Saga T-Style Kit

Well this was an experiment, and I have to say i am amazed by the results.
I was thinking about changing out stuff and the decided to just build it as it comes.
Its now dark turquoise blue and looks amazing.
I took the neck to a lumber yard and the guy cut it for$20 and it looks exectly like a 60's Fender neck.

Amazing. I play it through a JCM 900 tube combo and it just rocks.
Cannot believe the pick ups sound that good.

I'm gradually setting it up and everything fits perfectly.

Its a real lump of wood and resonates very strongly.
Hardware looks OK....strap buttons need a bigger size screw.
I used foil in the cavities to shield......makes a big difference.
Dead quiet no hum and just that stinging Tele crunch.

Not needed

Well.......I'm already thinking of buying another one and putting one of my Ibanez ACH humbuckers in the neck position.

The quality is that good.

This my second update.
I have been playing in bands for over 40 years.
I have 7 guitars but my Saga Telecaster has been my number one gigging guitar.
After many hours of hard playing the frets are worn out, the finish is almost gone and even though it still sounded great it looks bad.
I bought a new US made candy apple red body, a new 1972 ri maple neck and neck plate, solid brass chrome plated Fender pickguard, new Wilkenson compensated bridge and now it is a Fender guitar.
Only things still original are the pickups and electronics.
It has served me well and paid for itself over and over.
Now it looks, plays and sounds like a Custom Shop Fender Telecaster.
Probably closest to a Danny Gatton model.
I put about $500 in to it.
It definately deserved it.
Most fantastic bang for the buck you will find and totally upgradable.

I don't know where it was made. It has a 21 fret, bolt on basswood neck on a basswood body. (At least I think it's basswood.) Generic Tele-style body and pickups. Decent tuners, which is to say they feel a tad flimsy but hold the guitar in tune really well. Crappy strings, crappy cable, easy to replace either one. In all, it's a pretty good value for $100, especially when you consider a comparable guitar, assembled, would run you at least $500.

The sound is quite nice. I play mainly light to medium alternative rock, but really a little of everything. For everything short of death metal it works pretty well. The neck pickup is a tad wonky to get adjusted right, but the bridge pickup sounds amazing. It doesn't really buzz. I normally play through a Fender Frontman amp with an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff and/or a Korg PX4D. The Big Muff produces a nice, natural distortion combined with the relatively low-output pickup. All the settings on the Korg sound good with it. The sound itself is quite bright, good for twangy, clean stuff ("December" by Collective Soul, for instance). With heavier distortion (coming from the amp) it produces a very AC/DC-type sound. The neck pickup is quite mellow, which is a good contrast to the bridge. It may be the way I finished it, but there's a LOT of resonance. For instance it's actually audible unplugged.

Well, it's a kit, so it doesn't come set up. It's a royal pain in the buttocks to set the intonation correctly on the lower strings, and to get the neck pickup working properly. I finished it in translucent turquoise blue with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, including the neck. It has a more organic feel this way, which is quite comfortable. Some of the wire colors were mixed up, but it's easy enough to figure out where they should go.

I haven't actually played with it live, but my band often rehearses using it and it holds up pretty well. As I said before the tuners seem rather flimsy, but I haven't encountered any trouble with them yet and the guitar stays in tune better than anything I've ever played. The strap buttons keep coming loose. I intend to replace them as soon as possible. I wouldn't gig with it without a backup for the simple reason that I wouldn't gig with ANYTHING without a backup. I always have a backup, because in my opinion it's always handy to have several different guitars, using different ones on different songs.

I never had to call them.

I've been playing for only about a year now, but I already own an Epiphone G-400 and a Fender MIM Strat. If this Tele were stolen I would try to get the police to recover it, then if they couldn't, buy another one. I really don't hate anything about it. It would be nice if it had a better neck pickup though. But it's a great value for the money.

