Ep 1 - Building a Crimson T-Type Kit Guitar - Preparing the Body

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Hey everyone, we hope you enjoy the build series! Check out the description box above for details of how to win this guitar! Also, for your own kit guitar, head over to our website.. WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING A BLACK FRIDAY SALE: crimsonguitars.com/product-category/kit-guitars/

[@mynx_uk]

can i get a flying V kit? if so, might treat myself. can't stand the common shapes of the tele or lp. they are Boring.

[@RomainWhatever]

Crimson Custom Guitars is it possible to get a neck without a classic shape ? Just holes ? It’s not urgent since I will not have the time/space/money until this summer to get everything I need for my project, but will it be an option at some point ? Thank you again for sharing your work and I hope I will be buying a lot more from you ASAP !

[@dev--null]

I will definitely be ordering on of'em kits! Does it come with a nut?

[@griffgarmers2383]

Very Nice 👍

[@jacktowers7533]

Crimson Custom Guitars Is there any left handed kits possible ben?

[@DCxMiLK]

With your voice, you are the Bob Ross of guitar making.

[@royshantzis3321]

omg. you just nailed it. I was like, where else have I felt this relaxed while watching someone do something? He really is the bob ross of guitar making. All you need is the groovy 80s intro

[@Echo3_]

we don`t make mistakes just happy lil inlays ... 😂

[@johnnyknight6447]

yeah but his tattoos haha so it's like "man, this guy is the most gentlemanly gentleman there's ever been." and then the camera pans up and he looks like Skurge from Thor Ragnarok haha.

[@tristanrodriguez8254]

check out twoodfrd

[@derin111]

Even though I'm a surgeon (maxillo-facial) by profession and so you'd think I know a thing or two about precision, I have to say that I am completely in awe of your skill and attention to detail! This was absolutely fascinating to watch and admire. I only started watching because I want a T-type guitar and was considering building one myself (having knocked up a few cigar-box efforts in the past). Now, having watched you at work, I realise that to make something this good is going to be way, way beyond my skill, knowledge and patience levels. I salute you, Sir!

[@haydne]

I would love to make one BUT I don't have a work shop with a bench and drill stand, sooo i'll just enjoy you making one! I've taken apart a 1982 Ibanez Blazer, sanded it down to the wood, oiled it, changed a pickup and put it back together and that's about all I can DIY.

[@Kranie]

i would for sure do a burnt finish on such a beautiful piece of wood. removing the soft grain, and leaving the charred colour of the body, is such a sexy finish.

[@lcguitars2393]

Love it so far Ben. I wasn't sure I was going to like the burnt look but the wire brushing of the grain really brings out a weathered look.

[@remsangachhakchhuak1738]

You are correct, the finishing and preparation is the most important.

[@chloecafferty9074]

I love watching these builds even though I don’t play an instrument but my boyfriend loves them and plays both bass and guitar, I wouldn’t have a clue how I would customise one of the kits but I’d 100% buy one for my boyfriend and help him to customise his own which is something he is always talking about doing!

[@mattinahat6475]

Needless to say. When mike walked in to his leson today with the guitar , we all dropped our jaws. The best playing , set up and sounding tele i have ever had the privilege to try! I think I found me next purchase XD

[@timhallas4275]

Sanding a guitar body is my zen moment in life.

[@jamescross8926]

Great to see a reliable, well built UK kit come to market - Stoked

[@groovinhooves]

13'36" indeed, Sean has a great eye for framing. Really appreciate the close detail look at your methodical marking. Mounting even a well pre-drilled kit can be challenging enough, especially if one rushes it, let alone blanks. It is important to go slow, make your mistakes in graphite over committing the wrong wood to dust and shavings - some wood must die for the sake of beauty, right? Good teamwork, fellows. Beauty shot in more ways than one.

[@nicholascustomdesigns8365]

I never thought a burned look would be something I'd want in a guitar, but damn, that looks absolutely gorgeous! I want!!

[@sixstring001]

I think I would do the burnt black with slightly aged chrome hardware and antique white pick guard. I really love watching your videos. Thanks.

