Building a guitar kit wasn’t just a fun weekend project. It helped me truly grasp the inner workings of an electric guitar, and how all the parts come together.
Best Guitar Kits | Best Guitar Kits Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
 | 90 | 870+ | |||
 | 87 | 300+ | |||
 | 87 | 200+ | |||
 | 84 | 990+ | |||
 | 80 | 8 |
*Gearank = Rating score out of 100.
**Sources = Number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed for these product Gearank Ratings.
Research Process: How Gearank Works
Building my first kit taught me more about setup, tone, and hardware than years of just playing and tweaking ever did. I ended up botching some aspects, like misaligning the neck. But fixing the issues was part of the fun and learning; everything made more sense after.
These days, I genuinely recommend DIY guitar kits to musicians who want to understand their instrument from the inside out. The best DIY guitar kits come with pre-shaped, pre-drilled parts, so you don’t need a woodworking shop. Just a bit of patience and curiosity. They’re perfect whether you’re trying to customize your tone, build a dream axe from scratch, or just want a solid introduction to the guts of a guitar.
In this guide, I’ve rounded up the best guitar build kits based on real-world feedback from hobbyists and pros alike. Whether you’re choosing a classic single cut, a Strat style body, or something more modern, these do it yourself guitar kits give you everything you need to get started without the guesswork of matching neck pockets to scale lengths or hunting down compatible hardware.
Each build your own guitar kit featured here comes with the essentials: body, neck, hardware, and electronics, plus a blank canvas to make it truly yours. Some of these are used by seasoned modders who swap out pickups and fine-tune the wiring, while others are great first steps for anyone looking to build a guitar kit for the first time.
This guide focuses strictly on 6 string electric guitar kits. If you’re on the hunt for a 7 string option or something ultra niche, this list won’t cover that. But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and build something that actually teaches you how guitars work, you’re in the right place.
Best Guitar Build Kits
BexGears DIY Electric Guitar Build Kit – S-Style
The BexGears S-Style is a solid do-it-yourself guitar kit, with good quality wood and hardware. It offers an affordable way to assemble your own Strat-style guitar.
At publication time, this was the Highest Rated DIY Guitar Kit for the second Edition in a row!
Pros:
- Affordable for a Strat-style guitar kit
- Decent Okoume, and maple neck, composite wood
- Pre-drilled body and pre-wired pickguard for easier assembly
- Clear instructions with photos
- Comparable sound quality to pricier models
- Fret ends and machine bushings require some work
- Visible pre-filled spots
- Tricky pickguard fitting
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The BexGears S-Style kit features a body made from Okoume wood and a maple neck with a composite fingerboard. Okoume provides the warm tone typical of mahogany but at a lower cost.
The body is pre-drilled and aligns with the classic Strat shape. This DIY kit includes a pre-wired pickguard with three single-coil pickups, a 5-way selector switch, and standard volume and tone controls.
The instructions are clear and feature colored photos, making the assembly process straightforward—especially helpful if you’re new to do it yourself guitar projects.
Once set up, the guitar delivers sound quality comparable to that of more expensive, ready-made models.
However, there may be a few issues to watch out for. The body finish, particularly with pre-filled spots could be noticeable if you plan to stain or paint the guitar.
Fitting the pickguard can also be tricky due to some routing inconsistencies. Additionally, installing the tuning machine bushings can be challenging, and the fret ends can use some smoothing.
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable and manageable project, this do it yourself guitar kit is a good starting point for building a Strat-style guitar.
Rated 5/10 in terms of building difficulty, this kit is suitable for those with basic DIY skills and some guitar knowledge. While it might require some work to get it just right, for the price, it’s quite nice.
- Building Difficulty: 5/10
- Body: Stratocaster
- Tonewood: Okoume
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Composite
- Pickups: SSS (Three Singlecoils)
- Controls: Volume, 2 x Tone, 5-way Pickup Selector
BexGears DIY Electric Guitar Build Kit – TL-Style
The BexGears do it yourself guitar kit offers an accessible and cost-effective way to build a custom Telecaster-style guitar. For the price, it is surprisingly resonant and responsive.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Good resonance and warmth
- Simplified assembly
- Drilling and alignment inconsistency
- Basic hardware
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At an affordable price, the BexGears DIY Tele presents good value for those looking to craft their own electric guitar. The kit features an Okoume body, an economical substitute for mahogany that still delivers good resonance and warmth.
