Best DIY Guitar Kits To Build Your Own Guitar!

What better way to personalize a guitar than to build it yourself? If you have been playing guitar for a bit of time and are quite familiar with the intricacies of a stringed musical instrument, you might be tempted to build a guitar from scratch. Done right, a self-build guitar can be a fantastic project, allowing you to create something truly unique that is designed exactly to your specifications.

The best DIY guitar kit is preferred by many guitar players and hobbyists because they are readily available and any accessories required to complete these kit options are easy to find.  Guitar building a custom quality guitar is super fun too!

Read related – is building a guitar hard? – where to learn building guitars

Types of Best DIY Guitar Kits To Build Your Own Guitar

Build Own Acoustic Guitar Kit DIY

Most beginners will go for a top acoustic guitar kit as their first build. Regardless of your skill level, acoustics are actually a great first DIY project guitars. They are also not as complicated as electric builds because there are no electrical components to worry about. Most build your own acoustic guitar kit choices are dreadnought types but you might find classical and triple O shapes as well. Acoustic guitar kits may either have a dovetail joint or a bolt-on neck, the latter of which may be easier to put together and work for beginners.

Pros:

• Great for a first build project.
• Comes with everything you need.

Cons:

• Some sanding is needed.
• Sometimes things don’t seem to fit exactly right and need adjustment.

Our Rating –
 4/5

Check Out Our Acoustic DIY Guitar Build Kit #1 Choice

Best DIY Build Your Own Electric Guitar Kit Review

The most widely available top DIY electric guitar kits feature bodies which are copies of the Telecaster, the Stratocaster, and the Les Paul. Both the Tele and the Strat have the “deep C” neck design that allows guitarists to play the highest notes that can be achieved on their electric guitar. As to which electric guitar body type (double or single cutaway shape) you will go for will be heavily influenced by your musical preferences. The Tele is the grandpa of the trio and is a popular choice for musicians who play rock, country, pop, reggae, punk, and blues, and to some extent, jazz. The Strat or Super Strat is the choice for rock, blues, and a wide range of musical genres as well. The Les Paul body is much closer to the traditional guitar look. In terms of sound quality, however, it gives off a pretty rich tone. In terms of tone switching, however, the Strat can be tweaked for a variety of tones. Ultimately, the choice you make among these three popular electric guitar body shapes will depend largely on the type of music you want to play and your guitar playing preferences.

Pros:

• Parts fit together well.

Cons:

• Some hardware will need to be upgraded (bridge, pickups, etc) if you want something better.
• May consider upgrading pickup and tuners.

Our Rating –
 4/5

Check Out Our Electric DIY Guitar Build Kit #1 Choice

Other Top Guitar Kit 2021 Style Options

Here are what we feel to be some of the featured products here.  All have included hardware, essential hardware in your preferred style of guitar, pickups and other electronic components.  Overall quality is good at a good price point.  Certain tools will be required to complete the project.

Solo Telecaster

Check Out The Tele Kit

Stratocaster

Check Out The Strat Kit

Gibson Les Paul Copy

Check Out The Les Paul Kit

Gibson SG Copy

Check Out The SG Kit

PRS Style

Check Out The PRS Style Kit

Ibanez Style

Check Out The Ibanez Style Kit

ES 335 Style Guitar Kit

Check Out The ES 335 Style Kit

Explorer Style Guitar Kit

Check Out The Explorer Style Kit

I’ve head a lot of good things about this Fender Tele, Fender Strat copy kit and Les Paul copy kit available on Amazon.  I like these DIY electric guitar kits lot with a number of different guitar style options to choose from.

What Are DIY Guitar Kits?

A self-build DIY guitar kit is a product that consists of the different bit components of a basic style guitar – body, neck, headstock shape, pickups, etc. It allows you to assemble your own stringed musical instrument from the pre-shaped components like body, neck and headstock provided. Self-build guitar kits are available at many brick-and-mortar music stores but are also sold from many online shops. Some electric guitar kit options include hardware such as strings and tuners while others offer only the most basic components to allow the builder to further customize their kit project a bit.

Is A Top DIY Guitar Kit Worth It?

It depends.  For most people, they probably are not worth the money because it does take some specific skills in order to build a great playing and sounding acoustic or electric guitar.  However, if you are one that is good at working with wood you may end up with an excellent guitar by basing it on a top DIY guitar kit vendor.  So it really depends on how confident you are with working on a guitar project kit like this to finish.

