How would one learn how to build guitars?

[Oudy]

As the title says, how owuld someone with 0 previous wood working experience easily learn how to make guitars. Apprenticing under a luthier or tech would be an option. Could i easily figure it out myself? like if i paced myself and just slowly sanded everything down to the right size or would i need the correct machinery.

anyone wanna chime in and point me in the right direction? i have so many ideas and things i want to try and id like to maybe start doing this in the near future.


TYIA

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Power tools. There are books and probably videos.

You should get proper training on power tools. My friends fiancee just lost three fingers on a table saw and was in the hospital for 14 days!

[PoorMan]

Options run the gamut from trial and error all the way to dedicated courses at MI, Roberto-Venn etc. So it depends on you time and level of dedication.

If you are starting at square 1, I recommend getting some books first to see what you are getting yourself into. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_p..._electric.html

Also, you should master setups first (assuming you haven't done so already).

And no, you can't "sand" a guitar out of blocks of wood.

[DankStar]

whoops, he beat me to it....so +1 for stew mac.

[jeremy]

buy a book and a cheap guitar. if you dont have any tools you could still do it but it would take you like 1000 man hours vs 100, but really youll need a variety of tools depending on how far you want to get into it.

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Oudy, make me a guitar mang and send it.... better yet, I want your MIM strat with Lace Sensors

Seriously though, that would kick ass if you learnt how to do that... I can't work with wood for crap to be honest.
You've always crapped on about heaps of guitar ideas to me in the past... I'd love to see you be able to actually make your own and at less cost then buying from someone.


And once you make your dream guitar, send me your strat

[theodie]

buy a book and a cheap guitar. if you dont have any tools you could still do it but it would take you like 1000 man hours vs 100, but really youll need a variety of tools depending on how far you want to get into it.

Power tools. There are books and probably videos.

You should get proper training on power tools. My friends fiancee just lost three fingers on a table saw and was in the hospital for 14 days![/QUOTE]

+1,+1, and +1.

Safety is paramount. I learned some woodworking initially off of local cabinet builder. I took it myself from there with books and experimenting..

[Pierre]

You NEED:

Money
Space
Time

I have none except time, and it's why I can't get started on it even though being a luthier has been my dream in the past 3 years. Sometimes you just get unlucky. I guess if it were my total priority, I could, but I've started other things before I discovered my true passion that I can't just let go.

[JB_From_Hell]

Start off slowly at first, by learning how to set them up, and typical maintenance.

After that, get a neck and try making a body for it.

[newking70]

go to school: http://roberto-venn.com/

[scottish]

apprenticeship with some kind of wood worker would be my primary choice, short of literaly going to school for it. hnads on experience with a trained eye to guide and teach you is ten times more valuable than trying to figure stuff out yourself from books and maybe not knowing why something went wrong.

IF an apprenticeship is an option then i say go for that. It doesnt need to be with someone who builds guitars, getting a base knowledge of woodworking and the tools involved will be priceless and most of it will translate across to guitar work.

If this is not an option then start with the books and cheap body blanks that you picked up at home depo or something. Dont worry about starting with tone wood like alder or mahogany. Use whatever is the cheapest solid wood you can lay hands on.

[ginormous]

A Roberto-Venn student from Tennesee made this:



My favorite shade of blue, too!

[grumptruck]

Friend of mine graduated from Roberto-Venn.

Klesh guitars.. You aren't gonna like his stuff unless you like crazy metal shapes.. He can build anything though.

[ImmortalSix]

Nothin' to it but to do it!

[Bludave]

As the title says, how owuld someone with 0 previous wood working experience easily learn how to make guitars. Apprenticing under a luthier or tech would be an option. Could i easily figure it out myself? like if i paced myself and just slowly sanded everything down to the right size or would i need the correct machinery.

anyone wanna chime in and point me in the right direction? i have so many ideas and things i want to try and id like to maybe start doing this in the near future.


TYIA

The best way to learn how to be a builder would be to apprentice with a known Luthier. These type of programs are usually a non paying gig, but the knowledge can be impressive depending on the luthier you get to work with.

Here is a list of Luthiery schools that are associated with the American Luthier supplies.

http://www.cybozone.com/fg/become.html

Many of these schools have apprenticeships setup after you complete the course, so you go from school to hands on. I have no idea how good the curriculum is as I have never taken these courses, but they are worth looking into if this is what you want to do.

[Oudy]

thanks guys, im gonna aska round here too and maybe try to find something in the vermont/NH area, might have some luck might not who knows

[Gr8Scott]

This answer is easy. Move to China.

[WhoFan]

in my case i had some power tool experience... i started taking a night school guitar making course someone taught at a local high school years ago.... i learned a lot!!! plus having axess to all the larger power tools like that was a real bonus...

maybe in your area there is a nightschool wood shop course of some sort... that would get you the basics and learn the safe way to use the tools.... plus you will be able to cut lumber up into guitars there

as far as guitar making info, books, video's, internet, so on and so on.... ask lots of questions.. if you have a good tech or guitar maker in your area try and be-friend him/her and see if they can be a source to ask questions when you run into issues.

[newking70]

are you near this place? http://www.vermontwoodworkingschool....ool/Home_.html

[tc]

Look up classes maybe? MI has a luthier course last time I checked (like a month ago hahah) and if there's a local luthier you get along with then maybe that would work as well.