Cheap practice guitar

[flienlow]

From the research I have been doing, Warmoth wins hands down as far a quality and customization goes.However, I would be really bummed if I spent an S-load of money on a guitar only to F-up my first build. I was thinking of buying this cheap-o china thing to practice on.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Solid-Mahogany-LP-Kit-with-34-Thick-Maple-Top-Flamed-Veneer_p_1994.html

Is there something better I should look at?

 

[Jusatele]

that is cheap, and I can understand not wanting to screw up a guitar,
I practiced on scrap wood till I got my skills up, it only cost supplies.
However if you did this you would have a finished guitar at the end, but the quality of parts? I mean my pickups cost more than that.
So I say, if you want, go for it, but you will be 200 dollars into it just to get it and then supplies to finish it.
If you get the supplies to finish it, the 200 clams you spend on that kit could buy a body.
Just a thought.
I canot make your decision, I do not know your finances.

 

[Disco Scottie]

I've looked at those myself thinking the same thing, it would be better to "practice" on something else. I think the better, and cheaper way to go is, make a list of the basic stuff you need, and watch eBay to get all of it. Depending on how low you can get a neck and body for, you should be able to gather all the parts for well under $100. Granted, this isn't building from complete scratch, and if you get a painted body you won't be doing that, but just to get the hands-on of putting the pieces together will make you feel more confident about it.

 

[pabloman]

Forgive me if I come off as cynical or condescending (sometimes it just happens :toothy11. There really isn't a whole lot involved with assembling a guitar. The skills required are pretty damn basic. I realize not everybody has the vast experience I do or the well of knowledge to pull from but all it really involves is drilling a few pilot holes and driving some screws, tightening a few nuts, eyeballing some stuff and using a graduated straightedge. I know that the stress level goes up when you are working on some high priced super fancy planks but it isn't all that difficult and it's the same process on any price level guitar. I'd hate to see you waste good money on some throw away piece of trash just to practice your screwing technique. I would recommend just buying some hard wood and practice if you really feel you need it. If you MUST buy a kit get a Carvin kit. At least that way you would end up with something worth having when you are done. :dontknow: ccasion14:

Either way good luck!!!!! arty07:

 

[pabloman]

                                                                                                                                                              I'd hate to see you waste good money on some throw away piece of trash just to practice your screwing technique.

That's what she said.

 

[JamesL]

I bought the tele version of their kit...  so I can tell you all about it if you want.

 

[m4rk0]

I did a practice project, before I first tried to finish a neck..  got all the parts from different ebay sellers, including tuners for 40 ct.. the whole thing cost me less than 40 or 50 bucks
get an eden neck from ebay and one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Tele-style-body-yellow-pine-/140470874314?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20b4b770ca#ht_484wt_1156

it has chips and marks on them, but it will still be lots of fun practicing on it..

 

[rapfohl09]

I agree with pablo. Putting together that guitar will give you a little practice, but it's really not difficult to begin with. The only other thing I can see you coming away with from that is some finishing experience, but its always recomended to try ANY finish you havent explicity done before on some test wood. However, I have wanted to get one of those before, but just as a cheap college guitar.

 

[flienlow]

Thanks Guys. @Pablo I agree with what you are saying completely. I have also pondered the just buying some scrap wood and testing different finishes (which I wiil for dying/and bursting ect .) My thoughts were if something went horribly wrong, for $200 I could throw it on the burn pile no muss, no fuss. On the hand if did get it all put together properly at least I would have a slide guitar. I would like to experiment with paint jobs and themes for guitars. I have a few Ideas, but I am not sure what my skills are at this point. (Im green as grass.)


BTW- where is a good resource for custom inlays?  (this would be down the road ways, but since I'm asking...)

 

[drewfx]

I'd say it depends on what part you're worried about screwing up. I'm not sure what parts you can screw up other than drilling holes (wrong place, wrong size hole, drilling all the way through the neck), scratching the finish, or the finish itself if you're doing it. Maybe ruining a pot from overheating it. Warmoth does all or most of the tricky routes/holes for you.

So I can't see any reason to use super cheap HW/PU's/etc. that may be of inferior quality (not that good, cheap HW/PU's don't exist), as it's really, really hard to ruin something like a bridge or a PU. There are lots of cheap bodies and necks on e-bay (finished or unfinished) if you feel absolutely must practice. Or else just buy a cheap used Squire and replace it piece by piece.