Good Advantages of Building Your Own With A Guitar Kit Vs. Buying A Guitar

The thought of building your own from one of these kit picks may be either your style, tempting or scary for you. Having the urge does not always mean you should go through with it. However, there are actually some key advantages to building your guitar from any of these top options compared to just buying one. Here are some of them:

• Create a personalized stringed musical instrument from one kit. Each guitar player has his/her own playing style and preference. By taking over the process, it’s a great way to create a guitar that is designed specifically for your playing style and ability.
• You can customize your guitars. Easily the most obvious advantage of self-building your guitar is the opportunity to personalize your guitar to your style and heart’s content. You can choose a kit that has the specific style you want, from the shape and color of the body, to the styles and designs of the headstock, neck and tuners. You have better control over the style, design finish and type of components to use in your work.
• You get to enjoy the process. If you have always had a bit of a thing for handmade projects, you will love building your own guitar with DIY guitar kits. There is something so utterly rewarding about creating something with your hands – things that you will truly find satisfying.
• You can start a hobby. Building your own guitar from a kit could very well be the beginning of a new hobby for you and finish with something cool. Or, if you are already into woodworking, it is a natural transition. You can also get better as you go.
• Develop a deeper appreciation. Every component and element chosen for a specific build process will not only affect the appearance or style of the guitar but also its sound. Building the guitar from the most basic components allows you to learn how to appreciate its structure and design. Since every element you include will ultimately affect how the guitar will sound and feel in your hands, you will have a better understanding.
• Start your own business. Once you become highly skilled at building guitars, you could sell your creations to other guitar players. This could take time but when you have developed the right set of skills and creativity, it could be a great way to earn from your efforts.
• Get bragging rights. Getting to create a complete, functional guitar with one of these can be a source of great pride for many guitarists/hobbyists.
• Cost. Sometimes, buying things like these can be much cheaper than buying a production guitar. Note that this is only possible if you have a very good idea about what you are doing.

Guitar Kit Disadvantages

Using self-build guitar kits also has its own set of disadvantages. Building from scratch can be challenging and not as easy as it seems, especially if you are inexperienced. Here are some disadvantages to expect with DIY guitar kits:

• Details can be frustrating. As with every new thing, there is a learning curve you have to overcome. For some, this learning curve can be steeper, especially for inexperienced or beginner builders building their first one. With a store-bought unit, you can literally plug and play, as in the case of an electric guitar.
• It takes time and a lot of patience to build a diy guitar kit. A self-build guitar is not a weekend project. Although the components are included in the kit, pre-shaped neck, headstock and body and likely machined, they need to be assembled in the correct sequence and position. It may also be necessary to look for parts and other components if what you have is only a basic kit. Then, there is the dirty work – cutting, drilling, sanding, gluing, guitar painting, and staining finish, not to mention going through the waiting time to get it ready. It takes a lot of patience to complete one from start to finish. The time it would take from start to finish will ultimately depend on your skills and time.
• Cost. In a few cases, you could save more if you bought a guitar instead of building from guitar kits. Some electric guitar self build kit options are affordable enough but one may require other components and materials, including hardware and electronics like pickups. You may also need to buy a new set of tools if you do not have any.
• Errors can be frustrating. Not all builds are perfect and mistakes are likely at no fault of the fit, which can test the patience of even the most determined enthusiast. In the most trying of moments, it might be tempting to just give up and a DIY guitar kit can help.

If you choose to buy a guitar instead, you can actually enjoy a wide range of choices in terms of type, style, color, make, quality, type of pickups, finish and price. You also enjoy some protection with a warranty in place, which is often offered with each purchase of the product. Lastly, buying a guitar frees you of the rather labor-intensive task of putting together a stringed musical instrument using multiple kit components. Once you bring that guitar home, you can unwrap it, tune it up, and start playing in just minutes.

Looking for a different kind of kit?  Take a look at these best electric guitar starter kit options.

