DIY "Paul Reed Smith" Guitar Kit - Build Timeline And Finished Product With Sound Demo

[@pedrokd5439]

Good job that you are not colour blind, or the result would be wildly different ..

[@papablue3015]

Glued neck like I did cool! Becarefull with steel wool it gave me infection under 2 finger nails had to go to doctor! Nice job! Let's do another! Picking colors is hard I like them all! Lol! Thanks Marty!

[@JohnBaker-vm1wf]

If you aren't into wetsanding, I would recommend Minwax 'Wipe-On Poly. It makes a pretty smooth finish, and even if you use the 'm,atte' finish it comes out really smooth and velvety feeling, and can be buffed to a gloss, but not a traditional guitar shine. I would always use 2K clearcoat and wetsand/polish/buff on my next kit. It comes waaayy closer to a pro finish.

[@davidjeffers68]

I need to send you the little air brush kit I used when I went to Nossi. You would love that thing. You can do gradients and use stencils and all kinds of cool stuff with it. I'm so impressed with how well the kit turned out. I learned a lot from you today Marty! Thank you brother... 🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

That would be cool! Thanks man. I’m just a novice. 🤟🏻

[@voornaam3191]

JUST. DO. IT. SEND. IT. PLEASE!

[@CodClip]

How does this guitar look today? I’ve heard alcohol ink isn’t very colorfast and can fade/change over time

[@benburnett8109]

Second comment. The glue will continue to fail as you have introduced stain to the surfaces where glue would make contact. The neck pocket and area of neck that make contact should be left bare. No sanding, no sealer, no stain. absolutely bare so glue can make good contact. Just my 2 cents. Also, using leather dyes; allowing them to fully cure will prevent any dye/lacquer issues. This is another reason why I use Leather dyes vs stuff available thru walmart or hobbylobby. Overall, excellent video and I greatly appreciate you showng the link for where you got the kit.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I wound up removing the dye. You’re absolutely right, it will not glue correctly! I fell in love with the ink colors but I have had better results with the leather dye for sure!! Thanks so much man I appreciate the comment and info!

[@michaelkennedy2190]

Awesome job Marty 👏 Thanks for sharing the love my brother 🙏

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Michael!! Appreciate ya man!

[@ajmpatriot4899]

Thats absolutely beautiful!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you!! 🤟🏻🎵

[@ifly65]

Pro Aviation (Helicopters with news logos) and guitar painter here. Not bad for the cost. You can still wet sand the orange peel out then buff it out with compounds with the neck attached. A touch up brush w the same black stain before you clear coated would have helped your edge work. Try not to scuff or wet sand final color coats. The proper steps in finishing and painting usually dont cost more money, it just takes more time.

[@patrickkem689]

Hi Marty, Had a suggestion for ya when I found this out it really helped me out a lot. I will use a little bit of sanding sealer especially for the veneers. That will keep it from becoming unglued. And causing your patterns to bubble. And if you are working with any water base with dyes May I suggest using alcohol it evaporates fast and will not cause the glue to become unglued. And it works well with dyes and stains. And with the sanding sealer already on ot. It will offer you a uniformed coverage. Hope it was useful. Really am enjoying your Video’s.

[@JohnBaker-vm1wf]

Sanding sealer prevents the stain from applying properly does it not? I've done a couple of kits and they always tell you to sand it off as they normally come with it pre-applied.

[@georgerobartes2008]

Like the LBGT flag top . The blue masking tape really set it off .

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

To be honest, I named it Brooke. It was inspired by a Brooke Burke workout outfit she had on that I saw. 😂😂❤️

[@rocketpoolpki]

