Strat (S- or ST-style) guitars, short for Stratocaster, are among the most popular electric guitar styles. Many of the most well-known rock musicians play Strat style guitars. Strats are a double-cutaway design with an elongated top horn that helps balance the guitar. A distinctive feature is the tremolo arm or “whammy bar” built into the bridge.
Most Strat style guitar kits have bolt-on necks. That makes them easier to install, easier to adjust, and easier to replace. The in-line tuning machines are all on the top side of the headstock. Because of the distance from the nut to the tuning machine, the four longest strings (D to high E) usually require some type of retainer, called a “string tree,” to keep them in the nut slot.
Strat style guitars are standard with three single-coil pickups and a 5-way selector switch, though other variations are very common. Most often these components are mounted to the pick guard, making this part of the Strat kit very easy to assemble. However, the tremolo bridge with springs extending into a cavity accessible from back of the guitar makes the overall assembly a little more advanced.
Recommended Strat Style DIY Kits
What to Look for When Buying a Strat Style DIY Guitar Kit
Everyone has different preferences on what is important or not when deciding on a Strat kit. Here are some of the most important things to consider in a Strat style kit. There are no right or wrong answers here. Know what you want and try to avoid surprises.
Look at the Bridge
The standard tremolo arm bridge, patented by Fender, is on most of DIY Strat style guitar kits. Check to see how it is installed. There will usually be three tension springs placed on the back side of the bridge that extend into a cavity, though you can usually add a couple more if desired. How is the anchor for these springs attached? Are the mounting holes pre-drilled or will will you have to locate and drill them?
Look at the Body, Neck and Fretboard Materials
You may read about “tonewoods” and how they affect the sound of your guitar. As a beginning kit builder, this will probably not be a major concern. What you will want to consider is more related to how you will finish the guitar. Will you stain or dye it? Will you paint it? Consider whether or not you will want a “cap” or veneer that is a single piece of wood, or if you will need to grain-fill the surface in order to get it smooth.
Look at the Pickups and Body Routing
Do you want the standard three single-coil pickups, or a different configuration that may include humbucker pickups? Will the pickup routing on the guitar body allow you to easily use a different kind of pickup if you choose to do so later? In most Strat style guitar kits, all of the electronics except for the jack and jack plate are pre-wired and installed on the pick guard. Look to see if you will need to do any soldering.
Look at the Scale
Strat style electric guitars, like most Fender electrics, have a 25.5 inch scale, which means the distance from the nut to the 12th fret (halfway to the bridge saddles) is 12.75 inches. There are several smaller scales out there, sometimes called mini-guitars, travel guitars, or child’s guitars. Smaller scale guitars may not use the same tuning as standard guitars.
DIY Strat Style Guitar Kit Product Reviews
Here are the reviews of the best DIY Strat style electric guitar kits.
Solo STK-1 Guitar Kit
This Strat style kit is a great choice for the beginning DIY guitar kit builder. The headstock is already shaped and ready to go. Everything fits together nicely and almost all of the electronic components are mounted to the pickguard. You could buy a version with a plug-in jack plate, but why not just go ahead and solder it? This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 21-fret fingerboard and Strat-style tremolo bridge.
This kit has a basswood body for easy finishing. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging. The bridge and tremolo springs might be a little tricky. Holes are pre-drilled for the spring claw.
Solo DIY electric guitar kits are advertised with the frets professionally leveled and dressed, which is very nice. A few builders (perhaps us perfectionists?) have reported that minimal fretwork was required. In truth, any guitar kit you buy will need some fine-tuning to your preferences.
Pros
- Electronic components are already assembled.
- Headstock is already shaped.
- Other options available, including maple fingerboard and left-hand model.
Cons
- Some consider the electronics low-end, but they are easily upgraded.
- Instructions lack good illustrations,
Read more reviews at Solo Guitars or at Amazon.
Fistrock Strat Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Here is one of the most economical ways to get started with a Strat style DIY kit. At the time of this writing, you can pick this up for less than $100. It comes with a paddle type headstock that can be cut and shaped however you want. The body is liberally routed for the pre-assembled electronics and pick guard, making fine adjustments a little easier. This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 21-fret fingerboard and Strat-style tremolo bridge.
This kit has a basswood body well suited for painting or covering with a skin. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a dyed poplar fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging. The included instructions are very good and a demonstration video is provided at Amazon.
The hardware is very good for this price point. Most of the components are pretty standard, and if you like what you end up with as the basic guitar, you can easily upgrade them later.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward assembly.
- Plug-in components do not require soldering – even the ground wire on the spring claw.
- Excellent pictorial type instructions.
Cons
- Basswood is not the greatest for dying or staining.
Read more reviews at Amazon.
Read my experience with this kit here.
Vibeworks Guitars ST Style Skeleton
Wood doesn’t always need to be solid. If you want to try something with a rather unique look, consider this DIY Strat style kit from Vibeworks Guitars. It features an alder body with a lightweight “see-through” skeleton cutout. This is truly a unique design sure to turn heads and attract attention.
This kit also comes with a standard Strat-style loaded pickguard with three single-coil pickups and a 5-way switch. Because of the unique top, it does not come with a pick guard. Wiring and assembly is straightforward like any other ST style kit. The body is structurally sound and dramatically lighter. This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 21-fret fingerboard and Strat-style tremolo bridge.
It has a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging. Even with this eye-catching design, this is an easy build. Let your mind go wild with how you finish it.
Pros
- Unique skeleton cut-out design.
- Structurally sound, a solid guitar in the playing area.
- Simple, straightforward construction.
Cons
- Lightweight body might be subject to a little more neck dive than usual.
Read more reviews at Vibeworks Guitars.
A Few More Strat Style DIY Kits
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