Any good kits out there?

[AlanT]

Hi All:

I searched for any similar threads - couldn't find anything.

I have some build experience: one 000 acoustic from a kit and two subsequent 000 scratch builds. Learned a ton and love the work.

Now I'm ready to go electric and want to do a few (or more) Teles. I'm wondering if there are good "kits" out there specifically for Teles. My main reason for a kit is to maybe save a little money and time by getting the whole enchilada at once. I've seen the electric kits at LMI and would go for that except for the humbucker pickups - I'm more interested in a straight Tele build for the same reason I love Teles: 2 single coils, 1 volume, 1 tone & 1 3-way switch.

I'm OK w/ a 2-part body - I have some nice 1/4 inch wood I plan to use for the top.

Any input greatly appreciated!

- Alan

[Luthier Atlanta]

Check Stewmac

http://www.stewmac.com/

or Grizzly

http://www.grizzly.com/sbguitar/sbguitar.aspx

or Warmoth

http://www.warmoth.com/

[fendrguitplayr]

My brother-in-law liked what he got from these folks :

http://rhfactorguitars.highwire.com/...telecaster-kit

[AlanT]

Thanks for the fast replies! I'm interested in blank body and neck wood - no shaping or routing - that's half the fun.

[Boolywho]

Alan,
It sounds like you've got some basic woodworking/luthier skills already. With that in mind, I would suggest that you just look into building you're own guitar (no kit). From what you've said, I get the impression that you'd really enjoy the whole process, and that's really what it's all about. Plus, if you've made an acoustic, then a tele will be easy.

Just go for it!

[AlanT]

Hey Boolywho,

Yeah, I'm ready to start. I guess it boils down to shipping costs - I could pay over $100 just in shipping if I piece-part a guitar together. If I were able to find a kit that has everything I want: 2-piece body, 2 decent single-coils and Tele hardware, I'd be stoked (and save some dough in the process).

[dilbone]

www.guitarpartsresource.com for most of the hardware... there's no way you'd spend $100 in shipping getting the parts together. My past build was about $212 including Bill Lawrence keystones for pickups... my body wood was free(old fireplace mantle from wife's grandparents), but everything else was in that total. If all you want are blanks just go to a local lumber store than carries maple for your neck, use whatever body wood you want. You'll pay way more for blanks than you would just round up the lumber yourself.

[acalan]

I think that you might be better of building your tele buying parts online. I've seen tele body blanks for real reasonable prices.I have never looked up neck blanks. Most kits give cheaper hareware and most builders end up upgrading to better stuff. You can order what you want to if you get parts separately. good luck

[Boolywho]

+1 on what dilbone and acalan said. You'll spend maybe $35 on shipping, total for everything, assuming you need to source your parts from multiple suppliers.

Here is what I'd suggest for you:

1) Get all your wood from your local lumber source... No shipping cost incurred, obviously
2) Order some Wilde pickups (made by Bill Lawrence), they are awesome and almost ludicrously inexpensive for what you get, you won't regret it... $5-$10 shipping
3) Order AllParts hardware through our own forum member KokoTele. He usually gives a flat 28% discount on all AllParts list prices (best deal around) and he usually throws in free shipping on orders over $25. Plus he's just a genuinely nice guy and a pleasure to do business with.
4) Order any other miscellaneous parts and tools that you might need through Stewart-MacDonald, Guitar Fetish (GFS), or even Amazon... Shipping $10-$20.
5) Build your tele!

Your shipping costs will be moderate, and you'll have a great experience building your own guitar with just the parts that you want. And if you're not quite up to making your own neck, you can always order an AllParts one, they are quite excellent and very reasonably priced. If you want to do a bit of neck shaping, you can always get one of AllParts' "fat" necks. They are very thick and chunky and you could surely shape those things down a bit to your liking.

Anyway, just my two cents. I hope this was helpful!

[alexlaguna29]

Originally Posted by Boolywho

Alan,
It sounds like you've got some basic woodworking/luthier skills already. With that in mind, I would suggest that you just look into building you're own guitar (no kit). From what you've said, I get the impression that you'd really enjoy the whole process, and that's really what it's all about. Plus, if you've made an acoustic, then a tele will be easy.

Just go for it!

+1

[paulskirocks]

I put together one of these Les Paul kits, and it was really well made... I imagine their teles are just as good... It is just the neck and body...

http://precisionguitarkits.com/telecaster-kit.html

[Bulldog87]

I will agree with everything these gentlemen have already said. The last kit I did ended up only being for the wood. Everything else was replaced and upgraded.

Good luck!