A fantastic upload Marty and I can assure everyone watching that you have made it look much easier than it can be. "I'm no expert...I've only built 27 guitars" hahahaha..cool...Even though you were bitten by the orange stain at the end, it looks and sounds amazing Marty, really well done sir. I have much more limited experience but have maybe a dozen or so builds under my belt. Fret work is really quite easy, most of what I have done is with Stainless Steel frets , which have become popular and due to their hardness require a bit more effort than nickel/silver...but...a 2ft spirit level with 600 grit on one side and 1200 on the other will get you to where you need to be, no problemo dudes \m/ set the neck dead straight with the truss rod and mark each fret with a blue sharpie along the crown and using the weight of the level only, rub back and forth in straight lines along the neck so as to not alter the radius, when there are no gaps or dips showing through the blue, flip the level over and polish with the 1200 grit side...booom shanka \m/. A compound radius, such as a Jackson which typically is 12 - 16 inches can be a tad more tricky but...slowly, slowly catches the monkey...right. It isn't hard guys and gals, easier than baking a cake for sure. I can get any action down to 1mm or even less quite easily and I am just a blue collar Joe with wayyyyy less skillatchi than Marty, Floyd type bridges only seem to go this low if set to "divebomb only" ...particularly Ibanez RG's seem to bottom out on the fret board on the pull back if the action is too low, but that may be showing my lack of experience and solveable with shimming the neck. A crucial step which Marty touches on is....the neck action will slightly settle out with time, an overnight wait, particularly under tension , can often stop buzzing frets. Changes in ambient humidity also can have similar effect...even working both ways sometimes, adding a buzz or two...Marty the way in which you humble yourself to make your fantastic uploads accessible to guitarists at every level is super cool and impressive man, you are obviously a guy right at the top of your game and I take my hat off to you my friend. Has the recent work on your Friedman changed the dynamics at all, it seems that other YT channels make a big deal out of small changes with different components etc? \m/

[@johnmoser2689]

Love how it turned out

[@timprosser4944]

Great Sounding guitar Marty. It sings like a Stradivarius! Just like Brian May you have built your own guitar. ‘Cut your own wood and it will warm you twice’ Love watching your posts on You Tube. You have great Tone. Keep up the good work. BW, Tim from Little Old England.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Hey Tim. Thanks for the comment and compliment man! I really appreciate it. I am very pleased with how this one came out. It sounds great! Would love to see England one day! 😎🤟🏻

[@alen7339]

Looks nice, my dream build

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much! Not was fun to do.

[@cantstartafire]

Great guitar! Ignore my last comment, it was for another thing. I need to try this. I also kinda want to build one of the mojotone amp kits. It’s like Legos for guitar geeks.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Good analogy. Totally like Legos for guitar geeks. 😂

[@user-Brianvh5150bp]

Hey really enjoy you videos only one thing I wish you would add hooking the pickups up volume and tone as well.Once again Thank You!!

[@mikestroud9969]

Very nive buddy i just subscribed. Always good to get advice. Ive only built one guitar before Peavey predator. I overlooked the frets they were wotn down and i put cheaper humbuckers uggh dumbo move 😂😂. learning experience for sure. I will build more in the future. 😎👍✌️🎸🎸. Im 61 older dude 😊

[@dananthony6258]

Red dawn sailor be warn. That’s what I see when I see the red running into the yellow. Very cool video , thank you for sharing.

[@Raul1971xxx]

No risk, no reward.. No pain, no gain.. (Sonya Blade, Jackeline Briggs).

[@paulsanders1]

Thanks for spelling out every step!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re so welcome. Thanks for watching

[@tonytigertwenty]

Gotta sand that finish down with sandpaper first dude. Came out sweet.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I used some fine steel wool before hand. I was really nervous about messing up the veneer. Probably a little too cautious. Lol 😂😂

[@chiparooo]

Sounds real good. There is certainly a satisfaction from completing a project like this. I wish there would have been a little more subtle fade between the red and orange personally. Overall very nice. Thanks for sharing!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! Me too. I love the colors but I was nervous on how to get them to fade. I was afraid to mess it up. Lol.

[@timbuckxxi9690]

Not bad...For what you spent plus your labor & parts I'd call it a success ! Parts guitars can be a pain or fun. For me modifying Strats & LP's with pick-ups, tuners, nuts, bridges ECT, is more gratifiying for me. I have a un-used expensive partscaster to remind me of that.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I like modifying stuff too. It can get too pricey!

