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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.
Thin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Pau Ferro Fretboard
Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
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Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
Current price
$239 USD
$239 USD
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$239 USD
Current price
$239 USD
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. Full Specificat...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Ash Body, Spalted Maple Veneer, Two Single-Coils
Original price
$279 USD
Original price
$279 USD
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Original price
$279 USD
Original price
$279 USD
Current price
$244 USD
$244 USD
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$244 USD
Current price
$244 USD
Skill
5/10 Intermediate
Full Specifications General Dexterity: Right-Handed Number of Strings: 6 Size: Full Size Build Difficulty: Intermediate (5/10) Spalted Maple...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Two Single-Coils, Vibrato Tailpiece
Original price
$299 USD
Original price
$299 USD
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Original price
$299 USD
Original price
$299 USD
Current price
$249 USD
$249 USD
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$249 USD
Current price
$249 USD
Skill
8/10 Advanced
Build your own semi-hollow TE-style guitar with this mahogany DIY kit, featuring a classic design paired with a smooth vibrato tailpiece. Ideal for...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Flame Maple Veneer, Black Hardware
Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
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Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
Current price
$259 USD
$259 USD
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$259 USD
Current price
$259 USD
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...
View full detailsSpalted Maple Thin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit with Two Humbuckers, Ash Body, Maple Fretboard
Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
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Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
Current price
$259 USD
$259 USD
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$259 USD
Current price
$259 USD
Skill
6/10 Intermediate
A spalted maple top and two humbuckers on a thin semi-hollow ash body. Spalted maple is pale maple marked with dark natural lines, and every sheet ...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Quilted Maple Veneer, String-Through Body
Original price
$269 USD
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Original price
$269 USD
Original price
$269 USD
$269 USD
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$269 USD
Current price
$269 USD
Skill
6/10 Intermediate
Semi-Hollow TE-style Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Quilt Maple body veneer, and Maple neck. Full Specifications General Dexterity: Right-Handed ...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Ash Body, Stripewood Veneer, Ebonized Fretboard
Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
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Original price
$289 USD
Original price
$289 USD
Current price
$269 USD
$269 USD
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$269 USD
Current price
$269 USD
Skill
6/10 Intermediate
Semi-Hollow T-style guitar kit with Ash Body, Stripewood (Reconstituted Wood) body top, and Maple neck. Shop now to build your own DIY guitar! Stri...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Basswood Body, Maple Fretboard, Black Hardware
Original price
$279 USD
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Original price
$279 USD
Original price
$279 USD
$279 USD
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$279 USD
Current price
$279 USD
Skill
3/10 Beginner
TE Semi-Hollow DIY guitar kit featuring a basswood body with an f-hole for resonant, airy tone. Paired with a maple neck and maple fretboard with b...
View full detailsCustom Shop Thin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit
Original price
$449 USD
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Original price
$449 USD
Original price
$449 USD
$449 USD
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$449 USD
Current price
$449 USD
Skill
?/10 Varies
Customizable TE Semi-hollow style DIY Guitar Kit to build your very own guitar, tailored to your unique style and playing preferences. Express your...
View full details
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.