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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.
Classic Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Rosewood Fretboard, Abalone Trapezoid Inlays
Original price
$249.99 USD
Original price
$249.99 USD
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Original price
$249.99 USD
Original price
$249.99 USD
Current price
$229.99 USD
$229.99 USD
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$229.99 USD
Current price
$229.99 USD
Skill
3/10 Beginner
Build your own Mahogany TE-style Guitar kit with Rosewood Fretboard using our DIY Guitar Kits. Specifications Hand Orientation: Righty ...
View full detailsBlank Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Ebony Fretboard, Two Single-Coils
Original price
$239.99 USD
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Original price
$239.99 USD
Original price
$239.99 USD
$239.99 USD
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$239.99 USD
Current price
$239.99 USD
Skill
8/10 Advanced
Build and shape your own electric guitar with our TE-style Blank Guitar Kit. This slab-body style kit gives you a solid mahogany foundation paired ...
View full detailsClassic Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Engineered Ebony Fretboard, Two Single-Coils
Original price
$249.99 USD
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Original price
$249.99 USD
Original price
$249.99 USD
$249.99 USD
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$249.99 USD
Current price
$249.99 USD
Skill
3/10 Beginner
Build your own guitar with TE style unfinished Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body and Neck Ebony (Engineered) Fretboard, and Chrome Hardware. You can find T...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Flame Maple Veneer, Black Hardware
Original price
$289.99 USD
Original price
$289.99 USD
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Original price
$289.99 USD
Original price
$289.99 USD
Current price
$259.99 USD
$259.99 USD
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$259.99 USD
Current price
$259.99 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 detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Pau Ferro Fretboard
Original price
$259.99 USD
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Original price
$259.99 USD
Original price
$259.99 USD
$259.99 USD
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$259.99 USD
Current price
$259.99 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. Specifications ...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Mahogany Body, Quilted Maple Veneer, String-Through Body
Original price
$269.99 USD
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Original price
$269.99 USD
Original price
$269.99 USD
$269.99 USD
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$269.99 USD
Current price
$269.99 USD
Skill
7/10 Intermediate
Semi-Hollow TE-style Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Quilt Maple body veneer, and Maple neck. Specifications Hand Orientation: Right-Hand Number o...
View full detailsThin Semi-Hollow Single-Cutaway Electric Guitar Kit, Ash Body, Engineered Zebrawood Veneer, Engineered Ebony Fretboard
Original price
$289.99 USD
Original price
$289.99 USD
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Original price
$289.99 USD
Original price
$289.99 USD
Current price
$269.99 USD
$269.99 USD
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$269.99 USD
Current price
$269.99 USD
Skill
7/10 Intermediate
Semi-Hollow TE-style guitar kit with Ash Body, Zebrawood (Engineered) body top, and Maple neck. Shop now to build your own DIY guitar! Specificat...
View full detailsClassic Single-Cutaway 4-String Bass Guitar Kit, Basswood Body, Skunk Stripe Maple Neck
Original price
$319.99 USD
Original price
$319.99 USD
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Original price
$319.99 USD
Original price
$319.99 USD
Current price
$289.99 USD
$289.99 USD
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$289.99 USD
Current price
$289.99 USD
Skill
6/10 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...
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.