Experiences with guitar building courses

[phavriluk]

I think that someone speculating about learning to build a guitar in order to have a guitar would be better served just putting what will be spent on the instructional process on a guitar and call it a day.

Building any guitar will include at no extra charge the necessity of setting up a shop and becoming proficient with all the tools and processes to use them. It's a steep and long learning curve and all that prep cannot be justified by making one instrument. Developing and exercising the skills, sure.

And that first guitar would be a miracle indeed if the work product was as good as a whole bunch of sub-thousand-dollar guitars. Ain't nobody going to build a Martin-killer, for example, as his first (and maybe only?) guitar project.

[printer2]

I remember my first real acoustic guitar here. Did not know much about what I was doing but jumped in with both feet. The reason I did? I was at a clearance center and they were selling a small nylon guitar for $39. I picked it up and was surprised to find it did sound like a guitar. The fit and finish was not very good and I thought if I could do just as well I would be happy. I really should have just bought the **** guitar. My problem? "With what I learned I bet I can make a better one." That and wanting to learn what makes them tick. As they say, "You (or at least me) can not just make one."

I agree with anyone wanting to build a guitar that they should build a ukulele first. Your guitar will be so much better. Might not end up doing every step in the same way or all of them but at least it will give you more confidence and save you a few grief filled moments. Whether you go on to taking a course or not it might give you greater insight into the person offering the course.

[Fathand]

Some are talking like setting up a shop is a direct cost to apply to a guitar build. Many of us have some tools from previous projects, household repairs, etc. I look at tools as an investment. All the tools I have purchased since I started buying them at age 15 have saved me far more dollars in 50 years, than I have spent on them. When I become too old to safely use them, I hope to sell them and recoup more of my investment or pass them on to my heirs. In the meantime, I can build guitars, birthday presents, boats, whatever.
Some of us, though, are not too handy and have little space for a full shop, this is where kits make sense.

[mercy]

Im enjoying this thread so Ill add a perspective. I know of people that have made a successful guitar the first time. Maybe their hand skills and luck were better than mine. But I needed that 1st one to know how to build one. Still the 2nd one I did, it was from scratch, wasnt good either.

If you do a kit stay away from Stewmac. Their cardboard form thing is a recipie for disaster. As a beginner you must make a mold to hold the guitar in shape and to hold it while your working on it.

So go ahead and give it a try, you may come out with a playable guitar, especially if you have the presence of an instructor. I some some of Frank's student's guitars and they were guitars. Sound is the elusive factor out there. Your guitar will sound the way it sounds cause the sound of a guitar is primarily the builder. Since you dont really know what your doing, the guitar doesnt know what to do either.

It cant be said too often, if you want a guitar buy one.

[Joelazar]

I, too, am getting into guitar building. I’m very fortunate in that I have a fully stocked wood shop in my garage so all I’ve had to do is acquire the specialized luthier tools.

I’m also lucky because I got to take Charles Fox’s course about 11 years ago. I couldn’t recommend it more. Charles is a great teacher and a fantastic human being. We are still occasionally in touch, as he has answered a few of my questions as I prepare for my first completely independent build.

Speaking of Charles, I think I may have stumbled upon some of his old stash of mahogany. I went to an estate sale in Petaluma, CA (not far from Charles’ old Northern Californian guitar factory) last week, and the guy dabbled in lutherie. As I picked through his shop I came across a massive stick of quartersawn mahogany. It was 9 1/2’ x 8” x 4”. As I pulled it out to inspect it, there, written in chalk, was “C. Fox.” I figure he sold off some of his stock when he moved to Portland.

[Andy Mitchell]

Originally Posted by mercy

If you do a kit stay away from Stewmac. Their cardboard form thing is a recipie for disaster. As a beginner you must make a mold to hold the guitar in shape and to hold it while your working on it.

Not trying to start a big overblown discussion, but I don't think I'd go so far as to declare the StewMac cardboard form thing a total recipe for disaster. They're not ideal, but they do work if you are careful (and will save the first-timer a bit of the initial investment needed to get going otherwise).

There's lots of more troublesome things to get past on that first build to accomplish a good quality result (binding/purfling channels, getting the neck set right, finishing the thing, etc.).

But what a great hobby for someone who likes to build things with their own hands! The three kit guitars I built so far (all StewMac) each occupied me off and on for a winter and gave me huge feelings of accomplishment when finished.

I absolutely agree with the 'do it for the enjoyment, rather than a way to get a cheap guitar' sentiments, though.

[Fathand]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

I absolutely agree with the 'do it for the enjoyment, rather than a way to get a cheap guitar' sentiments, though.

You can definitely save a pile of money building a guitar over buying one if you have the tools and space, though.

[Neil K Walk]

I notice that this thread took a five year jump so I hope the OP got his answer. That being said, as somebody who has dabbled with building a couple of guitars for far too long I would say to any else looking for the answer to their own quickly regarding getting into luthery I would say it's probably best to schedule a class with a master luthier. The results are likely going to be much better.

FWIW even after about 14 years and 1.9 guitars in (#2 is very close to being done despite some lingering cosmetic issues that my OCD can't move past) I wish I could say that working at your own pace will be rewarding. Indeed, I feel like my first guitar is (as my teenagers would say) "meh." I am trying to find a way to convince my significant other, that A: I'm not obsessed with guitars as much as she's obsessed with wine, and B: it wouldn't be abandonment or cheating if I went on a solo vacation and did a class with a luthier and see how well a third build could come together. I've almost got her worn down; it's just going to take a little more wine - and me finishing that new wine rack she's been expecting!