Building your own guitar is a great experience and makes the instrument all your own. An electric or acoustic DIY guitar build kit also allows you to learn how a guitar works and how to repair it piece-by-piece. What are the best build-your-own guitar kits?
Our top 10 best DIY guitar kits are as follows:
- DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars – Click here to see it on Amazon – Our #1 Top Pick!
- Bex Gears DIY Electric Guitar Kit for ST Electric Guitar – Click here to see it on Amazon
- TL Style Electric Guitar Kit
- Electric Guitar Kit for Jazz Bass Guitar
- StewMac Dreadnought Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Building Kit
- Zimo Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar Kit
- Baosity Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty “The Chicago” Electric 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty The”Reso-Plate” 3-String License Plate Resonator Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty “Tin Pan Alley” 3-String Paint Can Resonator Guitar Kit
Read on to learn more about these excellent DIY guitar kits, including the specs and features for each.
Also, take a look at our top pick on Amazon, the DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars, to see its great reviews and price:
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Best Build-Your-Own DIY Guitar Kits
1. DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars
First on our list of the best DIY guitar kits is the DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars is our top pick on our list of the best DIY guitar kits. Like any good and reliable DIY set, it comes with everything you need. It’s set up to fit perfectly like a factory-made guitar. The body is made of Okoume wood with a composite ebony fingerboard and maple neck. As a matter of fact, maple is one of the most widely used woods for guitar necks.
Everything fits beautifully and is a lot of fun to put together. So, you won’t have any trouble with the assembly. It’s also nice to finish it yourself as it gives you a little more control over the finished product, making this DIY electric guitar kit one of the best kits you will find.
Since the wood is unfinished, it may require a bit of sanding and some finish coating. On the positive side, it gives you the freedom to add any finish you want. The body is also pre-drilled for easy fitting, ensuring no detailed woodworking.
This DIY guitar kit includes a butter-colored pickguard, 2 humbuckers, necessary wiring, 3-way switch, and control knobs.
- Pre-drilled holes
- Okoume wood body
- Maple neck
- Composite ebony fingerboard
- Curved top with mahogany veneer cover
- Right-hand orientation
- H configuration
- Tremolo bridge
- 6 strings
2. Bex Gears DIY Electric Guitar Kit for ST Electric Guitar
Next on our list of the best DIY guitar kits is the Bex Gears DIY Electric Guitar Kit for ST Electric Guitar.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Right now, this is one of my favorite DIY guitar kits, as it will help you build the famous Stratocaster guitar look-alike. It uses basswood in the body and fretboard, with a maple neck. Of course, the basswood material is pretty ideal for painting your own designs or colors as well.
This ST DIY build-your-own electric guitar kit comes with all the necessary items needed to make the guitar into one proper playable instrument. These items include volume control, 2 two dual-coil pickups, and a 3-way selector. The toggle on this selector also allows for easy switching. It has a dual tremolo bridge system as well.
For the sound, it’s more of a rocker metal type sound, which is something first-time electric guitar players would really appreciate. When it comes to the fretboard, there are 21 frets on the neck of this guitar. It comes with a standard 6 strings too.
- Stratocaster-style (ST) guitar
- Unfinished basswood body
- Maple neck
- White pickguard
- Dual tremolo bridge system
- 6 strings
3. TL Style Electric Guitar Kit
Another excellent DIY guitar starter kit is the TL Style Electric Guitar Kit.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This DIY guitar kit is based on the Telecaster. Musicians would die to get a Telecaster for their rig. But getting one can be a significant investment, and if you’re on a budget, this DIY guitar kit should be the best solution for you.
This kit provides all the necessary accessories to build a Telecaster guitar. It includes an Okoume body, a maple neck, a composite ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, pre-dilled holes, and bridge single-coil pickups, strings, and sealed tuning pegs.
