April 13-19, 2026 (7 day)

Make an Acoustic Guitar

with John Ressler

$1,470

$700 material fee payable to John

Part of the MASW Higher Education Program

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Workshop Description

Building your own guitar can be one of the most rewarding crafts. It consists of precise joinery, creativity, and music all in one package! Students will be guided through all the critical elements of making an acoustic steel-string guitar. Materials will be high-grade, quality, solid woods only. Because of the obvious time limitations, prefabrication of a few parts will be necessary, and John will supply these. Students will learn the start-to-finish process of the craft and art of musical instrument construction. By the end of the week, everyone will have completed their own hand-crafted acoustic guitar that is strung and fully playable. The application of a protective finish will be discussed so students can complete the project after the class ends. Participants should have some experience using hand tools correctly, such as chisels and planes. If you ever wanted to make a guitar, this class will be the chance of a lifetime. The hours are long, and the challenge is great, but the satisfaction will be tremendous and will create “sound” memories that will last a lifetime.

Key Points

  • Building an acoustic guitar from start to finish
  • Selecting instrument-grade woods and understanding their effect on tone
  • Carving guitar top braces and manipulating them for tone
  • Getting the best tone from a guitar
  • Fretting a musical instrument
  • Inlaying mother-of-pearl shell
  • Woodworking to very tight tolerances
  • Tuning a guitar
  • Understanding the theories behind what makes a guitar work

Meet the Craftsperson

John Ressler

Visit the Full Week Programs page for complete details on our weeklong workshops!

$1,470.00

Make an Acoustic Guitar with John Ressler April 13-19, 2026 (7 day)

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