For the past 4 years Luthier Mark Geiger, in conjunction with The Fret House owner and Master Repairman Tom Seymour, have been conducting an acoustic steel string guitar kit building class. They have decided to expand their offering of classes to include inlay, set up and finishing seminars as well as 2 week intensive acoustic steel string guitar and 1 week intensive electric guitar building classes that take the process from beginning to end.
This class will spend one intensive week (Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to noon) completing a custom shaped (to be chosen by the student) solid body electric in the white. Tools will be supplied. Materials are not included. Next Class: July 29-August 3, 2013 Cost: $1500 excluding materials Payment Schedule: $500 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration with the balance due 30 days prior to the start of class. Limited to 2 students
Mandolin Kit Building (7 Saturdays)
This class will spend 7 Saturdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm building a mandolin from an F5 mandolin kit. The kit will include all of the parts necessary except for the tunning machines, bridge, and tailpeice (due to the vast diifference in price of the parts). Next Class: TBA Cost: $1,250 Payment Schedule: $500 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration with the balance due 30 days prior to the start of class. Limited to 8 Students
Two Week Intensive Acoustic Guitar Building
This class will spend two intensive weeks (Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to noon) completing an acoustic guitar in the white. With a maximum of 2 students per class, there will be an opportunity to choose from several different body styles and gain hands-on experience from bending sides to shaping the neck using, both modern and time tested technique. Tools will be supplied. Materials are not included. Next Class: August 19-31, 2013
Cost: $3000 excluding materials Payment Schedule: $1000 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration with the balance due 30 days prior to the start of class. Limited to 2 students
Acoustic Steel String Guitar Kit Building (15 Saturdays)
This class will spend 15 Saturdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm building an acoustic kit guitar including finish. There will be 2 guitar kits available to choose from, a Dreadnaught size or a slotted headstock OOO size. Both guitars are solid wood instruments with a AAA spruce top and a choice of rosewood or mahogany back and sides. Next Class: TBA Cost: $1500 including guitar kit (excluding tuning machines) Payment Schedule: $500 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration with the balance due 30 days prior to the start of class. Limited to 8 Students
Set Up Seminar (4 Hours)
Setting up a guitar is more than just changing string height and cranking on a truss rod. This 4 hour hands on seminar will give you the knowledge to successfully set up an acoustic or electric guitar. You'll find out just what a truss rod does and doesn't do. How to intonate properly. Troubleshooting buzzes. What to do if you detect a loose fret. What is relief? Bring your own guitar to the class. Next Class: TBA Cost: $100 Payment Schedule: Register in advance with payment due at the start of class Limited to 8 students
Inlay Seminar (4 Hours)
This class will demonstrate the process of taking an inlay from layout to completion. Tools and materials will be discussed as well as elements of design and execution. Several personal examples will be shown as well as several world class inlay artists. Next Class: TBA Cost: $100 Payment Schedule: Register in advance with payment due at the start of class Limited to 8 students
Finishing Seminar (2 Saturdays)
A two Saturday course that will demonstrate the techniques of finishing a guitar from preparation to final buffing. The first Saturday will be a discussion of the different kinds of media and the advantages and disadvantages of each. While the class will be centered around the use of KTM-9 waterborne finish, the techniques of this finish can easily be transferred to any type. I will be demonstrating the prep work and the filling of the grain in open pored woods, as well as the spraying of initial coats. The next Saturday will be leveling, polishing and trouble shooting the coated surface. Samples prepared the week before will be used by the students for first hand experience. Next Class: TBA Cost:$300 Payment Schedule: Register in advance with payment due at the start of class Limited to 8 Students
