spacey

That's how I got started. I carved a double-cutaway Tele style from a body blank and bought all the pieces...turned out bad. The Carvin neck wasn't worth the shipping cost but I had a lot of fun trying. I kept the swamp ash body and threw the neck away. It wasn't a complete waste...it inspired me to carve my own necks. Not talking bad about Carvin necks...just wasn't for me.
 
I know there are other members that have assembled guitars so there's great input/help should you go for it and fortunately there are plenty of places to get everything. There are some things to lookout for so it's great to have a place where you can get input before ordering parts.
 
 
 

Hey Spacey, can you suggest a good place for bodies/necks that are already made that just need painting, electronics? I know there are quite a few, but I figured you would know which ones are the best. Thanks!

Better get two so you have a backup while the first one is at the shop getting all the things corrected that should have been right from the beginning (like the fret ends, the nut, etc.). 

craigb
Better get two so you have a backup while the first one is at the shop getting all the things corrected that should have been right from the beginning (like the fret ends, the nut, etc.). 

Oh ye of little faith...

This is why I rarely buy guitars new. There will always be a starving musician somewhere who can't pay his rent. Find the one that some idiot has spray-painted on his own custom finish with neon glitter, and then get yourself a can of stripper.

Leadfoot

spacey

That's how I got started. I carved a double-cutaway Tele style from a body blank and bought all the pieces...turned out bad. The Carvin neck wasn't worth the shipping cost but I had a lot of fun trying. I kept the swamp ash body and threw the neck away. It wasn't a complete waste...it inspired me to carve my own necks. Not talking bad about Carvin necks...just wasn't for me.
 
I know there are other members that have assembled guitars so there's great input/help should you go for it and fortunately there are plenty of places to get everything. There are some things to lookout for so it's great to have a place where you can get input before ordering parts.
 
 
 

Hey Spacey, can you suggest a good place for bodies/necks that are already made that just need painting, electronics? I know there are quite a few, but I figured you would know which ones are the best. Thanks!

I would if I could Leadfoot but I only assembled one and I made the body for it.
 
I do know of many places that sell finished bodies and necks but I can't recommend because I don't know all the problems of trying to assemble the parts from them. Lots of things can sure go south quick.
I also know that it can end up costing you more than just getting one. After all, you can play one before you buy it.
 
I can use the best materials when I build one and I know I won't know how it will sound until it's plugged in.
 
I like some of the other ideas offered. Never know what you can find at a pawn shop and maybe it'll be perfect for you to take apart, check it out and put it back together...get ideas. Learn how to do a finish on it. Refret it. Make a nut for it. Lots of lessons that way. That could be a lot of fun and really not have to spend much and you could possibly wind up with a great guitar.
 
Sure don't mind answering your questions but I know I don't have all the answers.
 

I appreciate it Spacey. That's good advice. I remember buying a fret dressing/filing kit when I was 14 or 15 for my Sears strat copy that I had. That poor guitar never did play right after that. Had this chronic 5th fret buzz!

Perhaps we all will be playing cigar-box guitars.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYEiMVNVILU
 

 
Those are much cheaper.
(some not so much though).
 

Cost is determined by where it's made. I've also heard that guitar makers will make special editions for individual stores, so they will only be available at those stores and will cost more than the normal versions.
 
This is so these stores can say "we're the only one's who have it!" ...like having a Mini Monopoly.
 
Theoretically, these editions could be worth more in the future also.

soens
Cost is determined by where it's made. I've also heard that guitar makers will make special editions for individual stores, so they will only be available at those stores and will cost more than the normal versions.
 
This is so these stores can say "we're the only one's who have it!" ...like having a Mini Monopoly.
 
Theoretically, these editions could be worth more in the future also.

Indeed. But Gibson's standard US-made guitars, that is, those available at any Gibson retailer have increased quite dramatically, compared to other US made guitars, like Fender.
 
The standard US SG went from $1,199 to $1,699. That's over 40% more, and it isn't a matter of exclusivity or origin.  
 
The US Fender strat went up by, roughly what, $50? That's like 5%.
 

They have to charge more because now they have to buy their exotic woods legally.