 

[JamesL]

Honestly man, It's A LOT HARDER to put one of those kits together than a warmoth... The necks don't fit properly in the pocket, the fretwork is complete shit. And nothing lines up.... When you order W parts you might have to drill a few holes but everything bolts right up. You might have to do minor fret work and set up, but nothing like on these things.
Don't get me wrong, I'm having a BLAST playing with this thing, Finishing, refinishing, refinishing. ReFRETTING  and reradiusing the fretboard. blah blah blah, but honestly as cheap as they are they're not "Beginner projects" at all... 

 

[Mawthbuilder]

I bought the tele version of their kit...  so I can tell you all about it if you want.

I am thinking of getting their deluxe Tele kit and upgrading the pickups, as I have heard good things about their pickups. I am most concerned about the neck in the kit. They sell completed necks as well, and complete guitars for less than 200 bucks that the frets are already dressed, etc. How did yours turn out?

 

[Mawthbuilder]

I am not sure how my reply to JamesL's post ended up as part of a quote.... my apologies.

 

[Mawthbuilder]

I must have drank too much cough syrup this morning, and did not see the last post by JamesL describing the condition of the necks in these kits. Even Guitarfetish mentions using a different neck, including a Warmoth. Maybe a fetish body with a Warmoth neck, fetish pickups and parts would be the way to go.

 

[Alfang]

I agree with JamesL as far as the amount of work involved, theres a whole website out there, the name escapes me, that is dedicated to building the SAGA guitar kits, and they've made some nice stuff. but theres a buttload more work involved in fret dressing and leveling etc...

If you wanna get a cheap kit just for the sake of applying a finnish, thats understandable, but as far as experimenting for just assembly, go for the Warmoth stuff straight away, it's easier than you think

 

[Rickgrxbass]

I was gonna recommend a Carvin kit, but then I remembered they were $400 out-the-door, but that does include everything except the finish, and with quality parts that you won't have to replace to make it a livable guitar.  Plus, I *think* Carvin bolts are Fender compatible, so you should be able to upgrade to a Warmoth neck when you get tired of that thin Carvin neck...

 

[magicdave]

When I saw the topic title I misunderstood the actual meaning.  I have been building guitars both from scratch and from parts/kits since the early 70's.  My very first guitar was a copy of a Les Paul with a set neck.  I had never built a guitar before and I will admit that it took me several attempts to get the fingerboard slots sawed correctly but the rest of the guitar building process was just like any other precision wood working project.  As far as finishes are concerned, unless you are doing a natural or a see through finish if you make a mistake it can easily be corrected.  The most important thing to remember is to take your time and be very patient.  My very first Bass guitar build was a Gecko 5 String that I did for my son for Christmas several years ago.  Two points I would make regarding Warmoth.  1. The products are "as good as it gets" and 2. They are extremely helpful over the phone.  The only other companies I have experience with regarding kits and parts is Carvin and Stewart-MacDonald.  Both are also good companies.  The difference for me is simply that if you want a "Strat" style body you have three companies to choose from.  If you want any other "Fender style body you have 2 companies (Warmoth & Stew-Mac).  If you want a huge selection of body styles and neck styles and everything in between.  Warmoth is your only option in my opinion.

 

[nexrex]

From the research I have been doing, Warmoth wins hands down as far a quality and customization goes.However, I would be really bummed if I spent an S-load of money on a guitar only to F-up my first build. I was thinking of buying this cheap-o china thing to practice on.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Solid-Mahogany-LP-Kit-with-34-Thick-Maple-Top-Flamed-Veneer_p_1994.html

Is there something better I should look at?

Looks like a great kit. Personally  I wouldn't buy it from Guitar Fetish. I have had some issues with the guy where he will send you something slightly different to what you ordered. This normally isn't an issue with any other ebay seller, but he doesn't seem to ever answer his emails. His pickups are great, he just has an issue with customer service, and doesn't seem to care.

 

[tfarny]

If you really want a practice guitar, get a squier off of craiglist and some used pickups, and go to town on it, transform it into unique. You are unlikely to have a terrible neck to deal with, and replacement parts are easy to find. But Warmoths are pretty easy to screw together if you are sticking with the standard configurations more or less.

 

[Jusatele]

I have often thought about getting a neck thru neck, putting a bridge and some kind of foot on it, string it up and put it behind the seat
that way I could grab it t lunch and do finger exersizes and scales
without having to worry about ruining a axe leaving it there
that would be my idea of a practice guitar