07 Oct HANDS ON! Luthier Performance Clinic
Book weekday or weekend places via our Online shop here
An aspiration for many of us is to create a gorgeous, super resonant guitar, one that has the features we want, is set up just right and plays beautifully.
To reach this goal can take many years and if you are building the guitar yourself it is a steep (and often expensive!) learning curve to tackle on your own.
To help with this we are offering a Hands ON! Luthier Performance Clinic focussing on the nitty gritty areas you have told us, you want to cover and geared around the common build platform of an S-type, bolt on neck, trem based guitar.
Testimonial
“If hesitating to go on a Wudtone Luthier Performance Clinic then don’t.
After 30+ years as a performing musician, guitar hoarder and tinkerer, I’d reached the stage where I understood what made a great guitar and a great set up yet after a couple of builds needed confidence to tackle nut cutting and fret levelling, dressing etc. I’d seen guitar set up courses advertised but they didn’t include nut cutting and dressing (a huge oversight) and I needed to learn this and more so Andy’s course was too good not to try.
Anyhow I had two days of guitar build bliss with Andy and Paul my course mate and fellow guitar builder. We had both brought along our ‘can’t take this any further’ projects and were both able to work on them to completion which was an education and great bonus.
It was all very relaxed in nice surroundings, easy to understand and to our benefit very hands on with our own guitars. In fact I’d do it all again just to get away from everything and be able to focus on my next guitar with help from Andy.
I’m already contemplating my next build and with the aid of a few simple tools feel confident that I can use all the new skills gained to produce another stunning guitar.
Another thing I can’t praise highly enough are the Wudtone bridge and trem blocks. The improvement in tone/sustain and the reliability of tuning is black and white and probably the biggest most noticeable improvement to a guitar I’ve heard.
Thanks Andy and I’ll be in touch soon.”
The clinics begin with a look at an example of a mass produced guitar along with a custom guitar, created with the tools and techniques being covered. Attendees will be able to see, touch, feel, play and hear both types of guitar and gain an understanding of how different ingredients and processes affect the end result. The clinic will focus on :
Accurate Assembly
Neck joint compression, fitting for accuracy and strength
S-type tremolo fitting, alignment for playability
Fret Levelling for confidence
Under string tension to enable best action and playability.
After demonstration of the above delegates can apply the techniques demonstrated to their own build projects so they are then ready to move on to the next steps.
Custom Shop Fretwork
fret end shaping, edge rolling
re crown top surface after levelling
polishing after the above
Nut work
Accurate cutting and shaping.
Truss rod adjustment, relief set
After earlier set up of alignment and fret levelling, this section looks at truss rod adjustment and the effect of neck relief on playability.
Tools for custom shop quality
A key focus will be tooling. What are the specialist tools you really do need and also what jigs/tooling you can easily equip yourself with to do the above with custom shop quality?
Pre requisites to attend
Passion – to create your own holy grail guitar.
Skills – Basic DIY
It is strongly recommended that delegates bring their own projects with them to make progress with during the clinic.
Places are limited to 2/3 maximum per clinic. This is so that delegates will be able to use the techniques learned on their own projects, thereby gaining real hands on experience and the most value and satisfaction from the two days. To this end it is recommended that delegates bring bodies/necks ready for assembly, or at guitars that would benefit from fret work including, levelling, crowning, polishing and or nut work required.
COST – 2 day course £280 ( 50% deposit payable at the time of booking)
LOCATION, Wudtone, Ty Wilson Barn, Llangwm , nr USK, Monmouthshire NP15 1LT
(An onsite accommodation option is available at CO2 neutral B&B – book accommodation online via www.clearvewe.co.uk)
CLICK HERE to see weekday or weekend dates available and book your place online.
Testimonial
“I have just arrived home after the second, and final day of Andy’s guitar workshop. Two of us took part in the sessions, I took my partly built guitar, and Dave took his rather beautiful green S-type project.
The two day course covered a lot of ground including fret levelling, crowning the frets, fitting and cutting the nut. I have tried to do this before, but with limited success, however with Andy’s guidance and help I have learned how to achieve these skills accurately and efficiently resulting in a guitar that is really lovely to play, and I now have the skills and confidence to improve my other previous efforts!
Above all it was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of days.
Thank you Andy and Dave, it was great fun.” Paul Newport
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