G-Style Guitar Kit Review — Double-Cutaway Set-Neck Building Guide
A G-style guitar kit can be a great project to work on whether you are experienced with assembling and finishing kit guitars or even if this is your first build. In the following article, we’re going to take a closer look at G-style guitar kits, list the best options, as well as provide some tips on assembly.
G-style Guitars and Genres
G-style style guitars are synonymous with hard rock thanks to guitarists such as Angus Young of AC/DC and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. As a result, most customers interested in G-style guitar kits are looking to play hard rock and heavier styles of music in general. But limiting the G-style to one specific style of music really doesn’t do justice to the versatility of the instrument.
Recommended: Guitar Kit Styles For Musical Genres
If you scratch the surface a little you will find a number of influential guitarists that have used the G-style at various times in their career covering a wide range of musical styles. Some of these guitarists include:
Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
Jerry Garcia used a wide range of guitars from custom made guitars to S-styles and G-styles to create music that covered a broad range of influences including blues, jazz, and hard rock.
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa was a musical pioneer who played a number of guitars including custom made G-style’s and the original manufacturer G-style’s over the span of his career. His music has been described as a fusion of pop, rock, orchestral and jazz fusion.
Other notable guitarists who played G-style’s at different stages of their careers include Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Robby Krieger of the Doors, Pete Townshend of the Who and of course Jimi Hendrix.
While G-style style DIY guitars kits are sold in a number of different timber varieties, if you are looking to match the original as closely as possible you will be best selecting a model constructed with a mahogany body and maple neck with rosewood or ebony fretboard.
the original manufacturer has recently transitioned from rosewood to richlite due to New CITES Regulations For All Rosewood Species.
Build Your Own DIY Kit Guitar
The G-style style guitar kit while not as simple to assemble as ST or TE (thanks to the pickguards or control plates being preloaded with electronics) style kits is still a relatively straight forward guitar to assemble. This makes G-style guitar kits a good option if this is your first building project and want to simply dip your toe in the water, to begin with before taking on something more challenging.
Recommended: G-style Guitar Kit Assembly Manual
As the G-style is a set neck guitar (the 7 is bolt-on) you will need to assess the scale length of the instrument prior to gluing the neck.
The G-style utilizes a 24.75 in (628 mm) scale length like all the original manufacturer style guitars.
How to calculate scale length
- Position the neck in the neck cavity. If the bridge holes are not yet drilled, mark a position where the saddles of the bridge will sit approximately on the guitar.
- Measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret.
- Measure from the 12th fret to the bridge exactly the same distance as to the 12th fret from the nut. In most cases, the neck will sit tightly in the neck cavity hard up against the edge of the body. But if the scale length isn't correct from this position you may need to make minor adjustments to the neck position. If the bridge holes aren't yet drilled, it's better to adjust the bridge position than the neck. The saddles will also allow you approx. 10mm adjustment.
When gluing a set neck guitar it’s important that you don’t use an excessive amount of glue. The glue should be applied to the base of the neck and base of the neck cavity. Try to limit the amount of glue so that it doesn’t come into contact with the edges of the neck or pickup cavity as this can impact on the tonal quality of the guitar and sustain.
G-style Guitar Kit Bridge
The G-style utilizes a Tune-O-Matic bridge. You can read more about this type of bridge here.
G-style Guitar Kit wiring
Below you will find an G-style guitar kit wiring diagram. The G-style is similar to the LP in regard to wiring as both guitars feature dual humbuckers and a 3-way pickup selector switch.
If you are wanting to upgrade the hardware and electronics, an G-style wiring kit can be a good investment. We have listed some of the better options below:
- G-style wiring harness with CTS 500K pots Pots Switchcraft PIO Caps New
- Premium G-style wiring kit
- G-style wiring harness upgrade with Orange Drop .022 uF Neck and Bridge
- G-style the original manufacturer - Deluxe 50s Prewired Wiring Harness - Vintage K42Y-2 PIO Russian Caps With 3-Way Switch
- All parts EP-4146-000 Wiring Kit for G-style
Kits for your DIY G-style guitar
Guitar Kit World offers variety of G-style kit options. If you're interested in building your own G-style guitar visit the following page – DIY guitar kits – to view what is available in stock.
Guitar body style names used in this article describe general design categories, not specific branded products. Guitar Kit World is not affiliated with or endorsed by any major guitar manufacturer. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.