Electric Guitar Kit ST-Style : Wow!

Really please with this kit.

The neck is worth the money alone. Really good quality maple. The fretboard is fine. Spent a lot of time (my choice) on fret polishing and filing the ends to make them really smooth. My wife's emery board was perfect for polishing the fret ends and I used metal polish on a rag wrapped around a pencil eraser (a rubber for you Brits). One fret was a bit high but this knocked back into place easily enough.

I shaped the headstock to a Strat shape using a belt sander clamped to my bench and then finished with sanding pads. This came out perfect. Just rubbed in a bit of oil to finish the newly shaped part which blended in nicely.

Ther are so many ways to paint the body. I wanted Surf Green so had some colour mixed locally. Used oil based paint which was just too slow in drying to be practical, however, after 3 coats I flatted using 2500 grit and then waxed it. It looks great and can have the odd re-wax to keep it looking sharp.

I spent alot of time setting up and it plays very nice. Not keen on the feel of the strings, a bit coarse, so will change when all has bedded in. The pickups sound god, quite hot, however, there is no tone control on the bridge pickup (maybe a wiring issue) but not a big deal, more of a neck pickup man myself.

ALl the screw holes lined up. The bridge could have been half a mm or so over to the bass side but that is me being really picky.

Neck pocket really nice fit. I thought the screws a bit close to the edge but seem ok, they have nipped up ok.

To stain the neck or body you will need to sand off the sealer.

The nut needed no adjustment and the strings don't get caught.

This guitar is to keep in our motorhome so I don't have to risk damaging my Fender Strat when travelling. I am now ready for my next build and will use stains and oil this time.

For the price I can't criticise this kit. However, the white plastics are just a bit 'too white' for my taste. Perhaps they will yellow a bit with time.

So, for £65 inc paint, what's not to like?