Body Tops on Our DIY Guitar Kits: Solid Caps & VeneersUpdated 3 days ago

When choosing a DIY guitar kit, it is important to understand the difference between solid maple caps and maple veneers.

A. Solid Caps

We do not offer kits with solid caps. Our catalog does not include bodies with thick, carved, or structural maple caps. If you are specifically looking for a traditional solid maple cap construction, our kits will not be a suitable match.

B. Veneers

The maple veneer on our DIY guitar kits is very thin, typically between 1 and 3 mm. The veneer is carefully cut and glued to the top of the guitar body to achieve a high end visual appearance.

Because of its thinness, veneers require extra care during sanding and finishing. Over sanding can easily cut through the veneer. For first time DIY builders, we generally do not recommend veneer topped kits.

Our guitar kits feature flamed maple, spalted maple, or quilted maple veneers. The best way to make these figured maple patterns stand out is by staining the veneer rather than painting it opaque. In the video below, we demonstrate proper staining techniques to help the natural grain and figuring stand out.