Learn How To Build A Guitar as You Build One!
Design and build
the acoustic guitar of your dreams! Spend two weeks in beautiful New England at the
Wells Guitar Workshop and learn the principles of how to build a really fine
acoustic guitar in a very unique teaching format. For pictures of prior
students building instruments go here. For a pictorial essay of a student's odyssey in making an instrument go here or here. For a recent testimonial from a good student go here. For photos of the workshop go here. Lastly, and most recently (02/08), one of my very first students, Keith Lisle, sent me some photos of his latest work, one of which he sold to the family of "Judge Judy". I cannot tell you how proud I am of his work. He is making "killer" guitars! See some of them here.
I only offer this course four times per year. Only two slots left for 2008. Call now to reserve your slot in the 2008 schedule!
The Teaching
Format / ONE ON ONE
You and I will
build your guitar. I will teach you a process
and then we will do it. You will follow me through the entire process of
building your acoustic guitar. You choose the body style and we will build it. All aspects of guitar construction will be covered including design,
construction, setup, jigs, fixtures and general shop practice and safety. It will just be
you and me – no other students or distractions! Get the answers to all of your building questions and build a great instrument at the same time! At the end of the course
you will take home a completed instrument of your design. You will also take
home an extensive outline of what you learned, why and how we did each step,
when we did it and all the photos and notes you can make during the period.
Course Length
and Costs
The One on One Course is two weeks (12 very full days) in length. Because the course will involve just you and I, and that I only teach it a maximum of four times a year, the scheduling time can be very flexible to fit your schedule. I fit your available time in my building schedule to accomodate your busy life. Just call me at (781) 361-1471 or e-mail me at sylvan@wellsguitars.com to arrange scheduling. The one on one course is two weeks of intensive instruction in building a basic acoustic instrument (a Dreadnaught, 000 or 00), resulting in a guitar “in the white” to take home. It will be
completely constructed, but not painted. You can either paint the instrument at home or have it professionally finished
here or elsewhere and sent to you at a later time. I encourage you to finish the instrument yourself and, to further that end, provide you with step by step instructions in finishing the instrument in nitrocellulose lacquer. The course includes approximately 100
hours of one-on-one instruction in the Workshop and includes all written materials, including a step by step instruction manual which we will follow in building your guitar. The tuition is $3,500.00. The tuition also includes the cost of all of the materials used in making your instrument. After twelve very full days, you will leave with a world class instrument you constructed and the knowledge and written materials necessary to continue making instruments at home should you so desire. Call today to guarantee your place in 2008!
COME BUILD THE GUITAR OF YOUR DREAMS!