Learn to build a handmade guitar yourself

During this group course, we will work on making an acoustic or classical guitar.

Here you will learn the steps involved in building a handmade guitar.

At the end of the building process, you will go home with a beautiful handmade guitar, built according to the guidelines of Riemersma Guitars.

Course Outcomes:

- You know what types of wood are available and which ones are best to use.

- A step-by-step plan and guidance for making a handmade guitar.

- Confidence to build a guitar at home yourself.

Beginning and advanced guitar makers are welcome. No special woodworking experience is necessary, but it certainly helps. Most of my students have regular jobs and often don't have anything to do with woodworking. Precision is essential for making a great-sounding instrument. We often work with precision down to tenths of a millimeter!

Never thought it would work, building a guitar yourself. The first lesson feels strange; you look at the wood and the guitars Ramon has already made. You play them briefly... hmm, they sound good. You look back at your pack of boards... Still a long way to go, you think. And will I be able to do it? But step by step (even after the first board, the wonder sets in.) "Oh, great, and does it have to be like that?" And with the good explanation, it's not so difficult after all. The bar is set high. But then you realize that otherwise, you won't get a beautiful instrument at all. Let alone one that plays beautifully. And so the weeks pass. First coffee, a pleasant chat, building, the occasional photo... and after a short while, you're really looking forward to the lesson. A nice, relaxing time building a unique instrument. Until... done, Great—and it sounds good. "Oh, too bad, the course is over." I can't help but go back regularly. It's a shame it's so far from faraway Limburg in Belgium, but it feels a bit like coming home. In any case, thanks Ramon for the expert guidance, the pleasant chats, and the delicious coffee.

L. Brans, Herk de Stad, Belgium

Guitar making course 4 hours on Friday or Saturday:

Once every two weeks, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, build your own guitar under the supervision of Ramon Riemersma.

What does it take to make your own handmade guitar? This course makes the guitar faster to make, and more can be accomplished in a single session.

We will be working on the following topics, among others:

- Humidity and temperature of the construction process.

- How to recognize good tonewood.

- Actions during the construction process.

- Which parts influence the sound of an instrument.

In these lessons, you'll receive four hours of group instruction as you build your guitar. Guitar building courses can be started year-round, provided there's enough space.

The guitar-making course costs €60 per session, including VAT, for three participants. Materials are not included, but tools are included.

You can choose the materials/wood types yourself, as long as they don't affect the sound. Riemersma Guitars can also supply the materials at a reasonable price. The price of the wood can vary considerably, but starts around €250 to €400 for a complete guitar.

We also take care of the inner man, because coffee and tea are always ready for you!

The total duration of the course depends entirely on the individual. Of course, it's also possible to work on things at home. We're here to help, and you can always email or call us with any questions or problems. Furthermore, you don't need any special skills to build a guitar.

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