building a guitar

The AI-generated ideal … but maybe not for a human.

If there’s such a thing as a perfect guitar, the bots should know what to do by now, right?

There’s no doubt that guitarists simply cannot agree on what is the best instrument. After all, best is so subjective in this context that the very idea is laughable. Still, the unspoken dream of many guitar builders is to offer a guitar that everybody will like.

Read MoreShow less
“Taking the Telecaster Away from Muddy Waters Would Be a Crime”
“Taking the Telecaster Away from Muddy Waters Would Be a Crime” | Why I Built This

But Glenn Nichols still wouldn’t turn down a time machine to get one of his stunning Retrograde Guitars into the late bluesman’s hands.

Students at the O’Brien Guitars school bind their instruments following a more traditional European style of guitar making.

Finding the right school can be tough for any aspiring luthier. Here are some options to consider.

In my previous column, “So, You Want to Be a Luthier?”, I talked about the types of people attracted to lutherie training programs, some of the possibilities and options these individuals have at their disposal, and discussed both long-term and short-term training, either of which have their place for primary or supplemental training. But the question remains, what school should you choose for your lutherie training? And what might a school have to offer that would best suit your educational needs?

Read MoreShow less