Best DIY Telecaster kits for sale

DIY Telecaster Kits

Last Updated on March 30, 2024 by Justin

At first glance, it might appear that most of these DIY telecaster guitars look the same but when you take a closer look at each of the components of these kits it becomes clear that some are better than others.

If you are a newbie and it is your first experience with a DIY guitar build, we suggest going for the cheaper kits to hone your skills.

If you are a seasoned builder and are looking for a good quality guitar to make yourself, the more expensive ones are where it is at.

What are DIY Telecaster kits?

These are guitar kits that you can easily buy from multiple places (we’ll get to this shortly). Essentially the kits include every piece you need to assemble a guitar on your own. We will be focusing on the best Telecaster DIY kits for sale.

Do you need any experience building guitars to buy these DIY guitar kits?

The simple answer to this question is no, you do not. These DIY kits make it simple for anyone to put together and if you get stuck, there are plenty of youtube videos out there that will guide you through the simple process of assembling one of these kits. Let us now take a look at a list of the best telecaster guitar kits for sale.

1) Telecaster Electric Guitar DIY Kit – by Seismic Audio

This is our top choice for DIY telecaster build kits. The price is very reasonable and you get every little piece and tool you need to complete a classic Telecaster guitar.

Even strings and a quarter-inch jack cable to plug into your amp are provided in the kit. The DIY kit is also easy to assemble even if it is your first time putting together your own guitar.

You’ll need to do a bit of soldering here and there but for the most part, getting this guitar set up is pretty straightforward.

Let’s look at some features of this Seismic Audio DIY telecaster build:

  • Paulownia body
  • Maple Neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard with inlays (dots made from Pearloid)
  • Jack to jack cable
  • Set of strings

2) Telecaster Guitar KIT DIY – by BYOGuitar

This DIY kit is our top spot’s biggest competitor but has some differences such as a maple fretboard and a mahogany body. Like its competitor, this DIY kit also includes a jack-to-jack and a set of strings as an extra bonus.

One fantastic feature of this kit is that the headstock of the neck has been shaped already unlike most other kits on the market, which provide you with a headstock that still needs to be shaped.

Everything you need to complete a Telecaster guitar build on your own is included in this set.

Some features of this kit include:

  • Vintage style bridge
  • Maple neck and fretboard
  • Mahogany body
  • Peghead shaped headstock

See the unboxing and discussion of the BYO tele kit in the video below.

3) DIY Telecaster Kit – Quickest to Assemble

This DIY Tele kit is one of the cheapest on our list however despite this, it is a great choice if you’re on a budget and looking at value for money. This guitar kit also happens to be the quickest of the bunch to assemble.

The reason for this is that it requires no soldering. This is a big con if you are looking at a DIY that requires you to do everything yourself.

However, some guitarists may see this as a major pro. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you are looking for. An awesome bonus is that if you get lost, instructional videos are provided on their website (which will be provided once purchased).

Features of this DIY tele kit include:

  • Ash body
  • Maple Neck
  • Fretboard made from Maple
  • No soldering required

4) Telecaster DIY Kit by Preeyawadee – Very High Quality

This Do-it-yourself telecaster guitar kit comes with parts of the highest quality. For that reason, it is the most expensive of the classic-style telecaster kits.

However, as the saying goes you get what you pay for and that is no different when it comes to this kit. The kit is easy to assemble and comes with instructions so you won’t get lost.

It also comes with everything you need to finish the guitar by yourself.

Some features of this do-it-yourself telecaster kit are:

  • Peghead shaped headstock
  • Black pickguard
  • Body of the kit is made from Basswood
  • Maple neck
  • Die-cast chrome tuning knobs

5) Telecaster Kit – DOUBLE HUMBUCKERS

 

This is another DIY telecaster kit for sale by Seismic Audio. However, this Telecaster is slightly different from the other one by Seismic audio featured above. How does it differ? Well, it has a completely different pickup configuration.

Instead of the classic/traditional tele-style configuration, which consists of two single coils, this kit comes with two humbuckers for a fatter and fuller sound.

The outcome of this guitar will look very similar to the Fender Blacktop Telecaster or the 72 Custom Telecaster (the one with wide-range pickups) Like all the other kits on the market for sale, this one comes with everything you need to put together the DIY telecaster of your dreams.

Some features of this kit include:

  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • 2 humbucker pickups

6) 12 String DIY Tele Kit


This kit is something for the brave! Why do we say this? Well, because there’s double the amount of strings to worry about!

To be honest, this 12-string tele kit is actually simple and straightforward to assemble and put together on your own.

Even if it is your first time building, instructions are provided and all the tools you need to complete the job.

This DIY guitar kit will result in a beautiful 12-string electric guitar in the style of a Telecaster which in itself is definitely not something you see every day.

7) Double Neck DIY Telecaster Kit


If you thought the last DIY tele kit with 12 strings was for the brave then this kit is for the fearless! It includes not one but two guitar necks! But that is not it, the one neck has 6 strings whilst the second neck has 12 strings.

This makes for an epic final result with a guitar that will cover all grounds.

The incredible thing about this kit is that for such an intricate build, every single bit and tool is included to ensure you can finish this guitar on your own.

An exceptionally detailed instruction manual has been provided so you’ll easily be able to finish the project by simply following the steps.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, the DIY telecaster kit you choose will be the one that suits your needs. As we mentioned in the beginning, if you are just starting out with DIY kits then we suggest buying a cheaper one as a learning curve.

But if your plan is to craft a high-quality custom project guitar then we recommend going for the more expensive DIY kits as they come with components of much higher quality.

If you found this article interesting you might be interested in our article on the Telecaster body buyers Guide For Beginners