[@shakyblues2099]

I've been watching the videos of builds on here and other channels. I love watching the professionals. I've also been trying to build a decent guitar for years now. Tried multiple times and failed multiple times. I don't know if it's the kits I'm buying, the tools I have or just my inability... But I'm never happy with what I've made. I constantly drill at least one hole a millimetre off or scuff the neck pocket when I'm trying to line things up. I'm forever apologizing for imperfections to the very few people I show my builds to... Admittedly I don't have access to a proper pillar drill or luthier tools, but I feel I'm just not getting anywhere... I used to enjoy it but it's becoming more and more frustrating and expensive... I just want to build one I'm proud of... These videos are both wonderful and soul destroying... Haha! But great viewing. Please keep them up.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I think the secret is that no one is ever truly happy with anything they build, I certainly am not.. it is worth the time and effort though, even with limited tools you can do amazing things if you slow down and plan through each process.. I would agree with you though that starting with a cheap kit is a good way to doom the build from the very beginning. Tools can be worked around, a bad quality neck joint etc is a killer. B

[@apexpickups]

Well obvious you'd need a bright pink S type with a floyd rose and scalloped fret board! With a relief carving of Ben on the headstock

[@johannesteubler7470]

I´d try out a painting method I got to know recently, where you work old newspapers onto the body of the instrument. Has a very nice effect and anywhere you look at the guitar you find interesting articles^^

[@johnwattdotca]

It's bad enough that I have a reputation for having fallen asleep onstage while I played guitar, onstage in Niagara Falls, now I'll be accused of reading instead of listening. It all works for me. My mother could be knitting and fall asleep and keep knitting. That runs in our Scottish clan.

[@brendongreen4302]

Headstock inlay, yeti 12th fret inlay. Langcaster pickups (very hard to find) thickness top down for a semi hollow with book matched top with a bound f hole. Locate pickup selector in top horn position. Blue denim stain with nitro finish. Damn I'm going to have to order one now. Too many ideas. Haha

[@fahrrad2005]

This isn't just informative and very educating, it's also incredibly hillarious to you see you havvíng conversations with your voiceover-self. That's what is has to be like inside your head :D Very well done!

[@guitarthrower]

I love the sound of an overwound tele bridge pickup. Fattens up the tone. I would customize it by winding one of my own and using a walnut danish oil

[@garydragon9315]

Love your channel you are unbelievably knowledgable . You did a killer job on that tele. Im getting into building my own as well . Im going to keep following your channel to get educated. You have my support from now on.

[@ttownscott]

Nice to see that it comes with quality components. I built a kit once and did not use any of the cheap hardware that came with it.

[@ttownscott]

You're right. He must have purchased the hardware separately. I must have missed that in one of the videos.

[@LucasNettles]

I dig the burn/roast. Maybe add a white or light detail on the edge of the guitar. I love to see wood grain. Keep it simple. Bigsby tailpiece. That is how I would customize the Tele.

[@sambirch4065]

Absolutely love the cinematography of this video. The eye fro angles, depth of field; outstanding. Kinda also love to have this guitar, Uniqueness is everything.

[@oysteivi]

It's like the first Crimson series I watched, about making a kit guitar good! :D

[@larrysbmc]

I like the burnt look also, but just the edges and then a nice cherry stain for the body. Use a clear guard so you can see all the electronics.

[@MillardLite]

First thing I'd do to customize a kit is to commission an artist friend of mine to paint the body, and in Crimson Guitar spirit, I would lightly char the neck/headstock. As for hardware I would use a fender 6 saddle bridge utilizing it's through-body capabilities, Grover Roto-Grip locking tuners, a hand-filed bone nut, an emerson 4-way switch, and Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack pups

[@alonsomendoza5179]

I want a package type t. I'm starting to play in a country band from Chihuahua Mexico and I want to build a telecaster model, paint it sky blue and scratch it on the edges to make it look worn. Execelentes your videos, inspire a lot to work on your ideas or as you mentioned in the second video I think, on the guitar of your dreams. Regards!

