Can't decide where to start!?

[Royami]

Hi guys,
Looking at starting my first build.. can't decide between building a strat or a thinline tele/standard tele.
Love the strat sound but can't go past the look of the tele.
I will more than likely end up building both, but as a first build are there any recommendations on which I should go for first?

Look forward to it
Cheers
Mitch

[FrankenWashie]

If you've not done this sort of thing before, then the Strat kits are a good start. Simple wiring, the bulk of it already done for you. The body and set up are relatively simple and don't require a lot of specialist tools or skill (With the exception of fret levelling and nut prep).

Standard Tele would be a simpler build that a thinline, but it all hinges on ambition and your skill set. Best of luck with it!

[McCreed]

Tele is always a good first build. If you do a "standard" build with two pickups, two controls, one switch and a topload bridge, it doesn't get much more straight forward than that.

Even for a first-timer with a basic TL kit you have the opportunity to build something unique just by creating a custom headstock shape or adding comfort contours to the body.

A TL kit gives you a chance to put together the basic components that all guitars have in common and the opportunity to understand how they work together, as well the geometry involved that makes a guitar playable.

[Royami]

Thanks for the advice.
Next question, what are your thoughts on upgrading the pickups? Are the kit ones decent enough or is it worth the little bit extra to upgrade.
I have read through a few threads and have seen that locking tuner upgrade and pup upgrades are quiet common.

Cheers
Mitch

[Simon Barden]

I'd go for the Strat or a standard Tele for a first build as there is no binding to worry about, which the thinline Teles have. Of the Strat and the Tele, the Strat is probably the most hassle-free, as some of the Tele kits really require the bridge pickup cavity enlarging slightly for an ideal bridge position.

I think a pickup upgrade is worth it, but that's something you can do after you've built it and can decide whether it's worth upgrading. Locking tuners are worth doing on a Strat because of the trem, but as the standard kit tuners are pretty decent, don't really add much to a non-trem guitar except for making string changing just a little bit quicker.

[jugglindan]

I'd go for the Strat or a standard Tele for a first build as there is no binding to worry about, which the thinline Teles have. Of the Strat and the Tele, the Strat is probably the most hassle-free, as some of the Tele kits really require the bridge pickup cavity enlarging slightly for an ideal bridge position.

I think a pickup upgrade is worth it, but that's something you can do after you've built it and can decide whether it's worth upgrading. Locking tuners are worth doing on a Strat because of the trem, but as the standard kit tuners are pretty decent, don't really add much to a non-trem guitar except for making string changing just a little bit quicker.

This is pretty much what I am doing for my first build. I got the tuner upgrade because PBG have them at a great price if ordered with a kit. I am keeping the stock pickups until I get a chance to hear them for a while. I got a thinline because I have always wanted one but I sort of regret having to deal with the binding.

Once you have a well set-up and playable guitar, changing the pickups on a strat or tele is not that hard to do at a later time. For a full hollowbody the advice would be different, but I don't think anyone would really recommend one of those for a first build.

[Andy40]

Hi and welcome to the forum Royami.

I agree with everyone's advice, however, I wished that I did a Tele before my strat because it has the feature that you can work on any problems with your wiring without having to de-string your guitar!

[Royami]

Hi guys,
Thanks for all of the advice. I ended up going with a strat. Went the American Ash body. Decision was made partly due to most kits being on backorder because of the Rona, but I'm happy with what I decided. Stay tuned in the build section!
Cheers

[McCreed]

Look forward to seeing your build. Just sing out if you need any help. Lots of folk here happy to oblige!