Guitar building links

Last update: December 13, 2023

Last check for broken links: February 12, 2021

The amount of guitar building related pages has become overwhelming and it's unfortunately impossible for me to keep track of all of them. Anyway here are some:

Resources | Software | Guitar building books | Organisations | Hobby Builders | Professional Builders | Pickups | Strings | | Publications | More links

Really helpful sites

Fortunately the web is full of guitar builders sharing their building methods.

Guitar building related Web forums:
Musical Instrument Makers Forum
Gearbuilder.de Deutschsprachiges Gitarrenbauforum
GitarreBassBau.de Deutschsprachiges Gitarrenbauforum
13thfret.com Acoustic guitar discussion forum.
Newsgroup: rec.music.makers.builders
Forum Lutherie French lutherie forum

Sites that cover several instrument types
Lutherie Info - for Builders of Stringed Musical Instruments by R.M. Mottola
Guitar Repair Bench A site dedicated to providing the best instructional articles about guitar repair, maintenance, and guitar building on the web, so you can repair and build your own guitars.

Acoustic guitar building:
Kathy Matsushita's Notes from an Amateur Luthier
www.onlineapprentice.com David Schramm's comprehensive online classical guitar making course
Building A Martin Kit Guitar
David C. Hurd- Ukulele Builder in Hawaii
Make a Ukulele
Building a Guitar By Charlie Hoffman
Guitar building at Mario Proulx Guitars
CRANE Guitars Luthier Makoto Tsuruta from Tokyo
JH Gitarren German website
Oudinfo.de Der Bau einer arabischen Oud
Lukas A. Giefing from Vienna
Scotty's Cigar Box Guitars Lots of easy and interesting projects
Gitarrenmanufaktur from Germany
Ralph Bonte from Belgium
Gitarrenbauen.de ein sehr hilfreicher Wegweiser in die Welt des Gitarrenbau.
The Art of Lutherie Tom Bills lutherie site

Guitar repair:
Frank Ford's site: www.frets.com

Electric guitar building:
Guitar Nut's Everything you need to know about wiring
Guide to Guitarbuilding A lot of information for beginners.
Für Gitarrenlose Dirk Buchfinks humorvolle E-Gitarrenselbstbauanleitung
Projectguitar.com Lots of tutorials, info and links on building electric guitars
RumbleBird's Bass Page Stefan Klugs ausführliche Selbstbaubeschreibung
Wiring Diagrams for Guitars and Basses at the Seymour Duncan website
Guitarlinks.de Gitarrenbauseite von Wolfgang Richter-Kirsch, in Deutsch
Hromi's Gitarrebau Seite
GuitarFrenzy by Matt Vinson
Bau einer Meistergitarre Thorsten Lietz describes building an archtop guitar in German and English
Geli's Hohmpäitsch Angelika Holtes Selbstbauerlebnisse.

Electric bass building:
Building My Homemade "Sit-Down" Bass Michael A. Stridsberg cleverly designed his bass to suit his playing style

Resources

Wie wird man Gitarrenbauer Ein Artikel von Martin Seeliger
pickup winding info
Harmony central FAQ Collection
Watch me building an electric guitar 43 photos on 14 pages show the building of a "Strat"-style guitar with one piece maple neck
AndysGuitarTechTips All Fender circuits, Einstelltips (under "Service")
Famous Guitarmaker Internet World Headquarters Great resource for guitarists/builders
Guitarbuilding tips My tips here at BuildYourGuitar.com
www.gitarrenelektronik.de Helmuth Lemmes site
AX84 - The Cooperative Tube Guitar Amp Project Make your own tube amp
The Les Paul Forum Dan Erlewine can be found there!
Musikmesse Frankfurt Follow the link "MUSIKMESSE" on the 2nd page
NAMM Show
Famous Guitarmaker Internet World Headquarters Great resource for guitarists/builders
Great Guitar Sites on the Web Collected by Neil Shedden from Melbourne, Australia
Fret Calculator Calculate fretspacings online!
List of Guitarmaking Schools
Die Gitarren Saite Die schnelle Connection für Gitarrenfreaks, mit Infos, Interviews und Links
Luthiers Access Group's Web Site
Brad's Page of Steel A site devoted to the steel guitar
Bill's Best Things of Everything $2.49 side bender, blackening a brass bridge, bass building
The Physics of the Acoustic Guitar
Watson Bailey Instruments Co. Detailed guitar plans in different formats for free
Axeblaster.com How to build a guitar, Instructions, Modification, Forums, Buying Guide, & Stratocaster Gallery
Building the ergonomic guitar
Strandberg Guitarworks
eGuitar Plans Unique & Original Electric Guitar Plans
The Guitar Sherpa A stringed instrument portal featuring all types of information on guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, dulcimers, etc.
Electric Herald Guitar related CNC and 3D Software info
Nut slot spacing calculator Alfons Seelen has written a nut slot spacing software and also offers an Explanation Video NEW

