WHITNEY
SCHOOL OF
GUITAR BUILDING
ENROL IN ONE OF OUR GUITAR BUILDING COURSES
Guitar building is a tangible expression of patience, skill and detail. It affords one the opportunity to be present while fully immersed in transforming raw materials into a fine instrument that will be enjoyed for many years to come.
Teaching others this art-form is one of my passions. Each year, I dedicate about a third of my time to teach the art of guitar building to others by offering a variety of guitar building courses here in the beautiful Okanagan valley, British Columbia.
If you’d like to learn more about the guitar building courses I offer, have a look below for a course that suits your interests and schedule. All courses are capped at -2 students maximum so that I can provide individualized attention to each student.
3-Week Course | $3300 CDN
Build an Electric Guitar
In our 3-Week Electric Guitar Building Course, you will establish a solid foundation for guitar building as either a hobbyist or as a full-time luthier.
In this course, you’ll learn to build either a Tele-style, Strat-style or Flat-top Les Paul-style electric guitar by traditional methods and head home with an instrument you have made!
NEXT AVAILABLE COURSE DATE: JAN. 9, 2023
SPOTS REMAINING: 2 OF 2
5-Week Course | $5500 CDN
BUILD AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR
In our 5-Week Acoustic Guitar Building Course, you will learn to build either a steel-string, classical or ukulele using our forms, jigs and fixtures.
Students will complete the course with an instrument that they have made by hand and finished with French polish.
NEXT AVAILABLE COURSE DATE: JAN. 9, 2023
SPOTS REMAINING: 2 OF 2
3-MONTH COURSE | $12,500 CDN
'COMPLETE' PROGRAM
Our ‘Complete’ guitar building program affords students the opportunity to build an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar and an additional guitar of their choosing. This course takes a ‘ground-up’ approach and has students drawing out blueprints as well as creating the required molds and fixtures necessary to complete their builds. This is the ideal program for students interested in understanding the entire build process from conception to completion.
NEXT AVAILABLE COURSE DATE: JAN. 9, 2023
SPOTS REMAINING: 2 OF 2
6-MONTH COURSE
'ADVANCED' PROGRAM
Expanding on the 3-month ‘Complete’ program above, students will further immerse themselves into the art of guitar building by fine-tuning their skills with greater focus and attention to smaller details. Veneering, inlay and CNC are just a few of the additional topics covered in this course.
NEXT AVAILABLE START DATE: Contact to apply.
1-YEAR COURSE
'MASTERS' PROGRAM
This is a fully immersive program for students wishing to truly hone their skills as luthiers. Expanding on the courses above, students will also create an arch-top guitar as a final project. This course also weaves in a CNC component in view of complimenting traditional building techniques thereby giving students a well-rounded and modern approach to guitar building and design.
NEXT AVAILABLE START DATE: Contact to apply.
Veterans and First Responders save 15% on all programs
GUITAR BUILDING FOR VETS
‘Guitar Building for Vets’ is an initiative I’ve created to align with military veterans and first-responders suffering with PTSD or MDD (major depressive disorder). Being a veteran myself, I can speak first-hand to the far-reaching effects that depression can have, both on oneself and on those around them.
Often, having a creative outlet in a neutral environment can help a person to regain focus, clarity of purpose and can serve to help quiet the mind from over-thinking and rumination as one applies and immerses themselves into a project such as guitar building.
The course benefits are two-fold; first, the veteran or first-responder gets to learn the art of guitar building; and second, the veteran gets to help improve the wellbeing of a fellow-veteran by offering the gift of music by way of a guitar that they’ve created.
NEXT AVAILABLE COURES DATES: AS LISTED ABOVE
Whitney Guitars and the Whitney School of Guitar Building is located in the Okanagan, BC Canada.
Luthier, Michael Whitney, specializes in creating the finest Gypsy Jazz guitars and other stringed instruments for the most discerning of musicians. Combining both traditional and modern building techniques, he creates timeless instruments that are as beautiful to play as they are to behold.
His love for teaching allows him to share the art of guitar making with hobbyists and professionals, alike. He also offers unique guitar building courses for military veterans and first responders. Learn more about our ‘Guitar Building for Vets’ program by clicking here.