DIY Guitar Making

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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.

Eric Schaefer


    • Feb 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 69 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from DIY Guitar Making

    Q&A | Harp Guitar Resto, Fretboard Polish, Top Cracks, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 55:31


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

    Resawing for Lutherie and Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 107:03


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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 49:24


    In this episode of DIY Guitarmaking, I answer YOUR questions!

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 20:56


    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?

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 42:00


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 53:54


    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 thicknesses for bending sides- alternate jigs to joining boards- How to control humidity in your shop- How to control humidity in your guitar showroom- Removing frets without a soldering iron- Finding parts for building a side bender- Using fiberglass arrows as gobars- Question of the week: Is there a specific tonewood that blows your socks off!?

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 31:14


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 29:42


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2024 52:13


    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/pitches do you listen for when taptuning?- What is a leg tapering jig?- What 'YMMV' means and why I can't keep up with the internet- Why nobody is watching my Refretting Masterclass video that I worked so damn hard to make!?- Buying instruments for the aesthetic value of the wood/materials- Johnson Paste Wax and the Everything Shortage caused by that which shall not be named! 

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 48:00


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 25:32


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 26:26


    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 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-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 out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://www.ericschaeferguitars.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit:www.diyguitarmaking.comFor information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit:www.ericschaeferguitars.com

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 30:21


    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?

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 64:58


    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 'Best Guitar Show' in Altoona, Pennsylvania, February 25th 

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 31:34


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 30:55


    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 saddles extend out toward the bass side

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2023 27:48


    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!

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2023 26:44


    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"

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2023 36:37


    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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 34:21


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

    Q&A | How much Inlay is Too Much, Making a Saddle Slotting Jig, Tool Flatness and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 32:48


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

    Q&A | Woodstock Show, Gluing Frets, Automotive Finishes and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 29:06


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

    Wood Pickguards, Learning CNC, Florentine Cutaways, and More! | Shop Talk with Robert Livingston

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 24:29


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

    Q&A | Smelliest Woods, Haze in Finish, Best Wood and Tool Suppliers, and More!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 26:35


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

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 31:46


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

    Q&A | Using Pine for Guitar Tops, Shop Injuries, Roasted Flamed Maple and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 33:26


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

    Q&A | How to Install Abalone Purfling

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 28:43


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

    Q&A | How Soundbox Depth Affects Tone

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 29:05


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

    Q&A | Should you use Nickel Silver, Evo Gold, or Stainless Steel Frets?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 44:57


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

    040 Q&A | Hand Cut Binding Channels

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 25:43


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

    Q&A | Lattice Bracing

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 17:40


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

    Q&A | Will I Build Enough Guitars Before I Die?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 40:20


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

    Q&A | UV Cured Finishes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 28:13


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

    Q&A | Titebond vs. Hide Glue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 66:12


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

    Q&A | What has the Greatest Impact on Tone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 38:34


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

    Q&A | How to Make a Radius Dish

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 24:41


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

    Q&A | Are Flattop Guitars really Flat?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 9:37


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

    Q&A | What do YOU use Scrapwood for?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 27:31


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

    Q&A | Why use Carbon Fiber Neck Reinforcements?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023 22:59


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

    Q&A | Do Pickguards affect Tone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 25:42


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

    Q&A | Can I Build a Guitar without a Radius Dish?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2023 19:32


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

    Q&A | Cutting All your Nut Slots with just ONE File!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 10:59


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

    Q&A | How Long does it take to Build an Acoustic Guitar?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2023 16:03


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

    Q&A | Preventing 'Ghost Vibrations' from your Truss Rod

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 14:41


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

    Q&A | Should I Finish the Inside of the Soundbox?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2023 15:53


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

    Q&A | Are Equal String Break Angles at the Nut Important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 30:19


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

    Q&A | Is AAAA Engelmann Spruce Better than Grade A Sitka?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2023 9:52


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

    Q&A | Do I need to Pore Fill before Finish?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 13:35


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

    Q&A February 18 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2023 9:09


    In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am answering YOUR questions!To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit:www.diyguitarmaking.comFor information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit:www.ericschaeferguitars.com

    Q&A plus A New Guitar Speaks for the First Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 16:35


    In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit:www.diyguitarmaking.comFor information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit:www.ericschaeferguitars.com

    Guitar Making Q&A from February 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 12:22


    In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am answering YOUR questions!To find the "DIY Guitar Making" podcasts AND videos all in one place visit:www.diyguitarmaking.comFor information on the Hands-on Guitar Building Workshops and online guitar building courses visit:www.ericschaeferguitars.com

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