Obviously there isn't much point getting this for the savings - you can get a HB fully assembled at the exact same price. But the experience and customization is a reward on its own.
The neck is the standout piece here, it's very nicely done, good fretwork, decent fret ends, smooth finish on the back half. Shaping the headstock takes some skill and tools, but it's not terribly difficult. The body is fine, needs some sanding before painting, it won't ever be flawless, though it takes paint okay. The rest of the hardware is cheap, but entirely functional.
Assembly is rather simple, the instructions are accurate. The loaded pickguard saves you a lot of trouble, you need to connect a single ground wire and one output connector. The trem system is rudimentary but comes together fine.
This is my second kit, and my one gripe remains - the screws come unsorted, and the instructions are not clear on what goes where, it's easy to make mistakes. Would be nice to have some guidance in the booklet for that!
What you end up with is a completely serviceable, real and working instrument, with a headstock shape and body color you like, and probably with a cool DIY aesthetic. If you think painting and assembling something with barely more effort than your standard Kallax sounds fun, go for it!
