Telecaster-Type Barnwood Guitar Body
Handcrafted by Rat Bait Guitars | North Devon | October 2025
Specs & Fitment
Telecaster-style body, routed for standard Tele neck and bridge pickups
Approx. thickness: 43mm
Neck pocket width: 56mm
Weight: 2.17kg
Finished with a subtle nitrocellulose tint
Note: Hardware shown in photos (neck, pickups, etc.) is not included
Materials & Origin
1970s Austrian table leg
Salvaged roofing timber
Sections of an old Ikea bookcase
All reclaimed, reimagined, and reborn in the UK
Character & Craft
This isn’t a factory-pressed blank—it’s a bruised, battle-worn slab of history. Every dent, scratch, and scar is deliberate, a relic of its past life and a badge of honour. Built in a rat-infested shed in North Devon, this body channels the spirit of 60s–70s Woolworths guitars: quirky, Japanese-made, and unapologetically budget-born.
It’s raw. It’s rugged. It’s ready.
Whether you're building a Partscaster with punk soul or chasing tone with teeth, this body offers a hardware-ready canvas that celebrates imperfection, sustainability, and rebellion. Expect minor fettling—this is handmade, not mass-produced.
Ideal For
Luthiers and DIY builders
Players who value grit over gloss
Barncaster fans and tone chasers
Anyone who believes guitars should have stories, not just specs
Rat Bait Guitars have sparked passionate feedback, celebrating their raw craftsmanship, reclaimed materials, and rebellious ethos. Players and critics alike describe the instruments as emotionally resonant, conceptually bold, and deeply personal.
Salvage, Soul & Sonic Rebellion
Rat Bait Guitars aren’t just instruments—they’re declarations. Built from salvaged wood and repurposed parts, each guitar carries the scars and stories of its previous life. Feedback from recent shows highlights how this philosophy resonates with audiences:
“When you pick up a Rat Bait, you're gripping history.” One reviewer described a guitar made from fence posts, shed panels, and a woodworm-ravaged body as “a Frankenstein of sonic defiance”1.
Players praise the tactile honesty—the rough edges, vintage neck profiles, and hand-carved imperfections that make each piece feel alive2.
Audience reactions at shows often center on the emotional charge: these guitars aren’t polished clones, they’re raw, unrepeatable artifacts of rebellion.
Feedback as Fuel
Rat Bait’s ethos is built on feedback—not just as validation, but as a creative loop:
Craft Validation: Builders thrive on knowing their work exceeds expectations34.
Trust Building: In a saturated market, authentic reviews cut through the noise5.
Creative Evolution: Feedback guides refinements, inspires new builds, and keeps the spirit of reclamation alive3.
One article frames it beautifully: “Feedback isn’t just a courtesy—it’s oxygen.” It closes the loop between maker and player, ensuring the story continues beyond the workshop3.
Why It Matters
Rat Bait’s show feedback isn’t just applause—it’s a philosophical affirmation:
Art from Ruin: These guitars challenge perfectionism, celebrating flaws as features.
Community Connection: Each review becomes part of the guitar’s evolving story.
Rebellion with Purpose: The brand’s punk ethos isn’t aesthetic—it’s structural, emotional, and ethical.
References (5)
1An Odd Looking Beast - More Feedback. https://www.ukguitar.co.uk/2025/09/beast.html
2Rat Bait Guitars – Reclaimed Guitars and Parts. https://shop.ratbaitguitars.com/
3Rat Bait Guitars Feedback - ukguitar.co.uk. https://www.ukguitar.co.uk/2025/10/feedback.html
4Our Feedback – Rat Bait Guitars. https://shop.ratbaitguitars.com/feedback/
5Reviews – Rat Bait Guitars. https://shop.ratbaitguitars.com/reviews/
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