You might be a veteran electric guitar player or it might be the first time you’re going experience the joys of playing the musical instrument; nonetheless, many musicians choose to build their own electric guitars with the use of a kit as opposed to buying a built equipment off of a store shelf. Why? It’s because it’s cheaper that way.
Even if you already know your way around playing an electric guitar, it might be a new experience for you if you try building the instrument with the aid of a kit. Creating a musical instrument from a kit is a very different experience from buying the fully-built guitar from a store. For one thing, you can’t play the unit as soon as you get home. On the flip side, you’re going to save a lot of money in return. If this is your first time to use a DIY electric guitar kit, then here’s what you need to know to make the experience highly memorable and the outcome to be as great as it can possibly be.
Rewiring the Guitar Jack
Wiring mods and pickup installations can become complicated, but learning how to do common pot and jack repairs can make your life easier when modding or creating an electric guitar with the help of a kit. If you do, then it’ll save you a lot of time, money, and, most importantly, all the frustration that comes along with it. When rewiring the guitar jack, only use a soldering iron around the electronics portion of the guitar. If you use it on pickups, then it’ll demagnetize these elements. Also, take advantage of a good pair of tweezers and a wire stripper as it’ll make your job a whole lot easier than using other conventional tools.
Setting the Guitar’s Action and Intonation
You can always practice setting the intonation and action of an electric guitar with another unit if you’re not too familiar with this particular task. However, there’s an all-important tool for this segment of the DIY electric guitar building process – an accurate tuner. Most electronic tuners can get the job done right. You don’t even need a strobe-style tuner, not unless you’re a true perfectionist for the sound coming out of the instrument. Other tools required for the job include hex keys and screwdrivers.
Setting the Intonation on an Electric Guitar
When you’re intonating an electric guitar, know that the process isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Start by holding the already-tuned guitar vertically just like what you would do when you’re playing it. Now, test the note found at the 12th fret. If the sound emitted is sharp, then move it back until it’s properly in tune. However, if the note comes out flat, then move the string saddle forward instead.
Building an electric guitar using a kit and DIY methods might take a while, and it does have a bit of a learning curve involved, but all your hard work will pay off in the end.
