Musicians Institute Guitar Craft Program

[Edward Rodriguez]

I've suddenly got it in my head that I want to build electric guitars and am seriously looking into this program. I went to GIT there way back in the day and enjoyed my time there. Having a hard time finding reviews of the builders program. Does anyone here have any insight?

[Eric Baack]

Spend some time online and research it a bit. If you are a bit handy then you can probably build something nice. You can always try again on subsequent builds. Or start with a kit.

[Edward Rodriguez]

I'm guessing that most builders here are self-taught, or had other woodworking training?

[Dan Smith]

I learned the technical aspects from forums and experience.
I still struggle with the wood-working part of building.

[Randolph Rhett]

There is a luthier program at Palomar College in San Marcos, CA. I gather there is also one at a community college in Colorado that is highly respected. Others can name it. I don't know of any others.

Otherwise, I think some people attend special intensive lutherie courses offered by private and well known luthiers. These are often quite expensive, but I am sure several are worth it.

The majority, I suspect, are woodworkers looking for the ultimate challenge. Wood bending, carving, inlay, marquetry, difficult joinery, power tools, hand tools, etc. They are all used in lutherie, which is why I think so many of us are addicted to it. There is almost no way to master it all, so you never stop learning and getting better.

I started with the Palomar College classes ten years ago. I was an adequate woodworker, but now you couldn't pay me to do an end table. I love the challenge of making guitars. Nothing else can compete for my time.

Do you need a class, or top woodworking skills? No, but it sure is helpful to have at least one if not both. I am sure there are people who have made great instruments completely self taught from nothing but a book. For me, if I hadn't seen the tools being used, watched someone complete all the endless steps, and had a classroom full of people asking questions and sharing answers I think I probably would have been too overwhelmed to complete that first guitar.

A bit of a rambling answer, but I hope that helps.

[David King]

As with any artistic pursuit, ask yourself why you want to do it and what you want to get from it. How you answer those questions will help direct you. I'm beginning to see the benefit later in life of having a plan and following it rather than just seeing where something might take me. The bigger the wave you get caught up in the higher and dryer up the beach it's likely to leave you.

[Gordon Bellerose]

I'm from Canada, so any luthier courses I might mention would be almost useless to you.
There are several in western Canada.
I have never been to a course. I took woodworking in Junior High school. I believe it's called middle school in the US.
I learned to do rough woodwork; framing buildings and the like, from my Dad.
I started building furniture in my 20's, and have continued to expand my skills and tools in the years since.
I have played guitar since the age of 10, and about 7 or 8 years ago, the two skills merged into luthiery.

If you have some basic skills, and are able to learn from books and videos found online, you can build a guitar.
I seem to remember recommending a book for you, Eduardo. It is quite good for a first time buildier.
It's called Electric Guitar Construction, by Tom Hirst.

[Jerome Hess]

believe it or not THIS is where craigs list came in handy for me.

I have a firend who was wanting to learn to build, BUT we know our temperments well enough to know that we could not be teacher and student.

So I did a few things on CL.

1) I took out an ad asking for a guitar builder. in the ad I was real specific telling him I had someone who wanted to learn and the specifics.

2) I looked for someone who was selling a lot of kits and customs and asked if he would "train"

what I found was:

1) guy who had been selling "small run" custom guitars by ebay/CL/ETSY and doing pretty well , so he got a commercial license and an account w/ sme wholesalers and offered to teach my buddy for $500 as long as he brought the "materials " from him

2) this was the best, he was a guy who sold kits and liked the idea (after I gave it to him) of charging people the kit + $ depending on how much of it they wanted to learn. For example a strat it was $150, if you wanted him to teach you to assemble and basic paint he charged an extra $100
Then for Kit +$250 he would upgrade the hardware and pups and give yuo a few more options in your finish.

Then for KIT +$500 you chose ANY kit (LP, semi hollow etc), he upgraded the hw and pups AND he taught you how to make a CUSTOM neck.

My buddy went with the $250 option then went back 6 months later to learn how to build the neck.

Idea being there are a LOT of folks out there you just have to find a way to connect with them

then YOU find a teacher AND you might get a GREAT source for some interesting wood!

[Gordon Bellerose]

It looks like your earlier assumption was correct Eduardo. Most of us seem to be self educated.
Having said that, and posted about a book earlier, I do have to say that not everyone learns in the same way.
For some, and you may be one of those, a class or course may be just the thing that springboards you into a new career.

Depending on which part of guitar building you are having difficulty with, you could target the courses to that area. Keep in mind that guitar FINISHING is a combination of auto finishing, and wood finishing.
Find a good luthier in your area. He or she may be able to help you.

I stepped in to building after doing repairs for a while. I think that building grew out of that fairly naturally, given my previous wood working experience.

[Edward Rodriguez]

Thanks again fro the responses. I just finished reading the book Gordon recommended. I have to admit that the section on pickup switching options gave me a massive headache. haha! I've done a lot of soul searching and discussions with my wife. She's actually pushing me to go to MI. Yeah, it's expensive, but so comprehensive. Also, I kinda look at it the same way I learned how to ride a motorcycle. I want to build up my skills with a solid technical base, instead of possibly learning someone's bad habits. I'm pretty excited to get started!