Solo VBK-1 DIY Beatles Electric Bass Guitar Kit

(12 customer reviews)

$ USD 249.99

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SKU: VBK-1 Category: Bass Guitar Kits Brand:

Description

This DIY guitar kit has everything you need for building your own VB Style Electric Bass Guitar. You will only need some basic tools and finishing supplies. This kit includes all parts and step-by-step instructions to build a complete, playable custom guitar. All challenging wood cutting, drilling and shaping has already been professionally done, as well as fret leveling and dressing.

Recommended tools: Solo Guitar Assembly Kit – Set Neck

Kit includes:

  • Maple Top
  • Unfinished maple neck with Rosewood fingerboard
  • Tuning Machines (4 pcs, mounting screws included)
  • Strings
  • Strap Buttons
  • Pickguard
  • Neck Pickup
  • Bridge Pickup
  • Bridge
  • Ground Wire
  • Cord
  • Mounting Springs for pickup height adjustment
  • Hex wrench for truss-rod adjustment
  • All mounting screws are included
IMPORTANT (in addition to our standard return policy): due to their nature kits can be returned only in virtually untouched condition and in original package.

Additional information

DIY Kit Information
Finish

Style

Body Information
Pickguard

Thickness

Body Material

Binding

Neck Information
Fretboard

Construction

Frets

Inlays

Scale Length

Thick Nut

Width Nut

Hardware and Electronics
Hardware Color

Tailpiece

Bridge

Controls

Electronics

Pickups

Tuners

Additional Information
Weight

10 lbs

12 reviews for Solo VBK-1 DIY Beatles Electric Bass Guitar Kit

  1. Julian

    Had a GREAT time building this kit. A lot of fun, and I am happy with the results. Great service!
    Here is an hour long video of the assembling & finishing of the kit

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGFZs5pgOz9APOd9g2K6gmQ

  2. Dave Melnick (verified owner)

    Just finished my Solo Beatles Violin Style Bass kit. This was my first attempt at building a guitar. I had a lot of fun completing this project. The service was great. I cannot thank the staff enough for all the support I received. It was precise and fast. I look forward to my next project. My rating for this is as high as can be given.

  3. Wayne King (verified owner)

    A bit more challenging than a bolt-on with a fixed bridge but a lot of fun to work on. I spent quite a bit of time getting the stain right but was very happy with the end result. A really fine sounding bass as well Thanks Matt for your help with the wiring instructiona.

  4. OBrien Robert (verified owner)

    So far, am very happy with the kit which I am slowly working on assembly. I would have given 5 stars but for one issue. The wiring diagram for the control panel is entirely useless and I will have to call for help when I get to that point in assembly as the instructions give no information on where to solder the pickup wires. Otherwise, lot’s of fun!

  5. jmswykoff (verified owner)

    I have two store bought guitars (acoustic/electric & electric). This will be my first bass and the first time at attempting to build my own. I received this kit a few days ago and haven’t had the chance to start on it yet. I have opened it up and inspected everything though. I noticed it was missing a couple pieces and with an email send to support, Matt was quick to get back to me and stated the parts would be sent out without issue. He answered a couple of my questions at the same time. I did notice upon extreme close inspection of the body that the binding has a small gap and the wood looks a little thin on one corner in one place but I don’t expect it to be much of an issue. All the holes are pre-drilled except for the tailpiece and it would be nice if the holes for the pick guard were not pre-drilled to give an easier option for the customer to decide whether to use it or not.

    On the hole I am happy with the kit and will build another (if I can complete this one with it looking and sounding nice).

  6. keeshond (verified owner)

    I have not yet built the kit, as i am experimenting with a modified sunburst finish using medical grade dyes (wife used to work in a microbiology lab and got me some outdated, but usable dyes/stains.) The kit seems easy and reasonably well finished as it arrives. Just some fine tuning needed on the finish to make it glow. Instructions for the electronics seem a bit confusing, but i am an electronic idiot. I will seek help on that part from a few friends. All in all, so far i am very pleased with the kit.

  7. dmhills

    I bought the violin kit and had a blast working with it! It looks great (still can’t decide if i want the pickguard on or off) and it plays amazingly well. I put some flatwounds on it and it sounds exactly the way i would want it to sound!! Playing it in a 17 piece jazz band and it fits right in! Challenging to put it together as you must take time to sand your bridge to the body correctly for a tight fit. I need to improve my soldering skills!! Grr! Thanks to Matt for all the help with the wiring. tuning is very good. I would totally recommend this bass for your collection….so much fun!!

  8. weavers2794 (verified owner)

    Just completed the Violin bass kit and was pleased with the instructions until doing the wiring. The wiring plans are very poor and I phoned Dave at Solo and was given help. Thank you Dave for checking my work. A pleasure getting Tec support from Dave. The hole for the bread board was cut to fit a pickup so it took some time to make it to fit. I had very little setup to do.The best part is the action on the fret board. I changed the strings to D’Addario half rounds and the sound is fantastic, and very smooth. All in all it was a challenge but fun kit to build

  9. dad_04

    Received this kit as a birthday gift in 2018….took me months to get around to it and another 6-8 weeks to complete it. Learned a lot with this kit and acquired some new tools to assist with the build. WORD TO THE WISE…read your stain instructions in full. Had an issue with my lack of soldering knowledge and it’s probably not correct but it sound pretty good …my gluing went very well.
    All in all I would highly recommend these kits!!!!!!
    Tele next them a double neck I think.

  10. jmatobass (verified owner)

    Had a lot of fun putting this bass together. I have been playing guitar a little over 50 years and have built a few from scratch. Very pleased to have this completed bass kit a part of my collection. With the upgrades I did, it has a very solid sound, easy playing, and sustains, it is a keeper.
    The neck on this violin bass is great, very straight with fret leveling being spot on. Bottom of bass E string at 12th fret is 2 mm above fret and there is no buzzing on any string across the whole fretboard.
    I upgraded neck pickup to German Hofner blade pickup, Hofner HCT control plate, with tea cup knobs, trapeze tail, and ebony bridge. Topped it off with a Hofner strap.
    I did two coats of vintage maple stain. Whole project took 4 days with most of the time being waiting for the stain to dry.

  11. kevwack (verified owner)

    A beautiful kit and it was fun to build.My only complaint and the reason for a four star instead of five rating is the total lack of instructions for the electronics which are unique to Hofner style basses.I will probably have to have my local tech hook it up the right way .$$Solo, make a video!

  12. William Picard (verified owner)

    Haven’t completed this kit yet as I’m building a couple guitars for others right now. I ordered this kit because it sells out fast. I can tell you the packaging was perfect with no damage. The neck and fret board are well shaped, frets level and no sharp edges. Body of the guitar has raised grain but will level out with a little hand sanding. If you were to dampen the body to raise the grain for sanding prior to finishing you would see the same raised grain. No complaint, this is normal. All hardware promised was included and well packed including all the needed screws.

    Like every encounter I’ve had with Solo Music Gear they exceeded expectations. A great company!

Add a review

Here are some of our most popular upgrades for your DIY kit. When you opt for any of these upgrades, be prepared for potential modifications to ensure a perfect fit.

**Please keep in mind that these are separate purchases and cannot replace the items already included in the kit**

Electronics
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Misc.
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