[@theauthenticcap4830]

This is one of the most relaxing and amazing videos on KZbin. I love this so much! Thank you guys for uploading all the videos you made! It is always a pleasure to watch

[@billybiggs6766]

I would do that hydrodip thing where they use several different color paints in water and then dip the guitar into it. Looks really cool and I have been wanting to do that to a guitar every since I saw a video on it.

[@Gibboncore]

I'd go for Bareknuckle at the bridge and try winding my own P90 for the kneck. I'd opt for a Tuneomatic bridge which I'd distress along with a distressed scratchplate... as for the body and kneck I'd also go for burning like Ben, it's such a cool look.

[@JLittleVegemite]

A kit has just been added to the holiday wish list. The oiled burnt finish looks so good :)

[@bevinmodrak4997]

I think I would lean toward a transparent blue burst type finish, chrome hardware. Love watching your videos. Watched the entire 6 hour build challenge and loved it.

[@parttroll1]

Probably add some body sculpting to make it more comfortable to play with. Pop some hot rails in and a 6 Tone Telecaster pre-wired control plate from Jack's Instrument Services

[@M60tomohawk]

If I got one of these kit guitars I'd very much like to engrave the wood with a Celtic design and add a wooden pickguard to keep the natural wood look. Also I love the look of single coil pickups without the plastic covers, I feel like they hide the character of the copper windings and that's what I did when I upgraded my first guitar, an SX Strat, I removed the sunburst finish and got new hardware and some fender '57 vintage sounds pickups.

[@mcopado]

Love the burnt look. I love the removal of the soft grain. There's a similar technique that I did on a cigar box (actually a jewelry box) guitar, that I would love to do on that body. Basically you remove the soft grain with a wire attachment with a drill. Then I'd use a rust/vinegar natural stain that produces totally unique finished depending on the tannin in the wood. It's not necessarily a stain, it's more like the copper effect you do- a chemical reaction. You basically take metal and soak it in vinegar to produce Iron Acetate. You can use just about any metal, some folks soak that dreaded steel wool that Ben hates in vinegar for a few days to weeks. I made mine by saving the liquid I soaked some rusty tools in to use. It takes some playing around (and maybe some dillution) to figure out what color you will get, but the effect can be anywhere from barnwood grey to dark almost black- brown. One thing that can also help achieve some interesting effects is to add more tannin to the wood by brushing on some cold tea and letting it dry. Then you brush on youur vinegar rust stain... nothing happens at first, but then minutes to hours later the magic happens. I usually play around with a scrap piece of the same wood- though that's hard with the kit. Also using those steel wool pads that contain soap can also give the stain a greenish verdi-gris look. It would be interesting to try this process on the body paired up with the copper/ammonia/mustard metal plates. Since they're both chemical reactions it would make for a truly one of a kind instrument.

[@UtopiaLtd]

I know nothing a out guitars. I don’t play one. I’ve never held one. But I can’t stop watching your videos on making them. You are very entertaining.

[@digitel303]

watching you finishing these guitars is quickly becoming one of my favorite activities. thanks for sharing

[@IntoTheMystery13]

Can you do the charging on any guitar body? Is there a chance of any types of glue “releasing”? Looks amazing. If I had a shop I’d love to buy to buy one of these kits

[@squareyes1981]

Tele bridges are a minefield of tiny variations some barely visible to the naked eye. I researched dozens of bridges but couldn't find the right one for my Indonesian Squier. I bought it with a bodged on cheap aftermarket bridge and set about returning it to standard. I ended up filling all the current and original holes (including the string holes as their location prevented any kind of reasonable break angle after intonation) and I just started fresh as Ben has here. I'm thinking about picking up one of these kits and doing a full switcheroo...

[@DrumminDrew0]

In keeping with the whole flame motif, I'd airbrush realistic flames coming up from the bottom of the body (back and front). That would require a harder finish like Urethane or a 2K lacquer.

