DIY Guitar Making - podcast cover

DIY Guitar Making

Luthier Eric Schaefer dives deep into acoustic guitar building techniques, sharing secrets of the craft so that you can step up your lutherie game! From soundboard bracing to neck angles to fretwork, no stone is left unturned. Sometimes it is a solo show that delves into a particular topic. Sometimes it is a Q and A show featuring member's of Eric's online guitar building course. Sometimes it is an interview with another luthier, woodworker, or guitar repair tech.
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Episodes

Resawing for Lutherie and Q&A

To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit: www.diyguitarmaking.com For information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit: www.ericschaeferguitars.com

Oct 17, 20241 hr 47 min

Guitarmaking Q&A | Setting up your Lutherie Shop and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitarmaking, I answer YOUR questions! 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/ 🔴 Check out the online course "Building an OM Acoustic": https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/ 🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check...

Aug 31, 202449 min

Q&A Building Jigs and Forms, Fretboard Polish, Rosette Cutters

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - tonewood suppliers - Electric Guitar neck angles - Rosette cutting jigs - What material to use for molds forms and jigs - What do you use to oil or polish up the fretboard? 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/ 🔴 Check out the online course "Building...

Aug 13, 202421 min

Q&A | Buying or Building Side Benders, Where did EVO Gold Fretwire Go, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Fixing cracked sides - Sharpening plane blades and chisels - Buying or building a side bending machine? - Using cactus juice to harden wood - Bending tips for Wenge - How much nut relief to use on a bass guitar - Is EVO gold fretwire discontinued? - Unboxing videos are stupid - How much I charge for my guitars 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Worksh...

Jun 24, 202442 min

Q&A |Side Bending Tips, Joining Bookmatched Pairs, Controlling Shop Humidity and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Introducing my new "Florentine Cutaway and Advanced Binding/Purfling Methods" Workshop! ( https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/florentine-cutaway-and-advanced-binding-purfling-methods-workshop-build-options/ ) - I have Wenge for sale! email me at eric@ericschaeferguitars.com - Where to find prefab materials like bent sides and slotted fretboards - side bending tips to avoid splits or scorching - recommended thickne...

Jun 12, 202454 min

Q&A | Fixing Finish Runs, Installing Mylar Pickguards, Making Cutaways and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - What is the best way to fix a finish drip? - How to install a clear mylar pickguard without bubbles - The most expensive lutherie tool yet! - Go bar rods from home depot - Building a cutaway as a first guitar - Radial offset rosettes 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-to-bu...

Jun 02, 202431 min

QA | Refretting with Larger Fretwire, Buying Go Bars, Wild Grain and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Should you use Carbon Fiber Rods and a Truss Rod? - Making your own bulk binding strips - wild grain versus homogenous grain - Buying go bars - Changing fretwire size when refretting - Where to buy a gramil? - Issues with small soundholes 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for a 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-t...

May 22, 202430 min

Q&A | Taptuning Tops, Tonewood Myths, Best Guitar Brands, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show - Favorite Guitar brands/companies - Fret slotting saws - Marketing your guitars - How many pounds of pressure do go-bars produce? - Inlaying into dark woods as opposed to light woods - Lazy builders - Jim Lill debunking electric guitar tonewood debate - Neck profiling jigs do accomodate all profiles! (I got this wrong in last QA!) - Am I going to build a 12 string? - What notes/pitch...

Apr 27, 202452 min

Q&A | Sizing Fretwire, Neck Profiling Jigs, Electric Guitar Tonewood Myths and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Do headstock templates include space for the nut? - A jig for profiling necks with a router - An audio example of a student's guitar - Choosing fretwire with the right tang size for your fret slots - Leg tapering jigs for the bandsaw - A case for titebond over hot hide glue - Bevelling fret slots - Why Strats and Les Pauls sound different 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for a 9 day Han...

Apr 21, 202448 min

Q&A | Purfling Depth, Instrument Glue Recommendations, Mold Making and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR Questions! Questions/Topics: - hide glue vs. titebond - fish glue - how deep should purfling be inlaid? - inlaying turqoise - The "Best" Guitar show - Using waxed wood strips like Teflon strips - Top thickness - french polishing and tru oil - fastening latches to molds - the neutral zone for a dual action truss rod 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for a 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvan...

Mar 22, 202426 min

Q&A | Resonating vs Reflecting Backs, Top Thickness, Scrapwood uses, and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: – What do you do with your scrap wood? – Buying pre-bent sides – Best heating blanket for side bending – radial rosettes – thicknessing backs as a resonator or a reflector – Thicknessing tops – Plate gluing jig – laminated sides – inlaying Opal for fret marker dots – What is the purpose of a shooting board – modifying an existing guitar to increase the bass response – inlaying mother of pearl without teflon strips A...

