Tele (T- or TL-style) guitars, short for Telecaster, are among the most popular electric guitar styles, especially on the country music scene. They have a distinctive “twangy” sound. They are also one of the easiest 6-string electric guitar kits to build. These are generally single cutaway solid-body guitars, though there are variations including some semi-hollow styles. If you are just starting out in electric guitar kit-building, this is a great one to try.
Almost all Tele 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.
Tele style guitars are standard with two single-coil pickups, one just below the neck in the pickguard and one in the bridge assembly. There are some configurations that use humbucker-style pickups. The kits we’ve reviewed here are all standard pickup arrangements, but the beauty of DIY is that you can change things up however you like!
Recommended Tele Style DIY Kits
| Manufacturer | Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Solo TCK-1-SD |  | Best Beginner Kit |
| Leo Jaymz TL-Style |  | Most Economical |
| Solo TCK-150-SD |  | Best Semi-Hollow |
What to Look for When Buying a Tele Style DIY Guitar Kit
Everyone has different preferences on what is important or not when deciding on a Tele style electric guitar kit. Here are some of the most important things to consider in a Tele style kit. There are no right or wrong answers here. Know what you want and try to avoid surprises.
Look at the Bridge and Saddles
The bridge is part of what gives the Tele style guitar its distinctive twangy sound. Vintage Telecaster models had a bridge with three adjustable saddles. Each saddle held two strings, which means the when intonating the guitar, each pair of strings was compromised in order to give the best overall intonation. It is nearly impossible to get perfect intonation with the vintage three-saddle configuration. Modern Telecasters generally have six saddles, one for each string.
Also check the bridge to see if it supports string-through, top-load, or both kinds of string terminations. If you are building a string-through configuration, determine whether or not the holes are pre-drilled.
Look at the Body, Neck and Fingerboard 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, and consider if you will need to grain-fill the surface in order to get it smooth.
Most all Tele style necks are maple, but the fingerboard may be maple or it may be rosewood (or something similar). Consider how you will be finishing the fingerboard.
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 Scale
Tele 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 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.
Tele Style DIY Guitar Kit Product Reviews
Here are the reviews of the best Tele style DIY electric guitar kits.
Solo TCK-1-SD Guitar Kit
This Tele-style kit is a great project for the beginning, especially first-time, builder. Only basic tools and finishing supplies are required. The headstock is already shaped, which can sometimes be an intimidating part of the project. Everything fits together nicely and the pickups and jack have connectors that plug into the pre-assembled control plate so no soldering is required. This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 22-fret fingerboard and vintage Tele-style top-loading hard tail bridge.
This kit has a basswood body with black binding, ideal if you want a different finish on the top than on the back and sides. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging.
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
- Simple, straightforward assembly.
- Headstock is already shaped.
- Plug-in electronic components do not require soldering.
Cons
- Some reviewers consider the electronics low-end, but they are easily upgraded.
- Note: This kit from Amazon is not solderless.
Read more reviews at Solo Guitars or at Amazon.
Leo Jaymz TL-Style Guitar Kit
This Tele-style kit is one of the most economical options available, at the time of this writing coming in at less than $100. The materials are not high end, but they can easily be replaced with standard Telecaster-compatible components if desired. It comes with a paddle type headstock that can be cut and shaped however you want. The pickups and jack plug into the pre-assembled control plate so no soldering is required. This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 21-fret fingerboard and vintage Tele-style top-loading hard tail bridge.
This kit has a mahogany body that can be dyed, stained or painted. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a maple fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging. The included instructions are very good.
The hardware is acceptable 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 will probably upgrade them anyway. The printed instructions provided are very good.
Pros
- Simple, straightforward assembly.
- Plug-in electronic components do not require soldering.
- Comprehensive instructions.
Cons
- Lower-end hardware as expected with this price point. Easily upgraded.
Read more reviews at Amazon.
Read my experience with this kit here.
Solo TCK-150-SD Electric Guitar Kit
Here is a semi-hollow body electric guitar kit in the familiar Tele profile. This kit has a beautiful maple top cap on a basswood body with a white binding. There is no pickguard, so you can show off your handiwork. The headstock is already shaped for you. This is a standard 25.5 inch scale with a 22-fret fingerboard and vintage Tele-style top-loading hard tail bridge. It has a bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck and body fit are matched before packaging.
Assembling the electronics through the top might look intimidating but really isn’t that difficult. This version of the kit has solderless plug-in electronic components, or you can get it with standard components that you solder. The plug-in components are definitely easier for the semi-hollow body.
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
- True semi-hollow construction, not just one “f” cutout.
- Headstock is already shaped.
- Plug-in electronic components do not require soldering.
Cons
- Installation of electronics may be more challenging than other kits.
- Some reviewers consider the electronics low-end, but they are easily upgraded.
- Note: This kit from Amazon is not solderless.
Read more reviews at Solo Guitars or at Amazon.
A Few More Tele Style Kits
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