Software

MusEdit.com A powerful yet inexpensive music notation editor
AP Guitar Tuner Freeware guitar tuner for Windows-PCs with soundcard

Authors of guitar building books

William R. Cumpiano He wrote together with Jonathan Natelson the book "Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology".
Jonathan Kinkead Author of "Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar" published in 2004.
Melvyn Hiscock Author of "Make Your Own Electric Guitar"
Bill Foley Author of "Build Your Own Electric Guitar"
Roger Siminoff Author of "Constructing a Solidbody Guitar" and many more.
Robert Benedetto Author of "Making an Archtop Guitar"
Jim English Author of "Making A Laminated Hollowbody Electric Guitar"
Jason Lollar Author of "Basic Pickup Winding and Complete Guide to Making Your Own Pickup Winder" Book is no longer available!
Andy Manson Author of "Talking Wood" a book about ten months inside the life of a guitar maker
Jim Donahue published the book: "Guitars, Design, Production and Repair"
Helmuth Lemme Autor von "Elektrogitarren-Sound", eines sehr kompetenten Buches über Gitarrenelektronik und Pickups.
Fritz Rössel Sein Buch "E-GitarrenBackground" ist zwar keine Bauanleitung enthält aber viele wertvolle Tips.
Henry Strobel Author of several books on violin making.
Roy Courtnall Author of "Making Master Guitars" a book on making Classical Guitars. Offers Classical Guitar plans too.
Frank Finocchio Author of a 9 hours video instruction on acoustic guitar making.
Graham McDonald Author of "The Bouzouki Book"
Erno Zwaan Author of "Animal Magnetism for Musicians"
John Gleneicki Author of "HOW TO Create A Factory Guitar Finish With Just A Couple Of Spray Cans!"
Robert O'Brien Author of several guitar making DVDs
John S. Bogdanovich Author of "Classical Guitar Making"
Ervin Somogyi Author of the books "The Responsive Guitar" and "Making The Responsive Guitar"
Leonardo Lospennato Author of the book "Electric Guitar & Electric Bass Design"
Matt Hammond Author of a complete video guide on building your own acoustic guitar
Martin Koch You found him already.

Organisations

Guild of American Luthiers A lot of links too.
A.S.I.A The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans

Fellowship of European Luthiers Check out their SUSTAIN magazine

Hobby guitar builders

Reinhard Kockmann Find information about building electric guitars, tube amps and effect pedals (mostly in German) / Informationen zum Selbstbau von E-Gitarren, Röhrenverstärkern und Effektschaltungen.
Harold Waterman Making a bass
Gitarren aus Stein This guitar body is made of stone
www.Uni-Cut.de by Florian Lüttke
Wataru Okada He developed a guitar from Japanese woods and documented the process.

