Building "Pistol Pete" The $52 Temu Guitar: The Finale Before & After (OSU Tribute Part 12)

After 11 episodes, we’ve finally arrived. This is Pistol Pete in all his glory. What started as a $52 Temu kit turned into a fully customized Oklahoma State tribute guitar built for my son. In this finale, we break down the full build, upgrades, tone test, playability, and whether these ultra-budget kits are actually worth it. Note: This project is a personal fan tribute and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Oklahoma State University. Just a dad building a cool guitar for his son! TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro – Talking guitars and life 0:08 First look at Pistol Pete (Final Build Reveal) 0:27 $52 Temu kit unboxing recap 0:38 Neck inspection (frets, tech wood, truss rod) 2:08 Initial thoughts – Is the neck worth it? 2:42 Hardware overview (bridge, electronics, tuners) 3:35 Body inspection (weight, routing, quality) 4:35 Comparison with StewMac body 5:27 Is the $52 kit worth it? 6:05 Build recap – What we actually used 6:34 Headstock design and OSU theme details 7:17 Nut, fretwork, and leveling process 8:30 Paint and finishing process (Rust-Oleum, poly, Tru-Oil) 9:30 Neck feel and playability 9:47 Body graphics and OSU decals 10:50 String-through conversion and hardware upgrades 11:16 Electronics and pickup choices (Artec big pole set) 13:03 Tone samples begin 22:10 Playability review and pickup thoughts 23:13 Weight, balance, and feel 23:47 Sticker discussion and final design choices 24:44 Final thoughts on the build 26:00 Why buy a kit guitar? 27:11 Modding challenges and routing notes 28:49 Real cost breakdown of kit guitars 30:05 What you should expect before buying a kit 32:21 True total cost vs budget expectation 33:23 Why this build mattered (for my son) 33:49 Thanks and closing thoughts BUILD HIGHLIGHTS * $52 Temu kit (mahogany body) * Custom OSU theme (orange, black, white) * Reshaped Tele-style headstock * Artec Big Pole pickups * Upgraded electronics and Pure Tone jack * Locking tuners * String-through body conversion * Full fret level, crown, and polish * Custom paint and finish work FINAL VERDICT This project was about more than just building a guitar. It was about learning, creating something personal, and putting together something meaningful. A $50 kit will not magically become a rock and roll machine. But with time, effort, and intentional upgrades, you can turn it into something that plays well and means a lot. The original "Orange Crush" https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMhTW3lOIKQ3D_rFZEpiG2HbSZbdsSu0S ____ Shoutouts: @j-mansgearcave (Jay) Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH #GuitarBuild #DIYGuitar #BudgetGuitar #Telecaster #GuitarMods #GuitarDIY #TemuFinds #ElectricGuitar #GuitarProject #LuthierLife #GuitarTone #CustomGuitar #OSU #PistolPete #GuitarJourney