I bought the kit on ebay for $75 plus shipping so I wasn't expecting much. Just wanted to learn how to build a guitar. Basic Telecaster features, I forget what kind of wood the body is but the neck is a maple with a rosewood freboard. Tuners are cheap non-sealed tuners. So I replaced the tuners with sealed Gotohs, so that was another $30 ebay buy. Still not too bad

Right away the pickups went in the garbage and I put some EMGs in it and it sounds nice now, I expected to replace the electronics and tuners right away. So that was another $75 ebay buy...

So the body ended up being routed wrong. They put the template down for the outside shape of the body and cut it, and the template for the neck pocket and controls and pickups was crooked so the neck didn't fit straight. So I needed a new body on top of the electronics and tuners. Now this is getting expensive. So I got it together finally and the neck feels terrible so big and clunky. So I have nice tuners and a nice body and good pickups and a bad playing neck. So that needs replacing...

Well for the past few years the only thing original on the guitar is the neck, pickguard and bridge and control panal. Replaced the strap buttons with locking ones to protect my "investment"

I bought it off ebay...

It was fun to learn to build but now as I order a new neck and a new bridge since the original bridge is cheap metal, and I ordered a new pickguard too while I was at it since I think tortoise shell will look better, I realize the only original part left is the control panal.

So with all the extra parts I can make one good wall hanger..

This is an update.
Over 4 years later.
I bought the saga kit because I needed a Telecaster for a country band I was in and money was tight.
It was my only guitar for years.
Now I have 7 guitars, bass and kbd.
Life does get better if you work at it.
Only difference from a real Tele is the strings do not go through the body, the output jack and the neck plate.
I put 70's Fender F tuners on it.
Cut the headstock like a 60's Tele.
Painted it with bronze enamal which is well worn now.
This guitar gets more comments than my expesive American guitars.
It has been gigged withm jammed with, rehearsed with and banged around a lot.

It sounds like a Telecaster.
3 way switch.
It is as noisy as an old Telecaster.
No dislikes.

Action is perfect after dressing the frets.
Finish is in rough shape but it looks like an old Tele.

Reliable as they come.
Never failed me.
I usually have 2 or 3 guitars at a gig.
One tuned to Eb and an elec/acoustic and of course my Tele.

ha

I have been playing for over 40 years and still gigging.
The pickguard has warped from being in my car trunk in very hot weather.
The finish is work off on the edges.
No fret wear.
No dings.
Looks like an original old Telecaster and plays fine.
It has the twang that no other guitar model has.
I have been offered big bucks but I won't sell it.

This is a follow up!
The tuners are in fact locking, and now I've adjusted them, they stay in tune OK! with a bit more oil - they are OK.
Got the bridge earth wire connected OK
I've got the neck pick-up connected and working!
I can use it with the bridge pick up - but not on its own.
Not sure if it is the wiring or the switch I need to look at - still trying to find the right wiring diagram.
I will say it is good value now! i have given it a couple of coats of clear satin varnish and it looks good!

Sealed Matt finish to basswood body - looks good. It is a semi hollow body telecaster style, three piece body. Solid 3 piece top
Tele style bridge - you can string it from the back of the bridge, or it has the holes so you convert it to string through the body.
These are non locking unbranded tuners, not so good quality, hard to get in tune, feel a bit rough, but just about do the job.
Matt finish maple neck looks good too:
21 fat frets, standard scale length, smooth c-shape neck feels good -I like! scale length 25 1/2 inch.
Sent with tools - 2x allen keys - 1 for the bridge saddle adjustment, 1 for the truss rod adjustment.
Made 2007 brand new stock made to order! I had to wait 2 1/2 months for delivery cos it was out of stock, but it came in the end!
Not sure where it was made - it was imported to GB, I think they are a U.S. firm.
Bridge and neck pickup volume pots with metal knob controls, 3-way selector switch. S/S neck and bridge pickup, neck pup has chrome cover, bridge pup is uncovered. pups are unbranded. passive electrics

