Is it difficult to assemble a guitar?

maller · **Joined:** Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:48 pm **Posts:** 96

I'm looking at different options for a Stratocaster, and I'm wondering about assembling one myself. I was looking at the Stratosphere's website, and you can get pretty much anything.

If I do this, what am I in for? I can purchase a body, electronics, neck separately. Or, a loaded body ready to go - Add in a neck separately.

I'm fairly handy but not sure if this makes sense. Going this route, I can get exactly what I want. But, would it be difficult to do? I'm not sure if the electronics are pretty straight-forward (plug and play), or require detailed work. I've never messed around with the workings of a guitar.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

blackwolfstorm · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:59 am **Posts:** 27

maller wrote:

I'm looking at different options for a Stratocaster, and I'm wondering about assembling one myself. I was looking at the Stratosphere's website, and you can get pretty much anything.

If I do this, what am I in for? I can purchase a body, electronics, neck separately. Or, a loaded body ready to go - Add in a neck separately.

I'm fairly handy but not sure if this makes sense. Going this route, I can get exactly what I want. But, would it be difficult to do? I'm not sure if the electronics are pretty straight-forward (plug and play), or require detailed work. I've never messed around with the workings of a guitar.

Any thoughts?

Warmoth is the way to go if you really want to customize your instrument but back to the question buying partially assembled pieces is far easier than buying the wood and parts and putting them together. if you can use a Philips head screwdriver and a soldering gun it is really quite simple. another option if you don't want to solder is to get a stew-mac pick-guard assembly and with this all you have to do is put three screws in to hold the wires and than screw it to the body.

Thanks.

blackwolfstorm · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:59 am **Posts:** 27

blackwolfstorm wrote:

maller wrote:

I'm looking at different options for a Stratocaster, and I'm wondering about assembling one myself. I was looking at the Stratosphere's website, and you can get pretty much anything.

If I do this, what am I in for? I can purchase a body, electronics, neck separately. Or, a loaded body ready to go - Add in a neck separately.

I'm fairly handy but not sure if this makes sense. Going this route, I can get exactly what I want. But, would it be difficult to do? I'm not sure if the electronics are pretty straight-forward (plug and play), or require detailed work. I've never messed around with the workings of a guitar.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Warmoth is the way to go if you really want to customize your instrument but back to the question buying partially assembled pieces is far easier than buying the wood and parts and putting them together. if you can use a Philips head screwdriver and a soldering gun it is really quite simple. another option if you don't want to solder is to get a stew-mac pick-guard assembly and with this all you have to do is put three screws in to hold the wires and than screw it to the body.

sorry about that i didn't see the close quote tag

steve-strat · **Posted:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:19 am

DIY is the way to go. That way you will have the guitar you want not what a manufacturer thinks you want. There's nothing complicated about assembling/disassembling a Strat, if you can use a phillips screwdriver and have basic soldering skills you're there. If you're still not sure do a bit of internet studying before you tackle it.

rkreisher · **Posted:** Mon Feb 06, 2012 11:49 am

It's not that difficult in my opinion. As mentioned a screwdriver, maybe a wrench or two if you are putting in your own machine heads and pots, and a soldering iron.

As far as cost, it will cost you a bit more than buying a guitar depending on what you want. It could be cheaper to buy after market parts from a company like Warmoth. Good luck with your endeavor and post pics when you're finished.

JamGuy · **Joined:** Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

GO FOR IT!

One word of caution however, some Mexican parts aren't compatible with US made Fenders... and that's sometimes the case with MIJ/CIJ stuff too. If you're patient however and ask lots of questions on here, you can be easily guided through the process. We all love building other peoples guitars as much as we love building our own! :lol:

It's an awesome way to get a high quality guitar for less... the one place you mentioned is not always the cheapest but they have an awesome selection and he's reputable. Also check out the MJT ebay shop for aged bodies, necks and parts. Hopefully you'll find these pics inspiring... they're all guitars I've put together from parts and wired up myself.

Voodoo Blues · **Joined:** Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:05 am **Posts:** 1333

Like everyone else has said, it is not hard to assemble a guitar but there are a few tricks that help alot. Like putting tape over the paint where you are going to drill, this will help avoid paint chipping and it's easy to mark the right spot.

boxbang · **Joined:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:33 am **Posts:** 1397

An assembled Strat may cost more and have lower resale value.

However it is a great experience and you get just what you want.

I built this one with new parts and a refinished body.

I did this with very little experience. There are many helpful people here.

Give it a go.

....Mark.

hudman · **Joined:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 12

Don't do it unless you know how to do a proper set up.

Stratosphere buys new Strats and parts them out because they are worth more money in parts than they are complete.

You can buy a new Strat for less than it will cost you buying parts from Stratosphere.

Assembling your own Strat is cool as long as you aren't doing it to save money.

Smokin' Frets · **Joined:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:33 am **Posts:** 1247

Well, from my building experience I can tell that if you buy the parts new, the guitar will be much more expensive but you can get what you want, in every detail.
Resale value isn't very good with parts-o-casters. Best way would be to sell the parts each by each on its own, if necessary.

Try to put your guitar together with used parts. I would only buy a new custom neck from i.e. Warmouth, if I had very special wishes, like compound radius, certain fret sizes or inlays.

stratele52 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:08 am

If you know ;

1- how to solder and
2- doing a proper set up and
3- you are sure of the GOOD QUALITY of the parts you buy ; body and neck wood and if all part fits together ( no mix mexican,japan and USA parts )
AND
4- you love building kit;
5- low resale value is not important to you

Do it.

If not sure of one of these and you want a player buy it a used complete guitar that you can ear BEFORE and you like .
It is cheaper or the same cost to replace part from a guitar to customize than buying all part separate to build it.

Martian · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:25 am

To merely assemble, no. For it to be a genuinely superior instrument, yes.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

atolleter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:23 am

Exactly, any monkey can "assemble" a Strat, it's a modular guitar. To built a great Strat that feels good and plays well is slightly more challenging however. You should definitely give it a go, if anything you'll be that much more appreciative to what CS does.

shaky · **Posted:** Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:10 pm

What are you going to compare it to. Maybe buy a decent Strat then have a go yourself.

ORCRiST · **Joined:** Wed Feb 24, 2010 11:18 am **Posts:** 176

atolleter wrote:

...if anything you'll be that much more appreciative to what CS does.

Ha. "Appreciative" isn't what I experienced. More like: "anger" and "contempt" at how much they charge you for one of their products vs. what almost anyone can do with a little knowledge and desire for a hell of a lot less.

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