Telecasters have a 5-star rating as they provide superior sound, especially on clean tones. I’ve tested the sound on the guitar, and there’s nothing to complain about. I also liked that this guitar is easy to tune and stays in tune even after long hours of play.
This kit is a perfect gift for beginners, including professionals who want a guitar to use for gigs and other professional setups. Above all, it’s easy to assemble, and if you are an experienced musician, building this shouldn’t be too difficult since you have the manual with you.
- Natural finish on the body
- Smooth neck
- Looks like a Telecaster
- Pre-drilled headstock
- Ready-to-use outside the box
4. Electric Guitar Kit for Jazz Bass Guitar
Next on our list of the best DIY guitar kits is the Electric Guitar Kit for Jazz Bass Guitar.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
Although most discussions around building DIY guitar kits tend to focus on 6 and 7 string guitars, electric bass guitar kits can also be a lot of fun to work on.
This Electric Guitar Kit for Jazz Bass Guitar has everything you need except for some basic tools and finishing supplies. The package includes all parts and step-by-step instructions to build a complete, playable custom guitar. What’s more, all challenging wood cutting, drilling, and shaping are already professionally done, including fret leveling and dressing.
- Easy assembly
- Unpolished solid Okoume wood body
- Maple neck
- Composite ebony fingerboard
- 3-ply pickguard with a black middle layer
- Great bass for the money
5. StewMac Dreadnought Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Building Kit
The StewMac Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Kit is our top build-your-own acoustic guitar kit on our list.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This kit has a full-size blueprint modeled after the prized vintage Martin to show exactly how every part fits. Its instruction book is also a short course in guitar making by luthiers Dan Erlewine and Todd Sams. These guitar makers will guide you through a step-by-step DVD, which is included in the kit, to build your guitar successfully from start to finish.
This DIY guitar kit includes precisely machined, precut, AAA-grade tonewoods (spruce top with soundhole and rosette, carved mahogany neck) and solid ebony, pre-slotted fingerboard.
- With a full-size blueprint and bracing template
- Spiral-bound instruction booklet and DVD
- Solid AAA tonewoods: spruce, Indian rosewood, and mahogany
- Carved mahogany neck
- Solid ebony fingerboard, bridge, and overlays
- Precut heavy cardboard molds for hassle-free body assembly
6. Zimo Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar Kit
The Zimo Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar Kit is next on our list for the best DIY guitar kit.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
With the Zimo Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar Kit, you can paint your guitar using the color and pattern you want. You can also add graffiti (your name or favorite pattern) to make a unique instrument.
This acoustic guitar bundle can be a professional guitar kit for experienced players and a guitar starter for first-time players. It can also be used as an adult guitar, student guitar, and children’s guitar, suitable for ages 12 and above.
- Sapele/basswood body
- Okoume neck
- Fully enclosed knob
- Plastic saddle
- 21 frets and 6 pcs. steel guitar strings
- Superb playability and brilliant sound
- Suitable for both children and adults
7. Baosity Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Kit
Next on our list of the best DIY guitar kit is the Baosity Acoustic Guitar Kit.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This kit is on a level with the ones from StewMac, with one exception: the back and sides are laminated mahogany and not solid. It features a spruce wood body, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Overall, it’s a 41-inch acoustic guitar with the same quality as more expensive kits with bracing, bindings, kerfing, and bridge.
- Spruce wood body
- Mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Smooth surface
- Easy to paint
- Plastic nut and bridge
8. C. B. Gitty “The Chicago” Electric 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit
The C. B. Gitty “The Chicago” Electric 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit is another top choice on our best DIY guitar kit list.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
This deluxe DIY guitar kit includes everything you need to build an amazing-sounding heirloom quality 3-string electric cigar box guitar. In fact, this kit includes detailed instructions written by Glenn Watt himself.
But this one is a more advanced kit geared toward experienced DIY makers and woodworkers. Some more advanced techniques are used during construction that benefit greatly from both woodworking and cigar box guitar building experience.