I want to play rock and roll with it! I have got the bridge pickup working and I like the twangy telecastery sound!
Used with Crate half stack amp so far to test.
Noisy - get hum when put guitar near amp - i will have to check earth wire connection, maybe i can fix this properly, not sure i have connected it right yet! - no electric shielding to cavity.
no hiss tho
sound is quite full and rich on bridge pup - I havn't managed to get the neck pup working yet! i'm sure i connected it ok, but i will check. Had to solder all the wires, there were no solder free connectors despite what the dealers advert said.
Like the look, shape, natural wood appearance of body and neck, feel and weight good too. don't like neck pickup not working

Wasn't set up at factory cos it is a kit! easy to adjust height of bridge saddles with allen key provided - sets up fine, havn't needed to adjust neck truss rod cos action is ok.
Well I had to pack out the the pick ups with cardboard to get them to sit in the cavity. foam pad for neck pickup is too thick (sent later as was missing from original delivery, as was jack socket. as for adjustment, well bridge pickup works ok, but no sound from neck pup yet! will have to fiddle with it and try to fettle it! so overall sound too bassy at momemt - need bright trebly sound from neck pup to balance and mix it.
Top very well fitted, bridge well routed.
Some of the screws holes drilled slightly wrong place - eg jack socket plate so had to redrill, control plate holes just about ok, scrtach plate dosn't fit at side of bridge by 5mm for a v. small length n=but this is a small prob. had to drill all holes for scratch plate screws. had to fiddle with wires where they solder to pots from pups - had to separate from sheath with knife wrap tape to insulate bare copper strands - bit awkward but got it done. Now they should send full instructions for this and other assembly - i had to download the wiring diagram from fender.com which isn't quite the same and just do my best! nut is well fitted. tuning pegs bit too much play in them.

Guess this guitar will withstand live playing, body and neck and joining bolts seem good. Tuners may not last so long, but don't know yet as I have just finished assembling it.
Satin seal finish looks durable - no need to paint if u don't want to.
Strap buttons ok, screws look a bit weak - time will tell.

I had to wait ages for delivery and dealer kept saying it would be a month, then 2 more weeks etc- but to be fair the ad on the web site did say it was not in stock yet. Came missing two parts, but they arrived within a week or two of contacting dealer about it. not sure if there is a warranty, suppose 12 months for individual parts, not as a whole.
Had to email several times to chase up, but when I phoned they were very friendly helpful and honest, and they did send a coupla email replies, and they came good in the end. I think they didn't get delivery from importer when the were promised

Playing 15 years. have yamaha acoustic, fender cyclone HH, Tanglewood TH-501 semi acoustic, have had Fender Squire/jap strat, Park amp, Hohner Se-35 semi acoustic and other guitars.
I really like the body and the neck is good - what i am fed up with is the neck pup dosn't work yet!
Got it as an inexpensive home build tele copy - had lotsa fun making it as a project - a few snags and hassles, but i am glad i did it! i WILL get it fully sorted! Good learning experience to build n fix guitars, fair value.

Unfinished body and neck you'll be lucky if they actually fit. Junk tuners and horrible pot metal hardware with very thin plating which you can almost scratch off with your fingernail. 2 pots which are basically on or off. 3 way switch which is broken and will not select bridge pickup without jamming a toothpick in it. Lousy pick ups, they ought to be ashamed to sell such trash.

Sounds a little like a tele if you can make it produce sounds at all. Pots are noisy and don't do anything tuners will spin out of tune. All in all, Horrible.

Guitar comes in kit form , the jokes on you, after you build it you will wish you bought a different kit and not have wasted your effort on this.

See above.

What Support?

Do not waste your money on this. Even $89.00 is too much for trash. If you want to learn how to build a Guitar, look elsewhere. There are plenty of quality kits available, this is definitely not one.However if you do a good enough job on finishing it might make a nice wall hanging. If it were stolen I would laugh. I am embarrased at throwing 89 bucks away. Been playin' since '66. I know my stuff

This was my first Saga kit and I was very surprised at the quality. It is basically a duplicate of a Telecaster. The only real modification I have made to mine so far has been converting it to a "string through". I mounted the bridge and drilled through the holes under the saddles with a drill press. Then I countersunk them from the other side and added ferules. It turned out perfect and I am still using the stock bridge.

