In the event that you've been looking for a project that truly yields a killer instrument, a good sg jr kit is possibly the best place to begin. There is some thing undeniably cool regarding the simplicity of a Junior. It's basically a mahogany plank, one screaming P90 pickup, and also a volume and build knob. No feel like switching, no difficult wiring, just straight up rock and move.
Developing one of these types of yourself isn't just about saving the few bucks compared to buying a big-brand name; it's about getting that particular feel that you can't always find away a retail corner. Plus, let's become honest, there's a certain degree of satisfaction that comes along with someone asking, "What guitar is that? " and you becoming able to say putting it with each other yourself.
What You're Getting In to
Once you purchase an sg jr kit , you're usually going to look for a few standard points in the container. You'll have the particular mahogany body—usually the single slab or even two pieces joined up with together—and a neck that's hopefully recently been fretted and flattened. Most kits nowadays are surprisingly decent in terms of wood quality, though you'll definitely want in order to spend some period taking a look at the feed before you begin slapping finish on it.
The particular beauty of the particular Junior design could be the set-neck or bolt-on simplicity. While conventional SGs are set-necks, many beginner-friendly sets offer a bolt on option to make issues easier. However, in the event that you want that authentic vibe, go for the set-neck. It's a bit even more work with the glue and clamping, but the sustain is worth the extra afternoon of stress.
The First Step: Sanding Until You Can't Feel Your Fingers
I know, I know. You want to get straight in order to the painting plus the soldering. Yet if you rush the prep focus on your sg jr kit , you're likely to regret it the second the first coat of clear moves on. Wood feed is a humorous thing; it appears smooth until you put a surface finish on it, after which suddenly every little scratch and swirl mark stands out just like a sore thumb.
Start along with a lower resolution, maybe 220, plus work your way up. You would like that mahogany to feel like man made fiber. Because SGs have got those famous "horns" and beveled edges, you have in order to be careful to not round off the sharp lines that will give a guitar the aggressive look. Consider your time right here. Placed on a podcast, grab a sanding block, and simply settle in.
Choosing Your Look: TELEVISION Yellow or Classic Cherry?
This is where the personality of your own sg jr kit really starts to show. When you're a purist, you're probably taking a look at TV Yellow or perhaps a deep Heritage Cherry. TV Yellow will be notoriously difficult in order to get right mainly because it's not just a flat yellow paint; it's the limed finish that lets a bit of the grain peek through.
If you're feeling lazy (or just want a "workhorse" vibe), a simple darkish oil finish or even a satin nitrocellulose spray can look incredible. The mahogany used in these kits often provides a really nice, open feed that takes stain beautifully. Just remember: if you go the nitro route, be prepared in order to wait. It requires days to cure properly before you may buff it out to a sparkle. If you try to assemble it as the paint is still "gassing out, " you'll end upward with permanent fingerprint marks in the finish.
That will Single P90 Magic
The heart and soul of any sg jr kit is the pickup. Considering that you've only got one, it offers to become a good one particular. Most kits come with a common P90, and while they're okay to get you began, this is actually the one area where I'd suggest an instantaneous upgrade.
A P90 is definitely an unique beast. It's got more "oomph" than the Strat single-coil although more grit and sparkle than the usual humbucker. It's noisy, this hums, and it's absolutely ideal for unclean blues or punk rock. When you're wiring this up, pay attention to the pots plus the capacitor. Making use of high-quality components right here can make the massive difference in how much of this "bite" you may roll off with the tone knob.
The Equipment and the Wrap-around Bridge
One thing that surprises individuals about the sg jr kit will be the bridge. Most of them make use of a wrap-around tailpiece. It's a very old-school design that appears sleek because there's no separate tailpiece and bridge. The particular strings go through the front, wrap around the back again, and over the top.
The particular tricky part here is intonation. Since many wrap-around bridges don't have individual saddles for each chain, you need to get the positioning of the bridge posts exactly best. Most kits come with pre-drilled openings, which is the lifesaver, however you ought to still double-check the particular scale length before you commit. In the event that it's off by even a few of millimeters, you'll never have the electric guitar to stay within tune all the particular way up the neck.
Precisely why Doing the work Yourself Beats Buying Off the Rack
Let's be real—you could go out plus buy a budget-friendly SG Junior today and be enjoying it in 20 minutes. So exactly why bother with a kit?
It's regarding the "bones" associated with the guitar. Whenever you build an sg jr kit , you control the particular fret leveling. A person control the nut height. You control the electronics. Many factory-made guitars within the budget price variety have "okay" fretwork and "okay" setups. When you're the one building it, you can invest three hours simply polishing the frets until they're such as mirrors. You may file the nut slots so the action is completely low on the 1st fret.
By the time you're done, you don't just possess a guitar; you have an any guitar that plays better than instruments twice its price due to the fact it's received the individual attention the factory line simply can't provide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I've seen a lot associated with people dive into an sg jr kit and hit a walls because they got over-excited. The greatest mistake? Not "dry fitting" everything first. Before you touch a drop associated with glue or color, put the entire thing together. Screw in the enthusiasts, set the neck in the pocket, create sure everything lines up. It's much easier to shave the bit of wooden off a throat tenon when it's raw wood compared with how it is after you've applied the beautiful sunburst finish off.
Another suggestion: don't skimp on the particular shielding. Even though a Junior is really an easy circuit, that P90 is a magnet for interference. Lining the control cavity with copper record or shielding color will save a person a lot associated with headache (and literal buzzing) when a person crank up the gain on your amp.
Finish Touches and Setup
Once the finish is dry and the components are on, it's time for the setup. This is where your own sg jr kit finally transforms into a genuine game. You'll would like to adjust the particular truss rod to get the throat straight, set the bridge height intended for a comfortable actions, and finally, call in that intonation.
There will be a specific sensation when you plug in an electric guitar you built for the first time and hit a big G-major blend. It's loud, it's resonant, and it's your own . Whether you're playing in your own bedroom or having it out in order to a gig, that will SG Junior character is unmistakable. It's a "no excuses" guitar. It shows the world a person don't need elegant buttons or 5 pickups to create a statement—you just need six guitar strings and a little bit of attitude.
So, if you've got a workbench (or a kitchen table) and also a little bit of patience, go ahead and grab a good sg jr kit . It's one associated with the most satisfying projects an electric guitar player can take on, and honestly, it's just a load of fun to get a box of wood parts transform in to a rock machine.