Popping the guitar building cherry

[juddernaut]

Started playing when I was 44. Too late. 5 years on probably too late to start building them but I love them.

Starting from the bottom and just ordered a TL1. I don't have a clue what I am doing but it looks like good wholesome fun and the TL 1 is cheaper than a schnitty and 8 pints at my local......

[Dedman]

Started learning at 55 started building at 56, never too late mate, welcome to your new addiction

[cork sniffer]

Welcome to the forum and world of doing it yourself.
Never too late, I started playing when 63 years young and 2 years later built an ES-12G.
Go for it and post your progress.
Plenty of great people to answer your questions here.

[wokkaboy]

Hello Juddernaut, welcome to the forum, it is never too late to start playing an instrument or building a guitar !
TL-1 will be basswood but there can be some nice grain on these kits.
What sort of stain do you have in mind to use ?
I would sand the body to about 240 grit all over, then apply a black stain, being in Canberra let it cure for 2-3 days.
Then sand off the black stain till the only black left is shown in the grain, then sand from about 240 grit to 320 grit and apply your cherry red stain. Should look excellent.
Start a build diary when the kit arrives and do a mock build first up to make sure there aren't any major issues with the kit.
The forum will guide you through the build process so ask any questions you may have.
Good luck and take your time !

[tonyw]

I got the bug after playing for many many years and decided i wanted a Strat, so i put together a partscaster, next a Baritone and i was hooked.

I love scouring the net for parts and info, welcome to the madness

[dave.king1]

Welcome to the madness Juddy.

I started young at 14 playing in very ordinary garage bands, at 19 got into much more heavy & complex stuff at the height of the first & proper wave of heavy rock and prog rock ( sorry pesty the current mob are just followers ), at 23 switched to country and played 6 nights a week for good money and gave it all away at 33 because I wasn't prepared to get divorced a 2nd time, went back to playing in 2009 at 61 to help a couple of mates out with a single and two years ago started to get serious again playing with the guys I did the single with.

Built a PBH-4 & an STA-1 from Pitbull and a Tele from another supplier, now waiting on the six string bass kits to arrive mid year before building another.

[Fretworn]

Welcome Juddernaut.

[juddernaut]

Hello Juddernaut, welcome to the forum, it is never too late to start playing an instrument or building a guitar !
TL-1 will be basswood but there can be some nice grain on these kits.
What sort of stain do you have in mind to use ?
I would sand the body to about 240 grit all over, then apply a black stain, being in Canberra let it cure for 2-3 days.
Then sand off the black stain till the only black left is shown in the grain, then sand from about 240 grit to 320 grit and apply your cherry red stain. Should look excellent.
Start a build diary when the kit arrives and do a mock build first up to make sure there aren't any major issues with the kit.
The forum will guide you through the build process so ask any questions you may have.
Good luck and take your time !

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I will keep you posted on progress. Kit should arrive late next week.

Excellent question WokkaBoy. I would like a natural grain finish but I am guessing an entry level kit like with might look better with colour applied? I would like a sort of classic 52 butterscotch finish but am open to your Cherry Red\black suggesrtion. I have NO idea how to do this. None. Nada.

[tonyw]

Wait until you get the kit and check it out, some basswood done natural looks amazing, so see what sort of grain you have, if its ugly cover it up

[juddernaut]

First dumb question. The Pitbull YouTube videos mention downloadable PDF instructions on the Pitbull website. I only can find PDF wiring diagrams. Am I missing the obvious?