Remember the Clarksonesque Challenge?

TTony · May 2014

For those of you who remember ... well done.

For everyone else, back in the olden days when our forum wasn't rated toppermost of the poppermost, we ran an occasional / annual guitar-related challenge, wherein we gave ourselves an amount of monies, and had to build, mod, acquire the best guitar we could within that budget. Based - very loosely - on the old Top Gear buy-an-old-banger for £500 and fly it to the moon style of challenge.

So, been thinking.

Would there be an interest in a kit build based challenge?

We could import some Chits (ie MIC kits, everything you need, albeit basic spec, in the box), all legal and logo-free, and use those as a basis for the challenge. So, anyone who fancies a "build" but doesn't really know where to start could play. Anyone who's built plenty, could play too - but perhaps with a focus on making something decent out of it.

It'd be good if we could have a Chit-together, maybe sometime towards the end of the summer (around our 1st birthday perhaps) with proper "judging" of entries, voting, and a winner.

I'm also thinking that - perhaps - one of our more talented hobby builders might take one of the kits and (a) video some of the challenges and fixes in putting it together and (b) offer up their expertly-completed guitar as the prize. (Obviously, theFB would fund that kit).

We'd maybe be able to generate some supporting press interest, which would help our profile and generate more membership.

There are some interesting looking kits available. I'd be aiming at £150 for the cost price, though that's subject to confirmation once we agree on the kit style, find a decent supplier, and work out the margin that we'd need to cover the cost of the prize kit.

Any interest, or should I stop this thinking??

WezV · May 2014

sounds fun, there are certainly a lot more kits around now. some are very cheap and i often wonder what they are actually like

one of my first builds was a cheapish tele kit but in the 90's. it was still more expensive than the equivilent squire with worse hardware... but i learned a lot from it and it became a base for modding, including converting into a thinline.

even if the basic kits are a bit naff there is still a lot of value for anyone wanting to learn basic guitar assembly, finishing and set-up

I would be willing to put myself forward as a 'more talented hobby builder'

TTony · May 2014

WezV said:
I would be willing to put myself forward as a 'more talented hobby builder'

Thanks @WezV ... I did have you in mind, but didn't like to ask, not knowing how busy you are atm!

And for anyone thinking of entering - any guitar that WezV has breathed on will be a very fine instrument and very worthwhile prize.

monquixote · May 2014

Great idea.

I sadly don't have the space to participate, but I shall provide moral support.

WezV · May 2014

well i have a much more convenient workshop now so I am back on it properly this year.

really not fussed what style people end up choosing either, although i would recommend avoiding anything with a trem as its much harder to get life out of a cheap trem than a cheap hardtail

TTony · May 2014

335-alike perhaps??

If there's interest, I'll do some more intensive research, and we can pick one out of a shortlist of 2 or 3.

LooseMoose · May 2014

I'd be up for something but sub £100 would make it more attractive

ThePrettyDamned · May 2014

I'm game

if we could shortlist a selection of kits that we reckon are worth a punt at least.

This site does a few and get moderately consistent reviews I think (he says, might remember wrong). http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/Electric-Guitar-Kit---Carved-Top-Semi-Hollow---Sand-Through__BYO-CT-SH2-Spec.aspx

Edit: Ooo a seven string too http://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/7-String-Guitar__BYO-7-STRING.aspx

Has a trem though, @wezv is probably right, it'll be made of cheese.

underdog · May 2014

335 or for pure simplicity an LP junior alike

chrisj1602 · May 2014

Or a tele.

Bucket · May 2014

Depending on funds and space I might be game for it... I'd like a Tele!

IanSavage · May 2014

Totally can't afford. Totally in.

monquixote · May 2014

I would think an LPJ or a Tele would be the easiest and most generally well liked shapes.

GuitarMonkey · May 2014

I think it'd be hard to beat Thomann on prices

http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=guitar+kit&gk=&bn=

£53 for a Tele kit.

LooseMoose · May 2014

Winner!

ThePrettyDamned · May 2014

GuitarMonkey;245449" said:
I think it'd be hard to beat Thomann on priceshttp://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=guitar+kit&gk=&bn=

£53 for a Tele kit.

80 quid for a v! Nice

bolt on, but that's good for me really, easier to bodge neck angle with a shim...

GuitarMonkey · May 2014

GuitarMonkey said:

I think it'd be hard to beat Thomann on prices
http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?sw=guitar+kit&gk=&bn=
£53 for a Tele kit.

For the same money you can get one already built for you

http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbt16bk_egitarre.htm

and mod it.

RedRabbit · May 2014

I'd be up for joining in on this. Any shape and any price point around or below the £150 would be fine but, in the hope of getting a half decent instrument out of it, I'd be leaning towards the slightly pricier kits.