How to Assemble TCK-100 Electric Guitar

Hey everyone! If you're here, you probably have a TCK 100 guitar assembly kit in front of you and are ready to bring your dream guitar to life. I recently built mine and went through a lot of trial and error, so I'm here to make things easier for you! Whether you're a first-time builder or a seasoned DIYer, this guide will walk you through every step of the process with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Let's get started!

Before we dive in, let's make sure you have everything you need:

1. TCK 100 Guitar Kit (comes with the neck, body, pickups, wiring, and hardware)
2. Screwdrivers (Phillips and flathead)
3. Allen keys (usually included in the kit)
4. Sandpaper (various grits, from 220 to 1000)
5. Wood stain or paint (depending on your desired finish)
6. BEHR polyurethane finish (for a professional touch)
7. Brushes and rags (for applying finish)
8. Soldering iron & solder (for wiring)
9. Adobe Photoshop & Silhouette Studio (if you want to customize the body like I did)
10. Laser cutter (optional, but awesome for custom designs)

I wanted my guitar to have a unique, personal touch, so I used a laser cutter to burn a design into the body. If you want to do the same, follow these steps:

1. Create your design – I made mine in Adobe Photoshop, but any design software works.
2. Outline the guitar body – I used Silhouette Studio to get the correct shape and scale.
3. Prepare the laser cutter – Import the design into the laser cutter software and set the engraving parameters.
4. Burn it onto the wood – Run the laser cutter carefully over the surface to engrave your design. Go light at first and repeat if needed.

Of course you can paint your guitar anyway you like, I chose to burn this art onto mine.

Once your design is on the body, it’s time to make it look amazing:

1. Sand the surface – Start with 220-grit sandpaper and work your way up to 1000 for a smooth finish (I stopped at 400, which also works).
2. Apply stain or paint – If you want a colored look, apply your stain or paint in thin layers, letting each dry before adding the next.
3. Seal with polyurethane – I used BEHR polyurethane for a semi-glossy, protective finish. Apply thin layers with a brush or rag, sanding lightly between coats.
4. Let it cure – Give it at least 24 hours to dry completely before handling.

The next step in building your guitar is attaching the neck to the body. Here’s how:

1. Check the fit – Before screwing anything in, make sure the neck fits snugly into the neck pocket.
2. Align everything – Place the neck into the body, making sure it is straight. You can check alignment by running a string from the bridge to the nut.
3. Secure it – Once you're happy with the alignment, use the screws provided to attach the neck to the body. Don't overtighten, as this can damage the wood.
4. Adjust the truss rod – Use the included Allen key to make minor adjustments if needed. A slight forward bow (relief) is ideal.
5. Install the tuning pegs – Insert the tuning pegs into the headstock holes, securing them with screws and washers. Make sure they are firmly in place to ensure tuning stability.

This was the trickiest part for me! The wiring diagram included in the kit didn’t work, so I had to figure out my own setup. Here’s what I did:

1. Lay out the components – Arrange the pickups, volume/tone pots, and output jack before soldering.
2. Follow the wiring diagram – I’ll attach the official wiring diagram from Solo Guitars to this guide, so you don’t go through the same struggle I did. When we were wiring the guitar, we had a lot of issues with identifying the wires (which is the ground, and which is the hot). In this guitar (and most electric guitars) the hot wire is always the one covered, and the ground is stripped.
3. Sleeve and tip – The tip is where you solder the hot. And the sleeve is for the ground.
4. Test before assembling – Plug the guitar into an amp and tap the pickups with a screwdriver to check if they work before soldering.
5. Be careful with wire identification – During the wiring process, I struggled with identifying the wires. So be sure to check the diagrams carefully to know which wires go where. And if something isn’t working correctly, don’t panic! You can always switch them around. That’s why we don’t solder anything on the first try.
6. Solder carefully – Heat the components just enough to make solid connections without overheating.

With the wiring completed, it's time to assemble the final pieces and get your guitar ready to play. Start by attaching all remaining hardware, including strap buttons, and any additional components. Once everything is securely in place, string up your guitar with your preferred set of strings. Tune each string carefully and stretch them slightly to help maintain tuning stability. Next, adjust the action and intonation by tweaking the saddle height and making any necessary truss rod adjustments for comfortable playability. Once everything feels just right, plug your guitar into an amp and test it out. Now, you're ready to rock out and enjoy your brand-new, custom-built TCK 100 guitar!