Guitar Repair and Construction Program – Optional Courses

Electric Guitar Construction

First year guitar students can choose the Electric Guitar Construction class as a spring elective where they will design, blueprint and build their very own electric guitar. Students may choose to build a guitar following a classic, established design or choose to create their own. The instructor will work with the student to ensure their design is structurally sound and also attainable within the scheduled time. This class will put into practice, step by step, all of the different skills studied and practiced throughout the fall semester.

Students are required to complete the construction of the instrument during the scheduled class time, but some students choose to apply the finish in the 2-week Advanced Finishing class that is held immediately after graduation.

Advanced Finishing Class

In the Advanced Finishing course, students study new coating technologies used in the guitar industry and learn the art of applying a fine finish. Students study a variety of modern coatings and techniques widely used in the guitar industry. They are able to create the color and look unique to their personal vision for instruments they have constructed during the year. Finally students are able to “finish the finish” on their acoustic instrument, achieving that mirror level shine expected by customers of fine fretted instruments. The course is offered through Customized Training and runs after graduation and prior to the end of May.

Archtop Instrument Construction

Second year guitar repair and construction students may elect to construct an archtop instrument such as an archtop guitar, mandolin or violin. These advanced projects involve carving the top and back from solid wood, bending complex curves for the sides, and carving scrolls. All instruments will be constructed using the same systematic approach.

After taking the course and learning the building process, any student should be able to construct all of the instruments offered in this program.

The instrument designs are limited to the following choices:
     • Benedetto style acoustic arch top guitar (non-cutaway)
     • "A" Style mandolin (sound hole or F holes)     
     • 1715 Strad Model violin

A class manual is available to students taking the course and resource material will be introduced as the class progresses.