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TE-style DIY Guitar Kits

The T-style guitar kit is one of the simplest and most rewarding builds you can do. The single cutaway body is flat on both sides with no belly cut or arm contour, which means less sanding and contouring work. The wiring is straightforward: two pickups, a three-way switch, and two knobs. If you want a clean, fast build with a great-sounding result, start here.

T-style guitars are famous for their bright, snappy tone and cutting bridge pickup. The bolt-on maple neck adds even more snap and clarity. From country chicken picking to indie rock jangle to blues grit, this body shape handles it all.

Our T-style kits include a solid body (typically ash or alder), a maple neck, a bridge pickup with a metal mounting plate, a neck pickup, a three-way switch, tuning machines, and all hardware. The bridge design on a T-style is unique, with the bridge pickup mounted directly into the bridge plate for that characteristic twang. This is one of the best kits for first-time builders because the simple construction leaves fewer places to make mistakes.

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Acoustic Electric Semi-Hollow TE-style Guitar Kit

Original price $279.99 USD
Original price $279.99 USD - Original price $279.99 USD
Original price $279.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
Build Skill 5/10 — Intermediate

Build your own acoustic electric guitar with this TE-style semi-hollow DIY kit, designed to deliver warm acoustic resonance with added clarity and ...

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Semi-hollow Ash Body T-style Guitar Kit with Spalted Maple Veneer

Original price $259.99 USD
Original price $259.99 USD - Original price $259.99 USD
Original price $259.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
Build Skill 5/10 — Intermediate

Build Your Own Semi-hollow Ash Body T-style Guitar Kit with Spalted Maple Veneer using our DIY guitar kits. Specifications Hand Orientat...

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Mahogany TE Semi-Hollow DIY Guitar Kit with Pau Ferro Fretboard

Original price $259.99 USD
Original price $259.99 USD - Original price $259.99 USD
Original price $259.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD
Current price $229.99 USD
Build Skill 5/10 — Intermediate

Build your own TE semi-hollow guitar with a mahogany body, black pickguard, and dual humbuckers. Classic tone meets DIY creativity. Specifications ...

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Semi-Hollow Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer

Original price $279.99 USD
Original price $279.99 USD - Original price $279.99 USD
Original price $279.99 USD
Current price $259.99 USD
$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD
Current price $259.99 USD
Build Skill 7/10 — Intermediate

Semi-Hollow TE-style Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Quilt Maple body veneer, and Maple neck. Specifications Hand Orientation*: Righty B...

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Semi-Acoustic TE style Mahogany body DIY kit with Flamed Maple Veneer

Original price $289.99 USD
Original price $289.99 USD - Original price $289.99 USD
Original price $289.99 USD
Current price $259.99 USD
$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD
Current price $259.99 USD
Build Skill 5/10 — Intermediate

Build a versatile semi-acoustic TE-style guitar designed for players who want both classic tone and modern flexibility. The mahogany semi-hollow bo...

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Semi-Hollow Ash TE Guitar Kit with Zebrawood Body Top

Original price $289.99 USD
Original price $289.99 USD - Original price $289.99 USD
Original price $289.99 USD
Current price $269.99 USD
$269.99 USD - $269.99 USD
Current price $269.99 USD
Build Skill 7/10 — Intermediate

Semi-Hollow TE-style guitar kit with Ash Body, Engineered Zebrawood body top, and Maple neck. Shop now to build your own DIY guitar! Specificatio...

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Semi-hollow Mahogany T-style kit with Vibrato Tailpiece

Original price $299.99 USD
Original price $299.99 USD - Original price $299.99 USD
Original price $299.99 USD
Current price $279.99 USD
$279.99 USD - $279.99 USD
Current price $279.99 USD
Build Skill 8/10 — Advanced

Build Your Own Semi-hollow Mahogany T-style kit with Vibrato Tailpiece using our DIY guitar kits. Specifications Hand Orientation: Righty Neck Jo...

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Bridge Pickup Mounting

The T-style bridge pickup sits in a metal plate that is part of the bridge assembly, which is a big part of what gives it that distinctive bright, twangy tone.

Body Wood Choice

Ash bodies deliver a brighter, more articulate T-style sound while alder bodies are warmer and more balanced across the frequency range.

Neck Pickup Type

Some T-style kits use a standard single coil neck pickup, while others offer a humbucker in the neck position for a warmer, fatter lead tone.

Control Layout

The standard T-style wiring uses a three-way switch, one volume knob, and one tone knob. This simple layout is very easy to wire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the T-style a good first guitar kit to build?

The flat body requires minimal shaping, the wiring only has two pickups and three controls, and the bolt-on neck is the most forgiving joint type. It is the easiest path to a finished guitar.

What gives a T-style guitar its distinctive twang?

The bridge pickup is mounted in a metal plate that is part of the bridge itself. This direct coupling transfers vibration differently than a pickup mounted in a routed cavity, producing that classic bright snap.

Can I get a humbucker sound from a T-style kit?

Yes. Some of our T-style kits come with a humbucker in the neck position. You can also swap the bridge pickup for a humbucker-sized single coil or route the body to accept a full humbucker.

What kind of finish works best on a T-style build?

T-style guitars look great with almost any finish. A natural or sunburst finish shows off the wood grain on ash bodies. Solid colors work well on alder. The flat body shape makes finishing easier than contoured designs.

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