Building v.s. buying a guitar can become an obsession for some players. Eddie Van Halen fueled the building craze back the 70’s with his Frankenstein creations. Other notable guitarists and bassists have also experimented with building their own. Steve Morse being another notable example. A good friend of mine enjoys building not just for himself but helping others either build their own or building one for them. His ‘Barncaster’ creation is an especially notable accomplishment. See below.
So, should you build or buy? Your first guitar should be a buy, definitely. Work on your playing first and that will guide you to what you really need. Try a number of guitars to narrow down your choice then keep notes, mental or written, about what could be improved for you. If you go budget, your first can become the experimentation platform. Just make sure you have a backup in case you get the guitar apart and something delays the reassembly 😉
Your first steps
While you may be tempted to buy parts and just go for it, many start by modifying the electronics. It is the easiest way to get started. The typical Fender style with all of the electronics mounted on a pickguard makes it easy. There are no holes to navigate with wires except for the output jack, typically, and everything is exposed simply by turning over the pickguard. Most people start with the pickups. The eternal search for tone (It’s All About the Tone, Man) is one that may never end. For me, it is an eternal search as I love a wide variety of styles and one tone will never satisfy. As my wife will attest when she asks, “How many guitars do you need?”
There is a distinct difference between single coil pickups and double coil (humbucking) pickups. The differences are a topic for another blog post! Once you decide which general type is right for you, the differences become more subtle. Add to that position on the guitar and the combinations become endless.
To build on what I said before about learning to play first, you need to realize how you play and where you play in relation to the pickups. Answer the question why you prefer one position over another and you will move a long way towards your perfect tone.
Hardware Selection
The next place to fuss over is in the hardware. Simple changes such as nut and saddle material can influence tone and sustain. The type of bridge is a big determiner of sustain. Heavier, denser materials properly attached (coupled) to the guitar increase sustain. Remember, floating bridges work well but they must contact the body thoroughly to avoid losing sustain.
When I work on an archtop, for example, I take a lot of time gradually sanding the bottom of floating bridges to make certain they fully contour to the surface of the guitar. This is one of the many ways inexpensive guitars save money on manufacturing. It takes time, and that means expense, to get the fit right.
If you examine the nut material closely, you may find your budget guitar is using plastic. Just changing that alone can dramatically improve your guitar’s sound. Harder is better and bone is a good starting choice. There are other materials such as Tusq and Micarta that are worthy alternatives to consider. That also goes for bridge and saddles, too! Saddles are usually an easy replacement but nuts will need to be fitted by a qualified luthier.
Going All In: Bodies and Necks
Finally, we have the materials that make up the body and neck. This can be a can of very expensive worms. Wood prices vary widely and synthetic options can bust your budget if you are not careful. As I mentioned above, the Barncaster was a great looking build. In addition, it was not expensive. The drawback is taking a chance on the unknown.
As with bridge material, heavier and denser materials typically yield better sustain. Once you wade into a discussion about necks and bodies, be prepared for some rather opinionated responses. There is a lot of passion on this topic. Don’t take it too seriously, though. Use your own ears and make your own choice. As boutique jazz guitar luthier, Bob Benedetto, has pointed out: guitar material choices have more to do with tradition than tone. He once made a guitar from pine to demonstrate this fact. While it was a quality instrument, he recognized it would not sell due to the aversion of guitarists to non-traditional materials.
Necks are a whole other category of discussion. When you consider fretboard materials with neck selection, the combinations begin to spiral out of control. To start, go with the traditional combinations and work from there.
Bolt-on necks are great for experimenting in this regard. You can directly compare an all maple neck with a neck made with a rosewood fretboard on maple in short order. The only caveat being you are careful about what neck fits what body. For example, there can be differences in heel fit between Fender American and Squier (Fender brand made outside the USA) and even minor scale differences due to fit. Just be careful!
Build or Buy?
I guess you could say, “That depends!” I hate to give that as an answer but there are too many variables to consider. The final consideration is your own confidence in taking on a project. There are many “project” guitars for sale that can be cheap learning experiences. Hand the completed project off to a beginner and try another.
Finally, you can always buy a kit and there are many out there! You can get kits with unfinished necks and bodies and finish them any way you like. That’s the ultimate customization. Just ask Eddie!
You will learn a lot from building just make sure you have a backup!