1 Topic by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-11-02 10:40:58)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: DIY vs. buying

Hello all,

Since becoming entrenched into buying and collecting gear, I've become sort of a tinker-er. I don't own any "real" Fender strats, but I've now built two partocasters. My first in 2001, which is a heavy relic strat. The other a Goldie replica.

Last year, I bought a pickup winder, and it's fun winding pickups. Even though I've gotten good feedback (no pun intended), I'm still developing best practices for construction, sound, etc. It's a lengthy process that's made me respect the simple purchase of a good pickup.

My brother built a JTM45 clone from MetroAmp.com, and has made pedals from buildyourownclone.com. He's heavily modded my Fender Blues Jr. with great success with the bill m mods.

Is this "building your own" thing grown into a new offshoot of actually playing? I mean, I'm almost spending more time trying to build stuff than I actually do playing guitar! Sometimes, I think - man I could just buy this part and be done with it. But hot-rodding guitars and building parts seems to be part of the whole Eddie Van Halen / Les Paul attitude. I'm not trying to invent anything new or crazy, but I like the fact that I'm doing things by hand.

For me it's almost become that that my priorities in music are 1) collecting valuable guitars as heirlooms, 2) making pickups/parts (or strats) as a hobby and finally 3)playing guitar for enjoyment Are my priorities messed up?  hmm  I obviously dont feel like I'm wasting my time, but was looking for some thoughts on how you go about your GAS!

So while I'm not questioning the right to do this... I'm just wondering if you would take the time to make things if you had the time, or would you just buy what you need and focus on your playing???

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2011-08-29
  • Posts: 267

Re: DIY vs. buying

I can relate.  It got to the point where I started building guitars for sale (upwards of 35 guitars).  I did have some success but in the end I stopped having fun doing it....  One of main reasons the fun stopped is because I was simply unhappy...and that unhappiness was a result of not playing and making music.

I still do my own repair work and set ups and stuff and I'm glad I learned how to do all of that but in the end, for me, it's all about the music and this became a distraction from that endeavor.

Oasis.Guitar's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2009-03-26
  • Posts: 107

Re: DIY vs. buying

Building gear is fun! So far I've built one amp - a clone of a Marshall 18 watt - that I use for gigging regularly. Not the prettiest amp but gets good comments for how it sounds. I've also modded a Blues Jr with several of the Bill M mods. I've built a couple of pedals, none of which I currently use, and do all of my own guitar repair work and set ups (haven't attempted a refret yet but might do so soon). I did most of this in the last couple of years when I was between bands. Now that my band is gigging and rehearsing regularly I don't have as much time to spend on building/repairing gear because I have to spend more time on learning songs and working on my playing. I find that I do miss having time to build stuff but I'm also really happy to be playing as much as I am. Building gear filled in some empty space before the band got going. If I could only find a way to quit my day job and still pay the bills...

www.chrisadamsband.com
www.onceinabluemoonmusic.com
Les Paul Blues

cmadragon's Website

  • Registered: 2011-08-29
  • Posts: 267

Re: DIY vs. buying

cmadragon wrote:

Building gear is fun! So far I've built one amp - a clone of a Marshall 18 watt - that I use for gigging regularly. Not the prettiest amp but gets good comments for how it sounds. I've also modded a Blues Jr with several of the Bill M mods. I've built a couple of pedals, none of which I currently use, and do all of my own guitar repair work and set ups (haven't attempted a refret yet but might do so soon). I did most of this in the last couple of years when I was between bands. Now that my band is gigging and rehearsing regularly I don't have as much time to spend on building/repairing gear because I have to spend more time on learning songs and working on my playing. I find that I do miss having time to build stuff but I'm also really happy to be playing as much as I am. Building gear filled in some empty space before the band got going. If I could only find a way to quit my day job and still pay the bills...


