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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Basswood TE Guitar Kit w/ Maple Neck, Chrome Hardware

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Basswood TE Guitar Kit w/ Maple Neck, Chrome Hardware

$239.99 USD

$239.99 USD - $239.99 USD

$239.99 USD

$189.99 USD

$189.99 USD - $189.99 USD

$189.99 USD

Build Skill 2/10 — Beginner

The TE Style DIY Guitar Kit with a basswood body is one of the most recommended kits for beginners and seasoned builders alike. Known for its class...

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Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard

$239.99 USD

$239.99 USD - $239.99 USD

$239.99 USD

$199.99 USD

$199.99 USD - $199.99 USD

$199.99 USD

Build Skill 6/10 — Intermediate

Right-handed Mahogany body TE guitar kit with Maple Neck and engineered Rosewood Fretboard. Build your own DIY guitar. Specifications Hand O...

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Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fretboard

Mahogany Te Guitar Kit W/ Neck Ebony Fretboard

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Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fretboard

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD - $249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

$199.99 USD

$199.99 USD - $199.99 USD

$199.99 USD

Build Skill 4/10 — Beginner

Build your own guitar with TE style unfinished Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body and Neck engineered Ebony Fretboard, and Chrome Hardware. You can find TE-...

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Blank TE-style Guitar Kit w/ Rosewood Fretboard

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$199.99 USD

$199.99 USD - $199.99 USD

$199.99 USD

Build Skill 8/10 — Advanced

Build a classic tone machine from the ground up with this blank TE-style guitar kit. Designed for makers who want full shaping, finishing, and tona...

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Left-Hand Blank TE-style Guitar Kit w/ Rosewood Fretboard - Guitar Kit World

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Left-Hand Blank TE-style Guitar Kit w/ Rosewood Fretboard

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$199.99 USD

$199.99 USD - $199.99 USD

$199.99 USD

Build Skill 8/10 — Advanced

Build a custom electric guitar from the ground up with this left handed blank TE-style guitar kit, designed specifically for left handed players an...

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Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Ebony fretboard

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD - $249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

$219.99 USD

$219.99 USD - $219.99 USD

$219.99 USD

Build Skill 3/10 — Beginner

TE-style Guitar Kit with Alder Body and Mahogany neck and engineered Ebony fretboard. Shop now to build your own DIY guitar! Specifications ...

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Lefty Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer

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🇺🇸 US Only

Lefty Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer

$259.99 USD

$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD

$259.99 USD

$219.99 USD

$219.99 USD - $219.99 USD

$219.99 USD

Build Skill 6/10 — Intermediate

Build your own left-handed TE-style Guitar Kit with Alder Body, Quilted Maple Body Veneer, and Maple neck with a skunk stripe. You can find TE-st...

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Ready to Ship

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Lefty Mahogany body TE Guitar Kit

$259.99 USD

$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD

$259.99 USD

$219.99 USD

$219.99 USD - $219.99 USD

$219.99 USD

Build Skill 6/10 — Intermediate

Build your own left-handed TE-style Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Quilted Maple Body Veneer, and Maple neck with a skunk stripe. Please note: Wh...

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Ash TE Guitar Kit w/ Flame Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck

Ash TE Guitar Kit w/ Flame Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck - Guitar Kit World

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Ash TE Guitar Kit w/ Flame Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck

$269.99 USD

$269.99 USD - $269.99 USD

$269.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

Build Skill 6/10 — Intermediate

TE style Guitar Kit with Ash Body, Flame Maple body veneer, and Maple neck with a skunk stripe. Shop now to build your own DIY guitar! Specificatio...

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Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer, Styled Headstock, Maple Neck

Alder Te Guitar Kit W/ Quilt Maple Veneer Styled Headstock Neck

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Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer, Styled Headstock, Maple Neck

$259.99 USD

$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD

$259.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

Build Skill 6/10 — Intermediate

TE-style Guitar Kit with Alder Body, Quilted Maple Body Veneer, and Maple neck with a skunk stripe. Specifications Hand Orientation*: Righty Body...

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Mahogany TE style body Guitar Kit with Rosewood Fretboard - Guitar Kit World

Mahogany Te Style Body Guitar Kit With Rosewood Fretboard

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Mahogany TE style body Guitar Kit with Rosewood Fretboard

$249.99 USD

$249.99 USD - $249.99 USD

$249.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

Build Skill 2/10 — Beginner

Build your own Mahogany TE-style Guitar kit with Rosewood Fretboard using our DIY Guitar Kits. Specifications Hand Orientation: Righty ...

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Thinline Semi-Hollow Ash Body T-Style Guitar Kit With Spalted Maple Veneer

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🌍 Worldwide

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

$259.99 USD

$259.99 USD - $259.99 USD

$259.99 USD

$229.99 USD

$229.99 USD - $229.99 USD

$229.99 USD

Build Skill 8/10 — Advanced

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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Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck

$319.99 USD - $319.99 USD

$319.99 USD

$289.99 USD

$289.99 USD - $289.99 USD

$289.99 USD

Build Skill 5/10 — Intermediate

Build your own Basswood T-style Bass Guitar Kit with Maple Neck and Skunk Stripe using this DIY Guitar kits. Specifications Hand Orientation: Rig...

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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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TE-style DIY Guitar Kits

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Basswood TE Guitar Kit w/ Maple Neck, Chrome Hardware

Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard

Mahogany TE Guitar Kit w/ Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fretboard

Blank TE-style Guitar Kit w/ Rosewood Fretboard

Left-Hand Blank TE-style Guitar Kit w/ Rosewood Fretboard

Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Ebony fretboard

Lefty Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer

Lefty Mahogany body TE Guitar Kit

Ash TE Guitar Kit w/ Flame Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck

Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilt Maple Veneer, Styled Headstock, Maple Neck

Mahogany TE style body Guitar Kit with Rosewood Fretboard

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

Alder TE Guitar Kit w/ Quilted Maple Veneer, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck

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

Left-Hand TE Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Rosewood Fretboard

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

Semi-Hollow Ash TE Guitar Kit with Zebrawood Body Top

TE Guitar Kit w/ Spalted Maple Veneer, Maple Fretboard

Semi-hollow Mahogany T-style kit with Vibrato Tailpiece

Basswood T-style Bass Guitar Kit with Maple Neck and Skunk Stripe

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