It also includes a maple bolt on neck with a composite ebony fretboard, making it a practical option for a do it yourself guitar project without compromising much on sound quality.
The kit comes with a pickguard, bridge saddle, and pre-fitted single-coil pickups, known for their bright, twangy Telecaster tones.
However, there are a few drawbacks, such as inconsistencies in drilling and alignment, which may require additional effort to correct.
The electronics and chrome hardware, while functional, may not be exceptional as well. It has mid tuners, typical of a build a guitar kit in this price range.
Overall, the BexGears DIY TL Style kit is a fun and engaging project. Assembly should be relatively straightforward, even for those with minimal experience.
It offers a rewarding experience and the potential for a satisfying final instrument, though it may require some extra work and upgrades.
- Building Difficulty: 5/10
- Body: Telecaster
- Tonewood: Okoume
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Composite ebony
- Pickups: SS (Two Singlecoil)
- Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-way Pickup Selector
Saga TC-10 DIY Electric Guitar Build Kit – TL-Style
The Saga TC-10 DIY Tele kit offers solid components, making it a nice, budget-friendly option for those ready to do some custom guitar work. It does sound good with the default hardware, but gets better as you swap out parts.
Pros:
- Affordable and great for beginners
- Pre-fretted fingerboard and pre-wired electronics simplify assembly
- Includes hardware, strings, and a cable
- Good sound quality for the price
- May require extra sanding and adjustments
- Blank headstock needs shaping
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The Saga TC-10 DIY Tele kit might cost a bit more than previous models, but it’s still a relatively cost-effective way to learn how to build your own guitar kit.
It features a solid mahogany body and maple neck, offering a warmer tone compared to the Okuome build of the aforementioned models. The pre-wired electronics save you from soldering, though it’s still wise to check the connections.
The kit includes nickel-plated hardware, a set of strings, and a guitar cable, so you can start playing right after assembly. The stock pickups deliver a punchy rhythm and twangy lead tones, ideal for punk and rock, and perform better than expected for the price.
The body and neck are solid for the price, though still not quite on par with mid-priced factory-made guitars.
However, you might need to do some additional work. Issues like pilot holes not aligning and the need for extra sanding and refinishing are common.
The headstock is blank, allowing for further customization, but it can be tricky if you’re not familiar with woodworking, and don’t have the proper tools.
Overall, the TC-10 kit is a good starting point if you’re looking to build a guitar kit for a tele-style guitar. It may require more work, but it offers opportunities for upgrades and customization.
- Building Difficulty: 7/10
- Body: Telecaster
- Tonewood: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: SS (Two Singlecoil)
- Controls: Tone, Volume, 3-Way Pickup selector
Leo Jaymz DIY Electric Guitar Build Kit – ST-Style
The Leo Jaymz ST Style do it yourself guitar kit offers the most affordable option for those interested in assembling their own Strat guitar.
Pros:
- Mahogany body and neck for good sustain and warm tone
- Pre-drilled cavities and clear instructions
- Classic Strat design
- Requires some woodworking
- Adjustments to intonation, and bridge height
- Decent but might need fine-tuning
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The Leo Jaymz DIY ST Style is the most budget-friendly option on this list, featuring a mahogany body and neck that provides decent sustain and a warm tone.
The rosewood fretboard features pearl dot inlays and a long scale length with standard number of frets (21).
The body design is similar to a Strat, offering both comfort and the classic appearance of classic electric guitars.
The cavities for pickups and control knobs are pre-drilled, and the included instructions with pictures make the process relatively straightforward.
All necessary wiring, screws, and a set of strings are provided. But, the headstock will need shaping, which requires some basic woodworking skills and the right tools.
In terms of electronics, the kit includes an SSS pickup configuration—three single coils—providing the flexibility to play twangy as well as crunchy rock tunes.
While the guitar’s sound quality is decent for the price, you might need to make some adjustments to the intonation and bridge height to get it playing the way you want.
