First Guitar, First Build, and Gear Questions.

[Yervand]

Hi!

 

I can't play a guitar (yet)! I would really like to and at this point set a goal to start playing one (long-term hobby).

Having this passion for custom made things, I am thinking of building one myself.

I want the guitar to sound something like in the video below.

Is it about the pickups? is it about the amp?

Could you link to some affordable parts?

I am also sure some people might try to talk me out of building one, so a link to a specific guitar that sounds like that and is fully black (or close to black) would be cool.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

[FatherAlabaster]

A good place to start if you're interested in building a guitar is a kit from stewmac.com. You can also order parts separately if you want more choices (rosewood fretboard for instance) and better hardware. It'll cost more money that way, but I'd recommend upgrading the bridge, nut, tuners, and pickups in any case. Here's a link:

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Instrument_Kits/S-Style_Electric_Guitar_Kit.html

I'd highly recommend buying an entry-level guitar and learning to play a bit before you even start building, though. That way you'll have some idea of whether or not you've done a good job once you get the thing up and running. No sense in going through the process when you're blind to what the end result should be. Start off with something with a fixed bridge and make sure at least one of the pickups is a humbucker. Ibanez, Jackson, Schecter, ESP LTD, and Epiphone make totally playable beginner instruments that won't break the bank. One of those paired up with a decent practice amp will get you something like the tone you hear in that video.

[Yervand]

On 7/15/2018 at 8:47 AM, FatherAlabaster said:

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Instrument_Kits/S-Style_Electric_Guitar_Kit.html

Thank you very much sir for your reply. I am still debating weather or not I should build it or not. I know a person that built a guitar. I'll wait till I meet him again to talk about it.

Meanwhile I have a different question. My most preferred way to start learning, practicing, and eventually playing a guitar is not through an amp, but through headphones. Several reasons for that, but mainly because I have very picky neighbors and they've already complain about loud noises to management.

I already ordered Beyerdynamic DT 990 headphones. When I was in a guitar center a salesman told me there is an app and possible a small device (or connectors) that comes with it that I can use to plug in my cellphone, headphones, and guitar to play that way. I also heard there are devices I can plug the guitar, headphones, and pc to to play that way. I lost the model number but a person showed me a device like that from Boss that is around $250. I also head that I can mess with the sound with one of those to get my preferred heavy sound I am looking for without any kind of huge amps and petals.

What do you think about that? Thanks!

[FatherAlabaster]

10 minutes ago, Yervand said:

Thank you very much sir for your reply. I am still debating weather or not I should build it or not. I know a person that built a guitar. I'll wait till I meet him again to talk about it.

Meanwhile I have a different question. My most preferred way to start learning, practicing, and eventually playing a guitar is not through an amp, but through headphones. Several reasons for that, but mainly because I have very picky neighbors and they've already complain about loud noises to management.

I already ordered Beyerdynamic DT 990 headphones. When I was in a guitar center a salesman told me there is an app and possible a small device (or connectors) that comes with it that I can use to plug in my cellphone, headphones, and guitar to play that way. I also heard there are devices I can plug the guitar, headphones, and pc to to play that way. I lost the model number but a person showed me a device like that from Boss that is around $250. I also head that I can mess with the sound with one of those to get my preferred heavy sound I am looking for without any kind of huge amps and petals.

What do you think about that? Thanks!

I used a headphone amp sometimes when I was starting off, and I have to say it wasn't very satisfying. I'm sure the technology has improved a bit since then. I haven't tried anything that plugs into my phone, but there are several headphone practice amps available that plug right into your guitar and are probably cheaper than any interface you could find - well under $100. Here's an article with a few of them: https://tonereport.com/blogs/tone-tips/hear-hear-5-headphone-amps-that-keep-it-down

An actual practice amp will probably wind up being more fun, and more sustainable for regular use. You can play them well below conversation level and still get a usable sound; I'm sure you could find a volume level that wouldn't set your neighbors off. Some of them also have headphone outputs that mute the speaker, so you get all of the advantages of a practice amp with a speaker (including the possibility of jamming with another musician), and the ability to rehearse quietly if it's necessary.