First Kit Build - Multi-Scale Headless 8-String
First time dabbling in the luthier world so please be gentle. I made plenty of mistakes along the way, learned a ton, and have a new appreciation for the pros who do this with some real integrity. Kit is from "Combine Guitars". Decent hardware for being less than $600 (Canadian). Alder body. Maple neck. Used black-dyed grain filler and then sanded back. Water-based dyes for the burst. Finished with about 15 layers of nitro. Neck was just sanded and then treated with Tru-Oil. Lemon oil on the fretboard. Setup took about as long as the build itself.
Regrets:
- Not working harder to find exposed glue before adding colour. Major run of glue down the center of the body.
- Not upgrading hardware before finishing the body. Options are really limited for pickup upgrades for a multi-scale 8-string that fit these pickup cavities.
- Not contouring the body a little more before sanding. If I'd been a little more brave, I could have exaggerated the belly cut, horns, etc. It's still really comfy, but feels a but boxier than I'm used to.
Overall, plenty of challenges along the way but I had a ton of fun doing this and might try again one day soon. Might even try just purchasing a neck and doing the body myself. Happy to hear some constructive criticism!