So even if it has all the essential items you need, access to a decently equipped workshop is highly recommended. Having some scrap wood available for bracing is also recommended.
- Beautifully handcrafted 25″ scale
- Cigar box body
- Hardwood neck
- H Configuration
- Steel strings
- Ambidextrous hand orientation
- Intermediate-level kit (requires more woodworking skill than other basic kits)
9. C. B. Gitty The”Reso-Plate” 3-String License Plate Resonator Guitar Kit
Next on our list for the best DIY guitar kits is the C. B. Gitty The”Reso-Plate” 3-String License Plate Resonator Guitar Kit.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The “Reso-Plate” Resonator Guitar Kit has a full, rich resonator sound ideal for playing different music genres, including Blues, Folk, and Country. It’s easy to assemble with a real license plate for the resonator. Also, it’s ready to be painted, stained, wood burned, decorated, and customized. You can even build it left-handed.
No advanced woodworking is required with this guitar, except for some basic clamping, light drilling, and screw insertion. So it’s a breeze to build your very own 4-string tenor guitar.
Assembly time may take 3-4 hours, excluding glue set-up time. It’s recommended for ages 16 and up, although younger kids can help build this guitar with close adult supervision. This DIY guitar kit comes in a “blank slate” form of bare plywood, which can be painted and customized desired. Additionally, a full-color copy of one of Ben Gitty’s Essential Chords Posters is included in this kit.
- Easy assembly
- No advanced woodworking required
- Detailed how-to guide
- Engineered wood body
- Plywood back
- Poplar neck
- Phosphor bronze strings
- Tremolo guitar bridge system
10. C. B. Gitty “Tin Pan Alley” 3-String Paint Can Resonator Guitar Kit
Next on our list of the best DIY guitar kit is the C. B. Gitty “Tin Pan Alley” 3-String Paint Can Resonator Guitar Kit.
Click here to see it on Amazon.
The “Tin Pan Alley” guitar kit from C. B. Gitty is a joy to build and play. Even without an electric pickup, it has a powerful sound to it. This DIY guitar kit is a great project to do with your kids.
It’s easy to assemble and delivers the iconic classic metallic Delta Blues tone. C. B. Gitty has indeed successfully produced this affordable, easy-to-build 3-string resonator guitar using simple hand tools.
It’s also a “blank slate” style of kit with an unfinished box and neck. So, how you personalize your “Tin Pan Alley” Resonator Guitar is up to you. Staining, painting, decoupaging, wood-burning, or inking–the possibilities are nearly endless.
- Unfinished box
- Small, maple banjo-style bridge
- Fully fretted
- 25-inch scale
- 3-string neck
- Easy assembly
- Customizable
- Includes a 1-gallon paint can lid
Conclusion – Best DIY Guitar Kits – Build-Your-Own – Electric and Acoustic [Reviews]
So to recap, what is the best DIY guitar kit? Our top 10 best DIY build-your-own guitar kits are as follows:
- DIY Electric Guitar Kit for LP Guitars – Click here to see it on Amazon – Our #1 Top Pick!
- Bex Gears DIY Electric Guitar Kit for ST Electric Guitar – Click here to see it on Amazon
- TL Style Electric Guitar Kit
- Electric Guitar Kit for Jazz Bass Guitar
- StewMac Dreadnought Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Building Kit
- Zimo Acoustic Steel Strings Guitar Kit
- Baosity Build-Your-Own Acoustic Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty “The Chicago” Electric 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty The”Reso-Plate” 3-String License Plate Resonator Guitar Kit
- C. B. Gitty “Tin Pan Alley” 3-String Paint Can Resonator Guitar Kit
Related reading:
Best Acoustic Guitar Kits – Accessory Bundles [Reviews]
Best Electronic Drum Set / Kit [Reviews]
Best Acoustic Guitar Bundles (with Accessories) [Reviews]