Mar 17, 202426 min

Q&A | Chisel Sharpening, Mesquite for Fretboards, Happy Accidents and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Chisel Sharpening - source for dyed purfling strips - bridge wood - amp repair - mesquite for fretboards? - happy accidents - what to do with "mistakes" - the role of patience and focus in nut slotting technique - bird's eyes on silver maple - why does sugar maple burn so easily? 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: ...

Feb 21, 202430 min

Q&A | Scarf Joint Jig, Choosing Top Wood for a Parlor, Using Slotted or Unslotted Bridge Pins...

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Can backs be flatsawn? - a miter box design for cutting scarf joints - Best wood bindings to replace white plastic bindings - Best topwood for a parlor size instrument - using slotted or unslotted bridge pins - building a light box/ light box alternatives - the 14th fret hump - sourcing backstrip material - fixing soundboard tearout along the binding edge - lint free cloth in the Netherlands - flatsawn maple - The...

Feb 07, 20241 hr 5 min

Q&A | Radial Rosettes, Soundhole Binding, Pinless Bridges, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Tasmanian Blackwood - Radial rosettes - Binding the inside of the soundhole - Making radius dishes - Paste wax for preventing glue from sticking to jigs - Pinless bridges - Box elder for guitars? - What is your sharpening process for chisels and planes? - Inexpensive Wenge - Avoiding lint and dust in finish - more on shattered saddles - Stewmac's customer service 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴...

Jan 13, 202432 min

Q&A | Saddle Height, Lint in Finish, Why is My Saddle so long?, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Soundhole Binding - Bone nut/saddle porosity - Saddle height - vacuum bags for laminating sides - solid linings - fixing misplaced fretboard dots - carbon fiber humbucker covers - sanding the contour of the bridge wings - how to deal with lint and dust in the finish - flat sawn lumber for sides - maple as a back and side wood - shooting boards - spline joints - difference between rosewood and walnut - Why my saddl...

Jan 05, 202431 min

Q&A | Shrinkage Cracks in the Top, Purfling Materials, Nut Slotting and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: - Soundboard cracks and humidity - Eastern White Cedar for Tops - Purfling materials for a headplate - How deep to cut your nut slots - The role of patience and perseverance in lutherie - more suggestions on what I should build next! 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-to-buil...

Dec 16, 202328 min

Q&A | My next build, how to store wood, planers vs. jointers, and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Topics/Questions: - Slide Guitar Nut Compensation - Buy a planer or a jointer first? - Stewmac side bending machines - What should me next build be? - Best way to store wood - bridge plates - Quilted Mahogany - Soundboard radius in the upper bout - More about "The Tree" 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.ericschaeferguitar...

Dec 10, 202327 min

Q&A | Aluminum Bridge Plates, Bending Solid Linings, Fretboard Radii for Acoustics, "The Tree" Mahogany, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Topics/Questions: - Flattening the top radius in the upper bout to glue the fretboard tongue - Bending solid linings or laminating solid linings - What is the lowest fretboard radius used for acoustic guitars? - Bosch Colt trim routers - The story of "The Tree" mahogany - Measuring top deflection - Countersinking tuners - Stainless steel frets - Aluminum bridge plates 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for a...

Nov 26, 202337 min

Q&A | Nut Compensation, Buying a Planer, Bridge Repairs and More

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am answering YOUR questions! Topics include: - What Material Choices have made a noticeable difference, tonally? - An Acoustic Bridge replacement - When to Install Frets? - Adding Compensation at the Nut - What's the next Build? - Uses for the Planer - Buying Fretboards versus Making them yourself And More! 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://www.eri...

Nov 21, 202334 minEp. 50

Q&A | Luthier's Mercantile is Closing!!!

To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit: www.diyguitarmaking.com For information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit: www.ericschaeferguitars.com

Sep 12, 202332 minEp. 45

Q&A | How to Install Abalone Purfling

To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit: www.diyguitarmaking.com For information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit: www.ericschaeferguitars.com

Sep 08, 202329 minEp. 43

Q&A | How Soundbox Depth Affects Tone

To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit: www.diyguitarmaking.com For information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit: www.ericschaeferguitars.com

Sep 06, 202329 minEp. 42

040 Q&A | Hand Cut Binding Channels

To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit: www.diyguitarmaking.com For information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit: www.ericschaeferguitars.com

Aug 28, 202326 minEp. 40
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