Overall, this do it yourself guitar kit strikes a good balance between ease of assembly and customization. This makes it suitable for both beginners and those with some experience, especially if you’re in a pinch.
- Building Difficulty: 6/10
- Body: SuperStrat
- Tonewood: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: SSS (Three Singlecoils)
- Controls: Volume, 2 x Tone
Solo PRK-1 DIY Electric Guitar Build Kit – PR-Style
The Solo PRK-1 do it yourself guitar kit offers everything you need to assemble your own PRS Style guitar. This kit looks much better with good finish work.
Pros:
- Complex wood cutting and shaping done
- High quality woods
- Stable hardware
- Neck requires additional work
- Basic tools
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The Solo PRK-1 DIY PR Style Kit is a straightforward project that requires only basic tools and finishing supplies.
The more complex tasks like wood cutting, drilling, shaping, and fret leveling have already been handled. So you can focus on the assembly and finishing touches.
The kit features a mahogany body with a flamed maple veneer top, providing a solid foundation for both tone and aesthetics.
The maple neck, paired with a rosewood fingerboard, comes unfinished, allowing for customization to suit your liking.
Equipped with two humbucker pickups and a 3-way toggle switch, it offers a nice range of tone options with separate volume and tone controls.
Meanwhile, the Tune-o-matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece ensure the guitar holds its tuning and offers good sustain.
Rated at a moderate difficulty level of about 6/10, the kit is accessible whether you’re new to guitar building or have some experience.
The instructions are clear, guiding you through the process while still leaving room to make the instrument your own.
While the price is comparable to a mid-quality pre-made electric guitar and is nearly double that of most other kits, the Solo PRK-1 is worth considering.
It’s a great option if you want to build high-quality guitar kits or have a guitar that truly represents your personal style and preferences.
- Building Difficulty: 6/10
- Body: PRS Style
- Tonewood: Mahogany body with flame maple top
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Pickups: HH (Two Humbuckers)
- Controls: Volume, 2 x Tone
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Guitar Kits
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Guitar Kits
Style and Profile
One of the best parts about building your own guitar kit is making something that actually fits you. So when it comes to body shape and style, go with what feels right in your hands and what you’ll be excited to pick up. Classic shapes are a safe bet for a reason, they’ve earned their popularity, but don’t be afraid to browse a little deeper. Sometimes a design you’ve never played before ends up being the one that really inspires you. Also, if you’re a lefty or building for one, it’s worth checking out our guide on left-handed vs right-handed guitars to make sure you’re getting what you need.
Wood Quality and Parts Alignment
Even with the better kits out there, quality control can vary, especially when you’re ordering online. First thing I do when a new kit shows up is lay out all the parts and check the wood and the pre-drilled holes. If those aren’t lined up right, you’re going to have a frustrating build. Most kits come with an unfinished body, so that opens the door for creativity, and a little extra work. If you’re going to do your own finish, you’ll definitely want to brush up on the basics of guitar painting before you start sanding away.
Build Difficulty
Building a guitar kit is way easier than starting from raw lumber, but not every kit is beginner-friendly. Bolt-on neck kits with pre-soldered electronics are the easiest to get going with. On the other hand, set-neck or semi-hollow builds take a bit more care and patience. Personally, I’ve yet to see a DIY neck-through guitar kit that I’d recommend for a first-timer, it’s just a whole different level of commitment. But whatever you choose, the cool part is that you’re learning by doing. And with so many helpful videos and forums out there, there’s no reason not to go for it if the design speaks to you.
Tools
Before diving in, make sure you’ve got the basic tools ready, things like screwdrivers, pliers, and a soldering iron if the kit doesn’t come pre-wired. Depending on the build, you might also need wood glue, clamps, or even a Dremel or router if you plan to mod it a bit. And if you’re planning to do your own paint job, you’ll need sandpaper, sealant, primer, and your paint of choice. Having a decent workspace really helps, I like to keep a clean table set up in the garage where I can make a mess and not worry about it too much.
