Crimson Guitars

This is an intensive 10 Day/75 Hour Course run over 2 weeks, Monday to Friday.

   This course allows any student to build a more complex guitar or bass than the 5 or 6-day courses allow. Alternatively, a student may choose to build a more simple instrument, but learn and understand each process along the way in greater depth. If you want to learn to build guitars, this is your first step.

    Compared to the shorter courses, you will have many more options to choose from to create and design a truly bespoke guitar or bass. These courses are geared to each student and often don’t conform to a standard itinerary

    We go over tool use, joinery, routing, neck carving, fretwork, body carving, basic inlay, neck angles, bridge placement, fine sanding, assembly, set-up, and the myriad of other skills that go into building a guitar.  

Typical guitars built on this course include

- PRS Style

- LP Style

-Thinline Tele style

A Standard fortnight on the 10-day course:

• Day One – Neck Angle and route neck, Slot, and Glue on Fretboard.
• Day Two – Carve neck and route body.
• Day Three – Radius Fretboard and start inlay. Install Frets.
• Day Four – Fretwork and sand body shape.
• Day Five – Neck pocket and route cavities.
• Day Six - Make backplates and remaining cavities
• Day Seven -Carve top
• Day Eight - Finish Carve and fine sanding
• Day Nine -Stain, Spray. Cut nut and wiring
• Day Ten - Assembly, Set-up, Play!     

    This 10 Day Course entails 7.5 hours a day with breaks.  Your day with us will begin at 9 am with coffee/tea and lunch breaks, and end at 5 pm. You are welcome to come in up to 15 minutes before the day starts but we cannot let students into the workshop before 8:45 due to health and safety reasons.

 *Timbers and hardware can be purchased through us at an additional cost to the course.  You may, however, choose to bring your own materials and hardware if you wish.  You will be provided with a Specification sheet for a quote and to confirm that you will be bringing the correct materials upon purchase of the course. 

    As a student, you will be eligible for an on-course tool discount.  This discount will be redeemable against Crimson Guitars Tools and The Vintage Tool Shop.  If you wish to use this discount before your course, please let us know and we will ensure your new tools are ready and waiting for you on your bench.

   By the end of your time at Crimson you will leave with not just a finished instrument, but all the knowledge needed to continue your journey into the art of lutherie.

   While there are local shops and pubs within a 10-minute drive of Crimson Guitars, most students bring a packed lunch, and this is what we recommend. 

    With our studio based in the picturesque rolling fields of Dorset, close to the town of Dorchester, take this opportunity to combine a unique experience with a refreshing holiday. 

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    Should you require accommodation during your course we have a dedicated booking agent who, for a small fee, will be able to help you.

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    Please get in touch for more information and to let us know how we can help you be the best guitar maker you can be.

    Check out our YouTube channel for more videos on how to get the most out of your Crimson Guitars precision hand tools as well as a myriad of guitar-building tutorials and demo videos.