[@14jforcier]

I'm excited for the lp style kit. I want to veneer the headstock with some inlay work. These kits give freedom to build semi - custom guitars with confidence in the craftsmanship. Also cool videos

[@bellumfacere3116]

For a T type, i would use a dark oil finish, with a leater belt all arround the edge. Humbucker at the bridge with coil split, push-push, single coil at the neck, tone volume for every pickup plus a master volume on the horn. Classic three way switch. Chicken head knobs. Reversed headstock.

[@1q2w3e4r5t6y17]

flamed maple top and head stock , black binding dark stain on sides and back of body maybe a burst, mini humbuckers and brass hardware. mmmmmmm baby!!!!

[@1768pt]

Rout for a middle pick up Nashville style, add a coil split hotrail front and back Butterscotch with black guard naturally. Locking tuners roller bridge and Bigsby. What more is there?

[@jimcox312]

Fire bird style body with wenge center with sycamore sides. Celtic design fret board inlays. If the body is too heavy, grow stronger.

[@natewesselink]

awesome build. honestly all I would do with the strat kit would be to router out a pocket to run an HSS and finish it with a really dark, almost black, stain. classic and clean is always been my style (except for the bridge humbucker)

[@oscarmarfori613]

That T-type is a dream i wish i could afford to buy one of those

[@JamesMinchew]

The tele is crying out for a P90 in the neck, a "too many pies" belly cut and a forearm cut done after the top is finished. No scratch plate because wood is beautiful as are marks from an instrument being enjoyed.

[@fireinthecitymomo1877]

My customisation would be a 'burnt burst' with a stained neck, an ebony pickguard and control plate and tarnished hardware, hopefully it would look and sound old and awesome. :D

[@cristi.trohin]

I would definitely slap some hot rails on that Tele :)

[@rubikremus8525]

i would probably try to ingrave some initials in it from my grandpa maybe also burn it but only a touch so that the natural wood colour still comes through!

[@RBRGreenie]

Nice one Ben, I'd probably build one of the strat types, I like the way they look but hate rolling the volume off accidentally while playing, so I'd blank the volume knob and only have one tone knob. Transparent green stain and a carbon fibre pick guard.

[@ronhouseofbain487]

I'd customize a Tele by staining black first then sanding it back to make the grains more visible, then stain it a deep red and seal it with Tru Oil. Add a Tune-O-Matic brigde, locking tuners, and Tele single coil humbuckers.

[@diacrane]

Ihad so many Ideas on an awesome finish if I bought a kit but I think i'd go with this stunning finish now!

[@heathbarnhart1092]

To customize I would drop in a humbucker in the bridge (probably a bareknuckle juggernaut), stain it green, graphtec ratio tuners, graphtec nut, string through, not sure what do with the bridge but something with individual saddles.

[@blindingnoise]

I love the burnt finish, but i would leave some of the natural wood colour instead of going all over burnt. I've always loved that look and would do it on any guitar I had. Then probably a clear veneer to make the dark and light wood colours pop. Probably a humbucker in the bridge and a single volume and that would be about it.

[@drumsNstuff79]

I love a transparent sea foam green finish Gibson recently did. You guys did a teal version demonstrating your stains. I would totally do that to the body sans pickguard or even better a clear one.. I might even stain the neck to match. hmm.. that would look cool! and weathered and patina brass hardware, knobs and even pickup covers if I could.. now that would be killer!

[@Madurbu]

I will purchase one of the carved top kits to build with my son. Looking forward to it.

[@357bullfrog]

That's gonna be a plum beauty. I'll try an d car h all three parts. Win or loose I still like watching an d learning.

[@juancarlosmontes9761]

No entiendo el lenguaje, pero es entretenido e interesante ver un poco del proceso y construcción de una guitarra, mucha calidad, talento y pasión. Desde !México saludos!

[@JimmyMC2diecast]

Wow, what the flame reveals. I would love a crack at trying a flame burst, or maybe some Von Dutch style stripes over a dark burn, then give it to my youngest son. Thanks for the videos.

[@NPGANDERSSON]

I would stain mine in dark green and make a brushed aluminium scratch plate. Locking tuners, hipshot bridge and Lundgren pickups. But I do like this one!

[@benjiwebcianciola1547]

If I got the tele kit I would add stain and a purple heart pickguard. Maybe I could also inlay a contrasting wood for some extra flavor, who knows.