Upgrade Options
Let’s be real, stock parts in budget kits usually get the job done, but if you want better tone or tuning stability, upgrades are the way to go. Swapping out the pickups is often the biggest game-changer. Some of the best tones I’ve gotten out of kits came after installing cheap but solid pickups that were a huge step up from the stock set. You can also replace tuners, nuts, and even the bridge if you’re aiming for better sustain or tuning. That’s half the fun, tinkering and dialing in a guitar that feels right for you. If you need help getting started on that front, check out these tips for buying an affordable electric guitar for some useful upgrade insights.
Best DIY Guitar Kits Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in 2017. The current edition was published in 2025.
We’ve been publishing this guide since 2017, and from the beginning, our focus has been on recommending affordable DIY guitar kits that are easy to find online, especially from US-based retailers.
To narrow things down, we started by looking at the most popular and well-reviewed kits on the market. We then analyzed over 5,600 user and expert reviews using the Gearank Algorithm. Each kit received a Gearank score out of 100 based on aggregated feedback, which helped us rank the most consistently reliable options. If you’re curious about how we calculate those scores, check out our page on How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Lead Author & Researcher
Contributors
Jerome Arcon: Research and supplemental writing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.
Media / Image Credit
Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of the Saga LC-10 and Ammoon V-Style.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials, or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.
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Comments:
17 responses
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We’ve removed the TheFretWire DIY Electric Guitar Kit TFW027 – W Style due to it being discontinued.
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We have removed the following kit due to being discontinued: TheFretWire DIY Electric Guitar Kit TFW010 – Double Cut
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We have removed the following kit due to being discontinued: TheFretwire DIY Electric Guitar Kit – LP Mahogany.
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Publication of our May 2021 edition resulted in the following kits coming off the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
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I am looking for 2 different ones. I want to get a Mosrite Ventures kit, and also a very good Stratocaster kit. Thanks, send me an email about which site I can find them on. I have not seen the Mosrite at all yet.
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Hi Michael,
We don’t send out emails, instead we publish our recommendations in the guide above.
We don’t have any Mos style options on our recommended list at present, and the Strat style kits we currently recommend are the ones you see above.
Jason.
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So, these kits cost the same as an entry-level Ibanez. Would a new entry-level Ibanez Gio have better neck & fret quality than these cheap kits? Would the Ibanez have better tuners and pickups? You see, I’m not sure if I’m paying for the privilege to assemble a guitar, or saving money by assembling myself. The first would mean the Ibanez is better. The second would mean the kit is better. Thanks to COVID I can’t go to my local music store and look at an Ibanez Gio myself 🙁
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Brian May and his father hand built his guitar and it became the famous Red Express giving Queen their iconic guitar sound.
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If you’re buying a kit then the presumption I think, is that you have a little know how with some hand tools. Being able to construct, setup and finish your own piece is highly satisfying! It really has nothing to do with making a cheap purchase and comparing a/b. I buy parts and put guitars together all the time with various degrees of success but boy is it fun!!
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I actually just bought a Gio. Specifically a GRG7221QA (7-string). Paid £194. And surprisingly its pretty well made. The body/neck fit is is excellent and the body feels solid and the neck is sublime (typical Ibanez). It’s let down by awful pickups and pots. I put in some Dimarzio D-activators and CTS pots and boy oh boy, this guitar can now sing and scream like guitars four times the price. I’d like to build a kit one day and I figure that if the wood is up to spec then I can slap in some quality pickups and have an amazing guitar. The Gio is a lot less work though…
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Guitar kits can be thought of as a way to have a lot of fun putting your own personalized guitar together, where quality is in no small part up to you, rather than as a way to save money.
If this doesn’t seem like a fun DIY project for you, then you’re probably better off going with an Ibanez GIO GRX20Z, which is an excellent choice that last year we announced was the Highest Rated Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $200.
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As a result of our October 2019 update the following guitar kits came off our recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
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Kit guitars are the way to go today. Build to your preference and to your standards. Like, feel love music and equipment.
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For reviews and building tips I suggest the you-tube channel Guns and Guitars. He’s built quite a few kits and also shows how to make some helpful tools that can save a few bucks.
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As a result of our March 2018 update the following guitar kits were removed from the recommended list above:
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Can u get the amino flying v kit with block inlays in the neck and is it set neck or bolt on? Thank u..
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It seems that the Ammoon Flying V kit is sold out – I had a look around but couldn’t find any Flying V kits that are available at the moment.
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