[@patricetremblay2456]

Good Job! It sound very well but i thing with your talent you can made any guitar sounding amazing 🤘🏻👍🏻

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank so much! 😎

[@GaryPorterfield]

Hey thanks for your video bro I kind of practice on some old beat-up straps but I'm about to tackle the do-it-yourself PRS hollow-body kit and feeling pretty confident after watching your video and my practice runs with the old strats but yeah thanks you video was great it was easy to watch and make it seem like you might know what you're doing when you actually start doing it play guitar came out great and sounded even better I've been thinking about going with those pickups as well but so hard to choose anyway thanks again will definitely recommend to anyone doing their first kit to check out your video One Love

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for watching man. These kits are nice but the hardest part is painting. I suck at paint and lacquer but get better with each one. I don't really want to invest in a sprayer and all the stuff. I just enjoy making them play nice and looking as good as possible. 😎🍺

[@JoeR203]

Should've tried a swirl paint job. ;-) I would have done a little bit of white on the tips of the horns. But then again, it may make you think of candy corn. I had a nice candy apple red metallic Kramer Striker I bought in the 90s- early 2000s from MusicYo. That might be the red you're looking for. As for pickups, try the Dragonfire "Screamer" pickups. They're around $35 and come in different colors.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Candy corn! Lol. 😂. Maybe next one will be a swirl. I like the idea!

[@cantstartafire]

Awesome! I wanna buy those patches.

[@eddiejr540]

Marty…you mentioned candy apple red…I would love to have the Steve Via (Jack Butler) Jackson…the copy of the one he used in crossroads…its a sweet guitar in candy apple…hard to find as well !!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love that color! I have a top secret new guitar being shipped in that color. Can’t wait to share on the channel. 🤟🏻😎🤟🏻

[@chiphargis2419]

You gotta do the inks when they’re both wet to get the right burst effect. Letting the yellow dry makes it a lot harder

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! 🙌☮️

[@timbalski9037]

2 questions since I'm considering this kit: 1. What's the scale length (hoping it's 24.75")?? 2. What is the nut width (hoping wide enough for an R3 nut)?? On a side note, I might have to consider gluing on a quilt maple veneer since he's only offering that in flame... Good job on the whole thing btw...

[@eddiejr540]

Very well done sir…excellent job!!…I think you should have done the whole top in the red…the red looks awesome…just my opinion tho!!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I agree. That red pops! Thanks so much 😎🤟🏻

[@Alvin_C_York]

I have an EVH Wolfgang Special in Candy Apple Red Metallic, it's a beauty. Super hard to find nowadays.

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Awesome guitar build🎸🎸 it looks like you had a lot of fun! The color combo looks amazing and sounds sweet too!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@simonkormendy849]

To get your first-fret action right so it doesn't cause fret-buzz on the first fret, you can use a set of automotive feeler gauges bought from your local hardware store, there should be a .020 inch gap between the top of the fret and the bottom of each string when all strings are tuned to pitch, you can set your 1st-fret action as high as .022 inch, or as low as .018 inch, to check if your 1st-fret action is correct you can also fret each string just in front of the second fret and check the clearance gap between the 1st-fret and the string, it should be at least .005 inch or just barely touching.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! Very good info. 🙌

[@volkiruski1221]

I paint myself with Tattoo ink and water, nobody do this. I like it a lot. Also used Angelus, Copy ink, real art paint....

[@volkiruski1221]

Looks good, sounds good, a very nice guitar for 250 excl. Pickups. Which amp you used to demo? Succes with the guitar. 👍👍👍

[@buffdaddy2032]

Have you ever tried dragonfire pickups . There affordable and sound great

[@JoeR203]

I just suggested the "Screamer" in my comment (before seeing your comment). I have the Screamer in the neck and a strat style in the middle on the guitar in my profile pic. And a screamer in a cheap "Ashthorpe" guitar from Amazon.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I’ve heard they’re great!

[@robertclarkguitar]

Awesome man!!!! I need to get my kit together. Been a year. Sits in box sanded. I hadn't had the chance to get the stain I wanted. I guess I'll use MinWax floor poly on it. So I can built it. Hahah

[@barrymoretzky8084]

Great video Where did you purchase the kit from?

[@karlmartini9919]

Hello sir. I had a really quick question for you. When you put this together, does it have the neck angle already cut into it? I bought separate body and neck. Same manufacturer, but went to put it together and the action was about a half inch. Tried to put an angle on the neck heel but can't seem to get it right. Just wondering if the kids take that into consideration. Thanks!! Nice job BTW!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

To my knowledge it did. This was a long time ago so forgive my absent mindedness. I think I did have to shim and mess with the truss rod a bit. Especially with the trem I used.

