The Best DIY Guitar Kits

Most people who want to play the guitar will go out and buy one but building your own guitar can be a very rewarding endeavor. Now I know what you might be thinking there is no way I’ll be able to do something like that!

But building your own guitar is actually easier than you might think thanks to DIY guitar kits. DIY guitar kits are available for both acoustic and electric guitars and they offer plenty of room for personalization.

Many people who play guitar will want their instrument to look and feel unique and DIY guitar kits give you a way to achieve this. So, if a DIY guitar kit sounds like something you’d be interested in what should you do?

There are plenty of different DIY guitar kits available now some are very low-quality which has led to guitar kits getting a somewhat poor reception in some professional circles. But the good news is there are plenty of high-quality DIY guitar kits available as well.

You just need to know what you’re looking for when it comes to buying one. In this guide, we’ll be examining some of the best DIY guitar kits available and we’ll also be sharing our own buying tips as well.

So, without further ado let’s begin with the countdown of our favorite DIY guitar kits.

Top 5 Guitar DIY Kits

Fretwire DIY Electric Guitar Kit

Fretwire is a brand you can rely on when it comes to “do it yourself†electric guitar kits. This kit features a ST-style body and the kit is made from high-quality Alder wood. The neck of the guitar is made from maple as is the high-quality fretboard.

All components are included but you will need some minimal wiring/ electronics experience in order to get everything wired up correctly. However, Fretwire has designed this DIY kit to be as simple as possible and even included downloadable PDF instructions.

The wooden body is beautiful and very high-quality however it is completely raw. This is both a good and bad thing as it gives you more room for customization however it will need to be sanded before you can begin painting/ varnishing it.

A great DIY kit that is perfect for anyone looking to build their own stylish electric guitar.  

+ Raw wood build gives you even more room for customization.
+ Features high-quality components.
– Wiring/ soldering is required which could be difficult for some people.

view on Amazon

Mahogany Electric Guitar DIY Kit

If you want a more personalised electric guitar then this guitar DIY kit is a great choice. Often DIY kits come with their own strings and components which means while you can paint/ design the body of the guitar you can’t do much with the other components.

This DIY kit is different you get an excellent high-quality mahogany body and neck along with a maple wood fretboard. Made from strong and secure woods and professionally carved this DIY guitar kit makes an excellent choice for people new to building their own instruments.

However, you really need to be very experienced to utilise this kit has it doesn’t come with any other components. It is simply the wooden body and neck you’ll need to buy the other components separately which means more room for personalisation but does mean more work for you.

+ High-quality mahogany body.
+ Gives you the maximum room for personalisation and versatility.
– Doesn’t come with the other components you need to build a functioning guitar.

view on Amazon

Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar DIY Kit

Made from high-quality basswood or sapele this acoustic guitar kit is a great way to build a more retro-inspired, stylish guitar. Unusually this DIY guitar kit is available made with two different body type woods either basswood or sapele.

Both body types give you a very distinct and unique look and appearance. But whichever wood you opt for you’ll have plenty of room to decide how you design and personalise the guitar as well. All components are included with the guitar kit and it is designed to be very user-friendly when it comes to construction.

Acoustic DIY guitar kits won’t often require as much building as electric guitars so if you are bit put off by more complex instruments an acoustic DIY kit could be the better option. A great high-quality DIY kit for beginners and veteran players alike.

+ Different wood body types allow you to get a guitar that is more your style.
+ Designed to be easy to build and will be less complex than an electric guitar.  
– Included plastic saddle might not be to everyone’s liking.

view on Amazon

Seismic Audio DIY Guitar

This Seismic DIY guitar is a great all-rounder. It offers the classic electric guitar shape and features all the components you need. This DIY guitar kit is made from solid swamp ash (not a wood commonly seen with DIY guitars) and features a maple neck and fretboard.

This DIY guitar kit looks quite distinct and will be comfortable to hold and play whether you’re a beginner or veteran. The body wood has also been sanded to ensure a smooth look and you can customize it however you want.

While this is a very high-quality DIY guitar kit it will require soldering and wiring work. Due to needing soldering this kit isn’t overly beginner-friendly in our opinion and is best suited for more experienced guitar builders.

+ Made from very strong high-quality wood.
+ Tools are included with the DIY kit.
– Soldering is required which could be difficult for some people.

view on Amazon

Muslady DIY Electric Guitar

With its classic electric guitar bass shape, this DIY guitar kit is sure to make an amazing, unique guitar. All hardware, components, and pickups are included and the guitar features two types of wood to ensure a strong, secure, and comfortable build.

The body is made from basswood while the neck and fingerboard are made from maple. Tools are included but some soldering will be required which could make this DIY guitar kit unsuitable for beginners.

+ Made from two different types of wood which helps ensure a strong build.
– Soldering is required which could be difficult for some people.

view on Walmart

view on Amazon

Buying Tips For DIY Guitar Kits 

So, now we’ve done our countdown of what we think are some of the best DIY guitar kits what else do you really need to know before making a purchase?

Well in this section of our guide we’ll be looking at general buying tips as well as FAQs you need to consider. If you’re new to guitar kits make sure to do your research, don’t rush into buying something even if it seems like a good deal.

Any Soldering/ Wiring?

Even a very user-friendly designed DIY guitar kit will require assembly, but kits aimed at beginners will often not require soldering/ wiring work. However, this won’t always be the case and kits aimed at others will often require soldering/ wiring.

If you aren’t sure how to do this then we advise you to avoid any DIY guitar kits that will require it. Or make sure you put in the time to learn how to solder or wire properly first. Usually, not much soldering/ wiring will be needed but it still best to avoid it if you lack experience.

What Tools Will Be Needed?

Some DIY guitar kits come with their own mini-toolset however you shouldn’t expect this to be the standard. So, make sure you have a set of tools ready to help you actually put your guitar together.

While every kit will be different at the very least you will likely need screwdrivers and spanners has a minimum.  

The Body Shape

Now if you are completely new to guitars you might not put much thought into the actual shape of it. But while some are quite similar there is a lot of variation when it comes to guitar’s body shapes some are better suited for certain playing styles or focus on providing a certain sound.

It’s important to ensure you are buying a kit with a body shape you like and are familiar with so play close attention to the body shape when looking at DIY kits. The good news is there is a huge variety of different DIY guitar kits so finding one in the body shape you like should be relatively easy.

Your Building/ DIY Experience 

Finally, you should always be mindful of your experience when it comes to buying a DIY guitar kit. Some kits will be aimed at complete beginners while others will be aimed at people with a more moderate experience level.

Many DIY guitar kits will list their experience level on their item description so make sure to keep your eyes out for it. We strongly advise you to not buy a DIY kit if it looks too complicated either it might make a great looking guitar but if you don’t have the skills to build it then don’t buy it.

So, this concludes our guide into DIY guitar kits. If you want a guitar that is more unique with room to personalize it however you want then DIY guitar kits are the way to do it. Just make sure you are able to handle the building process.