Why would anyone build a Partscaster?

I'll take options 2 and 3 for me with the acceptance of the reality of option 1

As I am staring down the barrel of jumping into my first build I realize I might be saving money now, but I'll not get what I spend later if I ever need or want to.
I want a specific color and I want a maple neck that just isn't available on an Am Std. I would have to go up to a Deluxe, which is too expensive and then I compromise on color to even have a shot at getting one close to my budget.
I am not going for top of the line or vintage parts and from my limited browsing and calculating it looks like I can do it with a reasonable investment. Fun to be had along the way and I'll be left with a Strat of my color choice, neck preference and (hopefully) playability and sound I like.

 

Only reason for me is so I could use a flamed Koa top and Cocobola fretboard

 

Well, it's certainly fun, and unless you can show me a stock lightly relic'd nitro Sonic Blue Fender Thinline with 22 frets, abalone inlays, a birdseye maple .90 to .99 "C" neck, Klein Broadcaster and Filtertron pickups, and a Callaham bridge, I'm gonna say there's some strength behind the "unique features" argument, as well.

Number 1 is trickier because partcasters aren't exactly cheap. The one described above cost just over $1000. If I spent that on parts for something identical to an MIA, well yeah...maybe not so smart. But, if you go back to the "unique features" argument, you could otherwise only get those on a much more expensive, custom guitar. You mention Ron Kirn, and maybe I'm wrong here, but I was under the impression he charged a good bit more than $1500 for guitar built to customer spec. I'm certainly not suggesting that a partscaster is likely to be on par with the craftsmanship of Ron's guitars, but I don't think you can take the same amount of money and turn around and buy a Kirn either.

Resale can be tough, obviously, but you may also take a nasty hit selling a guitar you custom spec'd with a builder. And, it's not like you can try out a dozen of them and pick the best one. You get what you get, and it may turn out to be a dog. Again, same with something from a custom builder.

I disagree that you shouldn't spend money on good parts, though. It may not be a good financial investment; wouldn't be anyway. Instead it's an investment in an instrument you intend to own for the long haul. I mean doesn't the fact that it's unlikely to be worth reselling make it that much more important that it be a guitar that satisfies in every respect? Seems to me, buying top-notch parts only increases the likelihood that it will.

 

if i like a neck on one guitar, the body of another and the p ups from another. i can mash em all together,.

i have 3 strats, and in the back of my mind i have the possibility of 20 different variations should i decided to part them into each other.

and also. its fun

no one makes a partscaster for profit. its not gonna happen. those mods you do speak to you and no one else.

 

I just bought a really cool strat clone for $125. They go new for $350, but the guy obviously switched the pickups. He played stupid like he didn't know anything about guitars, but I bought it anyway because I like the neck and the body, especially the body, which has a distressed sunburst finish that feels like a faded nitro. Daddy likes. The neck aint bad either, which has a nice dark rosewood fingerboard and 22 XJ frets.



If I spend $200 bucks for some new pickups, pots, tone cap, shielding, and perhaps a new selector switch, I'll end up with a guitar that sounds far superior than what it would have bought new. Maybe, later on down the road, I'll put a Fender neck on it. Big maybe. Don't know if that qualifies as a "partscaster" as much as a personalized strat clone.

 

I bet Ron wouldn't build you a rosewood bodied anything for $1500.

 

I had a nice neck off a Squier S9 so built a partscaster out of leftover bits I had lying around. It plays well and sounds good with a Mighty Mite Motherbucker at the bridge.

 

curiosity,started me, changing strings was monumentous when i was a kid,some i have built cost stupid amounts of money,at the end of the day its a nice "i have guitar assembly moment"most i have built i have broke up and got my money back and sometimes more,used mia off ebay rip it down and put it back the way you want it.Clapton played a partscaster for years "Blackie"but he was in a financial position to say"i want them pups,i want that neck,i want that body,that will do nicely thank you,throw the rest to the peasantsHe did auction it off to a good cause by the way

 

Partscasters have nothing to do with value. I don't know about you, but I've never judged a guitar by how much its worth.

 

Mainly specs I expect. I built a Tele partscaster from a Baja neck ,a HW1 nitro burst body and SD pickups .it was my choice of parts .it worked out cheaper than buying a Baja or a HW1 .i like lightweight guitars now so my latest strat clone is made from a GFS paulowonia wood body with a rattle can fiesta red nitro paint job and just a cheap Chinese neck for now and Rose mariposa pickups with Wilkingson fittings .It plays and sounds and indeed looks nice but a I might get a Fender neck just for the sake of it .They are still better than cheap Chinese necks
if I had some spare dough the stratosphere ebay store have a fender Japan sT 75 loaded body going .Always wanted one of those and with a blacktop strat neck it would be a great guitar and cheaper than a whole ST75 which has the wrong radius for me .I like 22 fret medium jumbo 9.5 radius and al ot of my favorite strats dont come with that spec.

 

I attempt to buy pretty much every reasonably priced MIM that shows up anywhere in the Boston area craigslists. As a result, I can swap what I really want for body color, neck color, fret size, condition, whatever and have a guitar exactly like what I want for that day. (I'm very A.D.D. so the next day, I'll change my mind). Whatever is left, I fix, level, maybe paint and bolt back together and off it goes. I've also changed things when someone is looking for a particular guitar ......usually with the other neck color. I can get them exactly what they want.

 

For the most part 2 and 3 for me as well.
I like putting them together and there's no way I want to pay for a real '66 Strat. I know I can build a copy that would pass for the real thing for less dough so I'll do it and have fun doing it.
I have 6 other partscasters four I love the others are Okay.

 

I only think about points two and three...I just bought all the parts I need for a new partscaster (I'll be joining in the forum soon )

However, I'm pretty sure that I've also come in beating cost, but then again as someone mentioned I've gone for a workhorse instead of top of the range branded parts with some exceptions.

I've gone no name body in solid 2 piece alder, olympic white with nitrocellulose finish and also a no name neck in maple with an ebony fretboard. Wilkinson tuners and bridge.

Electronics I've splashed a little on, with a set of Bareknuckle Irish Tour pickups and CTS pots and orange drop cap.

All in all the cost has come to around £480....based on the specs I'd expect to pay a lot more for a branded MIA Fender! The main reason I want to do it though is I don't have a strat currently, I love putting things together like this and while it may not be totally 'unique' specs wise, I know it's the only one put together by me - and only I will know it's little quirks under the hood.

I've rambled a little there haven't I...?

 

Its better than going home and sitting front of a tv,and I love to work with wood.If you look around you can find some really good deals on some really quality parts and end up with something you want,not something you have to settle for.For me it helps that I work in a body shop.This one I am building now is an American Fender body..b-grade,2012 american HSH pickguard and pickups,2011 MIM lonestar neck.I might have 300 in it so far.

 

considering that you can build a hellova guitar for 7 - 800 bux…. i'd say go for it…

and for those that are poo-bahing the idea…. just aren't thinking globally….

I wouldn't care if it cost double that to build one…. doing so will save you many times over that amount over the years if you are serious about the guitar.

You will be learning much that can be applied to the other's in your herd…. just being able to set ;em up will save a nice hunk.

Ron Kirn

 

I build Partscasters because Fender doesn't offer me what I really want in a guitar.

 

That is the most "to the point" answer I think anyone can provide. Nuff said.

 

What do you want:?: