
- Easy to build
- Sounds fantastic
- Natural finish to customize it to your preference
- Comes with inlay fret markers
- It has an adjustable truss rod
- Some players don’t like the pre-wired pickguard
3. Bex Gears DIY Electric Guitar Kits – Best Budget Buy
When looking for the best DIY guitar kit, it’s always good to look for one that you can upgrade. The Bex Gears is an excellent example of one.
The DIY guitar kit comes as a complete package. It consists of an okoume body, ebony fingerboard, maple neck, and a classic headstock with pre-drilled holes. All the electronic components are also available, including three single-coil pickups, a pickguard, and volume and tone knobs.
We also noticed that the body has a natural finish. It’s ideal for people who want to experiment with different colours.
The classic Stratocaster gives you the sound of a high-end guitar. All three single-coil pickups are audible, and the electronics used are upgradable if you feel you need better quality.
The Bex Gear is easy to assemble. Whether you are a beginner or pro, you won’t need so much time to figure out the assembly process. Furthermore, the manufacturer provides a manual to guide you through the process.
- Classic Stratocaster design
- Sensitive electronics
- Easy to assemble
- No soldering required
- Most pros may not prefer okoume material
4. Saga ST-10 Electric Guitar Kit
Nothing is as essential as an instrument that helps you achieve your music goals. The Saga ST-10 helps you do so in an instance. Here’s why everyone loves this kit.
When you are a beginner at DIY kits, there’s a high chance that you might not get everything right first. Not with this kit. It comes with all the accessories ready for assembly right out of the box. The package consists of a basswood boy, nickel-plated hardware, maple neck, and an Indian rosewood fingerboard.
Besides that, the head comes with pre-drilled holes, which means you don’t have to make any mistakes while drilling. And there’s an adjustment rod, which helps you to adjust the action when required. Other components in the package include a complete set of strings, a cord to connect to the amp, a tremolo, and single-coil pickups.
For the sound quality, the Saga ST-10 thrives on the fact that it offers the best sound. You can customize the electronics to your preference. The kit comes with one volume and two tone knobs to help you refine the sound.
The single-coil pickup makes the Stratocaster sound perfect as well.
If you are into Stratocasters, there’s no need to go for a cheap option. You can buy this kit right here. And even if you are not a DIYer, assembling this guitar will not be a problem.
- Easy to assemble
- It comes with pre-drilled holes on the headstock
- Manual provided
- Sound is fantastic
- The natural finish on the body so that you can customize it to your liking
- Users complain that the pre-drilled holes are too close to each other
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5. DIY Electric Guitar Kits For LP Guitar
Most guitarists love the Les Paul guitars because of what they can offer you as a musician. The DIY Electric Guitar Kits for LP Guitar will get you what you need at a reasonable price.
The package comes with everything you need to assemble the guitar right out of the box. You’ll find a body made of Okoume material, ebony fretboard, chord, and all the electronics that a high-end Les Paul would have.
We also noticed that the fingerboard provides 22 fret divisions and fret markers, which means you don’t have to do the job yourself. Additionally, the headstock comes with pre-drilled holes in a 3+3 arrangement.
Guitarists love the Les Paul model because of the quality of sound it brings to your rig, whether you play modern or traditional music. The humbucker pickups are sensitive types. Therefore, they will be able to pick any sound from the strings with ease.
Intermediate and professional guitarists go for Les Paul guitars. So, if you are looking to save some money, this best DIY guitar kit might be an affordable way of building a high-end guitar at an affordable price. Also, since it comes with a natural finish on the body, you can paint it to your liking.
- Sound like a professional
- It comes with humbucker pickups
- The fretboard has inlay fret markers
- Easy to assemble with simple tools
- Superior when it comes to sound
- Some users complain that the body requires a lot of sanding before painting it
6. Electric Guitar Kits for TL Electric Guitar
Any musician would die to get a telecaster for their rig. However, getting one can be a significant investment, and if you are on a budget, this best DIY guitar kit should be an ideal solution for you.
The guitar provides all the accessories you need to build a telecaster guitar. The package includes an okoume body material, a maple neck, an ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, pre-dilled headstock, neck, and bridge single-coil pickups, strings, and sealed tuning pegs.
You’ll also receive a manual to use in assembly, especially if you are a beginner.
Telecasters have a five-star rating because they provide superior sound, especially on clean tones. We tested the sound on the guitar, and there’s nothing to complain about. The electronics work correctly, and the sound produced is excellent. We also loved that this guitar is easy to tune and stays on tune even after long hours of play.
Not only will this be a perfect gift for any beginner but also any professional who wants a guitar that they can use for gigs and any other professional setups. It’s easy to assemble, and if you are an experienced musician, building this shouldn’t be too difficult since you have the manual with you.
