GuitarFetish.com kits

[softwarejanitor]

Anyone bought and assembled one?

Specifically the "set neck" kits like the Flying V and Explorer?

I've always wanted one (or three) of each of those... but haven't wanted to pay the $$$ for a Gibson or even a good knockoff like an Epiphone (have an Epiphone SG and LP).

I noticed the pics on the guitarfetish.com site show what appear to be bolt-on kits, but the text specifically says they are glue-in set necks. The pics look like stock photos though, so I am thinking the pics aren't really exactly what you are going to get.

I imagine these kits will need finish sanding and of course sealing and finishing... anyone know how well they are done? Is it a lot of work to finish one or are they pretty close to being ready to spray as they come?

[Don Tonberry]

That Flying V does show a bolt on neck but the explorer is definitely set neck. You just have to glue the neck yourself, which is a daunting task if you've never done that before

[shrekfingers]

That is weird, they show a bolt on neck for the V but say in the description that it is a set neck, that you glue it in. Email and ask I am sure they'll tell ya, they look pretty kewl if you have the talent and patience.

[dannyvawn]

Save your money. They aren't worth it. Every piece that comes with them has to be replaced and theres a good chance the holes wont line up. I have built 2 guitars from the kits and i did get them to play alright i had to invest another $400 on new parts. Your money would be well spent somewhere else.
Also, If you are planning a kit with the set neck. you really need to be an experienced woodworker. They are very tricky and require a lot of wood skills. Trust me on that one. Something I don't have If I were to do another one I would do a cheap strat or tele kit but then again a Walmart First Act is a better quality guitar

[softwarejanitor]

Originally Posted by Don Tonberry

That Flying V does show a bolt on neck but the explorer is definitely set neck.

The part that confuses me about the Explorer is there is a Fender style neck plate and four neck bolts shown in the picture... The Explorer body they show at least doesn't have holes drilled for the neck bolts like the one in the Flying V pics though.

You just have to glue the neck yourself, which is a daunting task if you've never done that before

I haven't, but I've done quite a few other woodworking projects. The only really scary part to me is making sure the neck angle is correct before gluing it.

[softwarejanitor]

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

Save your money. They aren't worth it. Every piece that comes with them has to be replaced and theres a good chance the holes wont line up. I have built 2 guitars from the kits and i did get them to play alright i had to invest another $400 on new parts. Your money would be well spent somewhere else.
Also, If you are planning a kit with the set neck. you really need to be an experienced woodworker. They are very tricky and require a lot of wood skills. Trust me on that one. Something I don't have If I were to do another one I would do a cheap strat or tele kit but then again a Walmart First Act is a better quality guitar

Wow... that bad? I thought the price was a little on the low side, but I've generally been favorably impressed with everything I've bought from GuitarFetish.com so far... I hope a few more people who've built them weigh in...

[motoman45]

ill have to agree, for the money you can find alot of axes that will satisfy

[dannyvawn]

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

Wow... that bad? I thought the price was a little on the low side, but I've generally been favorably impressed with everything I've bought from GuitarFetish.com so far... I hope a few more people who've built them weigh in...

Yeah , that bad. 1 was from GFS and 1 was from a company on Ebay but were made by the same company. I guess my standards must be too high though because I think MOST things bought from GFS is not what I would consider an upgrade. I do like their blocks though. But thats just my opinion. They are doing just fine without me.

[Stratatattat]

i came close to getting 1 of those kits...but i'm picky on the bridges and the pups. so i didn't wanna stick another fortune into it. you're better off finding a beater on fleabay and restoring/modding it. that's my 2 cents.

[wickedtools]

That bad hmmm, I did a tele kit and I used almost all the parts that came with it, some I upgraded as I do on the Squiers. It was the light weight body and it plays and sounds great.

[Stratatattat]

Originally Posted by wickedtools

That bad hmmm, I did a tele kit and I used almost all the parts that came with it, some I upgraded as I do on the Squiers. It was the light weight body and it plays and sounds great.

ooh that turned out beautiful!

[dannyvawn]

Originally Posted by wickedtools

That bad hmmm, I did a tele kit and I used almost all the parts that came with it, some I upgraded as I do on the Squiers. It was the light weight body and it plays and sounds great.

Thats great yours is good because I said and I quote. "If I were to do another one I would do a cheap strat or tele kit". The ones that I did were set neck and thats what I thought we were talking about. The quality on mine were horrendous but i'm an amateur and probably did something wrong. And the kits that have pauwlonia for a body? If you even look at that wood wrong it will scar. Might as well have a guitar made of pine.

[wickedtools]

Well I didn't mean any bad by it, just that the hardware is as good as the lower end Squiers and I thought that those set necks would be like the the lower end Epi's. I thought the same thing on the pauwlonia body when I first picked it up but it sure was easy to work with. It turn out durable, has good tone and the best thing I like about it, it's light and easy on the old back.

[dannyvawn]

Glad it works. I eventually got mine to play good but everything needed replaced and I put so much into them I could have bought nice guitars. Getting the necks straight was pure hell and pretty much all of the pre drilled holes were not aligned. On those pauwlonia bodies, the wood is so soft than eventually the screws will just fall out. I have had 2 cheap Deans that after 6 months or so everything stripped out. The necks on those $99 Vendettas are phenomenal, reminiscent of a mid 80's Charvel but the bodies go to crap real fast. They are light though and surprisingly have a good tone.

[Bullitt]

RH Factor Guitars has a Tele kit complete with MM body and neck Tone rider PUPs,a compklete kit for 395,that is a good deal.My first partscaster was over 600 in parts with no finish yet.