How Much Is My 'Partscaster' Guitar Worth?

In this video, Paul John Best of Radioshop Pickups in the UK gives his thoughts on the hugely rewarding process of putting a 'Partscaster' guitar together but then, importantly, how to evaluate what its value is afterwards.

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[stevenedwards]

Partscaster is like putting money into a project car. You'll never get your money out of it. It's for the fun and the personal connection.

[marcusdluxe]

Hitting the nail on the head! As you said its about getting the Partcaster to be THE finished guitar you desire, the big companies may not have the finished and configuration that you want.

[morenoteslesstalk]

Creating partscasters is really enjoyable, even though mine isn't perfect. It feels personal and unique, and I can't get enough of the tone. I just posted a video of mine, hooked up to an obscure seventies Italian tube amp. The clean and drive tones are awesome together.

[LennyJohnson]

"It'll break your heart... but take it spot on Paul.

[lukeshort]

I've built about 25 parts casters...they all were amazing, and I sold everyone I made, and yes you can make a few bucks building them but you've got to think outside the box ..for example..I fitted a 24 fret neck on a strat, and it intonated perfectly..also installed a top mount Floyd on same guitar..they
Will tell you it's impossible to put 24 frets on a strat..not if you cut neck pocket a half in deeper and give up the neck pickup...

[kirbyroad]

Do what I'm doing. Pass them on to the grandkids. I couldn't think of selling any of them. I really enjoyed building them too much to be offered some lowball price because they are not off the shelf guitars. They are all different and unique and it's something I get to spend time with building them with my grandson.

[mikesaw]

I know the feeling i got 4 partcasters 2 strats 2 teles ... love them learned everyting about guitars soldering neck adjustments great video

[RideAcrossTheRiver]

If you see Mark Knopfler with his 1985 white 'Fender' Strat, it's a parts job. Schecter body cut by Tom Anderson, Suhr neck, Duncan pickups, and hand-assembled and finished. Apparently it's a perfected 1961 Strat. Watch "The Bug" live to hear how it plays!

[johnmccann]

Why do we do it ??? Great fun as you said..enjoyed the vid..cheers Paul.😎

[fm]

Partcasters are personal. A while back I built a sonic blue Stratocaster that went with me on tour back in 2014, it became my trusty paint brush for all my music projects allowing me to perform the weirdest experiments that I would not be comfortable doing on a fender Custom Shop. I have had a hand full of partcasters but my sonic blue is priceless. It became an extension of my soul and body.

[pvdguitars]

My partscaster was put together in 1987 from vintage seventies and early eighties components (see profile pick). Mahogany strat body, maple neck (21 frets), headstock shaped time early Charvel, cast single piece tremolo with 50mm string spacing, Di Marzio Super Distortion anno 1981, Shaller ‘made in W-Germany tuners. This should bring the value in the range of a solid 4 digit number. But the sentimental value is much higher than that!

[pvdguitars]

Lately, I go for parts hunting. I found a couple of strat necks, all the electronics, tuners, bridges and all the other components in second shops in Seoul and Zagreb for less than 200 $. It takes a bit of time to get the necks in playing condition (nut, frets) but it’s worth it. I made a strat and tele body out of scrap wood (not that hard) and now I have two unique guitars in my collection for the price of two Harvey Benton kits.

[philiphurdwell]

Good video, for me half the fun is hunting down those necks and bodies, never been to bothered about re sale value.

[matthewsalyersjr]

I’ve build a 62 parts strat, “using MIM parts” and for the price it cost me I could’ve bought a American made strat lol. But!!
I have a guitar that’s set to “my” standards! Made just for me.
The sound the look the feel, and yeah I’ll never sell my baby lol. I’ve had it for 7 yrs now now and my kids will grow and use it ..

[calmdown.]

Could donate them. If you're lucky it could fall into the hands of someone who is very passionate about playing, just gotta make sure the string action isn't as high as the Eiffel tower.

[bobjames]

I look at it the same way as I have always approached car modifying.... golden rule you will never get back what you put in so take that idea out of the equation entirely. It's just better not to get too hung up on the worth and cost but think instead of it's value to you in what you get back from building it 😉

[jmdyt]

Yeah I don’t look at it as cheaper because obviously if you look at it as being cheaper than a squier it won’t be but say you buy a fender neck and spend about £400-£500 imo it will be better than at least a fender mim which is £600 at least and also it’s the fun of building it aswell, it’s like if you bought a built Lego set, the whole point of Lego is the journey to getting there

[ToppaliniTube]

you can put something together that is cheaper than a USA fender and as good, especially if you're talking vintage reissues. my guitar I got is basically dollar for dollar with an AVRI. but the wood selection is much better with brazilian rosewood/flame maple neck, and the body is a loaded fender AO 50s body 2 piece. and the neck has a lot of that custom shop mojo, like the fancy wood, rolled edges, larger frets and flatter radius. so you're part right, you can do one that isn't cheaper but miles and miles better, a different world in fact. or, you can in fact put something together a little cheaper, but you won't save that much in all cases. fender is slapping together pretty cheap guitars, in terms of total cost of materials, and you're paying a premium to pay for that whole huge corporate structure

[Steven_SK]

Beside the fact you build it ... beside the fact you use good parts... beside the fact it is a fun would it not be true the value over time would always decrease whereby a Fender would gain value? Would there be any vintage qualities to be had if you kept it 20 years or your grandchild decided to sell it way down the road? I am going to do a build soon myself but I have to accept the fact it will never be worth more than emotions and should never be treated as an investment.

[glendoggett]

...about half of the sum of the cost of the parts? If you are lucky.