When Making Guitars, There's No Substitute For Experience

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Chris, I spent many years as an instructor in the military before I retired. One thing I learnt early on is the method of teaching/learning is : listen to the theory, observe an instructor do it; have a go yourself under supervision (until you get it right!); go and do it yourself; be assessed. I reckon you tube videos are the equivalent of that second step....so if anyone reckons they've got it all figured out by then, they're kidding themselves lol. Anyway, thanks for your videos mate, they are some of the best out there 😊

[@donniedonnie639]

Completely agree! I've noticed in different fields since information is far more easily available nowadays, there's a certain level of disrespect towards older and more experienced people. Of course, not everyone is like this, but the attitude is more prominent that pre-interwebs days. Googling something doesn't replace decades of experience. Remember, many say it takes 10,000 hours (or more) to master playing guitar... I'm sure that applies to nearly every skill in life and probably more like a trillion hours for mastering marriage and relationships :) The best skill is to use logic, patience and stay curious... We are all lifelong students.

[@Utaheyelid]

Great advice. With my first half dozen guitars, I slowly added more and more features built completely from scratch. I started with off the shelf pickups and a prebuilt neck, then learned pickup winding and eventually complete neck construction. I've now built about a dozen guitars and I'm just now feeling comfortable with every step and able to experiment more and more with my own designs and changes. Your videos have been key to my success so thanks for your efforts.

[@picksalot1]

Excellent advice. Also, whenever possible in preparing to use a new technique, practice on scrap wood first. Yes, it takes extra time, but it will be less than trying to fix something that didn't go right. By nature, wood is irregular. So, by seeing how it might behave in a specific procedure, you'll often see things that you didn't even know to look out for and might occur. Then, plan accordingly.

[@swoooner4304]

I went all out on my first guitar and made both the body, neck, and even pickups myself. I knew it wasn't going to be a great guitar but I learned a lot from doing all that. Already started a new build and already have more lessons under my belt lol

[@thomasbreene893]

Good points. And of course, for those of us who play, exactly the same is true of being a musician. I happen to know a younger person who has taken up my instrument, electric bass. This person is an amazing, accomplished player -- mostly on his own merits and through hard work and practice, but also for one of the reasons you mention: the explosion of KZbin instructional videos. Back when I was the age he is now, the only way for me to learn a tune like Chick Corea's "Got a Match" was to listen to it over and over, drop the needle again and again, try to figure out a fingering that would work, etc. (all without digital audio and the ability to slow down the tempo). Whereas nowadays you can find a KZbin video that walks you through it note-by-note. That said, being forced to learn that way led me to develop my own techniques for fingering and plucking the strings. More importantly, it forced me to think a lot more about jazz harmony and music theory; absent someone to walk me through a song, note by note, I had to think about why a certain note was being played against a certain chord, and so on. Now that I've met a number of young prodigies (this person I'm talking about goes to a premier music school), I'm finding a tendency not to care about or understand basic music theory. They can play the most technically difficult stuff, beautifully, but if you ask them a harmony/theory-related question, they have no idea how to answer. And it's because they can achieve a certain result using today's resources (and of course, by working hard), without ever having to understand why or how something works. (Just my two cents.)

[@billysmether6237]

Right on the money Chris. I compare it to learning to play the guitar. It takes experience.

[@wehocommunitywatch]

100% True. I have watched so many videos on fret leveling, refretting, crowning, dressing, the whole 9 yards. After more than half a dozen fret levelings, and one refret, I can humbly say that I'm still still quite a novice, although I have learned a lot from videos. When it comes to applying new knowledge it takes time to "get it right", for example the amount of pressure to apply when leveling, or mistakes like the moment when you ask yourself "Should I have leveled and refinished my fretboard before I put the frets back on?" but are halfway through gluing the frets in... Or "Maybe I should have just buckled down and bought that fretwire radius bending tool..." There are so many things that can "popup out of nowhere" and usually these things don't happen to pro luthiers because they have already been down that road and learned what not to do, or learned what to do to avoid certain situations, and/or tend not to accidentally skip steps. Thanks for teaching us so many things. You make it look way too easy!! Super badass! \m/

[@dalgguitars]

especially true for finishing!

[@luislanga]

So true man... I've been watching your channel for a while, but I started watching guitar building videos back in 2012, last year while I was building my first proper guitar I thought it would be super smooth since I had all that knowledge and knew all these tricks from youtube. Boy was I wrong. I pretty much destroyed the fretboard while fretting it, ugly seams everywhere, the body got deformed from sanding it with bad technique, etc. I was very disappointed in my work and almost gave up. Tens of guitars later, I can say I'm getting pretty good at it, but there's still a long way to go and more challenging things to learn.

[@honigdachs.]

I have that same book, "building electric guitars", and I've learned a ton through this channel. But it is true - you have do do these things over and over again, mess it up many many times, and run into all kinds of eventualities that present themselves during the process. I'm still trying to get the hang of certain things, like getting really good finishes. It's almost the hardest thing to get right, at least for me.

