AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style Review: The Ultimate Gateway to Custom Luthier Dreams?

There is a specific, restless itch that every guitarist eventually feels: the desire to play an instrument that isn’t just off-the-shelf, but something they had a hand in creating. I remember sitting in my studio, looking at a wall of factory-standard instruments and feeling a strange disconnect. I wanted a guitar that reflected my aesthetic, but the thought of starting from a raw block of wood without a CNC machine or years of woodworking experience was daunting. Most hobbyists find themselves in this exact predicament. You want the “Lorien” boutique look—the carved tops and exotic woods—but you don’t want to spend $3,000 or risk ruining a bridge-mount because your drill slipped. Searching for a high-quality kit often leads to disappointment, with many budget options arriving as nothing more than glorified plywood. This is where the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style enters the conversation, promising a premium building experience for the everyday player.

What to Consider Before Diving Into the World of Electric Guitar Kits

An Electric Guitar kit is more than just a box of parts; it’s a key solution for players who want to understand the “soul” of their instrument. By building your own, you gain an intimate knowledge of setup, electronics, and finishing that you simply cannot get by buying a pre-assembled guitar. It solves the problem of “settling” for a factory finish and allows for total control over the most important part of the instrument: the feel of the neck and the response of the pickups. However, it requires patience and a willingness to learn. This isn’t just a “Lego” set; it’s an entry-level luthier project.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitation of a tight budget but possessing a high desire for premium features like roasted maple and flame veneers. It is perfect for the “tinkerer” or the beginner who wants a high-performance instrument (like a 24-fret shredder) without the high-performance price. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who want a “plug and play” experience immediately out of the box, or for those who lack the space and ventilation required for staining and clear-coating a guitar body. If you are looking for a finished product with a manufacturer’s polish, you might consider pre-built alternatives.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: At 39 inches in length and roughly 8 pounds, the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style is a full-sized instrument. You need a dedicated, clean workspace for assembly and a well-ventilated area for finishing. If you live in a small apartment without a balcony or garage, the fumes from wood dyes and polyurethane can be a significant hurdle.
• Capacity/Performance: Look closely at the technical specs like the 25.5-inch scale length and the HH pickup configuration. This kit is designed for versatility, with a coil-split function that allows you to jump from thick humbucking tones to crisp single-coil sounds. Ensure these specs align with the genre of music you intend to play.
• Materials & Durability: Not all “maple” is created equal. The inclusion of a roasted maple neck in this kit is a massive performance boost, as roasting (torrefaction) removes moisture, making the wood incredibly stable against humidity changes. Comparing this to standard untreated maple kits, the durability and “fret sprout” resistance are significantly higher.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A major consideration is the wiring. Traditional kits require soldering skills, which can be a barrier for many. The AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style uses a pre-soldered, modular harness. This makes the initial build easier but also ensures that long-term maintenance or future pickup swaps are much simpler for the average user.

While the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style is an excellent choice for those wanting to get their hands dirty with a custom build, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style

When the box first arrived, I was immediately struck by the presentation. Many kits come in a plain brown box with parts rattling around, but AKLOT seems to have put a premium on the “gift-ready” experience. Everything was nestled in dedicated compartments. The flame maple veneer on the Okoume body was the first thing I checked, and I was pleased to see a very decent grain pattern that promised to pop once a stain was applied. We’ve seen many “Lorien” or PRS-style kits before, but the matte, caramelized look of the roasted maple neck immediately set this apart from the pale, untreated necks found in cheaper alternatives.

The initial feel of the body was smooth, though, as many users have noted, a light sanding is always recommended to ensure the grain is open for finishing. The pre-soldered wiring harness looked clean, and the hardware—finished in a sleek “cosmo black” or dark chrome—felt heavier and more substantial than the “pot metal” hardware often found in entry-level kits. I did notice that a few small screws had migrated during shipping, which is a common occurrence, but overall, it felt like a professional package. Before you start your build, I suggest checking the latest price and availability to ensure you get the most current version of this kit.

Deep Dive: Building and Playing the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style

The Foundation: A Roasted Maple Neck and High-Performance Geometry

In our experience, the neck is the most critical component of any guitar. You can change pickups and bridges, but if the neck is unstable or uncomfortable, the guitar will never be played. The AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style features a roasted maple neck that is truly the star of the show. Roasting the wood at high temperatures removes organic impurities and moisture, resulting in a piece of wood that is less likely to warp or bow when the seasons change. When I first held the neck, it felt incredibly smooth, with a “Thin U” profile that fits naturally in the hand for both thumb-over players and technical shredders.

Beyond the material, the geometry is clearly designed for modern players. It features 24 jumbo frets, which provide a “level” playing field for effortless bends and vibrato. We found the fretwork to be surprisingly decent for a kit, though a quick polish is always a good idea. The sculpted neck joint is another highlight; unlike the bulky square heels found on traditional bolt-on guitars, this one is tapered. This allows your hand to reach the 24th fret without hitting a wooden wall. If you want to investigate the specs of this roasted maple neck further, you’ll see why it’s such a rare find at this price point.

The Electronics: Stress-Free Solderless Assembly

The most common “fail point” for DIY guitar builders is the soldering iron. One cold joint or a burnt-out pot can lead to hours of frustration. AKLOT has solved this by providing a modular, pre-soldered wiring harness. This isn’t just a basic H-H setup; it includes a coil-splitting function via a push-pull pot. During our evaluation, we found that the connectors snapped together with a satisfying click, and the instructions provided in the included book (which is far better than the one-page sheets usually provided) were clear and logical.

