Electric Guitar and Bass Building Class

Questions and answers

Do I need luthier or woodworking experience? Do I need to know how to use woodshop tools? You do not need experience in any of these things.

We will show you how to use the tools safely and you will be able to do the tasks yourself.

Are the guitars built in the class actually playable? What if I mess it up? What if I don't have enough time to finish?

Building a guitar in just a weekend is definitely ambitious. We teach guitar building by following a sequence of steps and precise measuring, like following a recipe in the kitchen. An experienced luthier is supervising and helping with every step. Sometimes we have to fix little mistakes or adjustments, but that's part of learning and part of luthiery. Over 35 guitars have been built in this course, nearly all by total beginners, and every single guitar has been completed; every single guitar has been a nice, playable instrument.

What type of pickups do you use for the guitars?

They are single coil pickups with ceramic magnets. They are unbranded but sound very good, with a typical Telecaster sound.

What brand of pickups (neck, bridge, tuners, etc.) do you use for the guitars?

They are unbranded high-quality components, similar to those in a mid-range guitar. We avoid branded components due to their higher cost, which would increase the cost of the course.

Can I use Fender (Tonerider, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc.) pickups instead of the ones provided in the class?

To use pickups other than those provided in the course, they must be the same size, fit in the cavities, and not be active. The pickups we use are standard-sized single coil pickups for Telecaster, but we can't guarantee that student-provided pickups will fit. If your pickups don't fit, modifications to the cavities and pickguard are needed, which we don't have time for during the course. You'll learn to use a router and solder electronics, which means you'll know how to make such modifications later.

Can I build a Stratocaster (Les Paul, Ibanez, etc.)?

In this course, you will learn the skills you need to build these or other designs. During the course, time is limited, and we use templates and components we know will fit and guarantee the expected results. Therefore, students must build the same model and design during the course. Custom guitar building can be considered in a private course; if interested, contact us.

Can I apply a varnish finish (lacquer, polyurethane, oil, etc.) to my guitar?

Absolutely! The idea is that, after completing the course, you can apply the finish you desire to the guitar body. During the course, we use layers of shellac as a sealer. Different finishes have distinct requirements and may take time to complete, so we don't apply them in the course. We can advise you on achieving your desired finish.

Tienes mas preguntas tecnicas? Contacta con Greg aqui: greg.pwpp@gmail.com