Who Makes DIY Guitar Kits?  Made in USA Companies

There is a number of diy kit manufacturers available in the market and each one can offer a pretty good deal. However, you might want to look at these two recommended options:

Warmoth

When it comes to quality DIY guitar kit builds, you can’t go wrong with Warmoth. You will find an excellent assortment of parts and accessories that will let you create a truly distinct and unique masterpiece. What’s great about Warmoth is that they can offer good highly specific options to customers that may not always be available from other suppliers or even production model guitars. The company is geared towards individuals who are looking to completely customize their stringed musical instruments, which means you will find dozens of options to mix-and-match anything from tonewoods, fingerboard, and finishes to fret wire and neck shapes, to bolts and screws. Warmoth is proudly American, made in the USA. They stand by their boutique-quality guitar parts and their customers speak highly of their products and services.

Solo

Solo Music Gear prides itself on providing full support to its customers. If at any time you find yourself unable to progress in your build, you can simply call the company through their 1-800 number or send an email to tech support. Their DIY kits are quite affordable, which makes them very popular among musicians and hobbyists. Founded in 2008, Solo Music Gear maintains one of the largest selections of parts, accessories, and Luthier tools for DIY guitar projects. Their showroom offers a visual feast of the models they offer and the endless possibilities you can work to achieve with their DIY kits and accessories. While you can visit their brick-and-mortar stores, shopping online may be more convenient since their inventory is accessible through their website. Solo guitar kits have some of the finest selections of options for guitar players. They have enough products (neck and body) to get you through your first good custom and you are likely to keep coming back for replacement and upgrades.

Picking the Top Quality Guitar Kits

When you choose to work with a self-build, you can find a great range of options rather than building from scratch. To find the them with everything you need, consider these steps:

Guitar Kit Research.

If you are making your first build, then you need to do some research to understand what is available in a kit, which tools you need, and which process is best. It also pays to browse through product reviews and guides online. Many individuals who are building their own often provide invaluable tips and insight.

It is also important to have a solid understanding of your purpose and goal. While you may have this idea to build a guitar solely to customize it, you need to zero in on the exact outcome you want. Once you know your vision, you know exactly what to look for and how to find it.

Basic, intermediate, or advanced DIY guitar kit.

Basic kits are recommended for beginners because these top guitars are generally the easiest to assemble, requiring fewer steps and components. If you have never built your own guitar, consider buying a beginner model. With these electric guitar kits, you can learn as you go and improve the setup along the way.

Check the kit carefully to know what you are getting. Some kits are so basic that they may not include hardware, which means strings and tuners may require a separate purchase. To be on the safe side, ask the seller what is not included to have a better idea what guitar kit you need to buy.

Ability level.

The best guitar kits do not necessarily require an advanced level of woodworking skills (although it helps) because there are step-by-step instructions provided to get you through everything in  the process. Before buying one, consider the kind of skills you have, including the knowledge you have acquired regarding it and how it works. Some kits are meant for more experienced musicians and if you are a beginner, it is better to stay away from these. In general, choose a guitar kit that has many pre-assembled wood components if you are a newbie. That way, you are far less likely to make mistakes since more parts have already been put together at the factory.

Consider trusted guitar kit brand.

While quality is not always associated with price, it is often expected from trusted brands of DIY guitar kits. Companies create their brands through reputation, which in turn is something they create with the quality of their products. Their high quality kits may carry a higher price tag but these are more likely to have better quality, giving you confidence. Consider finding the best brands through online reviews, testimonials, and third party websites. Chat rooms and online discussion boards may even offer help through their members who are more than happy to offer their advice.

Durability and stability.

Buy a guitar kit that is known to be stable, strong, and sturdy. It might come at a higher price but you are actually buying quality DIY guitar kits. Better quality wood makes it sturdy and you are more likely to have a guitar that will last a long time.

Guitar Kit Customization

Some manufacturers let you customize nearly everything in the kit. What you choose you to include in your final guitar kits build will, of course, depend on your preferences. If you prefer a truly unique guitar or one that fits your specific needs, this feature can come in handy.

The DIY Guitar Building Kits Conclusion

Building your own guitar from a top DIY guitar kit can be a rewarding learning experience for the money and work, as long as you start with the right materials, approach, and expectations. It pays to have some experience playing guitar because this allows you to view it from a better perspective. Since you will be creating something that is to your liking, taking time to try a build and finish your own guitar kits not only hones your skill as a guitarist, it also helps increase your appreciation for this special and versatile stringed musical instrument for your money.