Luthiery Course

Lesson 1 • History and Traditions of Instrument Making

Survey the evolution of stringed instrument construction from early workshops to modern practices. Establishes cultural and technical context for all subsequent building decisions.

Lesson 2 • Tonewood Selection and Grading

Teaches visual and tap-tone evaluation of spruce, cedar, mahogany, rosewood, and maple. Students grade raw billets and match tops to backs for balanced acoustic response.

Lesson 3 • Workshop Safety and Tool Orientation

Covers personal protective equipment, dust management, and safe machine operation. Ensures students can work independently without injury before handling any tools.

Lesson 4 • Reading Plans and Technical Drawings

Introduces blueprint conventions, scale drawings, and measurement systems used in lutherie. Students transfer dimensions accurately from plans to workpieces throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Measuring and Layout Precision

Establishes habits for accurate marking, squaring, and verification at every build stage. Precision layout prevents compounding errors in later structural work.

Lesson 2 • Sharpening and Tool Maintenance

Covers flattening stones, establishing bevels, and honing edges to a mirror finish. Sharp tools are prerequisite to clean cuts in all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 3 • Rasps, Files, and Scrapers

Covers aggressive stock removal with rasps and fine surface refinement with card scrapers. These tools bridge machine work and final finishing throughout the build.

Lesson 4 • Chisels, Gouges, and Carving Tools

Introduces controlled paring, mortising, and relief carving with bench and carving chisels. Skills apply directly to neck mortises, binding channels, and brace shaping.

Lesson 1 • Scale Length and String Tension

Covers the relationship between scale length, string gauge, and tension on the instrument structure. Students calculate scale lengths and understand their effect on playability and tone.

Lesson 2 • Neck Geometry and Playability

Examines neck angle, relief, action height, and nut width as interdependent playability variables. Students calculate neck angles and set target action specifications before building.

Lesson 3 • Vibration Physics for Luthiers

Explains resonance, modes, and frequency response in plate and air systems. Provides the theoretical framework for bracing and graduation decisions made in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Body Shape, Size, and Acoustic Response

Analyzes how body depth, waist width, and bout proportions affect volume and frequency balance. Students evaluate existing designs and draft modified body templates.

Lesson 1 • Closing the Box

Glues the top and back to the rim, completing the acoustic chamber. Alignment, clamping pressure, and glue squeeze-out management are critical at this irreversible stage.

Lesson 2 • Bending Sides to Shape

Teaches heat-bending with a bending iron and mold to achieve accurate waist and bout curves. Properly bent sides ensure the body mold fits tightly and the rim is symmetrical.

Lesson 3 • Bracing the Soundboard

Shapes, fits, and glues X-braces, tone bars, and bridge plate to the top. Brace geometry and mass directly determine the instrument's tonal voice.

Lesson 4 • Kerfing, Linings, and Rim Assembly

Installs kerfed linings to create gluing surfaces for top and back attachment. Proper lining installation determines the structural integrity of the entire body.

Lesson 5 • Binding and Purfling Installation

Routes binding channels and installs plastic, wood, or herringbone binding and purfling. Binding protects plate edges and defines the instrument's visual character.

Lesson 1 • Carving the Neck Profile

Shapes the back of the neck from a C, D, or V profile using rasps, spokeshaves, and scrapers. Profile consistency along the full length determines playing comfort.

Lesson 2 • Neck Blank Preparation

Selects, orients, and dimensions mahogany or maple neck blanks for maximum stiffness. Correct grain orientation prevents warping and ensures long-term neck stability.

Lesson 3 • Truss Rod Channel and Installation

Routes a precise channel and installs a single-action or double-action truss rod. Correct rod placement is essential for effective neck relief adjustment after stringing.

Lesson 4 • Headstock Shaping and Tuner Layout

Shapes the headstock outline, drills tuner holes, and veneers the face for aesthetics. Tuner hole spacing must match the chosen machine head footprint precisely.

Lesson 1 • Fret Slot Calculation and Cutting

Calculates fret positions using the 17.817 rule and cuts slots to precise depth and width. Slot accuracy directly determines intonation across the entire fretboard.

Lesson 2 • Fret Wire Selection and Installation

Covers fretwire alloys, crown widths, and pressing vs. hammering installation methods. Proper seating eliminates high frets and minimizes leveling work.

Lesson 3 • Fingerboard Preparation

Thicknesses, tapers, and radiuses the fingerboard blank before slotting. Accurate taper and radius are prerequisites for consistent fret seating and string action.

Lesson 4 • Fret Leveling, Crowning, and Polishing

Levels frets with a beam, recrowned with a file, and polishes to a mirror finish. Level frets eliminate buzz and are essential before nut and saddle setup.

Lesson 1 • Intonation Compensation and Setup

Applies string-specific compensation offsets to the saddle to achieve accurate intonation at the 12th fret. Compensation accounts for string stiffness and action height variables.

Lesson 2 • Saddle Blank Shaping

Fits a bone saddle blank to the slot and shapes the top radius to match the fingerboard. Saddle height sets the action and must be calculated before any material is removed.

Lesson 3 • Bridge Plate Fitting and Gluing

Fits the bridge footprint to the curved top and glues it with precise alignment to the centerline. Misalignment at this stage permanently affects intonation and string spacing.

Lesson 1 • Nitrocellulose Lacquer Application

Covers spray technique, coat scheduling, and avoiding common defects with nitrocellulose lacquer. Nitro remains the industry standard for acoustic instruments due to its thin film and repairability.

Lesson 2 • Surface Preparation for Finishing

Sands through progressive grits, fills grain, and inspects for scratches before any finish is applied. Surface quality at this stage determines the final appearance of the instrument.

Lesson 3 • Hardware Installation

Installs tuning machines, strap buttons, and end pin with correct torque and alignment. Proper hardware installation prevents cosmetic damage and ensures reliable function.

Lesson 4 • Final Setup and Playability Adjustment

Strings the instrument, adjusts truss rod relief, and sets nut and saddle action to target specs. A professional setup transforms a built instrument into a playable, responsive guitar.