Contemporary Guitar Making and Repair is an immersive, practice‑led programme that develops the full spectrum of skills required to design, construct, repair, evaluate, and refine contemporary fretted instruments.
Combining traditional lutherie with modern workshop practice, acoustic science, digital technologies, and advanced tool‑making, the course equips learners with the technical expertise, conceptual understanding, and professional competencies needed for careers in instrument making, repair, and craft‑based creative industries.
Over the course of study, learners progress from foundational repair skills into increasingly sophisticated construction and diagnostic techniques. Supported by extensive supervised workshop time, students develop advanced fine‑motor skills, craftsmanship, and embodied decision‑making.
Previous Woodwork experience is recommended.
Please note, the Advanced courses are for adults 18+.
Foundations of Guitar Repair and Workshop Practice
Students begin by developing the fundamental competencies of contemporary guitar maintenance and repair. Through hands‑on engagement with real instruments, learners practice essential tasks such as crack and dent repair, setup, retouching and finishing, structural adjustments, re‑fretting, and corrective procedures.
Practical work is supported by tutor‑led demonstrations, peer sharing, and one‑to‑one tutorials to promote technical accuracy, reflective practice, and safe workshop conduct.
Guitar Design and Construction: Steel‑String & Classical
Through two large‑scale construction modules, learners develop the knowledge, craftsmanship, and aesthetic sensibility required to design and build high‑quality steel‑string and classical guitars.
Activities include:
Material selection and evaluation
Bracing patterns and soundbox engineering
Decorative design (rosettes, headstock work, purfling, inlay)
Project planning, documentation, and portfolio development
Engagement with sustainability and legislation around tonewoods .
Students work over extended periods to produce professionally finished instruments, applying the advanced workshop skills, planning strategies, and iterative refinement processes central to contemporary lutherie.
Applied Acoustics for Instrument Makers
This module introduces students to the physics of sound as it applies directly to guitar construction and modification. Learners study how sound is produced, transmitted, and shaped by material and structural factors; design tests and experiments; analyse frequency data; and use digital technologies to evaluate instrument performance.
The ability to interpret acoustic behaviour allows students to make informed choices during both design and repair processes
Specialist Tool Design and Manufacture
Recognising the importance of personalised, high‑precision tools in lutherie, students undertake the design and production of a bespoke hand tool tailored to their craft practice.
This work integrates CAD drafting, measurement skills, machining, material selection, safe workshop practice, and engineering concepts such as kinematics—all essential for creating and modifying the jigs and tools used in contemporary guitar making.
There are no formal examinations for this course. Assessment is continuous and based on practical skills in making and adapting to the workshop environment, evaluated through tutor observation. In addition, a peer evaluation will be completed, and a summative assessment will be completed through a portfolio of tasks completed throughout the academic year.
Students can progress onto other specialist courses offered.
This is a full cost course, £4,000.
Details will be given at interview.
Attend one of our Open Days to find out more about our courses. To register please click here.
Our tutors bring considerable skills and experience as well as their understanding of current business practice and techniques, making our courses highly valued to students.
