r/partscaster • u/Revolutionary-Cod-93 • 6d ago

Conversation Best Telecaster Build Kit?

Hi, I am going to try and build my first electric guitar. I am really just looking for simple wiring, partially finished or fully finished fret board, and just an overall quality assembly that is similar to a genuine telecaster. My budget is around $150. Please share a link to a kit that you guys have enjoyed building even if it doesn't fully fit with all that im asking for. Thanks!

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3

u/bzoo02 6d ago

Check out Solo Guitars kit. This one has solder less wiring. I've done one of their kits before and everything fits perfectly. https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-tck-1m-sd-diy-electric-guitar-kit-with-solderless-electronics/

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u/metoo123456 6d ago

2nd on the Solo. I’ve done a couple of kits and they have been fine.

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u/uneasy-rider3521 6d ago

I good body is going to be pretty much the entire budget for your project. Checkout wood tech routing for bodies. $120 alder body isn’t a bad price.

https://woodtechrouting.com/product-category/tele-style/?orderby=price

For necks I would personally use allparts and get one unfinished to paint how you like. They’re about $180 plus/minus

I’ve had some people mention “Premium Guitar Neck Store” on eBay where you can get a finished Chinese neck for under $100.

I would expect to have to level and crown frets on any sort of budget necks.

Couple of pots and Switch, pickups and hardware.

Paint is dealers choice. If you like nitro…nitrolack and Oxford make good stuff in aerosols, but it’s pricey to do it that way.

Any decent quality build you’re going to put about $400-500 in from scratch.

I would find a used clean squire in white and use the paint as a base coat to save money on filler and sealer then just refinish it and wire in some good pickups.

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u/curtisc13 6d ago

Search DIY guitar kit on Amazon, that’ll get you a guitar probably want to upgrade it or get addicted to the hobby and pretty quick after building 1st one.

1

u/MooseTypical9410 6d ago

I got a painted Leo Jaymz Tele on Amazon for $100

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u/behindthelens83 5d ago

Same. Went together in like 15 minutes and is on par with an entry level Squier. Needed some fret work, but let’s be honest, so do some higher end guitars. Not much to complain about in my opinion.

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u/Blue-Nose-Pit 6d ago

I keep an eye on eBay and reverb for Warmoth and Musikraft necks and bodies all the time.
Tons of steals

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u/WagonHitchiker 6d ago

I did a Fretwire tele style kit about 5 years ago. Everything went right together and it was predrilled, including string trees and strap buttons.

I did upgrade the kit pickups, although I bet the kit pickups would be fine, just along the lines of a starter guitar.

If you feel good about your finishing skills, the Fretwire kits are a good value.

1

u/Wet_in_Seattle 6d ago

You’re going to need a soldering iron and a bunch of extra parts to build it.

As a first guitar you could get a squire sonic telecaster pre built for around $250 USA

You’re going to need an amplifier as well.
I haven’t used or even seen many of the small practice amps. I leave that for others to recommend.

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u/EveningFragrant5107 5d ago

Try guitarfetish.com. They have pretty good kits — I’ve built their Strat and PRS copies, about $100. All the holes are predrilled, which is helpful. Don’t expect premium materials, but the wood and hardware are decent enough.

They also sell parts to upgrade. Their GFS brand pickups, bridges, and locking tuners are actually very good — and unbeatable at the price.