Hello all

[sovietfox]

Hi there,
I have spent the last day or two pouring through all the info on the forums. I have always wanted to build my own guitar but lacked either A) funds, or B) time. I have 4 kids at home (under 8) and until recently worked a nasty rotating shift work roster as a Police Officer.
Due to some health issues associated with the job I now have a little of A and a lot of B while I look for new work.

I have 3 ideas for guitars so far and still trying to work out what I want to do. One of my favourite guitars is James Hetfields Truckster and wouldn't mind tackling a flat colour LP with my own ideas, however that seems less than a favoured path here due to the veneers.

I have requested info from Lauda Guitars here in Adelaide on their workshops and building that one from scratch in any case as it's been in my head for years already and I might like to have a hand in all of it.

My other two ideas are on a a Strat kit, one following a theme of "The thin blue line" to honour some fallen friends and the other a red fox themed one based on my moniker (Soviet Fox, It's a leftover from high school days of computer games and hotmail pranks etc)

In any case, glad to have found this community, rarely have I seen a company so enmeshed with it's own client base.

Regards

Dan

[Brendan]

Welcome along Dan - both ideas for an ST build sound interesting - whichever way you go - hope it goes well and let us know!

[Andy40]

Hi Soviet Fox, Welcome to the forum. You'll love an ST build, I still love mine.

[WeirdBits]

Welcome Dan.

[HoneyBadgerJM]

Hi there,
I have spent the last day or two pouring through all the info on the forums. I have always wanted to build my own guitar but lacked either A) funds, or B) time. I have 4 kids at home (under 8) and until recently worked a nasty rotating shift work roster as a Police Officer.
Due to some health issues associated with the job I now have a little of A and a lot of B while I look for new work.

I have 3 ideas for guitars so far and still trying to work out what I want to do. One of my favourite guitars is James Hetfields Truckster and wouldn't mind tackling a flat colour LP with my own ideas, however that seems less than a favoured path here due to the veneers.

I have requested info from Lauda Guitars here in Adelaide on their workshops and building that one from scratch in any case as it's been in my head for years already and I might like to have a hand in all of it.

My other two ideas are on a a Strat kit, one following a theme of "The thin blue line" to honour some fallen friends and the other a red fox themed one based on my moniker (Soviet Fox, It's a leftover from high school days of computer games and hotmail pranks etc)

In any case, glad to have found this community, rarely have I seen a company so enmeshed with it's own client base.

Regards

Dan

Welcome, if you have never built a guitar before...Try a kit first..Its cheap allows you to mess up ...you learn about intonation...paint...patience..Start out with the cheaper kits...Other advice from one Noob to another get two kits going at once...

[sovietfox]

Welcome, if you have never built a guitar before...Try a kit first..Its cheap allows you to mess up ...you learn about intonation...paint...patience..Start out with the cheaper kits...Other advice from one Noob to another get two kits going at once...

Yeah, that's the problem. I'm definitely getting an ST (ST-1M to be exact). but I did have the idea of running two builds at once so I can switch between while waiting for things to dry. And the kits are all so cheap! The problem is.....which one?

Currently want/interested in besides the ST:

ST-1JR (Eldest daughter starts music lessons next year, we have a Piano, Keyboard, 1/2 acoustic and 3/4 acoustic why not round it out with a small elec.)

an EX (Because \m/ )

A GR-1SF (Because I think they are beautiful looking guitars)

A JK (Because \m/ \m/ )

An LP obviously, they are my favourite guitar shape.

In the end there's a good chance I will get the ST - JR as my second kit, it serves a bigger purpose than greed. I'm only just learning guitar at the moment, I have started before but just never followed through (See earlier comment on time). My fiance is a wedding singer (and a make do guitarist) so pushing musical instruments is never going to be too big an issue as long as it's not just to hang on the wall.

So anyway I have the ST-1M sitting just a hairs breadth away from ordering to get under way but.....reading through the forums it seems best to upgrade: pickups, nut, tuners and pots? What are some suggestions in this regard?

It's a pity there's no option for a reverse headstock neck for the 1M as I think it would work with my intended headstock design a little better but I will make do.

[HoneyBadgerJM]

Couple answers to your questions, the Strat great choice. I have a 2010 Fender Strat great all round choice of sounds, reason I bring it up I also have a Les Paul Kit I am rebuilding..So my Fender has all Fender factory pick ups, Tuning Pegs, nut etc..as well as electronics....The Les Paul has Chinese hardware, tuners ..pots etc.

