Electric bass guitars are perhaps the easiest DIY guitar kits to build and are a great choice for your first project. Even if you aren’t a bass player, you will learn a lot about the process. And who knows, you may even become a bassist?
What makes it easier? Well, for starters many of the pieces are bigger and there are fewer of them. And (usually) there are only four strings. Those big tuning machines are spaced farther apart, and the tailpiece/bridge is pretty simple to just screw onto the guitar body.
Most electric bass DIY guitar kits have a bolt-on neck, making them easier to install, easier to adjust, and easier to replace. Of course, there are kits with a set (glue-in) neck, but on a bass this is a straightforward assembly. Many bass kits are patterned after the Fender Precision “P-bass.” Often the electronics is mounted on the pick guard or a top-mounted control plate. Why not give this a shot?
Recommended Electric Bass Guitar DIY Kits
| Manufacturer | Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Fistrock P-Style |  | Most Economical |
| Solo SRBK-15 |  | Best 5-String |
| Solo PBSK-10 Short Scale P-Bass |  | Best Short Scale |
What to Look for When Buying an Electric Bass DIY Guitar Kit
Everyone has different preferences on what is important or not when deciding on a bass guitar kit. Here are some of the most important things to consider in a bass guitar kit. There are no right or wrong answers here. Know what you want and try to avoid surprises.
Look at the Scale
A standard long-scale bass has a 34-inch scale, which means the distance from the nut to the 12th fret (half-way to the bridge saddles) is 17-inches. A short-scale bass has a scale less than 31 inches. The most common short-scale configuration is a 30-inch scale, or 15-inches to the 12th fret. That means there is less distance between the frets, and some bassists consider them easier to play. Of course, that is a matter of preference, but be sure you know the scale of the kit you are buying. Short-scale basses generally have less tension on the strings and therefore less pull on the neck.
Look at the Neck Width
Not all bass necks are the same width. Jazz style basses have narrower necks, usually about 1-1/2 inches at the nut. Others, like the Precision style, are about 1-5/8 inches and some are even 1-3/4 inches. That’s for a 4-string bass; a 5- or 6-string bass will be still wider. As with the scale, this is a matter of preference.
Look at the Pickups and Controls
Are the electronics already installed on the pick guard or the control plate? How much will you need to connect yourself? Is there any soldering required? You may also want to consider how easy it would be to replace the components supplied as part of your kit with higher-quality pickups or electronic components later.
Look at The Neck Attachment
A bolt-on neck will usually have 4 wood screws that go through a metal plate into the back of the guitar and then into the neck. Check the kit you are buying, sometimes you may need to drill the neck pilot holes yourself. A set neck is glued in place, and you will need a clamp to hold it while the glue is drying. Which is stronger? When done properly, they are both more than adequate for this purpose. The bolt-on neck will be easier to remove for adjustments or to replace if that ever becomes necessary.
Electric Bass DIY Guitar Kit Product Reviews
Here are the reviews of the best electric bass DIY guitar kits.
Fistrock P-Style Bass Guitar Kit
This P-bass style kit is a great project for the beginning, especially first-time, builder. You may never have heard of this brand. It is an imported kit (all of them are) marketed through Amazon. Previously it was sold under the name Bogart, but has now been rebranded to distinguish the line of DIY guitar kits from their Bogart guitar parts. The important thing is what you find in the kit, and this one offers good quality parts.
The body in this kit is made of paulownia wood, a very lightweight and quite interesting Asian wood. It is a wide grain that looks good stained, dyed, or just painted solid. The neck is a bolt-on design, maple with a poplar fingerboard, and you will want to shape the headstock to your own design. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging.
Only basic tools and finishing supplies are required. Everything fits together nicely and the electronics pre-assembled on the pick guard. This is a long-scale (34-inch) bass with a 20-fret fingerboard. It has standard Precision Bass style pickups and controls mounted on a 3-ply white pickguard.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward assembly.
- Lightweight paulownia wood body
- Pre-assembled electronic components do not require soldering.
Cons
- Lightweight body may make the neck feel heavy.
Read more reviews at Amazon.
Note that if you search for “Fistrock” on Amazon, they will automatically change it to “Firestick.” Please use the link provided.
Solo SRBK-15 5-String Bass DIY Guitar Kit
This 5-string electric bass DIY guitar kit is based on the SR design from Ibanez. Only basic tools and finishing supplies are required. The headstock is already shaped, which can sometimes be an intimidating part of the project. This kit has an ash body that displays the grain of the wood without a pick guard. This 5-string bass kit features black hardware. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging.
With this kit, the controls are installed from the back. There are two volume and two tone controls, one set for each humbucker-style pickup. An alternate wiring diagram shows mods for coil split and for series/parallel switching (the push-pull switch is not included). This is a 34-inch scale with a 24-fret fingerboard and 1-5/8 inch wide neck at the nut.
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. I found a few issues with the printed instructions, but logic and common sense solve them.
Pros
- Great wood for a natural or oiled finish.
- Headstock is already shaped.
- Full 2-octave 24-fret fingerboard.
- Comprehensive instructions.
Cons
- Rounded body surface may require sanding to properly seat the bridge and controls.
Read more reviews at Solo Guitars or at Amazon.
Solo PBSK-10 Short Scale Electric Bass Kit
Here is a great short-scale electric bass DIY kit in the classic Fender Precision style. The shorter scale means it is easier to play, especially for smaller hands. 6-string guitar players may find it more to their liking than the longer 34-inch scale. This is a very simple build, and makes a great first-time DIY project for beginners.
The body of this bass is basswood, and it is just slightly smaller than a standard P-style bass. It is sealed with poly, and can be painted given a nice natural finish. The neck is a bolt-on design, maple with a maple fingerboard, and the headstock is already shaped for you. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging.
Only basic tools and finishing supplies are required. Everything fits together nicely and the electronic components are mounted on the distinct 3-ply tortoise pickguard. The PBSK-10 has a standard split P-bass style pickup with one volume and one tone control. This is a 28-1/2 inch short scale bass with a 20-fret fingerboard and 1-5/8 inch wide neck at the nut.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward assembly.
- Headstock does not require shaping.
- 28-1/2 inch scale is more similar to a standard electric guitar.
- Pre-wired 3-ply tortoise pickguard.
Cons
- Some customers report quality issues – read the reviews at Solo.
Read more reviews at Solo Guitars or at Amazon.
A Few More Bass Guitar DIY Kits
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