One month Intensive guitar making course (two max per year - three places per course).

One place left for April 2012. Mon 16th April - Sat 12th May.

Also taking bookings for August 2012. Mon 6th August - Sat 1st September

Photos and blog link to follow

August Guitar Making course finished and a great success. Here's one of the guitars made on that course getting a bashing on BBC Radio Bristol!

		All done! Unfortunately my third student had a wedding on the final day so no pic of all of us.
		A chance to appreciate the quality acheived on the course!
		Well earned I'd say

April 2011 course just finished as are three more fine guitars!

Carol, David and Torstein with the fruits of their labours. Photos soon....

First one month course a resounding success! Here are some testimonials.....

"I had a fantastic time on your guitar making course and I would recommend it to anyone who loves guitars and who has ever dreamed of making one. After only four weeks I took home a beautiful guitar of which I am very proud and which gives me daily pleasure. It is impossible to describe my feelings as I played the first chords on my new guitar. It has been much admired by all who have seen it and played it. Thank you, Richard, for such an enjoyable course and for so generously sharing your knowledge, skill and enthusiasm. I learned so much and, although I had little previous experience of working with wood, you helped to ensure the end results far exceeded my expectations. It was an unforgettable experience"

"The course is fantastic! I had no real experience of working with wood, but Richard was there every step of the way to demonstrate, guide and nurture the skills required for making a quality instrument. With the freedom to add my own headstock logo and decoration scheme, the finished instrument is truly unique. Added to this, the guitar plays and sounds better than I could have dreamt. All in all, a completely enjoyable and rewarding experience."

"It has been a life long ambition of mine to build my own guitar, so when I came across this course I jumped at the chance. I was slightly concerned about my lack of wood working skills, but I needn’t have worried as Richard provides plenty of help and guidance throughout the process. It was hard work, but great fun and I ended up with a fantastic looking and sounding guitar!"

The course

		The four weeks will be hard work but fun and inspiring with an end result to treasure. There are many many stages to constructing a guitar and so the course will focus on a hands on approach to understanding the craft processes and engineering involved to achieve a fine instrument. I also hope to include a couple of seminars and a DVD to give you some background and history and a wider understanding of the craft. Constructing You will make a steel-string acoustic guitar of my own design choosing between four models (see guitars page). I don't have a Dreadnought model at the moment but can accommodate any fans if you wish to build one. I ask all to start with Indian Rosewood back and sides due to ease of working and repair. It is also probably the best all round back and sides timber. You can choose at the time from sitka spruce or western red cedar for tops. You will have flexibility in terms of sound hole rosette design, head design, bindings and purflings (decorative edging) and an optional logo/signature on the headstock. You will use a combination of hand and power tools all of which will be provided. Finishing You will produce a satin finish with a technique that is achievable within the time frame. There are a couple of options here which can be discussed once signed up
From this...........
To this!

Hours

The course will run for four weeks. The hours will be Monday to Friday 9 - 6 with a lunch break and three Saturdays 9 - 1.

My previous experience

I have thirteen years instrument making experience and have been teaching for five years. I teach three people at a time on my evening class and my workshop is set up in such a way to accommodate this. Teaching three means I can give you the personal input needed to help you create a top quality instrument that I'm sure will exceed all your expectations.

Your previous experience

You need no previous experience. Some knowledge of woodwork can be helpful but not essential.

Must haves

A degree of patience, a willingness to listen and work hard and importantly, to be able to see up close whether with glasses, contacts or without.

Costs and payment

The course will cost £2500 including materials and gotoh machine heads. Other machine heads can be purchased at higher cost.

I take a deposit of £500. This will be fully refundable until six weeks prior to the course commencing. From that point it would be withheld at my discretion. The remaining sum would need to be paid prior to the start of the course. I currently only accept cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Accommodation

I can provide some information on local accommodation for those who would need to stay for the duration. I am also looking into rooms to rent in family homes to keep accommodation costs down. Options will change according to the season, ie camping/caravan will be available in summer.

Further information

Please let me know if you are interested and what dates may suit as taking a month out isn't easy for some. I can then arrange a future date that will favour eveyone. Please feel free to ask any questions about the course. Email or give me a ring.

For anyone wanting to make a traditional Spanish Guitar, please click here and visit my good friend Stephen Hill in Spain. He has been running wonderful courses for many years and it is from him that I got the 'format' for my own courses.

Evening classes

I am running two evening classes a week on mondays (5-7pm) and tuesdays (6-8pm).

I estimate on about eighteen - twenty months (including time off) to complete a guitar and maybe ten to twelve months for a mandolin. I will only teach three people per class so obviously places are extremely limited. Most people make one of my shapes except those who have made one before and I encourage the use of Indian Rosewood for back and sides as it is easy to bend (by hand) and easier to repair if something goes wrong! Some have used other woods though and I am flexible on this issue especially if someone already has a rosewood guitar. It is a big commitment but I can assure you that you will come out with a professional looking and sounding instrument and an amazing sense of achievement! No previous woodwork skills are necessary only patience and passion.

I do have a waiting list but if you are keen then call me to see what the situation is and come and visit the workshop 01273 473883.

Kevin thicknessing his walnut back	Lou looking pleased with his rosette	Derek inlaying his rosette into a cedar top
Anthony midst a vetinary-like procedure!	Brendan cutting a fingerboard taper	Stewart marking out something but not sure what!
Carol chuffed with her rosette Mark one step closer with his cherry mandolin.

Steve looking menacing!	Mark has finished - a cracking mandolin. Well done!

Stewart planing chamfers on a block	Derek pleased as punch with the final result. Made for his son's 21st.

Lous Weissenborn coming on nicely