Official Luthiers Forum!

In Australia, I would contact Jim Williams who wrote "A Guitarmakers Manual" just for his students. Also, contact Graham Mcdonald who makes guitars, bouzouki's and mandolins. They would probably know of something closer to you. Good luck!
Tracy

Howdy!
Brian Burns offers individual instruction in a great location. He's a really nice guy too and very knowledgable.
www.lessonsinlutherie.com
-C

I can say without a doubt that Bryan Galloup is a really great school, with extremly good instructors. You can't go wrong if do either the 2 month or 6 month course. That said, if I could do it over, I would do the full 6 month course. Will build electric, acoustic, classical and archtop guitars. Will be very proficent in finishing. Just a great school. He has housing for the student at no charge. Learn and do a bunch of repair stuff. Just can't go wrong. Can pm me for any information that I can assist with. Call Bryan or Susan and they can answer all your questions. Great guy

I'm also starting my own shool of lutherie.
For a $50,000 tuition, you can learn to build guitars under my tutelage. The course is 4-weeks of intensive hands-on work and is open to two students per course. The student can expect to build one to two instruments. We will cover the application of finishes, but due to the time constraints we will not deal with the particular instrument(s) built by the students. I will hold 3 of these courses during the year.
The first course starts the second tuesday of the first week of June. The course is being held in my 2nd floor workshop over the vacant lot next to my house.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Don Williams] I'm also starting my own shool of lutherie.
For a $50,000 tuition, you can learn to build guitars under my tutelage. The course is 4-weeks of intensive hands-on work and is open to two students per course. The student can expect to build one to two instruments. We will cover the application of finishes, but due to the time constraints we will not deal with the particular instrument(s) built by the students. I will hold 3 of these courses during the year.
The first course starts the second tuesday of the first week of June. The course is being held in my 2nd floor workshop over the vacant lot next to my house.

[/QUOTE]

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Don,

I just went to your website to sign up, but I couldn't find the link. I guess you really are retired! I guess I'll have to put that $50k back under the mattress!!!

John

Don,

Do you accept PayPal?

Can I send a deposit to secure my enrollment in the June course?

Will I need a passport and visa to stay in Canada?

Will they allow an unarmed American to cross the border?

Should I bring my own tools?

CrowDuck

_________________
Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Sergei de Jonge's month-long course in Quebec (near Ottawa, Ont), as has been mentioned, is excellent. Great guy, great family, great instruction, great food, great place, great experience all around.

_________________
Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all your input!

Just waiting for this kit to arrive so I can get started on something.
Hopefully by the time thats done il have thought through and weighed up all your advice and have a good idea which course to take :)
you guys are so helpful thanks again!
kurt.

[QUOTE=KurT] Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all your input!

Just waiting for this kit to arrive so I can get started on something.
Hopefully by the time thats done il have thought through and weighed up all your advice and have a good idea which course to take :)
you guys are so helpful thanks again!
kurt.
[/QUOTE]

KurT,

What kit are you goint to build, and from whom?
Check in at this site for kit guitar building, lots of good stuff there.

CrowDuck

http://www.kitguitarbuilder.com/

_________________
Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

hi... I ordered a dreadnought one from stewmac.com
and I also have the the guitar making tradition and technology book on its way from a different source.

KurT,

Good choice. The video & instructions with the StewMac kit are excellent. And you'll find a Step by Step instructional pictorial for that kit & others at the kitbuilders.com website. Have fun with it, and don't be afraid to ask questions here and there.

CrowDuck

_________________
Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

ok thanks!... however i dont think the video is going to work for me because we use a different format, im sure il work something out... maybe I shouldve asked them to ship one of ur weird video players aswell :D

KurT,

I guess you use the 'PAL' format down there, rather than the NTSC format. Do you have a DVD player, if so what format(s) does it play? There are 'services' that will do format transfers, or transfer VHS tape to DVD.

CrowDuck

_________________
Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

KurT, you should also send a pm to kiwigeo (Martin) he's a kiwi who lives in Adelaide. I'm sure I remember Martin talking on another forum about a guitar building course he did in NZ, said someone came over from the US to do them now and then. I think Martin is off working on an oil rig for the next week or so, but a pm whould reach him eventually.

[QUOTE=KurT] ok thanks!... however i dont think the video is going to work for me because we use a different format, im sure il work something out... maybe I shouldve asked them to ship one of ur weird video players aswell :D[/QUOTE]

My dvd is formatted to play in both Pal and NTSC in all regions.

Robbie

[QUOTE=Shane Neifer] But, another Canadian, David Freeman at Timeless Instruments often does a winter course in New Zealand. I drop in on David usually once a year so know him a bit and have been to his studio. He is a great guy and his students say great things about him. He is accredited as an actual school so his instruction is a proper balance of theory, history and hands on building. You can e-mail him and see when next he is in New Zealand. I think he satyed here this winter so he might be heading your way in a few months.

Shane[/QUOTE]

I did David (and Paddy Burgin's) 3 week intensive course in Wellington, NZ back in January 2005. Next course is running in January 2007 and is open for enrolments on daves Timless Instruments website. Hurry if youre interested because theres only 12 places available.

Youll have a choice of building an OM or Dreadnaught steel string or a classical. Building method is largely based on that outlined in Jim William's book. Youll be working using the Spanish method with workboard.

PM me for details of an excellent homestay place I lived at while doing the course.

Cheers Martin

[QUOTE=KurT] Hi as an annoying newbie id like to know which luthier courses/schools you would recommend, whether in australia uk or america (I can travel)
thanks for your help![/QUOTE]

Kurt,

What part of NZ are you in? See my previous post re the upcoming course in Wellington.

Cheers Martin

[QUOTE=crowduck] KurT,

That 'winter course' in NZ that Shane mentioned might be a good choice for you. Be carefull of those '2 week intensive' courses, unless you're 'young and healty', they're a 'grind', and not for the 'old and retired' type........like me.

CrowDuck
[/QUOTE]

Dave Freeman's 3 week course is very intensive. Be ready for up to 10 hour days, 6 days of the week. Its worth the grind though.

Cheers Martin

[QUOTE=PaulB] I think Martin is off working on an oil rig for the next week or so, but a pm whould reach him eventually.[/QUOTE]

Not on the rig for long....chopper will be on deck in 8 hours to get me off this woodless hunk of steel. 3 days in Perth and then home to my workshop in Adelaide....and LOTS OF WOOD!!

Cheers Martin

thanks kiwigeo I live in Auckland but I have plenty of friends in wellington :) is the course situated fairly central? thanks!

[QUOTE=KurT] thanks kiwigeo I live in Auckland but I have plenty of friends in wellington :) is the course situated fairly central? thanks![/QUOTE]

Kurt,

Course is normally held at Wellington High School on Taranaki Street. Its a walk away from central city. I stayed at a homestay deal over in Hataitai and walked to the course every day. Took the track over Mount Victoria they used to shoot scenes for the first Lord of the Rings movie. Reckon I lost about 10kg over the 3 week course. On the last day of the course I lugged the finished OM over the same track..

For more info on the course and photos (many taken my me) of the 2005 course heres Paddy Burgins website:

http://www.burginguitars.co.nz/2K4_course.htm

Cheers Martin