Are you contemplating building your own guitar? If the question is whether constructing an Lp Guitar Kit is a worthwhile endeavor, the resounding answer is yes. Delving into the world of guitar kits reveals a fascinating truth about the instrument industry. Mass-produced, factory guitars often prioritize aesthetics over inherent quality. A commercially available guitar priced at $500 might very well be assembled from components comparable to a $150 kit, with a significant portion of the cost attributed to elaborate finishes and visual appeal. It’s akin to skillfully applying makeup to enhance appearance for the camera, a financially driven approach that sometimes overshadows the intrinsic beauty of quality materials and craftsmanship. Opting for an lp guitar kit allows you to prioritize substance and personalize your instrument from the ground up.
Why Choose an LP Guitar Kit? Unveiling the Advantages
Choosing an lp guitar kit offers several compelling benefits for guitar enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced players. It’s not just about saving money; it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of your instrument and achieving a personalized outcome.
Quality Components and Cost-Effectiveness
As highlighted earlier, the price of factory-made guitars often reflects marketing and finishing more than component quality. With an lp guitar kit, you gain more control over the core elements of your instrument. While you can certainly choose budget-friendly kits, investing in a reputable lp guitar kit can provide you with higher quality woods and hardware for a fraction of the cost of a comparable brand-name guitar. You’re essentially paying for the materials and components, not the brand markup and factory finishing labor.
Hands-On Experience and Customization
Building an lp guitar kit is an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s a journey of learning and creation where you actively participate in crafting your instrument. This hands-on process provides invaluable insights into guitar construction, from neck joints and fretwork to wiring and finishing. Furthermore, an lp guitar kit serves as a fantastic platform for customization. You have the freedom to choose your preferred finish, hardware upgrades, and even modify certain aspects of the design (within the kit’s parameters) to truly make it your own.
Precision and Fast LP Guitar Kits: Setting the Standard for Success
When it comes to lp guitar kits that ensure a smoother building process and excellent results, Precision Guitar Kits and their sister company, Fast Guitars, stand out as highly recommended options. These kits are known for their superior tolerances, making assembly significantly easier and more foolproof, especially for first-time builders.
Superior Tolerances for Easier Assembly
One of the key advantages of Precision and Fast lp guitar kits is their precise manufacturing. Tighter tolerances mean components fit together more accurately, minimizing potential headaches during assembly. Gluing joints, positioning tuners and bridges, and ensuring proper neck alignment become much more straightforward. While no kit is entirely error-proof – mistakes can happen if best practices aren’t followed – the inherent precision of these kits greatly reduces the chances of assembly issues arising from kit quality itself.
Less Prep Work for Finishing
Another significant benefit of Precision lp guitar kits is the reduced amount of preparation required before finishing. Many other kits may arrive with dings, chips, or a generally rougher surface, demanding extensive sanding and repair work. Precision kits, in contrast, typically require only fine sanding, saving you time and effort and allowing you to move more quickly to the exciting stage of applying your chosen finish to your lp guitar kit.
Refinishing Flexibility: A Long-Term Advantage
While some guitar kits utilize veneers to enhance the visual appeal of the top wood, Precision lp guitar kits often offer solid wood construction or thicker veneers that provide greater refinishing flexibility. If you opt for a kit with a thinner veneer, refinishing can be risky as you might sand through the veneer layer. However, with a Precision kit, you have the option to refinish your guitar down the line without such concerns. This is particularly valuable if your initial finish isn’t perfect or if you simply want to change the look of your lp guitar kit after years of playing. This refinishing capability makes solid wood or thicker veneer kits a more sensible choice for non-production instruments where longevity and customization are valued.
High-Quality Fretwork Out of the Box
Fretwork is a crucial aspect of guitar playability. Cheaper guitar kits often require significant fret leveling and dressing to achieve optimal playability. Precision lp guitar kits, however, are reputed to have excellent fretwork straight out of the box. This saves you considerable time and potentially the cost of professional fretwork, allowing you to enjoy playing your newly built lp guitar kit sooner.
Smart Buying Tip: Consider Blemished Kits for Extra Value
For budget-conscious builders seeking even greater value, consider exploring blemished Precision lp guitar kits. Precision Guitar Kits often offers “blem” kits at discounted prices. These kits typically have minor cosmetic imperfections in the maple top, such as slight figuring flaws. While perhaps not ideal for creating a perfect replica of a vintage “59 burst” finish, these blemishes are purely cosmetic and won’t affect the structural integrity or playability of your lp guitar kit. Blemished kits provide an excellent opportunity to acquire a high-quality lp guitar kit at a more affordable price, perfect for experimenting with different finishes and building a fantastic instrument without breaking the bank.
Conclusion: Embark on Your LP Guitar Building Journey
Building an lp guitar kit, especially a Precision or Fast kit, is a highly recommended path for guitarists seeking a rewarding and personalized musical experience. It offers a cost-effective route to a quality instrument, provides invaluable hands-on building experience, and allows for extensive customization. By choosing a reputable lp guitar kit, you’re setting yourself up for success in creating an instrument you can be proud of and enjoy playing for years to come.