TUNERS I dont play in a band just at home hour or so a day...Have played 20 plus years...If I was playing in a band every week I would up grade the tuners as your strings will go out of tune quickly if you play 2 hour gigs, the Chinese wont hold up.

PICK UPS This area is the debate for every one to weigh in on...Personally if you research how they are made...Its just Magnets, Copper Wires and Metal....The most expensive part of a pick up is copper wire..hence the Chinese kit ones may not have as many winds , to save copper, and as such sound 'weaker ' compared to the $150 dollar plus after market models.

ELECTRONICS Once again upgrading the pots can make a difference as you MIGHT get a dodgy one that cuts out or seems to be either off or on.. Some players swear that a NOS Bumble Bee capacitor from Russia will be the only way to get a a Les Paul sound.. What I just said is jargon some use to justify paying $30 for a capacitor( My Opinion). But I dont judge just letting you know the options.

SO... What does it all mean, well as I said earlier I love my Fender Strat, cost over a grand...Love the Les Paul cost $200...So my advice...Keep everything stock to begin with if money is tight...You wont REALLY notice the difference..If you upgrade the electronics more soldering for you and complicates the build slightly...Lastly the pick up option is the most expensive BUT can be done at a later date.

LASTLY Go to DB corner on the forum and ask DB about reverse headstock they may be able to do it

[Andy40]

Hi Soviet,

I think I would agree with HB.

The great thing about the ST kit is that you can build it stock, then upgrade bits later on with the minimum of modifications to the guitar.

That being said. You should definitely replace the plastic nut with a bone nut....the tone difference is huge. It cost about $27 for a PBG bone nut.

The most expensive upgrade (arguably) are the pups. but its the upgrade that you'll get the most out of. Look there is nothing wrong with the chinese pups, they have a ceramic bar magnet across the single coil poles. the gauss of the bar magnet is quite strong on the ones I've seen and the copper wire winds are a bit over wound. They are not wax potted either. Look, they work (for a start) but they have more of a tinny kind of tone instead of warm tone and they can feed back (squeal a bit with more gain).

There is a great comparison video done by Gav comparing the stock ST pups with the Bensons. http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5589

Kimball posted some links to videos of other pups that Pitbull sell here http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5676

The electronics - specifically wiring, switch, pots and capacitors are the cheapest upgrades. again there is nothing wrong with the chinese pots and switches - sometimes they are scratchy and eventually they will wear out. You can get CTS pots for around $7 or Gotohs for about $4 each, the rest of the electronics cost is quite small. Its hard to describe the benefits of upgrading the electronics till you compare yourself.

The Chinese tuners are fine. I find that they can be a bit hit and miss with the consistency of the turns and the tightness of the gears. If you want a cheap upgrade, the locking Grovers that PBG sell are only about $45. They are mint!

Look mate, its all up to you.

[sovietfox]

Couple answers to your questions, the Strat great choice. I have a 2010 Fender Strat great all round choice of sounds, reason I bring it up I also have a Les Paul Kit I am rebuilding..So my Fender has all Fender factory pick ups, Tuning Pegs, nut etc..as well as electronics....The Les Paul has Chinese hardware, tuners ..pots etc.

TUNERS I dont play in a band just at home hour or so a day...Have played 20 plus years...If I was playing in a band every week I would up grade the tuners as your strings will go out of tune quickly if you play 2 hour gigs, the Chinese wont hold up.

PICK UPS This area is the debate for every one to weigh in on...Personally if you research how they are made...Its just Magnets, Copper Wires and Metal....The most expensive part of a pick up is copper wire..hence the Chinese kit ones may not have as many winds , to save copper, and as such sound 'weaker ' compared to the $150 dollar plus after market models.

ELECTRONICS Once again upgrading the pots can make a difference as you MIGHT get a dodgy one that cuts out or seems to be either off or on.. Some players swear that a NOS Bumble Bee capacitor from Russia will be the only way to get a a Les Paul sound.. What I just said is jargon some use to justify paying $30 for a capacitor( My Opinion). But I dont judge just letting you know the options.

SO... What does it all mean, well as I said earlier I love my Fender Strat, cost over a grand...Love the Les Paul cost $200...So my advice...Keep everything stock to begin with if money is tight...You wont REALLY notice the difference..If you upgrade the electronics more soldering for you and complicates the build slightly...Lastly the pick up option is the most expensive BUT can be done at a later date.

