BYO Guitars kit quality

[Scottz]

Anyone here built either the Lunatic or Quilt top (Wolfgang copy)? I know the electronics are pretty lacking in kits but I was wondering about the body and neck quality.

[Jedi McFly]

I've not heard any consistent reviews of BYOG. The hardware and electronics (as you said) look super cheap.

If you're wanting to build a Wolfgang you'd be better off buying a legit EVH body or having Chris Locke make you a Wolfgang body. Musikraft makes Wolfgang necks as well. Your budget for the project will definitely be higher, but the end result will be much higher quality. You'd probably be paying between $400-$500 for the body and neck from Locke/Musikraft. But then you get to add quality hardware and electronics on top of that. Wolfgang Standard bodies sell for $100-$200 on eBay. Or you could score a full guitar for around $400 and mod the hell out of it - which I've done.

[Team Edward]

I've not heard any consistent reviews of BYOG. The hardware and electronics (as you said) look super cheap.

If you're wanting to build a Wolfgang you'd be better off buying a legit EVH body or having Chris Locke make you a Wolfgang body. Musikraft makes Wolfgang necks as well. Your budget for the project will definitely be higher, but the end result will be much higher quality. You'd probably be paying between $400-$500 for the body and neck from Locke/Musikraft. But then you get to add quality hardware and electronics on top of that. Wolfgang Standard bodies sell for $100-$200 on eBay. Or you could score a full guitar for around $400 and mod the hell out of it - which I've done.

Does Locke make one based on the Peavey model, as well?

[Jedi McFly]

Does Locke make one based on the Peavey model, as well?

I'm not 100% sure, but you should definitely ask him. He's pretty accommodating.

http://lockecustomguitars.com/

[Team Edward]

I'm not 100% sure, but you should definitely ask him. He's pretty accommodating.

http://lockecustomguitars.com/

Thank you!

[Dave not David]

I have one of their kits, my second electric guitar. It was the EVH/MusicMan kit thy sold before Ernie Ball shut that down. Upgraded the nut and bridge and pickups, but it is a cool guitar. Currently at a buddy's getting painted (again)

[nobozos]

I don't have experience with any of their EVH style kits, but I did build a Les Paul kit from BYO. I would say the overall quality of the woodworking was good. Routes were clean and everything seemed right. The wood quality was probably just as good as any manufacturer out there. The body and neck are completely unfinished, and need finish sanding and filling. I will say that even though the figured top was veneer, the veneer covered a significant slab of real maple over the mahogany body. I didn't expect that, so the tone is excellent.

Now the down side. You can pretty much take all of the hardware and electronics and throw them in the garbage. In addition, if you want it to play right, take the neck to get it re-fretted as soon as you take it out of the box. The frets were fairly level, but the fretwire is crap. The fret dressing was pretty in-line with what you would find on a Bullet Strat. You could live with it, but you won't be happy.

I guess my evaluation based on my experience is that it has good bones to build off of, but that's about it. I believe the Lunatic is part of their "Custom Shop" line of kits, which may have a little better fretwork on it, but mine was a regular kit and it was crap. That Lunatic kit isn't cheap either, so I think you could probably find better pieces from different builders out there for about the same price as the kit.

Full disclosure on my Les Paul kit though, it is probably the best sounding guitar that I have. Granted, I have used completely different electronics and hardware on it, but it sounds great.

[Scottz]

Thanks for the info. I think I'd rather build up a KNE GGG body actually.