GFS guitar kits - interesting and cheap

[markb]

A link for the do-it-yourselfer.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/gukibuityo.html

[bigoldron]

Kewl!!!

[Kazz]

That Tele kit for $89.95 is very tempting.

[poodlesrule]

That Tele kit for $89.95 is very tempting.

Hmm... old thread.

Anybody ever worked with these kits?
The intro blurb mentions hand-fitting the neck on body. Not so simple if the parts are rough?

[Commodore 64***]

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Elec...itar-Kit/H3123
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Tele...itar-Kit/H8068

$119

Grizzly has a few kits on sale too. Alder bodies, Maple neck, Walnut Fretboard.

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2010/Main/392

[poodlesrule]

itar-Kit/H3123[/url]
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Tele...itar-Kit/H8068

$119

I think I going to try to work on the violin kit first...!

.

[kerc]

The Tele and Strat kits don't interest me much since you can get a fully-assembled, ready-to-play SX guitar for $109...The Explorer, though, is pretty mind-damaging.

I could envision doing something like this:

[Heywood Jablomie]

I suppose it might be fun, but economically they're really no bargain. For example, when I considered what a used Strat might cost versus the cost of one of these kits, the cost of paint, etc., plus the labor, it didn't make sense to me. I ended up getting a used Squier Affinity for less money.

[Commodore 64***]

I don't think people build guitar kits to save money. They build guitar kits to learn how to build guitars.

[sumitomo]

A while back I bought a SAGA kit to build with my daughter,what a pile of junk.Nothing fits good at all.I have built guitars before and if you want a nice one you will pay for it.Warmoth,Allparts ECT. don't settle for crap!Sumi

[tunghaichuan***]

I don't think people build guitar kits to save money. They build guitar kits to learn how to build guitars.

Bingo.

Same with amps. With all the great, inexpensive amps coming out of China these days, it is much more expensive to source all the components and build an amp than it is to just buy one.

[Heywood Jablomie]

I don't think people build guitar kits to save money. They build guitar kits to learn how to build guitars.

I understand what you're saying, but one of those kits doesn't really constitute building a guitar, just assembling one. Putting a finish on it is the real challenge.

[Commodore 64***]

I understand what you're saying, but one of those kits doesn't really constitute building a guitar, just assembling one. Putting a finish on it is the real challenge.

Last time I looked, those guitar kits were unfinished...

[kiteman]

The Bolt kit from Carvin is well worth it.

[Kazz]

Yeah.....I am doing an actual build....well body up that is....I am NOT building the neck....I bought a neck and will be making about 4 different bodies. I have 2 planks of spalted maple and one plank of Cherry.....the spalt and cherry will be glued together and then I will route bodies from that. For my practice I also bought an Alder billet blank and will make a very nice one piece body to check my templates and to have the first effort out of the way before I get to the spalted maple/cherry stash.

I am doing it because it sounds like fun and a good way to keep my hands busy this summer and be outside in the world. If you buy the parts a little at a time it is not that bad.....it is when you start adding up the receipts that you realize you could have bought a nice MIM tele for what it will cost to build your own.....but there is no satisfaction there.....and I doubt there would be any satisfaction at least for me in a $100 SX....sure it might play good....but it is not a hand built guitar...that I built myself.

[duhvoodooman***]

I don't think people build guitar kits to save money. They build guitar kits to learn how to build guitars.

And I would also add: for the enjoyment of the build process and the satisfaction of playing a guitar you built yourself.

[sumitomo]

The Bolt kit from Carvin is well worth it.

Quality Kit! Sumi

[FrankenFretter***]

For those of us who have a plethora of old guitar parts laying around, a kit wouldn't be such a bad idea. More fun than selling the parts on CL, anyway.

[Bloozcat]

There were several threads over at mylespaul.com about these kits. At least several of the kits mentioned there came with sloppy neck pockets that required a lot of shimming to attach the neck. There were other problems noted as well including mismatched woods in the body. Not all had problems though, which makes buying one a crap shoot.

The hardware and electronics are pretty low end as well, so you'll end up replacing a lot, if not all, of that. Considereing the low cost of the kit, that wouldn't be so bad.

There's another company out there that offers LP bodies and necks for kit building. They have a much better reputation for woods and the quality of the fit. But, as you've probably already guessed, they're more expensive. $485.00 for a flamed maple top, mahogany body LP with a one piece mahogany neck. No other hardware included, just the body and neck.
http://www.bulldogbodies.com