Build your own Electric Guitar from Scratch!
Thank you for your interest in our three-week Electric Guitar Building Course. If you have the desire to build your very own electric guitar from the ground-up, this three-week, on-site course will give you an amazing one-on-one, hands-on experience and have you completing the course with an electric guitar that you’ve made by hand!
This course is a perfect introduction to guitar building for either the hobbyist or aspiring luthier.
For course details and answers to common questions, continue reading...
Michael Whitney | Luthier, Instructor
What can I Expect from your 3-Week Electric Guitar Building Course?
The goal of this course is to impart the knowledge and confidence for you to build your very own electric guitar that you’ll take home with you and enjoy for many years to come.
This is a no-fluff, get down to work ‘bootcamp’, of sorts, but one that will leave you smiling, ear-to-ear.
During your time in my shop, you’ll use my existing templates and jigs as well as all of the required power and hand tools to complete your guitar.
Little-to-no experience with power tools? No problem. I take a ground-up approach with all of my students and build upon more basic tasks to foster the confidence you’ll need to perform any shop-task.
From there, you’re free to simply enjoy your new guitar and revel in your accomplishments or take the proverbial ball and run with it. I have a strong feeling that once you’ve built one guitar, you’ll have the fire to build more!
Course Snapshot
Below is a loose walk-thru of what to expect during the first week of the electric guitar building course. Be prepared for an amazing course - you’re guaranteed to have a lot of fun!
DAY 1: Meet-and-greet; shop tour; shop safety & etiquette; design theory overview; template overview; milling and prepping the body blank; milling cavities; drilling wiring channels etc.
DAY 2: ; Applying round-overs / chamfers; initial sanding. Milling the neck blank; milling fingerboard stock; slotting the fingerboard; radiusing the fingerboard.
DAY 3: Cutting truss-rod channel; installing truss-rod; gluing fingerboard; discussion and theory on principles of neck carving and faceting.
Day 4: Neck carving practice ('dummy' neck).
DAY 5: Affixing the fingerboard and installing frets.
The goal of the three-week electric guitar building course is to teach students how to build an electric guitar from scratch using our shop templates and tools. If you wish to take a deeper dive into guitar design theory, mold making, finishing and building more than one guitar, we encourage you to consider one of our other guitar building courses.
Student Spotlight
ELLIOTT WOODING - GIBSONS, BC CANADA
I recently finished the three month guitar building course at Whitney Guitars and I have to say it was an amazing experience. I’m now at home and have the knowledge and confidence to set up my own shop and start building guitars. Mike is an awesome teacher. -Elliott Wooding
3-Week Electric Guitar Building Course Details
Certificate Program Yes |
Course Type On-site; hands-on; one-on-one. |
Style Tele-style, Strat-style, or flat-top Les Paul-style. |
Body Wood Mahogany, Ash or Walnut. |
Nut Bone |
Fretboard Ebony or Rosewood |
Finish Hand-rubbed |
Course Duration 3-Weeks |
Hours 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Deposit $600 (includes $100 registration fee) |
We ask that you review our School Policies before registering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What course dates are available?
As we are a working shop, much of our calendar year is reserved for custom guitar commissions. With only a portion of the year being allocated to teaching, course dates vary from year-to-year. Be sure to view our specific courses for the next available dates.
Please not that we operate on a first-come-first-serve basis and recommend that those interested register as far in advance as possible. Requested course dates will be taken into consideration but are not guaranteed. Registrants may submit their course deposit to secure their spot in our calendar. All courses require a $600 deposit which includes a $100 non-refundable administration fee. Please see our ‘Registration and Payment Policies‘ before applying.
How do I submit my deposit?
Do you provide accommodations?
Can I go on a wait-list for your next course?
Do I need to bring anything with me for the course?
Do I get to apply finish to my guitar?
Do I require my own hardware? What is included?
I still have questions. Can you help?