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Thinking of getting an electric kit for my boy for Christmas . Where is a good quality kit offered? Probably. A stray style
Thanks


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I suppose posting in the kit area makes more sense
Sorry


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Stew Mac always seems to have sales on their kits, but I've never seen one in person. I've put a few kits together from a company called "Solo" guitars. I've had guitar students bring in kits they've put together from pitbull guitars I think? And I've seen other random internet kits in person. They all look like they come form the same place. Those are probably all in the sub $300 price range. As far as quality is concerned I guess it depends on your expectations. Everything works, and fits together well, and if you're a novice guitarist the end result will be a guitar that you had fun putting together and probably stacks up against a Squier or inexpensive Epiphone.

The only problem I ever had was with a "Solo" jaguar style kit. The bridge was in the wrong place, so much so that I couldn't live with it.

You might ask on the MIMF. They have a section devoted to building electric guitars and basses, so that group may have some good information also.

If you want a good "cheap" kit the Stewmac kit is nice - it's a step up from the Saga stuff. It's on sale for $150. If you want a kit this is a no brainer. https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Instrument_Kits/Guitar_Kits/Electric_Guitar_Kits/S-Style_Electric_Guitar_Kit.html

If you want a great body and neck, that you can add your own parts to make a superb instrument, then go to USA custom guitars. I did a tele style electric that way and got an amazing guitar. It cost me over a grand total this way, so this probably isn't what you are looking for. It's worth the trip to the website to see what they do anyway. https://www.usacustomguitars.com/

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Warmoth....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

My son and I built a tele-type guitar a few years ago during his senior year in HS. We built it from scratch, so he got to experience the whole process, and I’m glad we did, for the extra time we spent together and a deeper understanding for him and me, since I’d never built an electric. We went fairly high end, most parts from Warmoth with Fralin pups.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

If you can build an acoustic guitar you and your son together can build an electric guitar. If you don't want to make the neck and body buy them from Warmoth and build a parts caster. The few "kits" I've looked at are largely garbage - you'll end up replacing pups and tuners and doing fretwork anyway so why buy stuff that he'll just throw away.

There have been a number of father-son build threads over at TDPRI - there is always a real sense of pride when the guitar is done.

There are some excellent kits from precision, but you will pay for them.
I made 2 LP copies, full carve, not too difficult and quite satisfying,but the most frustrating part was determining all the correct electronic bits.
I won’t do that again. The electronics are more expensive than a set of nice wood.

https://precisionguitarkits.com/

Should you decide to do a LP, my advice is to chamber it.
Excellent info at Mylespaul, luthiers corner


B

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

Kit bodies tend to be either overpriced or poor quality. Making the body of a solid body guitar takes minimal tools or woodworking skills. Just watch some YouTube and you can see yahoos making guitar bodies out of just about anything in a day or two.

Necks are a little more specialized. Nothing that can’t be done with a few specialized tools and some modest skills. But I can completely understand deciding to skip that step. Fortunately, you can get high quality necks from a variety of sources. If you don’t buy an overpriced body, you can splurge on a neck from Warmouth, for example. Your money will be much better spent.

Kit electronics are universally crap. Definitely source your own.


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