Day 1 Reflection
On day one I came into the workshop being nervous because I had no clue what it would exactly cover but after the first day and meeting everyone I started to feel a lot better. This day was one of the hardest workload wise but one of the most fun as well. I loved shaping the body, neck and gluing the fretboard to the neck. The technique to get the fretboard on with the little brad nails and using a brad nail as a drill is awesome because its cheap, easy and worked amazing!
Day 2 Reflection
Day two started with a discussion of how the frets were spaced and how they are spaced using the "rule of 18" and then how you can simply set up the frets using the pythagorean theorem which I found fascinating. This was one of the first new things that I learned at the institute so it was some what humbling to learn something I thought was just done so easily. Then we used tru oil to get our first sealing coat on our guitar body. The best part of the day was after I got the primer coat on to then do the swirl dip. I came in with the expectation that the swirl dip would be hard and complex to set up but was not at all. The simplicity was so nice because I knew nothing about this and I am going to dip stuff all the time at school. I am actually going to start my year with a dipping demonstration on a hydro flask water bottle to kind hook the kids into the process, which I'm sure won't take long for them to love.
Day 3 Reflection
HUMP DAY!! This was a busy day for sure. I had to finish pressing my frets at first but because I did many the day before, this process was not very hard so I decided to make my kids do the fretting on their neck. After they were all on I filed the sides down so they were simply level with the fretboard as well as file the bevel on the frets. These two might pose issues for some students but the biggest one is going to be the leveling of the frets because it takes time and patience. The biggest worry for me is the electronics and soldering but the technique of tinning everything is definitely the way to do it.
Day 4
This was probably the most rewarding day because I turned different components of the guitar like the hardware and wiring into a guitar. The beginning of the day was also very nice to know because the finish on the guitar makes it look amazing and without that knowledge I would have done some part of that wrong for when my students want a clear coat. The "tap test" is something that is absolutely amazing to do because then I knew my guitar would make sound and that was such a sigh of relief. After that was all together, putting the pickups and wiring them together inside the body was a great feeling as well. Finishing up the hardware also was nice to see all the shiny parts come on and come together but the best part was getting the strings on because it made it looks and feel like a official electric guitar.
Day 5
I thought day four was the most rewarding day, I was wrong. This day was by far the most rewarding day simply because I was able to play my guitar (well kinda because I don't know how to play). In the morning we all pitched in and helped everyone get their strings on and ready for intonation which was pretty much new for everyone. The intonation process was one of the hardest and most annoying processes of the guitar but I knew it was important to do it right so I took my time and made it right. After this was done I started to play (kinda) again and was shocked to see and hear how amazing it was (I need to get my students reactions to this on video when we do it in class). The best part was the surprise that we got amps, tuners and bags was also amazing because I had no bag to bring it home on the subway, then train and was worried about that after I put it together.
What I would do different.
I think the first thing I would do different is a better swirl dip, but I understand it is my first time and its okay that I made a small mistake. The one mistake was I slowed down to much on the plunge but I will prefect this and then show my students. The next thing I would do different is the clear coat because I did get two runs on the body. This was also okay with me because as stated earlier in the website and days I explain that the location and wind was not ideal at all for spraying finish. Other than those two minor issues I am sure there are other things I would like to do slightly different like sand more and smooth the neck more but for my first guitar I am beyond happy.