It took me a while to get the bridge pickup adjusted to the sound I wanted. The neck pickup is only adjustable by removing the pickguard so I am planning to drill a couple of holes in the pickguard and rig it so that it can be adjusted externally. As of right now my guitar has all the stock electrics with the only modifications being copper foil in all the cavities and everything is hardwired instead of using the pigtail connectors. I could probably spend a lot of money on pots and pickups and get a better sound but I am perfectly happy with it like it is. I would also like to mention that this guitar has the most resonent sound unplugged of any of my other electric guitars.

The neck fit flawlessly. Every screw hole on the entire guitar lined up perfectly. I did end up shimming the neck just a bit to get the action exactly where I wanted it. I sanded the edges of the fretwire, leveled and polished all the frets,and cut the headstock in a tele style. All finishing supplies came from Reranch. I used their primer and nitro paint and clear coats. I used the amber tinted clear and a few coats of just plain clear to get a vintage look to the neck. It came out really beautiful. The body was done in Sonic Blue and I used the stock white pickguard. It really looks great. This has actually become my favorite guitar to play. I love the string spacing and the neck "just feels right". I also own a Strat that I built from parts purchased here and there, a 1976 Gibson LP Deluxe, a Yamaha Pacifica, and a few assorted other toys.

I can't see any reason this won't last my lifetime and probably be left to my son one day. The only thing that I didn't do during construction that I wish I had was glue the frets. I have developed a buzz on my low E because of a proud fret. I will be glueing them all soon and I will be doing that as I build future Saga kits. I am going to build a S-style kit and another T-style kit with a Bigsby tremola. Future modifications include a tusk nut and roller string trees. I may change the tuning machines eventually but for now they seem to work just fine. I have been running Fender vintage nickle wound strings in extra light (.009) and I love the feel.

Never have tried to contact them. I would feel silly calling them to complain about a guitar that I built. I suppose there could have been issues with some of the componenets but there certainly weren't any problems with mine.

If I was going to replace this with a "storebought" guitar, I would have to look at the USA Teles to find something at all comparable. Including the paint I have about $150 invested in this guitar. I will probably spend another $15 on string trees and a nut blank. I think that the kit is perfect as it comes. The fact that it is so inexpensive gives you the flexibility to customize it. Even if you only want to use the neck and body and scrap the rest it is a good value. I have another one that I am building for my son and I plan to build at least a couple more Saga kits for myself. They are fun to build and produce great instruments. I have been playing for about 30 years just for my own entertainment. If I were a working musician, I wouldn't hesitate to rely on it although I may keep another one backstage in case I break a string or something. If I was asked to play with a country, blues, or classic rock band, I would show up with my Saga.

I purchased a Saga Tele kit as my first project guitar. The instructions were first rate, all of the pieces were there, although I did upgrade the tuners to some E-bay special Groth tuners. I wouldn't recommend staining the body because of the iron-like sealer they used at the factory. The screws for the strapp buttons were too short in my opinion, and pulled out after a few uses. A little longer screw and some nail glue fixed that issue. Also, the ground wire from the pickup was too short and I had to lengthen it reach the control. Other than that, an excellent product.

The sound is great; reminds me of the 60's Tele's. It has just the right crunch for surf or rockabilly. The pickups do need a bit of adjusting from the stock position.

Set up was easy with the instructions explaining intonation and string heighth.

Should last as long as my other Fender products.

No need for customer support.

For the money, I think I spent $100 on the kit, $20 for the tuners, and about $20 for paint and supplies this is a great value. The finished product plays better than any Squier I've played and better that the "copy" bullet strats that are on the market. I highly recommend it.