Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey, can anyone give me a ballpark range of the cost to build an electric guitar? thanks!

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Who cares about tone if you can look hardcore?

$150 to $15,000.

Can you be more specific?

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

Well, like any hobby, it can go as high as you can afford.
I have made several Tele's for about $150 each, using local rough cut lumber and Chinese hardware.
The main quality shortcomings are the tuners, the other hardware seems fine.
I have used GFS pickups which are fairly cheap and sound OK to me.
I"d say I average $300 which includes decent hardware. The Gotoh Wilkensen stuff is decent and cheap.
When I make guitars for myself, I'll spend extra dough on tuners, bridge, and pickups.
Materials and finish probably run me around $30 each.
Dan

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Chris, i mean like something that's not completely ludicrous (like michael angelo batio double guitar)
but not complete garbage.
i'm saying quality of like mij fender

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Who cares about tone if you can look hardcore?

Isaac,
This gets you in the ballpark BUT a few things are priced for a single piece AND
the pickups, finish and maybe a few other items I didn't include...but my answer for ya is you
could build one for around $500.00
Shipping charges can sure kick that est. up so ordering stuff "right" helps.

Maybe this helps save you some footwork or at the least give you an idea of
how to price your project, yourself.




Fretwire, 1 4 ft $6.25
Acrylic dots, black, 6.35mm (20 pack) $2.65
Acrylic dots, black, 2.5mm (20 pack) $2.65
Pickguard $25.00
Switchcraft output jack $3.64
Orange Drop Cap (1) $2.99
Strat type knob $2.36
Neck mounting plate w/screws $8.32
Pickup screws (2) $0.98
String tree $2.00
Strap buttons $2.50
Fender type reissue bridge (trem ) $78.33
Fender type vintage tuning machines $49.99
Output jack plate $5.00
Truss rod $20.00
Body blank (1 piece Ash) $120.00
Hard Maple neck blank $25.00
Fretboard $25.00
Nut blank $10.00

$392.66

I buy wood in fair quantities and get wholesale prices. I also make my own bridges and some other parts. After all is said and done I figure with pickups and tuners my guitars cost and average of $450...give or take 20%. Mostly it depends on the cost of the decorative face woods...which can range dramatically.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Mine generally are in the $1000 1200 range . however I only build 4-5 a year and always use premium woods and components , typically abalone inlays as well .

I built a Les Paul clone a couple of years ago and kept a spreadsheet of the cost. The guitar itself was $900 (roughly $400 for wood, 240 for hardware, 150 for electronics, 50 for inlay materials and 50 for finish). I bought $147 worth of tools that I didn't already own (Forstner bits, some router bits and templates), and another $150 for a case, strings and strap. (remember that if you build an odd size that doesn't fit a normal case you may have to special order one - that runs about $300. Ask how I know...)

On the other hand, the "other" lutherie forum frequently has challenges on the theme of "build a telecaster for a hundred bucks" and people manage to come up with some pretty nice guitars.

thanks for the info everyone!
I'm planning an explorer style guitar, but i didn't know how much i had to spend, this was all great info.
thanks again!

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Who cares about tone if you can look hardcore?

Obviously your shop will factor in to this - there are a few tools that you can't live without. Finish is another item that can either cost very little or a lot depending on the products you use and the equipment you have.

One of the best investments you can make is Melvyn Hiscock's book.

I recently figured the cost of my latest build and it came to $750. It was a Jazzmaster style body using a poplar blank and the best components and hardware I could think of. I used a compound radius neck from stewmac, Schaller roller bridge, LSR roller nut, Spertzel locking tuners and Lace duallys.

My latest was fairly inexpensive, but it will be my grandson's first electric, not a 'pro build'. Poplar body, maple neck from some wood my son got for me, cheap Chinese hardware and pickups. It's probably a little over $100.

My latest builds, two strat like axes, are running about $250 each for hardware. Pups and tuners, etc from GFS, Stuff from Stewmac, and LMI as well. I love LMI fretwire as it's already bent and ready to go.

Not sure how much the wood actually costs. I spend a couple hundred on wood when I go to the Wood Yard every now and then. Started out in the $5 a bd ft range, but it's going up lately.

Are you making it or having someone else make it? Parts alone are 1 to 5,000. You can make a pretty nice Explorer for 500 bucks yourself in wood and nice tuners/pickups. You can shell out alot more for high end woods and pickups.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601