DIY Telecaster

[RealCountry]

So here recently, I've got a bad desire to build a partscaster. I wouldn't be making the body and neck from scratch, just ordering all the parts and putting them together. I guess what I'm getting at, is it worth it? From a personal standpoint, to me it would be. I get to build a guitar and gain even more experience working on guitars. The only drawback would be the financial one. I'm guessing partscasters don't retain their value on the sellers market, even if you dump high quality hardware into it.

With that being said I guess it's only really worth building one for yourself?

 

[Steve Holt]

I think you've got it. Don't go down this path thinking you'll get a a better guitar for less money. YOU CAN get a better guitar for less money, but one of the most important things that makes a good guitar a great one is the setup. If you can't do the work yourself, pay a proper tech to take you the last mile, but really learning to the work yourself is most of the fun.

Also think about the parts you're buying and if they'll go together perfectly or not. Do you have the tools and skills to make it work? Are you building one single guitar and then retiring or do you plan to make this an adventure and a part of what you do? If that's the case, invest in some tools and keep making each subsequent guitar better.

 

[Ricky D.]

Partscaster resale value is the value of the used parts. So if you have to sell it, you will get a haircut for sure.

So build one to get the combination of features that you want. They are fun to build, but then you just have the guitar when you are done.

I built one 15 years ago, and then I invested $75.00 in a first rate pro setup. It’s a great guitar, a blackguard with a fat V neck. No interest in selling it, what would I get to replace it?

 

[RealCountry]

I think you've got it. Don't go down this path thinking you'll get a a better guitar for less money. YOU CAN get a better guitar for less money, but one of the most important things that makes a good guitar a great one is the setup. If you can't do the work yourself, pay a proper tech to take you the last mile, but really learning to the work yourself is most of the fun.

Also think about the parts you're buying and if they'll go together perfectly or not. Do you have the tools and skills to make it work? Are you building one single guitar and then retiring or do you plan to make this an adventure and a part of what you do? If that's the case, invest in some tools and keep making each subsequent guitar better.

This will probably be something I continue doing in the long run. I love tinkering and I've tinkered a bunch on guitars I already own. As far as tools, I have a good collection although there are a few things I'm missing like a fret levelling beam and a good fret crowning file amongst a few other things. Music Nomad makes great tools for the hobbyist who doesn't want to spend Stewmac prices.

 

[sammy1974]

You nailed the pros and cons.

Mine was definitely worth it, it's my go to Tele.

 

[scotabilly]

What I found is if you want to sell a partscaster down the line, sometimes you’re better off taking it back apart and selling the parts, since the guitar is only worth what the parts cost.

 

[rdjones]

So here recently, I've got a bad desire to build a partscaster. I wouldn't be making the body and neck from scratch, just ordering all the parts and putting them together. I guess what I'm getting at, is it worth it? From a personal standpoint, to me it would be. I get to build a guitar and gain even more experience working on guitars. The only drawback would be the financial one. I'm guessing partscasters don't retain their value on the sellers market, even if you dump high quality hardware into it.

With that being said I guess it's only really worth building one for yourself?

In the vast majority of cases the partscaster can't retain a value it never achieves.

 

[tugboat1980]

Do it if you’re an insatiable tinkerer and want to do it because you want to do it and want to learn how to do it and eventually do more.

Don’t do it if you think you’ll come out ahead.

I’m #1 and don’t regret a second of it. Love my partscaster. After a bit of experimentation on necks and pickups (the benefit of a partscaster…no real value so you can tinker to your heart’s content) I can’t think of a thing I’d want changed or a thing I don’t love about the tone. Parlayed that into building a doublecut Les Paul Special from scratch. Love that guitar. Just started a third based on a core PRS Singlecut 594.

 

[Freeman Keller]

Cost to assemble a parts guitar got pretty well discussed here

Cost to build your Partscaster?

Curious who kept a running total (not including your labor of course, which is free!) of the cost of all the parts to build your T-style Partscaster? I know it can span quite a dollar range but I'm interested to hear about your specific build.

www.tdpri.com

Most people never plan to sell theirs so resale value is kind of moot. Some find that they can get more for the parts (boutique pickups, a fender neck) than the whole guitar.

Depending on your shop you might make a significant investment in tools. Don't worry you'll use them on the next one and the one after that.

You'll learn a lot, get frustrated but will be proud of what you did. The cost is minor.

 

[fingerTWANGslide]

Are we allowed to sell parts on here if we take one apart? I took my American apart and have the loaded pickguard, loaded control plate and loaded 6 saddle bridge laying around and I want to buy a certano bg bender bridge