- The natural finish on the body
- Smooth neck
- It looks like a telecaster
- Ready to use outside the box
- Pre-drilled headstock
- Some users complain that the tuning pegs are not durable
7. Saga TC-10 Electric Guitar Kit – T Style
Musicians avoid DIY guitar kits because of the sophisticated process that building a guitar involves. But with the Saga TC-10, you can be sure that the process will be easy, regardless of whether it’s your first time building a guitar or not.
The Saga TC-10 features a complete DIY electric guitar kit for a telecaster style. Its body comes with a durable basswood body, a solid maple neck, and an Indian rosewood fingerboard that is smooth for easy and fast movement.
Other components within this kit include a pre-drilled headstock, sealed tuning pegs, a cord, a set of strings, neck and bridge pickups, and the electronics required to get you started.
When it comes to sound, you can be sure that you’ll be getting high-end sound with proper installation. Its neck and bridge pickup ensure that all the sound intonations are heard via your amp. And to top it all, the guitar stays in tune for a long time.
Whether you are into jazz, pop, rock, or any other genre, this guitar kit should help you achieve your dreams. It allows you to express your musicality both on stage and in the studio. You should have an easy time assembling all the parts if you are a beginner since the manufacturer does all the difficult tasks for you.
- Superior when it comes to sound
- The natural finish on the body
- Easy to assemble
- Complete package ready to play out of the box
- For professional use
- Available in right-hand version only
8. NBCI ASH Semi-Hollow Body DIY Guitar Kit
Building your own DIY guitar should be a fun process. However, some kits can be a bit complicated to assemble. Here is a Telecaster that gives you a comfortable time doing the assembly, and in the shortest time possible.
The NBCI Ash Semi-Hollow DIY guitar kit features a classic telecaster style that comes with everything you need to start the building process immediately. Like the factory version, this guitar comes with a basswood body with a spalted veneer top, a maple neck, maple fingerboard, dot inlays, and the electronics required.
Its pickups are similar to a telecaster as well. The package also comes with a cord, set of strings, and sealed tuning pegs.
For the sound, this kit offers clean tones, even when using a guitar pedal. Its bridge and neck pickups are sensitive. They will offer you the sound you need for different genres. The guitar also stays in tune, and you won’t have a problem customizing the sound to your preference. And by the way, the sound is upgradable, if the electronics don’t serve you, as they should.
These types of guitars are high-end. And so, any guitarist on a budget might not get one that they can afford. Hence, with this best DIY guitar kit, you get a step closer to achieving your dreams and getting the right kind of guitar that you can use for years.
- Durable body and top
- Aesthetic
- Suitable for any genre
- Easy to assemble
- Electronics are upgradable
- Some users don’t like the spalted top
9. LyxPro 30 Inch Electric Guitar Kit For Kids
If you want a small size guitar for your kids, LyxPro 30 is a good choice. The kit comes with different unique features that will make your instrument look cool and funky.
The Seismic Audio kit features a complete package. It comes with an AMP, six strings, two picks, shoulder strap, guitar cable, soft case gig bag and a digital clip on tuner.
The DIY guitar kit provides you with an f-shaped hole with a semi-hollow body, which contributes to the guitar’s overall sound. It, therefore, sounds classic, and you can still use it to play modern music.
Besides that, the two single-coil pickups ensure that they pick any signal from the strings. And whether it’s loud or not, you’ll be able to hear it.
Unlike most of the guitars on this list, this one right here demands that you have a bit of knowledge on building DIY guitars. You’ll need to solder some of the electronics. And if you don’t get it right, you may have a bad-sounding guitar. On the other hand, proper installation will assure you of a guitar that you can use to express your musicality.
- Semi-hollow body at an affordable price
- Excellent sound
- Classic design
- It comes with an adjustable rod
- Installation may not be easy for beginners
10. Unfinished Strat Electric Guitar Kit
If you don’t want to go through the long assembly process, here is a DIY guitar kit that’s suitable for you.
The unfinished strat electric guitar comes intact with a select-basswood body, a maple neck, dot inlays, and installed pickguard and pickups. Its headstock comes with pre-drilled holes; hence, it’s easy to fit your strings and tune your guitar.
Besides that, the guitar comes with heavy nickel hardware, an adjustable rod, a cord, and a set of strings.
When it comes to the sound, you’ll love everything about this guitar. Its pickup and electronics offer quality sound. You can also upgrade the electronics if the ones that come with the package are not fascinating. The guitar generally sounds like a high-end guitar; hence, you have something to carry with you on your next gig.
For players who are still looking for a strat they can use and upgrade later, this should work on them. You cannot only upgrade the sound, but the design is also upgradable since the body has a natural finish. On the other hand, left-handed players will not find this guitar ideal since it’s only available for right-hand users.
- It comes with a basswood body
- Sturdy and durable
- Superior sound
- Easy to assemble
- Electronics are easy to upgrade
- Available for right-hand use only
Best DIY Guitar Kits Buying Guide
Initially, DIY guitar kits were a thing for established musicians. The likes of Eric Clapton and John Mayer would take popular guitar models and customize the appeal and electronics to suit their musical needs. Brands would also collaborate with these musicians to come up with newer models and name them after them.
