My suggestion would be to hit ebay for a neck and other parts, and go to your local exotic wood store and get a blank and cut your own body. That way you will end up with something that's a little more "yours".
I got a pretty nice maple neck I used on a parts-caster for $40. A 2 foot x 13 1/2 inch x 2 inch piece of Mahogany for my next build only cost me $55 Cdn (Tax in and the surfaces planed).
I don't think there is anything wrong with a kit, mind you. It just sounds like you might want to really get your hands in it. :)
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
