Thread: Acoustic guitar course - my first build

and finally, a few pics of the nut, saddle and final set-up: Guitar building course - January 2011 :: Nut, saddle, final set-up slideshow by yozski - Photobucket

and the finshed product: Guitar building course - January 2011 :: My baby! slideshow by yozski - Photobucket

Have already started setting up the home workspace and have the materials for the next one. The new workspace is interesting - we are renting and we have no garage... so am doing what I can in the spare bedroom. I found a B&D workmate on Trademe for $20 so will use that to hold the workboard and move from inside (for gluing, marking etc) and outside for all the dirty dusty stuff. Could be a lot of stuffing around but we do what we can with what we've got

Yoz,

Looks like youre hooked on guitar making. A some stage youll want to try the other method of making a guitar using an external mold and with the neck and body made as seperate units. I actually make up my steel string bodies on the same workboard I use for my classicals but also use external molds.

Thanks Martin, I was going to ask about ideas for next steps. I'm definitely hooked! I've always loved building "useful" things. I used to build sea kayaks, have built some furniture and guitars just seem to suit - a great combination of art and science, history and innovation and enough to learn to keep me interested for the rest of my life!

I've decided for the next one to use the same method learned at the course. Mainly to reinforce what I learned in the course and to prove that I can repeat it at home without any assistance and using my own tools and equipment. After that, it's anything goes!

What were your next projects after you finished the course? And how have you progressed from there?

Shane

Originally Posted by Yoz

I've decided for the next one to use the same method learned at the course. Mainly to reinforce what I learned in the course and to prove that I can repeat it at home without any assistance and using my own tools and equipment. After that, it's anything goes!

What were your next projects after you finished the course? And how have you progressed from there?

Shane

If you're going to stick to the Spanish method for your next build I'd be looking at building a classical. Its a good move as you will discover the challenges in building a classical are a bit different than for a steel string (eg less string energy).

After I finished the course I headed home and built myself a climate controlled workshop and started building. Since the course I've built 3 classicals, 2 steel 6 strings, a 12 string and at the moment I'm working on a lute.

It's my observation that two sorts of people attend Paddy and Daves courses. There are people who just want to make a guitar and that's as far as they go. You then have a few people like myself who are hardcore into luthiery and carry on building after the course.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

It's my observation that two sorts of people attend Paddy and Daves courses. There are people who just want to make a guitar and that's as far as they go. You then have a few people like myself who are hardcore into luthiery and carry on building after the course.

I'd agree with that. There were some who were just stoked that the thing they built held together and there were others who asked all the questions - "but what if I did this? What would happen if I did that? How would I do it if I didn't have one of those?...". Possibly the best thing about the course is that ALL the guitars sounded good at the end, regardless of your intentions.

Luckily for me one of the guys on the course is a local woodworker who had already built 3 or 4 instruments before the course, has a good workshop nearby and has offered me use of his machinery when I need it. I'm not in a position to build a climate-controlled workspace just yet.

Very, very nice. Can I just ask what a course like this costs to do? (I've looked on the Paddy Burgin website and I can't find the cost.)

Presumably you also need to add in accommodation for 3 weeks also.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Muz G

Very, very nice. Can I just ask what a course like this costs to do? (I've looked on the Paddy Burgin website and I can't find the cost.)

Presumably you also need to add in accommodation for 3 weeks also.

Thanks

The course I did back in 2005 cost me just over $2000 for the course and then I had to factor in accomodation and meals for the period of the course. I went top shelf and stayed at a bed and breakfast in Hataitai which would have added another $1500 to the bill. There are cheaper options available for accomodation.

Email Paddy and he'll provide you with info on the next course and cost.

Cheers.

Seems quite reasonable for 3 weeks of tuition.

Thanks

Great thread Yoz.
And nice guitar - well done!!

Originally Posted by Muz G

Cheers.

Seems quite reasonable for 3 weeks of tuition.

Thanks

Very reasonable....you're getting tuition from Paddy Burgin and Dave Freeman...two very accomplished luthiers. Paddy and Dave do differ in approaches to some aspects of luthiery which is even better.....you soon learn that 75% of luthiery is about problem solving and there is always more than one solution to a problem.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Very reasonable....you're getting tuition from Paddy Burgin and Dave Freeman...two very accomplished luthiers. Paddy and Dave do differ in approaches to some aspects of luthiery which is even better.....you soon learn that 75% of luthiery is about problem solving and there is always more than one solution to a problem.

That "creative tension" between the two was a highlight of the course. It definitely opened the door for questions and discussion around other options.

The total cost for the course was around $3k, including a little extra for using rosewood rather than mahogany on the back & sides. I was lucky enough to be one of the few locals who didn't have to worry about accommodation costs. Some of the younger blokes on the course had found accommodation for about $150 per week (private rooms at local hostels) so you can keep the additional charges down if you need to.

Scarfed the neck on number 2 in the refurbished 4th bedroom yesterday. Impressed with the B & D workmate. Very handy bit of kit when space is at a premium!

That is a beautiful piece of craftmanship and would have been an amazing experience. Congratulations