Build from kit

Hi Flester,

  You could build from a kit if you like, it just takes a little bit of woodworking and finishing skills to get a nice looking playable guitar in the end.  If you are new to the craft then a kit is a good starting place to get your feet wet so to speak without going broke.  Once you have gathered up a body and neck to your liking, you have the option of choosing the pickups and pots to get the sound that you are interested in getting.  Caution here though, you don't usually get to return those that you don't like, so choose wisely and do your research before you order parts.

  I've built a few from bare lumber, but I also have the tooling and experience to do that stuff.  The most time consuming parts are the sanding/scraping and finishing.  You don't want to shortcut that part of the job or your final finish will suffer.  Choose your woods carefully as to species, as some will sustain better than others, some are mellow and others harsh.... weight is another consideration.
The fit between the pocket and neck should be tight enough that you can "hang the body"  without fasteners to ensure good transfer of vibration between the neck and body.

  If you decide to build your own, it can be very rewarding.

Take Care;
Doug