[@boddumblues]

I salute you sir!! As a side story; I trained with a wooden Katana (Japanese sword) for 10 plus years before I had the chance to test with a real sword. It was a succes. First; my teachers had given me the right instruction, secondly; I respected and applied the knowledge given to me patiently, and the end result was my first cut was perfect and proved that I had been taught right, but it took ten plus years to get it confirmed!

[@HighlineGuitars]

That is awesome!

[@donniedonnie639]

Do you use it in luthier work? Or to make more practice swords? Just kidding :) There are some things I have studied for decades that will eventually be put into motion... Delayed gratification helps gain experience, skill, respect and appreciation. Almost a lost art in this rush, rush world.

[@boddumblues]

@@donniedonnie639 I'd say I have gotten better at strategicing, thinking through my actions when doing guitar work, a BUDO mindset penetrates everything you do. When setting up for live playing my timing makes things work out even with tight time frames, so no stress is present when playing. Also training for 20 years is nothing in BUDO, you are just beginning your journey after 20 years, and you are taught this mindset from the start, the older you get, the more you appreciate it 😉 Not like sports where it's basically downhill after 25 years of age!

[@juanwalte9418]

Hi. New builder here :) Currently building my first kit (Stew Mac LP style guitar kit in antique gold). I'm having fun and learning a lot. Glad I found your channel.

[@espenbjrkvold5119]

To be fair, I think many people have forgotten the importance of practise and how to actually learn manual skills. I am have done a lot of guitar repairs and some woodwork, and I am now in the process of trying my first proper build. My biggest challenge is trusting myself and my own measurements. I love the challenge though, and I think seeing my repair skills from a different perspective will be beneficial for my future repairs.

[@magicatti2008]

I started building guitars this year and have a lot of experience in manual work, CAD, CAM, etc... but I agree 100%. Very good channel. Thumbs up.

[@swr410]

Just tried finishing/coating my first electric guitar build. Turns out, yeah, it’s like any complex task… the first try had SO many unforeseen challenges. The finish has lots of problems when you look closely. I basically sanded through the wipe-on poly finish while trying to level sand it. But, it was fun, and I learned a lot, and I hope to get more chances to retry. Thanks to you for such helpful videos along the way!

[@ConstrutorMusical]

Nice discussion. Sometimes the content (video or even a book) makes it look easier than what it really is... No professional wants to share their mistakes also, because it may decrease their credibility... And then people are misleaded... It's good to show that there is more to learn, and that things are not always easy

[@ludvigbydal7812]

Great points for building guitars. Certainly it takes experience, and to get experience takes time. But this pays off making a wonderful guitar that makes a difference, not low quality cookie cutters. Thanks!

[@M5guitar1]

I built my first guitar over the last 2.5 months and it looks & plays great. I used your videos for neck finishing advice, i.e. boiled linseedoil. Other YTubers were used for bridge alignment, and neck/pup routering, and painting. I stuck to basic Fender type neck pocket specs and it all worked out wonderfully first time out. Of course there were lessons learned, but your advice certainly helped in the process. I may attempt another, however, it was alot of effort!

[@4ofwands]

Practice is essential! I’ve been practicing finishing on cheap bodies from a pawn shop before the expensive warmoth body and learning a lot in the process. Good channel!

[@breezlee59]

"The harder you work, the luckier you get." ~Gary Player. As always I really enjoy your videos. I have only been making guitars for a few months now but I bet I have looked at over a hundred hours of KZbin videos. I always enjoy your insight and sharing. I doubt I would have ever started anything without KZbin. Videos like yours are no substitution for putting in the time and I am sure they shaved off years of frustrations and mistakes. Thanks for all your help.

[@kennyayala6189]

SUCH an important lesson -- practice & repetition are the key to mastering ANY skill. A lucky archer may hit a bullseye on his first day shooting, but only a skilled archer with years of experience will get that bullseye 3x in a row. THAT'S the difference. Keep practicing, keep making mistakes, and keep learning. Remember: it's not a failure if you learned something! Thanks, Chris, for keeping it real and making the subject of guitar building so approachable!

[@brianstevens3858]

So true for any craft.

[@duanehill4911]

Excellent advice, very clearly presented. Experience IS key - but so is a well-presented video of a particular technique, which is your forte.

[@unktopia]

I just finished making my first neck. It turned out pretty well but I have several pages of notes I made along the way on what to do differently next time.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I’m learning and that is why I’m here. I also love the instruments you produce.

[@optonaut]

good points, I´m with you. you need repetition. but on the other hand: I completley learend building guitars with youtube. for sure i brought in some skills, but it is possible. But it just got me started. I learned nearly the same as I visited a fellow builder by watching him doing his stuff. Priceless visit :D

[@Ramplcro]

Absolutely agree. I'm in a little different path - after finally finding a place where i can work for about a year i'm only making small furniture pieces (boxes, small tables, cabinet doors, ecc..) all non electric hand tools - from rough dimensioning (where i live i cannot buy planed and thicknessed solid wood boards), cutting to jointing and finishing. My hope is to have a good sense how to work the wood (especially exotics, which are hard/less forgiving on hand tools) and to be confident enough to build instruments. When i build new things i use knowledge of previous builds but as i tackle in new things, even smallest, only after finishing them i can see faults in processes and what could i have done to minimize errors and lost time. You can read and watch as much as you want but you cannot substitute experience.