[@SEEININFRARED]

You put my absolute favorite type of finish on that guitar.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Fun isn't it? Luckily it looks good too, I need the excuse to burn things sometimes! B

[@SEEININFRARED]

The finish on that guitar is just fantastic. I'd love to see some kind of flying "V" build. With that same finish. But every aspect of the guitar would need to be black. Except for the logo. Crimson logo in silver. That's just my taste. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Cheers my friend.

[@vKarl71]

Now I know how flaming is done. Interesting. Thanks!

[@coalanims3083]

I would go for a dark red stain on a t-model kit. Always wanted something with that shape and a certain color I've pictured in my head but never seen in person.

[@HashPram]

I'd add an LP type pickup selector, individual volume & tone controls for both pickups, and maybe a divided pickup for some MIDI control action. A tremolo unit might be good too, but does that go against the whole "basic guitar" ethos of the Telecaster? Hmm. A mate of mine used to have a Paisley patterned Tele that I really envied, so maybe dark blue Paisley, or maybe some eye frightening Maurice Escher print.

[@naycnay]

Awesome! Finally! I will be perusing your offerings in the coming months!

[@tysonrinker5958]

I do get the artistry of relicing a guitar I guess. It's cool. I do like the look of relics but I like brand new to. I just love guitars.

[@johnwattdotca]

This isn't "relic-ing" or "relicking" a guitar, it's not. It's called using a torch and burning the surface. If I was producing this video, I could be saying do it like that so everyone else who is watching, will think they can do something better than using automotive tools to burn a guitar body. Overall, I see North American guitarists turning to artisan paint jobs, or personal artistry, while guitarists who are just happy getting more guitars want them cheaper and cheaper all the time. And look what "custom shops" do, making guitars look pre-worn. What kind of concept is that, selling a new guitar that looks used? If that makes sense to you as an end user, oh yeah, end user.

[@elandman]

I'd customise my kit as follows...Round off all edges to so it has more of a thiner PRS feel. Fit Bareknuckle Warpig pickups with custom covers to suit raw wood . Keep raw wood look and just use Crimson Guitar oils to bring out the grain of the wood. Raw wood looks gets me. Scratchplate I like the idea of a wooden one, perhaps flamed maple... not sure how it would work out though... as mentioned just an idea, but have it varnished to a hard gloss.

[@cmcnamee342]

I would go for the tele, hardware wise I would go lace sensor, there's been some controversy over them but they sound so good, all gold for the tuners etc, hard to say for the finish it depends on what pick guard I find then the creative juices follow from there, I like turtoise shell so I'd go white with turtoise pick guard and binding to give it a but more character, you dont see many teles with binding, I probably go humbucker bridge and neck single coil cause I love that configuration, and maybe through in a wee cheeky coil split on the bucker, best of both worlds, chillin out take it slow then you rock out the show

[@кяуртіс]

Actually looks nicer than I thought it would.

[@sleepymarauder4178]

Give it a nice tobacco burst finish, even on the headstock. Locking tuners, bareknuckle the sultans, 2 point tremolo.

[@TheXose77]

I would finish the kit with a binding and a colour stain, sanded after to get the colour with the natural wood in a kind of zebra style finish. The binding must have some sort of colour coordination with the stain though. It could be a copper binding aged to look like the pickguard in this guitar, with a blue or green stain, or even brown. I think that would look gorgeus.

[@eheavensone]

Have to have humbuckers in some strat models. HHS type. I'd love another one that plays better than the one I currently have. Cheers.

[@separatedatgirth]

I would absolutely need to put a piezo bridge on it!

[@Scion4600]

I'd do an S-type kit, do a burnt sunburst, and load it up with Duncan Hotrails and controls from Madhatter. Wilkinson Trem and locking tuners of course.

[@MineMediaProduction]

I would put a flame maple veneer over the top, makingit a nice deep blue, PRS style binding and im thinking about a grey back and sides? Still debating that. Also, neck pup mounted to body, to show that lovely veneer.

[@erykciemnoczoowski5345]

I would make that scratchplate out of plywood and burn out some nice pattern. Flowers, leaves or something like that. On headstock as well :)

[@totomechanic6375]

I would probably like to do a telecaster body with a deep charred top and a matte maroon back with a faux natural wood binding by sanding back the char. Probably replace with an ebony fret board and stain the neck and head with used deisel oil.

[@christopherjeneson5333]

I would hand paint it green and drill a half inch hole through it, it worked for Francis Rossi!

[@tommacfadyen4561]

For the tele I would put some bare knuckles in, lacquer the neck and then sand it to get a relic feel

[@aroundandaround4106]

i would leave the body and neck in a natural open pore finish, a bit like the chapman ml1, and have a nickel seymour duncan JB in the neck with a standard tele bridge pickup, with no pickguards, and a hardtail modern styles bridge, with the roller saddles

[@isaacmiddleton9711]

I think I'd do some wood burning to create a pattern on the tele, then use a wood pickguard with bronze hardware, possibly fiddle with the electronics, I've always liked the idea of a tremolo on a tele but I don't know how well it would work.

[@phobicguava6346]

The tele I would do a translucent purple sunburst with crimson red to light purple. crimson next. Guitar finishing oil. Gold hardware. A set of some good humbuckers and some Martin strings.

[@chrisregimbal9916]

I would finish the body and neck the same, and put some Fender vintage Tele pickups and a green pick guard with chrome switch plate and vintage style tuners and maybe even some tattoos, hell yeah.

[@louigi6001]

Not fair ... did not even know about crimson guitars until 2021 !!!!

[@pammcreynolds]

Love it just the way it is! I'd really have to see it and hold it and get a feel for what I would want to do to customize.

[@ede8000]

Definitely lollars. William Morris pattern on the pickguard, perhaps on the whole of the front. And a bass rolloff pot as well as a treble rolloff pot. Mmmmmmm

[@thebrowns1017]

Very interesting video. I used to buy & build up Warmoth guitars but with the exchange rate against the US$ and the 30%+ that the HMRC adds to imported bodies & necks it is no longer cost effective. I may give one of your Tele type kits a go in the new year though.

[@Ibaneddie76]

I LIKE THE FERRULES INSTEAD OF THE NECK PLATE, MUCH CLEANER.

[@gamerlegacy]

i would remove some thickness and glue on a flame maple top, then stain it a charcoal burst color and burn the outer rim a slight bit.

[@dropoutjohn]

I would customise one of your S or T type kit guitars with a lake placid blue body, neck, and headstock. I would use your pick-ups and have chrome hardware and logo lettering too. Oh! And I would like a black cat bone nut and mirror inlays on the fretboard... but I could live with a burnt black all over one too!

[@JEMY]

Not gonna lie. I teared up a bit towards the end haha. This was beautifully done and so relaxing to watch

[@MunirHamdan]

Wow! This looks like the most fun you can have with out alcohol! The end result is stunning BTW. Too bad I can´t afford the kit/tools/hardware needed for the build, but if I had my way I'd: 1) Plagiarize your burnt finish but then sand it out so that only the ridges remain dark. 2) Then I'd stain it in a translucent purple. 2) I´d leave the neck with a natural satin look. 3) Black hipshot tuning pegs and bridge. 4) Vintage style pups, preferably with wooden bobbins. 5) Tusq nut (yeah, I'm a vegan. Deal with it!) 6) I'd make the pick guard out of a dark wood laminate, maybe walnut and just leave it with a natural satin finish. Damn! I made my self drool! Any way, awesome work!

[@brendanjones4362]

I would do a trans-brown finish with cream knobs and humbuckers with a black scratch plate. I'd probably beat the hell out of it too though.

[@marknash9546]

Very impressive work and inspiring too, makes me want to woodwork and play again. Thank you.

[@benbarksdale6678]

I'd like the s type with a hard tail bridge and some nice vintage voiced pickups a nice two tone sunburst.

[@mattlott8766]

i would go with the same burning black finish that you did, i would add abalone on the knobs, and just keep it simple