[@timhallas4275]

Some of us can play.... some of us can build.... all of us can kit, but not all of us should.

[@benburnett8109]

Have you tried using Leather Dyes? Feiblings and Angelus Leather dyes are alcohol based and less likely to "release" the veneer glue. Like you, I've done dozens of these Veneer style kits. I've used non water based dyes and never had an issue with lifting veneer. Also, It is very easy to blend colors, and the colors are much brighter. Excellent work. Just curious as to how the ordering process went?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I have used leather dyes. I have several colors. I found these inks and wanted to give ‘em a shot. They turned out nice but they were runny so not gonna do that again! Ordering went well. I got it delivered in like a week. No issues.

[@newenglandtrucker6049]

It’s reminds of the album cover for the group Police. 😂

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

I would love to see those three colors done in a burst but have a question it may sound stupid but why do you put the pots and everything in before the neck is there a reason or you just like doing it that way the neck looks good on it too man but it's crazy the orange looks better on the body but the yellow looks better on the neck go figure you'll have to do one with the burst and use the orange on it I think that would look killer but it seemed like it turned out really good man I think you did an awesome job I wouldn't be able to do that

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It’s just easier for me to work on the body shop his way without the neck getting in the way. Especially when I flip it over and buff it on all sides.

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker yeah but I was wondering why you put the electronics on before the neck I would think you would put the neck on first then do all the wiring and electronics that's why I was asking

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@kennethhoneycutt4513 ahh. I guess due to the fact I always check to make sure it is all working before hand. If there’s a wiring issue or something it’s just easy to work with a guitar body without a neck. Flipping it over and soldering and getting it in the right lighting. Etc.

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker okay that makes sense

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@kennethhoneycutt4513 I probably am supposed to attach it first but who knows??

[@0000000666]

Hi i just get here 2 year later... so what you do with the kit pickups?

[@alexbungori6906]

Has anyone tried burning the top before staining?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Hmmm good idea. Interesting ....

[@tjdubya9449]

I'm screaming at my TV for you to blend the red and orange into the other colors without the hard line... It would look so much more "professional" as you said. Other than that, good job!

[@Yttikymmug]

Man was you in a Eric Johnson mood? I gotta say awesome kit build. I never had a guitar with a floyd. My question since you didn't lay in on the whammy is it ok or just get the original?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

The whammy is a little wonky but not too bad. I just didn’t want to take the chance and reshoot or retune. Haha. I think I’m gonna put a 1000 on it if I can find one “cheap”

[@mythgreatbritain5634]

I would really like a metallic candy apple red guitar.....buy metallic red candy apple paint then....

[@ccaputa]

I have a PRS Custom 24 that I ordered last year and it is hands down the easiest playing guitar I own. I'm wondering how your DIY plays compared to your other guitars?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

The fretboard feels dry and over time will need to be played more so it feels warm in. The action is pretty good and the tone of this guitar is great. It still requires a little tweaking but it’s very nice!

[@lenoechsner28]

Use a dab of lemon oil and rub o to fretboard works wonders

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@lenoechsner28 it soaked it up first time when assembling. I think I need to reapply it a couple more times! 🙌

[@lenoechsner28]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker yea it absorbs quick first time but once it’s in the grain after 2-3 applications you will feel it neck just glides kinda like that old “fast fret” oil we use to rub on neck/strings back in the day

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@lenoechsner28 I’ll soak it some more !

[@OUTTATIMEMTL]

shit! they don't ship to Canada. Notice that you put some tint in the neck pocket, maybe that doenst help for the gluing of the neck?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh I wound up removing that. I didn’t want glue issues!

[@OUTTATIMEMTL]

Nice job BTW

[@papablue3015]

The kit l built was just body and neck no electronics or anything thick mahogany back and neck with thick maple top I drilled holes! Love building hate wiring! Thanks! PS: if you color sand between coats and after clearing you can get it looking smooth like a factory job! I use to paint cars!

[@lenoechsner28]

Marty did you sand in between coats of coloring and after the watco finish?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh. But the last couple coats of Wattco I did not since it tends to stay glossier.

