A different way to sell guitars

Paul C · Post by **Paul C** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:42 pm

If one likes to teach people to build guitars it seems a great way to sell what your making. Of course it would take some serious organizing, expierience, good resources, a good workspace and probably much much more. Any of you guys do this or thought of trying it?. A building course out my way goes for about 2600 bucks for 2 weeks. I'm thinking that's pretty good for buiding a guitar with some one and then they take the guitar home. I'm years away from teaching anyone because I'm still teaching myself.

peter havriluk · Post by **peter havriluk** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:06 pm

I've participated in such a program, built a guitar at Dave Nickols' shop (Custom Pearl Inlay). I suspect he has answers to a whole lot of questions inherent to this topic.

Tim Benware · Post by **Tim Benware** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:16 pm

I started my building classes last year and have 5 "graduates." I do it more for the fun, My class cost is $800 plus whatever the materials cost to build the guitar they want, We complete the build in 8 days. The guitar gets what I call a "student" finish, 2 coats of sealer and 3 coats of nitro, then light buffing. it is not a high gloss finish looks more like a semi gloss but still nice. This is one of my students and his guitar (that's me on the left):

peter havriluk · Post by **peter havriluk** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:43 pm

Tim, that sounds like a wonderful opportunity for the participants. A bit of elaboration, please, if you can spare the time; my curiosity is piqued. How much of the instrument materials have been prefabricated? Does the student thickness-sand the back/sides/soundboard? Join the back? Does the student start with a raw piece of wood and make a fretboard? How about neck fabrication? Questions in that vein. Those eight days would pass in a blur for me, for sure.

Dave Bagwill · Post by **Dave Bagwill** » Mon Jan 26, 2015 11:47 pm

My students start with kits from KMG, which has many advantages, and we meet once to three times per week; Steve has been at it for almost a year but we have been unable to get together much.

After the KMG, I suggest they get another KMG, but if they want to go scratch well, that's what we do. I really enjoy it and make tens of dollars doing it. :-)

Tim Benware · Post by **Tim Benware** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:28 am

peter havriluk wrote:Tim, that sounds like a wonderful opportunity for the participants. A bit of elaboration, please, if you can spare the time; my curiosity is piqued. How much of the instrument materials have been prefabricated? Does the student thickness-sand the back/sides/soundboard? Join the back? Does the student start with a raw piece of wood and make a fretboard? How about neck fabrication? Questions in that vein. Those eight days would pass in a blur for me, for sure.

1. I have the top ready to go before they start (we cut out the sound hole and that gives them an into into that and the idea of cutting rosette channels) and one side bent. They learn to thickness and joint plates by doing the back (there is also a back strip used) and profile, thickness and bend one side themselves.
2. FB and bridge are made from blanks.
3. Necks are Martin bolt-ons.
4. I have a notebook ready for them to take notes on each of the steps we complete (that's 11 pages) and a number of articles and check lists I have written of different things like the effects of bracing patterns and such.
5. Advanced concepts are available for instruction at $100 a day.
6. I do all the spraying that is not part of the course.

peter havriluk · Post by **peter havriluk** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:07 am

Tim, thanks for the elaboration. Sounds wonderful.

Acoustic Guitar Construction

A different way to sell guitars

A different way to sell guitars

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