There are plenty of reasons to build a partscaster. For some, it’s as simple as not having the requisite funds to buy a high-end model from the Fender Custom Shop or a boutique maker. For others, it’s about piecing together the ideal instrument with a totally unique amalgamation of components and design elements.
Regardless of the motivations, partscasters are always unique instruments born of their builders' creativity. Today, we're celebrating that creativity by highlighting some of the most interesting partscasters for sale on Reverb right now. Click on the pictures of the guitar to be taken to the live listings on Reverb.
Take a look below and be sure to browse our handpicked Partscaster collection for even more opportunities to pick up where someone else left off.
Snakehead Partscaster
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This 7–pound, 14–ounce “snakehead” partscaster is a beautiful build that pays homage to Leo Fender’s prototypes from the 1940s. It features a relic’d sunburst alder body connected to a maple neck with a 12” radius, a maple fretboard, and dot inlays. The low–action guitar also features one single–coil pickup and Gibson Deluxe tuners.
Fender Geddy Lee/Steve Harris Hybrid Bass
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This is what you get when a J–Bass and P–Bass collide. A brand new Steve Harris P–Bass neck connects to a brand new Geddy Lee J–Bass body to bring you the best of both worlds at a price point well below what you’d pay for either of the full models.
Warmoth Super Strat
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This low–action Warmoth Strat was built by the seller three years ago. The body is figured black Korina with a figured black Korina top, finished on the front and back in clear to black gloss. The Strat is outfitted with a Seymour Duncan “Whole Lotta Humbucker” pickup set with black steel pickup rings and black steel “cupcake” style knobs. The body is married to a figured black Korina neck with an ebony fretboard and 22 stainless steel jumbo frets. It features a GraphTech TUSQ nut and hipshot open back locking tuners.
Custom Built Rat Rod Bass
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A true partscaster, this short–scale has been constructed with a 30” maple Bronco neck with custom brass ring inlays connected to a Strat body with the tremolo routing filled in with maple. The body has simulated aged iron finish with minor rust stains, and all of the minimal hardware has also been aged. There is a single 500k volume pot and one Dimarzio DP702 “Blaze” 7–string pickup.
Fender Jazzmaster: Vintage 1961 Ash Body and 1969 Neck
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Though the seller is not the original owner of this guitar, the neck and body have been confirmed original by James LeClair, who refinished the ash body in lightly relic’d shell pink and set it up with ‘12s. All parts except for the finish, pickguard, rhythm circuit switch, shielding, and tremolo bar are original.
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Custom Built Spalted Maple ST Tribute
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A player looking for a project can easily pick up one of these beautiful Buck Naked series partscasters. Though the guitars are sold assembled, they generally require a setup and maybe even some final sanding depending on how natural you want the finish to be. Being naturally finished and minimally equipped, these guitars are great templates for players looking to make their own modifications.
Jeff Buckleycaster
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This partscaster was crafted with love in the image of Jeff Buckley’s Telecaster, complete with a similar guitar strap. It features a ‘80s Japanese top load Tele body with a Warmoth Telecaster neck complete with period–correct tuners. Like Buckley’s Tele, it is also equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups.
1976 Boogie Body Partscaster
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The centerpiece of this partscaster is the circa 1976 naturally finished ash Boogie Bodies guitar body. The body has been mated with a 22–fret vintage Warmoth maple neck with a 12” radius. It features a brass pickguard, brass tremolo, brass input jack, and brass saddles.
Vintage Fender Jazz Bass: '70s Neck with MIJ Body
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This vintage ‘70s J–Bass neck with pearl blocks and binding has been revived, mated with a MIJ modern alder Fender Jazz body. Though it shows some signs of wear, the neck has been professionally refretted to guarantee a smooth playing experience.
Charvel Boogie Bodies Warmoth Custom
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This early Charvel body is made of northern ash, fitted with an early Bill Lawrence pickup, and has been mated with an early Warmoth/Boogie Bodies neck. The seller guesses that the Schecter bridge and neck piece were added sometime in the early ‘80s, the 500k Dimarzio pot is original, and the tone pot was added later. The body and headstock were both professionally painted by hand.
Warmoth High Gain Jazzcaster Build
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This is a totally clean example of a partscaster built from the ground up. The body is a natural, unfinished Warmoth Jazzmaster shape married to a MIM Fender Jazzmaster rosewood neck with 9.5” radius. It features a Jazzcaster pickguard, Fender strap locks, a Gotoh bridge, and Telecaster-like chrome hardware, all with a 81/61 set of EMG pickups.
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Partscasters