That's pretty cool... I've wanted to build an amp but was always afraid I'd electrocute myself   smile

Oasis.Guitar's Website

  • Registered: 2011-03-15
  • Posts: 120

Re: DIY vs. buying

I agree building stuff takes time away from playing, even more time is lost when your project turns out nice and all of a sudden people start wanting whatever you made...Doesn't matter if it's a guitar, amp or in my case guitar straps. Unlike money, you can spend time only once.
During a recent talk with Teye from Teye guitars, he said the same thing, he's always working on guitars and hardly ever has time to play um.
Working in a guitar store doesn't help either, I try to play at least 30 minutes every day but weeks go by where I don't touch any of my own guitars.

www.raysguitarstraps.com
'12 Teye La India Mora 2P, '10 Teye La India S 2P, '64 Fiesta Red Strat, '14 Les Paul CC#18, '14 Les Paul R0ltd, '13 Les Paul R7, '12 Les Paul CC#3, '07 Les Paul CR8 x2, '04 Les Paul R9, '65 Super Reverb, '93 Koch KC50dlx, JB Fuzzface #775
  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: DIY vs. buying

It's a hobby - if you like building then build away.  smile

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: DIY vs. buying

Wish I had the time, it's hard enough to find time to play. If you have the time, still enjoy it and can still play, do it till you get bored.

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)
  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: DIY vs. buying

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Hello all,

Since becoming entrenched into buying and collecting gear, I've become sort of a tinker-er. I don't own any "real" Fender strats, but I've now built two partocasters. My first in 2001, which is a heavy relic strat. The other a Goldie replica.

Last year, I bought a pickup winder, and it's fun winding pickups. Even though I've gotten good feedback (no pun intended), I'm still developing best practices for construction, sound, etc. It's a lengthy process that's made me respect the simple purchase of a good pickup.

My brother built a JTM45 clone from MetroAmp.com, and has made pedals from buildyourownclone.com. He's heavily modded my Fender Blues Jr. with great success with the bill m mods.

Is this "building your own" thing grown into a new offshoot of actually playing? I mean, I'm almost spending more time trying to build stuff than I actually do playing guitar! Sometimes, I think - man I could just buy this part and be done with it. But hot-rodding guitars and building parts seems to be part of the whole Eddie Van Halen / Les Paul attitude. I'm not trying to invent anything new or crazy, but I like the fact that I'm doing things by hand.

For me it's almost become that that my priorities in music are 1) collecting valuable guitars as heirlooms, 2) making pickups/parts (or strats) as a hobby and finally 3)playing guitar for enjoyment Are my priorities messed up?  hmm  I obviously dont feel like I'm wasting my time, but was looking for some thoughts on how you go about your GAS!

So while I'm not questioning the right to do this... I'm just wondering if you would take the time to make things if you had the time, or would you just buy what you need and focus on your playing???

Your a tone hound. Your trying to improve the sound of the gear you have rather than pouring your money out to buy the latest "item of the month". Nothing wrong there. The best musicians intimately know their gear.
Nothing wrong with building guitars or amps. If that's the niche you want to fill in the music industry, then by all means
DO IT!!!

  • From: El Dorado Hills, Ca.
  • Registered: 2010-01-01
  • Posts: 797

Re: DIY vs. buying

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Hello all,

Since becoming entrenched into buying and collecting gear, I've become sort of a tinker-er. I don't own any "real" Fender strats, but I've now built two partocasters. My first in 2001, which is a heavy relic strat. The other a Goldie replica.

Last year, I bought a pickup winder, and it's fun winding pickups. Even though I've gotten good feedback (no pun intended), I'm still developing best practices for construction, sound, etc. It's a lengthy process that's made me respect the simple purchase of a good pickup.

My brother built a JTM45 clone from MetroAmp.com, and has made pedals from buildyourownclone.com. He's heavily modded my Fender Blues Jr. with great success with the bill m mods.
Is this "building your own" thing grown into a new offshoot of actually playing? I mean, I'm almost spending more time trying to build stuff than I actually do playing guitar! Sometimes, I think - man I could just buy this part and be done with it. But hot-rodding guitars and building parts seems to be part of the whole Eddie Van Halen / Les Paul attitude. I'm not trying to invent anything new or crazy, but I like the fact that I'm doing things by hand.

