Official Luthiers Forum!

I thought I'd pass this information on to anyone who might be interested. I have no affiliation with this class, so I have nothing to gain by mentioning this except to just get the word out to everyone that it is available. I've had the pleasure to review parts of the course, and must say that it is by far the best thing out there for the money. This is an all video class that took him about 1 year to complete. It is up now on his site at a discounted rate of $107 for the next 2 weeks. Then it will go to $167. Go check out the samples and video quality. I highly recommend this class! I've always wanted to build a classical with Robbie, but the timing just never worked out. So now I can get instruction from him online on my own schedule. A big thanks to Robbie for offering his expertise to everyone, and putting in so much work. Here is the link to the page:
http://www.obrienguitars.com/?page_id=84
Enjoy!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I have to second Tracy's suggestion, for anyone looking for an affordable method of learning to build a guitar (in this case classical). Robbie is an A1 instructor and is as good as any you'll find anywhere at many times the price. I have yet to build a classical because my focus for the past few years has been on perfecting my steel string methods. I'm strongly considering this course but will likely be doing it at the $167 level which is still great at 5x the price knowing how well Robbie does with his instruction. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with this course. I've had the opportunity to see hear and handle several of the guitars out of one of his most recent classical classes, and I was quite amazed.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

I have a question about the methods used in the videos. Do they assume you are using lots of power tools such as band saws, table saws, routers etc... or do they show lots of hand tool methods?
I have only a few electric hand tools such as a dremel, cordless drill etc, with not much access to the bigger tools, so if that's mostly what they use then the videos become a bit less useful for me. Useful, just a bit less so for some things.

Anyone know?

That's a good question to ask Robbie, Matt. I'd bet he shows both ways to do things. That would be what I'd expect, but asking is the best way to find out. He's a member here. Send him a PM. Or, maybe he'll chime in on this thread.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I signed up for Robbie's online course. It's EXCELLENT!! Very very good VFM (value for money) IMO!

In the few video segments that I've watched so far, he does indeed discuss all the pertinant methods and tools that you might come across, and mostly uses hand tools for the main instruction. For example, I'm currently watching the "Thicknessing the top" video where he's hand planing the back of the soundboard (and checking it in mm)....showing us how NOT to take off too much, mark the areas you still need to plane and the areas you don't want to plane any more.....good stuff!!

From what I've seen so far, he has hit it out the park! (Thanks Robbie, if you're reading this!).

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Hand tools are what I use. If I use a power tool, which is hardly at all I show you the alternative way with hand tools. I even inlay the rosette by hand in this video course.

Thanks Dave! One of my students last night said that my online course is better than my classes at the college and compared it to watching a football game at the stadium or at home on your HD TV. On the TV you get all the close ups with replays!

Filippo,

Yes, for that price you have unlimited views and you can also download the videos. Just click on the download button in the video window. Have I gone nuts??

Thanks for letting us know, Tracy! I just signed up for the course and it looks AWESOME. Robbie, thanks for another great teaching experience. Can't wait to build along side you. Beth

Given that info, I just went and purchased it at the discounted price. Such a deal, folks, it doesn't get any better than this, and it displays Robbie's true love and passion for the craft, and keeping it alive in the hands of the small builder.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Robbie
I just signed up and paid for the course. I probably won't build a classical for a while, but I wanted to get in on the discounted price. I think your videos are great.
If I download all of the lessons, how much disk space will be needed to save them?
Thanks
Dan

Very cool! Good luck to Robbie and the participants! I'm sure you'll get more than your moneys worth.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I can make the same comment about your videos too John. Well more than my money's worth and I still refer to them from time to time even though I have quite a few guitars under my belt. Not to mention I really enjoy the humor you injected into it.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Thanks Dan. There are approx 150 video lessons and inthe WMV format that I uploaded them in you will need more than 12GB. I am not sure how the hosting service is formating them and what size they will be when downloaded. I assume they would be the same size.

Thanks everyone for the generous comments. Just to answer a few questions I have been getting:
1.You can have unlimited views and even download the video lessons.
2. You can start building immediately or build at your own pace.
3. Yes, My French polish method is included in the course. (over 5 hours of video in that chapter alone)
4. You can purchase the entire course at the discounted rate or purchase the chapters individiually.
5. If you want to be notified about upcoming live webinar Q&A sessions then send me your email.
6. I build a complete guitar from start to finish from an LMI unserviced kit but you can also build from scratch using your own materials.
7. For a complete course outline click here http://www.obrienguitars.com/?page_id=84
8. Yes, I show how to do it and in some cases how not to do it and then how to fix it.
9. Although I use a few power tools the video is oriented towards handtools.
10. There are over 24 hours of video lessons in the complete course.

I bought it too. Too good a deal to pass up. I was learning how to do a "Scarf Joint" and complete a neck, today. Very nice, Robbie. You have a good bedside manner!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks Waddy. Just wait til you get to one of the parts where things go wrong. I could make a complete bloopers dvd on all the screw ups in filming and building!

That's why U da man Robbie. I think you should do the blooper vid!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Robbie - They download as mp4's - pretty quickly too.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Hey Robbie thanks I just purchased them. Is there any way you can offer one link to the whole shebang for downloading? Not that big of a deal but I would prefer just grabbing them all at once if possible.

Mac users. If you have trouble downloading the course videos in Safari, try the new version of Opera. Easy and fast to use and gives you the option of choosing the format you want the file to play in.

Hum...that is a good idea. I will talk to my web guy about it.

Is there anything in the course regarding the making the workboard (solera?) and do you use molds for the sides, or build "in the air"?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Colin,

I use a modern day approach to the solera. I use an outside mold to actually build the guitar in but glue on the top and back and set the neck angle on my version of a solera. In my opinion it is much easier than making the traditional solera. For those that are familiar with my method and have used the traditional solera, perhaps you could offer an opinion.

My experience with a solera has been much like Filippo's. Multi use platform, including gluing braces, doming lower bout, mounting sides, indexing neck, base for go-bar deck, etc. Mine is mounted on air hammer quick release that I mount in a vise, and it allows the rotation of the solera to any position, and gets it up to chest level which is a good working level for me. Less bending and stooping! I really like the solera method, through 7 guitars.

I haven't watched your construction sequences yet, so I can't really compare directly.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars