Saga Tele-style kits?

[carlaz]

Despite living in a 2-room flat and owning woodworking kit no more advanced than a power drill, I've developed a strange nagging inner voice that makes me want to build a guitar, just to learn something about it :)  

I thought a kit might be a simple intro, and the HC reviews suggest the Saga Tele-style kits can turn out all right if you take a little care and change out some of the hardware and stuff (BKPs would go in, natch!).  Anyone here done one of these?

[Floyd Pepper]

You looking at this? http://www.guitarpartsusa.com/item--Saga-Tele-Electric-Guitar-Kit--PROD283

$139 seems very cheap for a guitar even if it is in bits.

[carlaz]

That's the kind of thing (though some resellers start by upgrading the stock kit's tuners and pickups for you).

But, yeah: it is cheap!  A basic Tele body from Warmoth costs more than that whole kit.  And while many of the HC reviewers seem to say they've made decent, workable guitars from the kit, I place more faith in people on this forum, if anyone here has built a guitar from this or another kit.

I'm really just thinking putting together a guitar would be a fun thing to do in the next year or so, and I'm looking for a nice simple introduction.  (Like, carving stuff by hand is right out ;)!)

[38thBeatle]

For a moment I thought that SAGA had branched out from holidays and insurance for the over 50's to making guitar kits- t'would have been a novel and unexpected turn of events. Sadly it seems that there is no connection.

[rinse_master]

For a moment I thought that SAGA had branched out from holidays and insurance for the over 50's to making guitar kits- t'would have been a novel and unexpected turn of events. Sadly it seems that there is no connection.

Strangely, I thought the same thing!...

[telemonster]

hi,
i say go for it, mate! alternatively you could (like me) buy a neck (and hardware bits) off ebay, or from a parts supplier (allparts, stewmac, or wd, or axesrus), buy a lump of wood for the body (there are wood suppliers all over the net). i've never tried a kit, but the reviews i've read were quite favourable. only thing is, you'll want to make another and another.........

[carlaz]

Yeah, I've scoped places like the Warmoth site, mentally assembling parts into something that looked cool.  I can see the hobby getting addictive. ;)  But I thought a kit that included all the needed bits might make a sensible no-frills intro.  I'd be working in the front room and we haven't even got a table, so simplicity at every step would be a bonus! :)

I definitely gotta check out guitar making -- it's on the list -- though I think I need to finish sorting my home-recording gear first. All in good time ....

[telemonster]

hi, i reckon you're doing right starting off with the basic kit, and stick a pair of bkp's in of course! and as you make another, do a bit more of it yourself, and a bit more with the next one... you'll maybe need to acquire tools and machinery in a similar 'bit by bit' fashion. melvyn hisc--k's book 'make your own electric guitar' is a good thing to have around too- allthough there's plenty of info to be found on the interweb.
good luck with it-i know you're gonna have a blast! maybe you might think about uploading pics when you've done?