Instrument Building

Cutting the Scarf Joint In this excerpt from the Online Guitar Building School, I cut and prepare the scarf joint for the headstock.

A decorative end wedge hides the seam between the sides at the lower bout. This video excerpt from the Online Guitar Building School goes into detail about design considerations and the process for creating a clean and attractive end wedge.

Making an Offset, Radial Rosette I create some offset radial rosettes for my ES2.OMC model Guitars and share the process of cutting and installing radial sections, routing the pocket and installing the rosette. Want more of this? Subscribe below for Weekly Guitar Making Tips from DIY Guitarmaking   Want to really learn more!? Take [...]

Making an Offset, Radial Rosette I create some offset radial rosettes for my ES2.OMC model Guitars and share the process of cutting and installing radial sections, routing the pocket and installing the rosette. Want more of this? Subscribe below for Weekly Guitar Making Tips from DIY Guitarmaking   Want to really learn more!? Take [...]

#23 Making Guitar Mold Spreaders For this episode I am using an excerpt of The Online Guitar Building School’s Building an OM Acoustic series. This video walks you through the construction of upper, waist, and lower bout spreaders to fit your guitar mold. Was this useful? I would love to hear your questions or comments! I [...]

5 Reasons NOT to use Figured Wood for a Soundboard Yay! Episode 100 and many more to come! What a landmark! For epic episode number 100 I talk about the compromises and considerations when using figured or flamed woods for a guitar soundboard, and how this decision affects the stability, workability, and tone. Want [...]

Building a Steel String Acoustic Guitar: An Overview *This is an inside look at The May 2015 Acoustic Guitar Workshop at Eric Schaefer Guitars. The class is an 8 day intensive course in Guitar Making with a maximum of only 2 students to a class. For more information on the courses go to Guitar Making Classes. In [...]

Acoustic Guitar Design: Fretboard Woods In part I of “Acoustic Guitar Design: An Insight into the Choices Made by Luthiers” I discussed body dimensions, scale length, string spacing, fretboard radius, neck profiles, fretwire size, wood selection and bracing. It was a very superficial glimpse into a number of complex topics. So much so that it is worthy [...]

Whether following plans from a kit or building from scratch, the rosette is an opportunity for the luthier to be creative and flaunt their?artistic skills. A?rosette pattern designed with artistic discernment and then executed with the utmost precision is the envy of instrument makers everywhere. So what is a?radial?rosette, you say?

Radial Rosettes: Making a Basic Pattern   *Note: The jig used in this tutorial can be constructed using the plans provided at this link: Radial Rosettes: Building the Radial Rosette Maker. I cut my scrap material (In this case, Zebrawood) into 2″ strips. I prefer the material to be approximately 1/8″ in thickness, give or take [...]

Installing the Rosette   Measure out and mark the center of the soundhole on the soundboard. I do this by tracing the outline of the form on the soundboard and measuring (in this case, 149 mm) from the top of the outline down the glue joint of the bookmatched pair. The jig on the left side [...]

Jointing the center seam of the soundboard is often the very first thing I like to do when I receive parts from a tonewood supplier. There is no better way to get acquainted with your soundboard-to-be than taking thin, wispy shavings off of it with a handplane.