LASTLY Go to DB corner on the forum and ask DB about reverse headstock they may be able to do it

Thanks for the advice. I already have an ESP LTD EC-10 that I am using as my learning guitar. I love it even though it's a cheapie. I just want to build something. I think I saw in another post that you worked with people with PTSD. It's what ended my Police career recently and I have found creating.........stuff.....helps immensely to sate the anxiety. you kind of get lost in it.

I have been sculpting toys and toy parts with clay/wax and the casting in resins. i learnt to sew so I could make some costumes with my girls (and invariably knight costumes for the boys) and the common theme I have is do it right the first time. I struggle to find the motivation to revisit an already finished project.

Money isn't really the deciding factor, I had budgeted to spend about 500-600 on the final build. I have spent the last 12 or so hours (insomnia and OCD come at me) watching videos and really like the sound on the Tonerider City Limits. then I figure, if i'm putting quality electrical components in the whole circuit should be up to scratch rather than troubleshooting later to find it was the $5 upgrade I didn't do, and as for soldering, I have more experience than I wish after rewiring a lot of car stereo's in the 90's.

thanks again for the advice, it's great to have this forum as a sounding board.

Hi Soviet,

I think I would agree with HB.

The great thing about the ST kit is that you can build it stock, then upgrade bits later on with the minimum of modifications to the guitar.

That being said. You should definitely replace the plastic nut with a bone nut....the tone difference is huge. It cost about $27 for a PBG bone nut.

The most expensive upgrade (arguably) are the pups. but its the upgrade that you'll get the most out of. Look there is nothing wrong with the chinese pups, they have a ceramic bar magnet across the single coil poles. the gauss of the bar magnet is quite strong on the ones I've seen and the copper wire winds are a bit over wound. They are not wax potted either. Look, they work (for a start) but they have more of a tinny kind of tone instead of warm tone and they can feed back (squeal a bit with more gain).

There is a great comparison video done by Gav comparing the stock ST pups with the Bensons. http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5589

Kimball posted some links to videos of other pups that Pitbull sell here http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ead.php?t=5676

The electronics - specifically wiring, switch, pots and capacitors are the cheapest upgrades. again there is nothing wrong with the chinese pots and switches - sometimes they are scratchy and eventually they will wear out. You can get CTS pots for around $7 or Gotohs for about $4 each, the rest of the electronics cost is quite small. Its hard to describe the benefits of upgrading the electronics till you compare yourself.

The Chinese tuners are fine. I find that they can be a bit hit and miss with the consistency of the turns and the tightness of the gears. If you want a cheap upgrade, the locking Grovers that PBG sell are only about $45. They are mint!

Look mate, its all up to you.

In regards to tuners, they are half price if I buy them with the kit rather than tracking them down later, seems a no brainer (After dwelling on it for hours)

Another thing catching my eye is the Babicz bridge but don't know enough about them to know which type would be required. The first time i tried to learn guitar it had a Floyd Rose which I just could not get my head around and in the end, that bridge alone put me off and I sold it. having said that I would still like a guitar with a Trem unit on it, just as a muck around now that I have my student rig.

There are some clearance ones (Babicz FCH) on evilbay for about $160 from the US.




All up it comes to about $430 in the cart including:
-Shielding Kit
-Sanding kit
-Steel wool kit
-Neck glue
-Fidelity upgrade (Just to see)
-3 x bournes mini 250k audio pots
-CRL 5 way switch
-Capacitor .22
-Bone nut
-Tonerider pickups
-Grover locking nuts
-STA-1M kit


I think that covers pretty much everything I'm looking at (Let me know if I missed anything). It comes in under my budget, even if I were to take a chance on the Ebay Bridge. I own pretty much any tools I need to do the job and if I don't have it I have implied consent from the minister of finance on any tools relating to therapeutic hobbies (Within reason).

I will put a post on DB's forum just in case in regards to the headstock, I had a creative impulse that wouldn't work any other way so the idea will have to go otherwise.

I'm sorry if it seems i'm disregarding anyone's advice, trust me I'm taking it all on board. For me I just want to have a completed unit without the "I wish I hadn't of compromised on this or that" feeling.

regards

Dan

[Andy40]

Phwoar! Nice Dan....you are gonna love this guitar

Which Toneriders did you go for?