Who's got a Kick-A#% Parts-caster?

[KazJY]

I added up the cost of what it would take to put one together, and I can get a CS Strat for nearly the same coin. Is it worth building your own? Does the one you have blow much of the "off-the-rack" stuff out of the water (to an extent? enough?)

What say you? Can a first time guy put together a parts-caster that's worth it's salt? I am talking about buying great components.

[rhinocaster]

Originally Posted by KazJY

I added up the cost of what it would take to put one together, and I can get a CS Strat for nearly the same coin. Is it worth building your own? Does the one you have blow much of the "off-the-rack" stuff out of the water (to an extent? enough?)

What say you? Can a first time guy put together a parts-caster that's worth it's salt? I am talking about buying great components.

Truly great guitars are "Found" in almost every case. It doesn't matter who builds it, there's no guarantee that you're going to end up with a great guitar. In fact, I think the odds are against it. After all, how many "Great" guitars are out there?

If you want to build a guitar for the experience and for the fun of it, by all means get started. If you're looking for the best guitar, run the racks.

[mg550]

I don't build partscasters because I don't really know if everything will work well together. I have better luck sorting through guitars that are already built. That way I KNOW what I'm getting.

That and the whole resale value thing. Nice Custom Shop Strats will hold their value. Partscasters... not so much.

[mdog114]

I did this one for the price of US Strat. I couldn't sell it for what it cost, but it's spec'd to my preferences and I'll never sell it.

If you custom-shopped/boutique-built it, it would be +$2k.

[drod1985]

$800.
MIM Body
Warmoth birdseye maple neck w/ Wolfgang backshape and Abalone inlays
Original Floyd w/ D-Tuna
Dimarzio Tone Zone S, and Area '61s.
Pictured with it's original mighty mite neck...i've put pearloid tuners on it since this pic was taken.

[Soporific]

Originally Posted by mdog114

I did this one for the price of US Strat. I couldn't sell it for what it cost, but it's spec'd to my preferences and I'll never sell it.

If you custom-shopped/boutique-built it, it would be +$2k.

I dig this guitar. It reminds me of a Reb Beach that I saw a decade+ ago. Seems like it feels good to play.

[shane88]

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

Truly great guitars are "Found" in almost every case. It doesn't matter who builds it, there's no guarantee that you're going to end up with a great guitar. In fact, I think the odds are against it. After all, how many "Great" guitars are out there?

If you want to build a guitar for the experience and for the fun of it, by all means get started. If you're looking for the best guitar, run the racks.

i'm pretty sure i agree with this :AOK

[bluesjunior]

If you are going to build one with resale value in mind don't bother. If however you want a guitar that you feel will be yours and not an off the shelf model like 1000's of others then go for it. You will definitely feel a deep affinity with a guitar you make yourself that's for sure. Remember also that Eric Claptons famous Blackie was a partscaster put together by Clapton himself which is the main reason why he played it as his number one stage guitar for over thirty years. Here's a photo of mine and to heck with resale value it ain't for sale.

[shane88]

Originally Posted by bluesjunior

Eric Claptons famous Blackie was a partscaster put together by Clapton himself

the difference there is that EC had these parts already rather than ordering from a parts supply
i like the idea of finding a guitar in a pawn shop and using it for the parts which i see as a different thing to ordering new parts from a supplier

[bluesjunior]

Originally Posted by shane88

the difference there is that EC had these parts already rather than ordering from a parts supply
i like the idea of finding a guitar in a pawn shop and using it for the parts which i see as a different thing to ordering new parts from a supplier

Two ways to look at it really. At that time I doubt very much there were any places like Warmoth, Mighty Mite etc, and if I had Claptons money I wouldn't think twice about cannabilizing a few real Fenders if, like him I liked the neck on one and the pups on others. Although Eric did say that the reason he bought those guitars was they were selling for $200 each at the time and so like you do you buy six of them.Diferent strokes I suppose.

[Alvis]

EVH man
I guess it all depends on what you want .I usually want a guitar I can take on the plane,one that can get broke or lost and it wouldn't be a big deal because I could whip up another.Tone is not an issue,'cause it's all in the fingers hahahahaha

O'casters aint rocket science .I for one don't get all the Fender CS stuff.There was no CS in 1960, just surfboards with pickups ,and maybe a whammy bar....
If it were me, I would find me a real light body,a neck that I like and go from there.

I got this MIM HSS strat at a pawnshop for $175. An Allparts fat neck , some Grovers & some pickups from the parts drawer.I didn't really need the Grovers either



A lot of times I just end up with a body somebody gave me .I put together 3 1/2 guitars last week
I would be done with this tele but Im waitin on a neck.I was gonna use a Bigsby B-16 I have layin around but I went with the Jag whammy just to do somethin different



A guy gave me this P-body last summer

[jhumber]

Mines pretty cool: http://creationoffrank.blogspot.com
(Read from the bottom up for full effect )

[bluesjunior]

Nice guitar Frank, Jordan. Now you just need a neck and you can resell the original guitar back on Ebay.

[jhumber]

Originally Posted by bluesjunior

Nice guitar Frank, Jordan. Now you just need a neck and you can resell the original guitar back on Ebay.

Hehe - if only I hadn't sold it off in parts as the new one was built

[RvChevron]

You shouldn't consider a partsocaster based on lower cost because it isn't necessarily so.

I like them because I can get every single details (almost) exactly the way I want and it wouldn't cost less than such and such.