[@Grumpyseabee22]

The neck joint looks very short… there’s a kit that has a long tenon joint that probably works way better.

[@briancebula5594]

what knd of cloth are you using to rub the dye on with?

[@T0neXIII]

I thought it was a rock too... lends towards the 5150 thing.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Lol. Yeh k need a new one. I’m actually gonna make one. I saw one at a shop they made and I’m gonna replicate it!

[@T0neXIII]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker You gotta admit, she promotes the intrigue or OCD, either way... it's call does beckon something.

[@paulskidz269]

What kind of ink was that you used

[@ougigaming8710]

What Duncan pickuos did u use??

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I believe these were Duncan Sh2 that I took out of a another guitar that I sold.

[@pdlegend6829]

why did you skip the wiring part? Kind of thinking that was gonna be the best part I wanted to see

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Well, I decided to keep the DIY harness in tact. Just to see how it would perform. And it was already wired. I just had to stick it in the guitar. ☮️

[@buffdaddy2032]

Where did you get that kit from ?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

eBay.

[@eugenebeecher7308]

I'd hate to see the other 27 guitars...!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Me too 😂😂

[@voornaam3191]

Yep, sanding through the veneir is sad. Oops, it is not a solid cedar top, it is just a veneir. LOUD BEEEP! Applied a dark semi-transparent finish. It sounds as intended, more like an open pore. But it looks sloppy, I don't mind. So, watch out when sanding, you could be sanding a flimsy layer of veneir. Always watch carefully.

[@douglaschristine8387]

How you doing Marty? If you've built 25 guitars, I would say your an expert compared to Moa' whose built none.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I would say a fairly experienced novice. Lol. I've only done basic builds. Nothing to wild with wiring. I would say that's my weakness! Thanks for watching and support!! 😎

[@BurningHearts70]

Would you gig with it?

[@narvul]

So as a 27 guitar kit veteran you're still not beyond an orange peel finish..... sad.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh I know. 😔 paint and finish just ain't my thing. Probably never will be lol. But I do enjoy making them and making them play nice. I could invest in a sprayer etc but I have no desire.

[@narvul]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker It's nice of you to acknowledge you're not great at it so kudos for you! You can get great results with a rattle can. I did a bunch of projects (car, motorcycle, machinery, etc.) with cans and since I have a compressor with a decent spray painter I did none LOL But I recently bought a Tele kit.....

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@narvul I recently did a pink Les Paul kit that came out great.

[@narvul]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker But no pictures?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@narvul there's a video on it from a couple moths ago.

[@voornaam3191]

Be careful saying "decent job". Before you know it, The Sultans Of Swing will call you. Hey, we need a lousy guitar player. Mark Knopfler really heard such a band, at the end of their gig the singer said something like "We are the Sultans Of Swing, thank you."

[@КакаяРазница-и7х]

Очень неаккуратно. Учиться,учиться и ещё раз учиться

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

For sure man! ☮️

[@JimHolmes-qo1oo]

sound is terrible change your speakers and try to record with out the acoustic sound

[@MortandHarley]

First Things First.....Where Are Your Gloves?????? Do yo really want stained fingers that stay that way for weeks???

[@ivanriverajr5012]

Sorry that was not good. Im an artist, and you are not blending correctly. It makes me cringe. Great piece, but a plain cloth and thinner and water just brush at the colors where they meet to blend it out.

[@voornaam3191]

All that staining! Why not simply give that great wood a clear finish? It does not need todlers colors. When I buy such a kit guitar, I need to sand for days and days and days removing this fake color. That wood is nothing wrong with. And hoppa, the ebony stain comes in. Do you hate wood? Buy an aluminum kit guitar, maybe? Just kidding, don't worry, three colors is always okay. My question is, why would you stain this guitar anyway? A clear coat will look great! It sure does. And you NEVER see such guitars. It is always the boring standard finish, over and over and over. Sunburst, brownburst, goldburst, and so on. NEVER plain wood.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I just wanted to see if I could do it and how it would look. I've done about 40 guitars over the last 5 years so I was looking for some variation and having some fun.

[@marceli155]

sound super !

[@marceli155]

shit paint !