Nowadays, it’s normal to find a professional guitarist who wants to come up with his or her own custom guitar model. That’s why they end up buying a DIY guitar kit.
As you shop for the best DIY guitar kit, be sure that you’ll find several brands in the market.
Choosing the best one can be a huge tussle if you don’t know what suits you, exactly. So, in this article, we will give you tips that you can use to help you find the best guitar to use.
Are DIY guitar kits worth it?
It’s going to be an unending debate. Some musicians prefer going for pre-built versions because they save you time for making mistakes and building one for scratch. However, having a DIY guitar kit in your rig comes with significant benefits. Here are some of them.
- You save money
These kits are money savers. Picture this.
People cough thousands of dollars when buying a guitar such as a Les Paul. For people on a budget, this may not favor them. DIY kits will save you money in the sense that you can get a disassembled Les Paul guitar kit at a lower price and customize it to your own liking.
- You understand how a guitar works
Most guitarists don’t know how pre-built guitars function. And that’s okay if you are a beginner or intermediate player. But for professionals, understanding the guitar comprehensively helps them know how to use the guitar.
If you can build a DIY guitar, you understand how it works, and you can customize it to the way you’d like it to look and sound, especially in terms of appeal and electronics.
Selecting the best DIY guitar kit
Once you decide that buying a DIY guitar kit is the best thing to do, choosing the best kit will not come easy. Nevertheless, here are some tips to use.
- What type of guitar would you like?
Each guitar you find comes with a specific look and has a different use.
So, when choosing, you have to decide whether you want to build a Stratocaster, Telecaster, a Les Paul, Epiphone, a semi-hollow guitar, or a solid-body guitar. All these guitar designs suit different musical needs.
- Knowing how you want to use the guitar
As you consider the kind of guitar you want to use, you should understand that each guitar fits into a particular setup.
For instance, most jazz and blues guitarists love semi-hollow bodies because of the warm sound they give, which is suitable for that genre. Telecasters are superb for clean tones, which is why rock players and modern jazz players will opt for this.
Therefore, as you choose, you need to know if the DIY guitar kit you buy will suit the genre you want to play.
- Think about the design you want
Some guitar players are so specific when it comes to the guitar’s appeal- how the guitar will look, especially on stage.
Hence, when buying the best guitar kit, think about what the package offers. It should come with every quality that makes your playing better. For instance, the neck should be smooth. If you want more room for your solos, your fretboard should have more fretboard divisions for this. The guitar kit should also be easy to tune, play, and should sound good and professional.
If you are into colors, you can choose a guitar kit that comes with an unpolished body so that you can do a paint job for yourself.
By the way, it’s possible to find a DIY guitar kit for seven and eight-string guitars.
- Choose electronics wisely
The DIY guitar kit you choose comes with electronics, which you can fit. You have to check whether you’ll need to do some soldering to install the pickups. If you don’t know how to do so, you can look for a reputable guitar repairer near you to avoid damaging them.
On the other hand, some guitar kits don’t require you to solder anything.
Be prepared to buy a different set of pickups if the ones provided don’t sound as good. Some brands offer different pickup models with distinct sound qualities to fit into a variety of setups.
- How much can you customize your guitar?
Some huge brands, such as Fender, allow musicians to customize their guitar further to order custom-made guitar. You can even walk into their factories and design the guitar for yourself. Others don’t have a provision for this.
If you want to customize your DIY guitar kit yourself, then you should research whether the brand allows you to do this or not.
- Read different reviews online
If you have different best DIY guitar kit options on your table, reading different reviews could help you choose. You’ll also be able to know which brands to avoid and the most recommended.
While reading, get to know how easy to build the guitar kit will be, how easy to use it will be, and how the electronics will sounds. For instance, if it’s a Telecaster guitar kit, it should sound exactly like a pre-build version.
- Consider the price
As you look for the best kit for your guitar, you’ll want to consider how much money you’d like to use. Your budget will dictate whether you’ll go for a pricier option or not.
However, don’t let money dictate your overall decision. If it’s possible, put your needs first, and then decide whether you want to use more money for a guitar kit or not.
And finally, buying the best guitar kits will mean that you have to consider all the factors we highlight in this article. Ensure that you take your time so that you can take home a high-quality DIY guitar kit.
Final Remarks
The most vital things to consider when buying the best DIY guitar kit are the sound quality it offers, your needs, and what is in the package. All these three things should be in your mind if you want a kit you’ll use for years. Apart from that, the guitar should be easy to assemble.
In our article, the DIY SG Style Electric Guitar Kits stands out as the best DIY kit. With it, you get a guitar that you’ll use for years. And regardless of whether you are a beginner or advanced, this guitar will be a gift for your musical adventures.
