Whether you’re someone who’s handy or you’re looking for a fun gift for the guitarist in your life, these awesome DIY guitar projects are sure to please. From simple kits to full-on custom builds, there’s something here for everyone!
The experience required for each of these projects differ wildly which is why I added a “Difficulty” tag to each one below.
Read on and get ready to get your hands dirty!
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1) DIY Guitars
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If you’re someone or know someone who not only likes to experiment with electronics but also likes to perform some basic woodworking then DIY guitars might be a good choice.
DIY guitars are quite customizable in terms of what types of wood you use, what style of guitar you want, and how you ultimately finish the guitar.
DIY guitar projects take a decent amount of time to put together as it involves gluing, painting, fine-tuning, and personalizing. Although some DIYers may choose not to paint or personalize their DIY guitar, it tends to look unfinished.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a barn, dedicated room, or garage available that you can put together and customize your new guitar kit.
Where to Buy: The Fret Wire | Solo Guitars
Price: $$
Skills Used: Woodworking, Electrical
Difficulty: Medium
2) DIY Guitar Pedals
DIY guitar pedal kits are a great way to get someone excited about customizing and building their very own guitar pedal. These kits come with all of the components required to build the pedal, you’ll just need a soldering iron and some solder.
If the person you’re buying for loves tinkering, is curious about electronics, or just loves experimenting with different sounds, a DIY guitar pedal kit will be sure to put a smile on their face. Although guitar pedals do deal with a fair bit of electronics, guitar pedal kits make it simple to put everything together with numbered components corresponding to the numbers on the printed circuit board.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Price: $
Skills Used: Electrical
Difficulty: Easy
3) DIY Guitar Amps
If you or someone you know has a good grasp of electronics or is just very eager to learn, building your own guitar amp is another great DIY project.
DIY guitar amps involve much more wiring than a guitar pedal and come with many more components. However, if you have a decent understanding of electronics or have detailed instructions at hand then putting a guitar amp together shouldn’t be a problem.
DIY guitar amps are the priciest of all DIY projects in this roundup. That being said, you can still get the parts to a guitar amp and put them together yourself at a cheaper cost than buying a similar amp outright.
The price of DIY guitar amps also varies widely depending on the quality of the components and the wattage of the amp you purchase.
Where to Buy: Mojo Tone
Price: $$$
Skills Used: Electrical
Difficulty: Hard
4) DIY Cigar Box Guitars
A DIY cigar box guitar kit is a bit of an unusual project, however, it’s great for those who want a simple DIY project that they can easily put together. There are a few variations of cigar box guitars however a basic kit comes with the cigar box, an unfretted neck, and all hardware required to put things together.
Cigar box guitars provide a unique sound, and for good reason – they’re made of a cigar box, only have 3 or 4 strings (depending on the style you buy), and are built to play with a slide. This makes them a great instrument to have in any blues setting.
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If you or someone you know would have fun putting together a simple DIY project with the end result being an instrument that provides a unique sound and look – DIY cigar box guitar kits are the way to go.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Price: $
Skills Used: Basic DIY
Difficulty: Easy
5) DIY Pedalboards
Pedalboards are great to have for guitarists who have multiple pedals. It helps keep them organized and provides an easily accessible source of power. Building your own pedalboard is a great project for those who have at least a bit of experience with woodworking and electrical.
These pedalboards come with all of the materials needed to put a pedalboard together, however, aren’t pre-drilled, nor do they come with instruction manuals.
Therefore, if you want to put together your own pedalboard you’ll need a bit of experience in knowing how pedalboards work as well as a few essential tools needed for sanding, routing, and oiling.
Nonetheless, putting together a pedalboard isn’t overly complex and if you’re relatively new to it all, watch a few YouTube tutorials and do your research.
Where to Buy: West Coast Pedalboard
Price: $$
Skills Used: Woodworking, Electrical
Difficulty: Medium
Final Thoughts
Personally, I love DIY projects. They give you the sense of satisfaction that you put something together and customized yourself to make it truly yours.
Furthermore, putting together a DIY project is a great learning experience and can be fun to do with friends or family. If you’re looking for a few out-of-the-box ideas for Christmas or any other occasion, consider getting any of the 5 DIY project ideas above.
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