The kit bridge on the GTL-1 is a more traditional 'ashtray' design than that supplied with the
TL-1 kit, which has a flat plate design. As they come, both bridges are set up for top-loading but the GTL-1 bridge can also be through-strung if you are prepared to drill your own holes through the body and buy some rear ferrules. You can do the same on a
TL-1 but you'd need to buy a new bridge as well.
Also, the
TL-1 kits have pre-drilled neck holes which are generally not that well positioned with regards to the supplied neck plate holes. The GTL-1 kits don't have pre drilled holes, so although you've got to drill the holes yourself, you get a better neck fixing as a result.
Personally I prefer the smaller neck pickup rout of the GTL-1 compared to the humbucker rout of the
TL-1 (obviously unless you plan to fit a humbucker there).
I like Ash as a body material, but it does require a lot of grain filling to get a smooth surface. For a painted finish a basswood
TL-1 requires less work. The GTL-1's Ash body is guaranteed 2-piece, so (IMO) will always look better under a transparent or translucent finish than a 3- or 4-piece body. I'm struggling to find a finished GTL-1 picture, so don't know if they take a bit more care on matching the pieces for the body on the GTL-1 than on the
TLA-1.
The bridge pickup rout for the
TL-1 kits often need enlarging slightly in order to get the bridge position correct for intonation. I'm not sure about the GTL-1 as a quick look hasn't found a picture or build diary for one.
I don't think the GTL-1 kits are Korean, just sourced from a different Chinese factory that Adam met up with at the Frankfurt Music Messe last year. These were the Korean kits he was thinking about stocking:
http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...ghlight=korean
My own choice would be for a GTL-1 kit, regardless of finish.
Originally Posted by Simon Barden
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