The pickups themselves are dual humbuckers with ceramic magnets. While “purists” often prefer alnico, these ceramics offer a punchy, high-output sound that works brilliantly for rock and metal. However, the real magic happens when you pull the tone knob. This splits the coils, giving you that “twangy” single-coil sound perfect for clean passages or bluesy licks. This level of versatility makes it a fantastic tool for a beginner who is still discovering their “signature sound.” You can explore the wiring harness options here to see how the modular system is laid out.

Aesthetics and Finishing: Making the Flame Maple Pop

The AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style features a flame maple veneer over an Okoume body. Okoume is often called “Asian Mahogany” because it shares similar tonal properties—warmth and resonance—but it’s much lighter, which your back will thank you for after a long practice session. The flame veneer is where you get to show off your artistic side. We found that using water-based or alcohol-based dyes (like TransTint) allows the grain to really “pop.”

However, we must issue a word of caution that aligns with some user feedback: the veneer is thin. In our testing, we discovered that if you sand too aggressively with a low-grit sandpaper, you can burn through the veneer to the Okoume underneath. My advice? Start with 320 grit and be very gentle. Also, be sure to wipe the body down with denatured alcohol first to identify any hidden glue spots from the factory. If you find one, a light scraping with a razor blade will ensure your stain takes evenly. When done right, the result is a guitar that looks like it belongs in a high-end boutique shop. It’s a feature that really sets it apart from the plain basswood bodies found in most kits.

Playability and Hidden Features: Luminous Markers and More

Once assembled, the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style reveals several “pro” touches that are easy to miss. The most notable is the inclusion of luminous position markers. If you’ve ever played on a dark stage or in a dimly lit room, you know how easy it is to lose your place on the fretboard. These markers glow in the dark, providing a subtle but effective guide. It’s a small detail, but it shows that the designers at AKLOT are actually guitar players who understand real-world needs.

The scale length is a standard 25.5 inches, providing the familiar “snap” and string tension associated with modern guitars. The nut width is a comfortable 1.69 inches, providing enough string spacing for clean chord work without being too wide for small hands. In terms of sound, we were impressed by the resonance of the fixed bridge. While tremolo systems are fun, a fixed bridge provides better tuning stability and more sustain, which is exactly what a beginner builder needs. To get a better sense of the scale and hardware, you should see its full feature set and user reviews on the product page.

What Other Users Are Saying

The general sentiment among builders is overwhelmingly positive, with many veterans noting that this is one of the best kits they have ever encountered. One experienced builder, who has completed over 20 kits, remarked that the wood took the dye incredibly well and called it “THE build” due to features like the jumbo frets and roasted neck. Another user praised the customer service, noting that when they had an issue with the pickups, the AKLOT team walked them through the repair step-by-step.

However, no product is perfect. Some users have pointed out that the thin veneer can be tricky, with one reviewer noting small dents that couldn’t be sanded out without going through the maple. Another user reported missing parts, specifically tuner ferrules, though they were able to source them from their spare parts bin. These critiques highlight the importance of doing a full inventory the moment the box arrives. If anything is missing, AKLOT’s 2-year warranty and responsive support team are there to help. Overall, the consensus is that for the price, the quality of the wood and the modern features far outweigh the minor QC hiccups that can occur with any DIY kit.

Comparing the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style to Top Alternatives

1. Donner DST-152R Electric Guitar Starter Kit

The Donner DST-152R is a vastly different proposition. While the AKLOT is a DIY project, the Donner is a fully assembled, “out of the box” starter kit that includes an amp, bag, and accessories. It features an HSS pickup configuration, which is great for versatility, but it lacks the premium roasted maple neck and the high-performance 24-fret layout of the Lorien style. The Donner is for the person who wants to start playing *today*, whereas the AKLOT is for the person who wants to understand how the guitar works and end up with a higher-spec instrument overall.

2. Best Choice Products 39in Full Size Electric Guitar Starter Kit

This kit is the definition of a budget entry point. It provides everything a complete novice needs at a very low price. However, the materials are basic—standard maple and a generic tremolo system. Compared to the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style, the Best Choice guitar feels much more like a “toy.” It doesn’t offer the tonal depth of the Okoume body or the stability of the roasted neck. We recommend this only for those with the absolute tightest budgets who have no interest in the building process.

3. Fender Squier Debut Stratocaster Electric Guitar Kit

The Squier Debut is the “gold standard” for brand-name entry-level guitars. It carries the Fender legacy and offers great quality control. However, you are paying a premium for the name on the headstock. While a Squier is a reliable workhorse, it won’t have the “wow” factor of a flame maple top or the modern feel of 24 jumbo frets. If you want the security of a major brand, go with the Squier. But if you want a guitar that punches way above its weight class in terms of specs and looks, the AKLOT kit is the superior choice.

The Final Verdict: Is the AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style Worth It?

After a deep dive into the components and the build process, our verdict is a resounding yes—provided you are ready for a project. The AKLOT DIY Electric Guitar Kit Lorien Style offers a set of features usually reserved for guitars in the $600-$800 range: a roasted maple neck, a flame maple top, 24 jumbo frets, and coil-split electronics. The “Lorien” aesthetic is modern and sophisticated, and the solderless wiring removes the biggest barrier for most aspiring builders. While you need to be careful with the thin veneer and watch for factory glue spots, these are standard challenges in the world of kit building.

This kit is a fantastic educational tool for beginners and a high-quality platform for experienced modders who want to create a custom masterpiece. It bridges the gap between a cheap “disposable” guitar and a professional instrument. If you’ve been dreaming of a custom build that looks as good as it sounds, this is your starting line. Don’t wait for the inspiration to fade—start your own guitar-building journey here and create an instrument that is truly yours.