[@walther9161]

All true. I’ve built a few now but not to sell them. I afraid I’ll have a ton of them so I may give them away to schools. I always have a pro do a setup though so they’re actually playable and so far so good. Thanks for posting

[@brianburns222]

Hello Chris, Great video! Are you sure you're not reading my mind? I've been teaching Spanish guitar making since the mid 1990's, and was just yesterday considering this problem both as a teacher, and as a builder. My preferred method of teaching is one-on-one here in my shop. About 80% as good is I-pads at both ends, and Zoom video conferencing. I'm currently trying to learn---from videos, and not very successfully---how to "sand back to the wood" after pore filling with epoxy. Stopping just short of opening up new pores seems to require extraordinary skill, but the guy in the video just mentions it in passing. Your video does a great job of accurately describing the problem! Cheers, Brian Burns

[@ukguitaryogi2888]

this is useful thanks , I can relate to this. From my experience I started with basic carpentry (hand tools only) learnt to plane and saw wood by hand, then improved those skills on rough lumber, then applied it into my first hobby telecaster build which turned out playing and sounding better than I hoped for, although some mistakes I want to not make again, Thanks again

[@richardzahumensky5253]

Thank you for all the knowledge and advice, you’re a Jem . Happy 4th of July from a Canadian.

[@sunn_bass]

Great discussion and very well said. In the 80's when I started there were few resources other than a few books. But the nice thing is that the lack of resources really makes one think through things more. I love all the resources available now, but I am glad that I learned much of what I know on my own. Experience and thinking thru things are still the two most valuable tools one has. Great content as always

[@derekbeasley3533]

Great video. Thank you. I have watched lots of videos on making stuff and find that you get lots of useful ideas even if the subject is not directly relevant to what your trying to do. It’s great to just watch the process. I have been encouraged by endless videos of sanding as they have validated my own experience of thinking I had finished only to find myself spending the next day finessing the piece with more sanding.

[@berniecarson4709]

Very well said, what you’re saying is very true and should help a lot of us succeed in this craft. Keep up the good work.

[@MichaelLagerstedt]

Hi Chris, thanks for this video. Interesting points. Your channel has been one of my main sources for learning about guitar building. Really enjoyed it. I’m now ready to do my 4th guitar … thanks for sharing your experience 👍

[@HighlineGuitars]

Great to hear!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I use the videos as a guide to avoid major mistakes. The only way to get to Carnegie Hall is to practice.

[@NicoViergever]

Chris explains what he shouldn't have to explain. For reasonable people, it should be obvious that everything an experienced craftsman does, often looks easy but isn't. In his videos, Chris always attempts to explain things clearly and in detail (that's why I am a long-term subscriber), but don't expect he can easily just be copied.

[@TomOHara-]

Chris, which book did you check out from the library? I have quite a few I reference, but I'm always looking for quality reference materials. Thanks in advance and keep up the great videos!

[@HighlineGuitars]

They are listed in the description.

[@TomOHara-]

@@HighlineGuitars thank you, I didn't open the description, sorry!

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@TomOHara- If you had, you wouldn't have seen anything. I just added it after reading your comment. Thanks!

[@johnstitt2615]

Or patience

[@renaldroy5462]

Thanks Chris,great common sense advice

[@HandlebarWorkshops]

Just got into building cigar box guitars. Finished my first one a couple of weeks ago. It looks good and playable, but it's horrible to play. Already started my second one, and it's coming out much better. However, what do I do with that first one? Just scavenge the hardware and toss the rest?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I do that all of the time.

[@stefano.salari]

Nice video Chris! I'd be curious to know how did you mature the idea to become a professional luthier. If I'm right you started building guitars as a hobby a couple of decades ago, so what made you think "I can do this professionally"? Did you follow a luthiery course?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I'm self-taught. I went pro because I wanted to sell guitars in order to pay for new builds.

[@stefano.salari]

Then, once more, congratulations with all my admiration!

[@ILLGREEN1]

I know kung fu. 😁 thats definitely the mind set of some people, they watch a video and become masters overnight 😄

[@patrickkem689]

Chris, they should just quit whining then just pay the damn dues man it’s all about paying your dues. You’re going to have to lose and waste some wood before you figure out how to get it right there’s just simply some things that you have to go beyond a video you know use it it’s like you lead us to the water but it’s still up to us to drink it and if we choose to get a mouth full of sand in that process, then it’s up to us to figure out the best way to drink that water without getting a mouth full of sand wouldn’t you agree? search is the way of Guitar Lutherie these great yourself, including all made tremendous mistakes. Those mistakes of all been chiseled into great knowledge and it also will test your will to want to truly be that passion of a person or just a whiner and then the The can’t figure out how to put a guitar together. Hey, it’s not for everybody but people sick truly quit whining and start paying their damn dues and quit complaining. It’s all fun mistakes lol.

[@Overit5000]

Knowledge VS wisdom