In Just Ten Days, Learn How To Build An Acoustic Guitar as You Build One!

Design and build the acoustic guitar of your dreams! Spend ten very full days (a week and a long weekend) in beautiful New England at the Wells Workshop and learn the principles of how to build a really fine acoustic guitar in a very unique teaching format. 10 years of experience in just ten days!

I recently finished a course with a Will Renshaw, a terrific student from Kentucky. He came to learn but left many great memories of the time we had throughout the building process. He recently sent me a very well written "endorsement" and told me I could use it in any way I saw fit. So, thank you Will! I am humbled and touched. To see what he thought of the course (without any edits) just click here. To see his specific pictorial odyssey, click here. Recently, I received copies of photographs of the instrument that Will took home with him and painted himself. I must say I am impressed with his skills and artistic talents. The guitar is essentially a 000 style instrument but Will took it to another level. I can't express in words how proud I am of his work. See for yourself here.

For pictures of prior students building their instruments go here. For photos of the workshop go here. For photos of many different students click here. One of my very first students, Keith Lisle, recently sent me some photos of his latest work, one of which he sold to the family of "Judge Judy". I cannot tell you how proud I am of his work. He is making "killer" guitars! See some of them here.

Recently I completed a guitar course with a very unusual student. Jacob is only 18 years old and, as a result of his young age, I was quite apprehensive about trying to teach him the art of guitarmaking. What a pleasant suprise! He turned out to be an extrememly good student who picked up the nuances of building instruments as quickly as anyone I have ever taught. He has graciously allowed me to post photographs of his odyssey in learning how to build, and building, a wonderful slope shouldered dreadnaught guitar. See them here.

Lastly, there are 17 pages of photographs which a recent student took and allowed me to post here. Take a look, I think you will be amazed at how much you can learn in just ten days!

Call now to reserve your slot in the 2011-12 schedule!

  The Teaching Format / ONE ON ONE

You and I will build your guitar. I will explain a process to you and then we will do it. You will follow and assist me step by step through the entire process of building your instrument. You choose the basic guitar style and we will build it together. All aspects of the construction will be covered including design, construction, setup, jigs, fixtures and general shop practice and safety. It will just be you and me – no other students or distractions! Get the answers to all of your building questions and build a great instrument at the same time! At the end of the course you will actually take home the instrument we made together. You will also take home an extensive outline of what you learned, why and how we did each step, when we did it, and all the photos and notes you can make during the period.

  Course Length and Costs

The One on One Course is ten very full days in length. The course is designed so that you only have to take a week and one day off from work-start on Friday and end a week from Sunday (or choose the days you wish). I fit your available time in my building schedule to accomodate your busy life. Just call me at 781-361-1471 or e-mail me at sylvan@wellsguitars.com to arrange scheduling. The one on one course is ten very full days of intensive instruction in building a basic acoustic instrument, resulting in a guitar “in the white” to take home. It will be completely constructed and playable, sealed with shellac, but not painted. I encourage you to finish the instrument yourself and, to further that end, provide you with step by step instructions in finishing the instrument in either a water based or nitrocellulose lacquer. The course includes approximately 80-100 hours of one-on-one instruction in the Workshop and includes all written materials, including a step by step instruction manual which we will follow in building your guitar. The tuition is $4,500.00. A deposit of $1,000.00 is required to reserve the dates you have chosen. The tuition includes the course and all of the materials (no electronics, pickups or case) used in making your instrument. It also includes a free lifetime subscription to the Luthier Articles section of the Wells Guitar website. After ten intensive days, you will leave with a world class instrument you constructed and the knowledge and written materials necessary to continue making instruments at home should you so desire. Call today (781-361-1471) to guarantee your place in 2011-12!

COME BUILD THE GUITAR OF YOUR DREAMS!