For me it's almost become that that my priorities in music are 1) collecting valuable guitars as heirlooms, 2) making pickups/parts (or strats) as a hobby and finally 3)playing guitar for enjoyment Are my priorities messed up?  hmm  I obviously dont feel like I'm wasting my time, but was looking for some thoughts on how you go about your GAS!

So while I'm not questioning the right to do this... I'm just wondering if you would take the time to make things if you had the time, or would you just buy what you need and focus on your playing???

I think this is like when we built the hot hot rod. Sure, I could've gone to the dealer and bought a new "pseudo" hot car or bought one already competed from someone else, but it just doesn't measure up the same. As with your guitars, I know every nut and bolt and where every blemish is including up under the frame that no one else will ever see. No one knows your "toy" like you do and you can take honest pride in that. Anyone can buy something, but it takes blood, sweat and tears as well as your own imagination to make it unique.
I say keep on building if it makes you happy and the rest will work itself out.

Why don't we eliminate all the warning labels and let things sort themselves out?
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: DIY vs. buying

To me I play maybe a 1/4 of what I used to when I was either in a band or single.  I have small children and have found that just an acoustic strummed too hard can ruin a good night of relaxation.  So about 6 years ago I turned to DIY as a hobby to offset the fact that I can't play as much as I would like to.  I've learned a lot and I've made some side money doing some work on the side for locals that need easy things like a setup or some soldering.  Its not guitar playing but I'm having fun using my hands.  hmm

AD3THREE's Website

  • DougH
  • DougH
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,705

Re: DIY vs. buying

I have very limited time to myself.
I found I had to stop the modd'ing and building amp's since I had no time to play guitar.

now I try and find the time to play.
(I do have at least 2 more amp's I want to build, but in time.. )

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • From: NH - USA
  • Registered: 2010-11-08
  • Posts: 149

Re: DIY vs. buying

I know this dilemma well... Like so many i LOVE tweaking, buying, trading, and trying different gear. I do the research as an escape and often find myself building up to a purchase that in the end becomes a time sync and does not turn out to be/sound like what i was hoping... I have yet to find the amp or guitar that cures my lack of skill and turns me into Bonamassa, Hendrix, Johnson, or Page... and the desire to sound like that is many time the driving factor. I'm sure I've pissed away more time not playing, and money than I'd care to admit. And sometimes tweaking is a way to avoid a wall I've hit practicing.

However, all that being said, when I find, build, and/or put together something great, it is extremely satisfying... and it makes me want to play more around the sound I've just discovered, put it into different mixes to see how it sounds and so on. There is, for me, a relationship there... the catalyst , the hunt, testing/tweaking and finally (hopefully) a great sound in relation to the guitar, amp, or FX. A cool new sound changes how I play and what i come up with in the best way, driving me to improve and try different things.

Buying, Building, or Playing...  choosing which one comes first,  different week over week. Personally, right now...

I'm just wondering if you would take the time to make things if you had the time, or would you just buy what you need and focus on your playing???

I'll put time into playing and rehearsing, and buy what i need leaving the complicated design stuff to people who have the time and money to get it right . I've had enough misses that I'm willing to pay a premium for that...  But i have a possible restoration project on the horizon, it could all change....

havoc41's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: DIY vs. buying

Don't get into home recording, I spent 2 hours in Pro Tools on Sunday trying to use a plugin.... I spent 15 minutes playing guitar! UGH!!!

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: DIY vs. buying

I spent three hours researching how to thin the poly coat on a Les Paul to a dull-thin finish to free up the sound and make the neck silky smooth.
I stared at that guitar for more hours (still not playing it)...and luckily did not attack it. Picked up, played..still playing...it'll do...  roll