Today, we're embarking on an exciting new adventure: assembling a guitar kit that's truly out of the ordinary. If you've always dreamed of building a guitar that leaves no one indifferent without emptying your wallet, and you're looking for a project to test your tuning skills, this unboxing is for you! We'll be tackling a copy of the famous Dean Razorback.
A big thank you to Guitar Fabrik!
A quick aside: The Guitar Fabrik generously sent me this kit, without any compensation. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their initiative, as it allows us to present unique content to you. As usual, my opinion will remain completely honest, whether for the good or the bad. Let's unpack it right away!
The Body: The Soul of the Beast
As soon as you open it, you are struck by the size of the box! Well packaged, the body is impressive. It has the essential features of a Razorback: a body made of mahogany with the distinctive and aggressive shape, faithful to Dimebag Darrell's design. Unlike other kits I've seen, the body proportions and, most importantly, the bevels on the outline have been preserved, which is an excellent point for the final aesthetics.
At the easel level, we remain in the spirit of the original with a copy of Floyd Rose double-blocked. It promises dive bombs and squeals plenty of fun! The electronics include two humbuckers, a three-way selector, two volumes and one tone, just like the real thing.
The mahogany body appears to be made of two or three pieces, which is common for kits of this type. The first crucial test: the water drop test. I sprayed a little water on the wood, and the verdict was in: the water was absorbed instantly. This means that the wood is not not sealed. It will therefore be necessary to plan a stage of grain lifting and light sanding before applying the finish, as you can already feel the wood fibers lifting.
I also noticed a small chip on the body's contour. It may have happened while unpacking, but I was lucky enough to find the piece! I'll glue it back on in the next video. The edges are very sharp, almost knife-like, which accentuates the aggressive look.
The Handle: Speed and Precision
Let's move on to the second box, the handle box. Once again, watch out for the tips! And there, we discover an equally imposing handle.
This handle counts 22 frets, and the key seems to be in ebonyThe uniformity of the color makes me think that it is a composite, but the look is really good. The frets don't seem too sticky to the touch, which is a good sign.
Construction is a scarf joint, a more complex technique than what is usually found on entry-level kits, which probably also justifies the price. An interesting feature that I see for the first time on a kit: the saddle appears to be height adjustable ! This is an unexpected and potentially very useful feature for action tuning.
The neck profile is really thin, thinner than my Stratocaster and almost as thin as my Jackson, although less flat. It's a "C" profile but less flattened, which makes it a quick sleeve, ideal for shredders. The fingerboard, at the second fret, has a beautiful smooth finish.
However, as with the body, I checked if the neck was sealed. A little water on the maple headstock and fingerboard... and no, the water is quickly absorbed. The grain is already rising. So you will also need to raise the grain and sand well before finishing, especially if, like me, you plan to use water-based products.
Crucial Adjustments: Body-Neck Fit and Frets
Regarding the body-neck connection, I noticed a light playThe fit isn't as perfect as the Leo James kit from the previous build, but there's no excessive visible gap once the neck is in place. I'll see how it performs once the body grain is raised.
The fret ends don't stick out, that's something! However, the finish is a little rough. We can clearly see the file strokes on the top of some frets and on their ends. This will require a good polishing to achieve a smooth surface and a good glide under the fingers.
Jumbo Scale, Radius and Frets
This kit features a style tuning fork Fender, or 25.5 inches, unlike the 24.75 inches of the original Razorback. This could offer a feeling a little tighter on the strings. The fingerboard radius remains at 12 inches, faithful to the Dean, with 22 frets. At the fingerboard level, we are on the jumbo fret, perfect for the bends without forcing too much.
Hardware and Electronics: Standard with Surprises
Moving on to the hardware. We have cavity plates and tuning keys that seem similar in quality to what I've had in other kits—basic stuff that gets the job done. The included strings are also very similar to those in other kits.
The big piece is the Floyd Rose type double-locking tremolo. It seems to have a reassuring weight to it, which is a good sign for quality. microphones are already plugged in and the entire electronic harness (3-position selector, potentiometers) is pre-wired, which is a significant time saver. The wiring is a bit rudimentary, but functional. Also included is the tremolo bar, Allen keys for adjustments, the back plate, and all the necessary hardware.
The quality of the hardware is quite similar to other kits, but the The big difference lies in the quality of the machining and the precision of the materials, as well as in the features offered by a more complex construction.
In-Depth Neck Inspection: Truss Rod and Frets
As you're starting to know me, I don't just take a quick look. I want to see what's behind that neck. I loosened the truss rod to allow the strings to "win" and test its operation. Being able to loosen it and force a forward bend confirms to me that this is a double action truss rod, which is great for future adjustments.
Then the fret rocker came into play to test the fret flatness. We always test on three frets, changing the rocker edge if necessary. I found a few high frets, including one that had significant center swing. I marked it and will try to press it in. If that doesn't do the trick, partial flatness will be necessary.
It is crucial not to stain the fingerboard, which is not sealed at this point. I will continue my inspection along the entire neck to identify other problematic frets.
First Impressions and Next Steps
That's it for this first overview of this Razorback-style guitar kit. There's some good stuff, a few small details to fix, but I intend to push this project well beyond a simple basic assembly.
In the next video, I'll tackle the frets, prepare the finish, and show you some tips to ensure this guitar plays perfectly once assembled.
If you liked the concept of the video, consider leaving a like, it really helps the visibility of the channel. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the series, and tell me in the comments if you've already put together a kit like this, and if not, what's stopping you from getting started!
Thank you so much for watching this with me. Have fun with your guitars. See you soon in the next video! See you next time!