Professional guitarbuilders

A
Allen Guitars - guitars,mandolins,resophonic's Pictures of the building process. Supplies and fret slotting service
Andersen Stringed Instruments
Andreas Guitars This Austrian company uses aluminium for their solid-body guitars and basses
Avalon Guitars
Alconda Guitars Guitars with beautiful aluminium body
AfRI-CAN Guitars AfricaÕs first production guitar design and manufacturing company.
Auerswald Instruments Unusual bass guitars

B
Bass Lab Very unusual guitars from Germany
Robert Benedetto
Siggi Braun Fine Young Guitars from Germany
Bachmann Guitars Italian Luthier
Paddy Burgin Guitars New Zealand
Ken Bebensee Guitars and Basses
Burns Guitars
John S. Bogdanovich Handcrafted concert classical guitars
Tom Bills

C
Cort-Guitars Acoustic and Electric Guitars
William R. Cumpiano The co-author of "Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology"
Carvin Guitars
Collings Guitars Michael Collins Guitars
Conklin Guitars Beautiful multi-piece guitars.

D
Dingwall Designer GuitarsThey build bassguitars with a different scalelength for each string
Düsenberg Guitars
Daisy Rock Guitars are made for girls
Armin Dreier Gitarrenbau
Frank Deimel Guitarworks
Deerbridge Guitars Martin Wieland from Germany
Dickert Guitars from Canada

E
EVD String Instruments
Eyestone Guitars Different - But better
Echeverria Guitars Handmade guitars, repairs and parts. Authorized Martin and Fender Warranty
Ellis Guitars from Australia Ellie Guitars Ellie Erickson doesn't think that the world needs another StratoLesPaulReedSmith clone
Patrick James Eggle Acoustic guitar builder from UK.
Electric Babes from Austria

F
Frank Ford
Charles Fox One of his great inventions was the "Universal Side Bender"
Fender This company started the success of the electric guitar
Fichter E-Kontrabässe/ electric upright basses
Fodera Guitars Inc.
Frank Finocchio

G
James Goodall High quality guitars from Hawai
Gibson Also home of: Epiphone, Orange Amplifiers, Dawn, Steinberger, Red Bear, Tobias Guitars, Dobro
Godin - Guitars
Paul Guy Guitars Handmade guitars from Sweden. Very informative site
Peter Gropius Konzertgitarren und Stahlsaitengitarren
Grimes Guitars
Johan Gustavsson Guitars
Greven Guitars
Pete Gosden Acoustic and electric Lapsteel guitars made in England.
Goodfeets Guitars Primitive handmade instruments made from repurposed materials

H
Hoffmann Guitars
Anthony J. Huvard Handmade guitars and a lot of infos
Harich Guitars Austrian guitar builder
Hollingworth Guitars Australian Guitarmaker
Heart Art Guitarmaker from Spain
Nik Huber Guitars Germany
Helliver Guitars Germany

I
Ibanez

J
Paul Jacobson Interesting articles on intonation
Jesselli Guitars His guitars are real beauties!
JP Custom Guitars from Portugal
Johnsen Bass from Germany

K
Kaman Music Makers of Hamer Guitars, Ovation Guitars, Takamine Guitars, Trace Elliot Amplifiers and Dean Markley Amplifiers
Steve Klein Guitars
Kritz Custom Guitars Innovative guitars from Belgium
Karosa Guitars Inexpensive Custom Guitars Kinkade Guitars
Kenya Guitars made in Africa

L
Lakewood Guitars Great acoustic guitars - made in Germany
Larrivee Guitars Wonderful shell-inlayed acoustic guitars
Lehle Gitarrentechnik Umweltfreundliche E-Gitarren aus Deutschland
Lollar Guitars
Launhardt Guitars
Leod Guitars from England
Lichty Guitars

M
C. F. Martin and Company Official pages. Info,catalog,history...
Linda Manzer
Elio Martina Guitars Handgebouwde bassen en gitaren Reparatie and customizing / Handmade basses and guitars Guitar repair & customizing
Hank Mauel Hand Crafted Guitars
Modulus Guitars Electric guitars with graphite necks
Andy Manson Luthier from UK
Dave Maize Acoustic Guitars
Javier Moldes Guitar builder from Spain
McPherson Guitars
Roger Morillo Bass Guitars from Venezuela

N
Neubauer Guitars I once had the chance to visit this Austrian Guitarbuilder. He started as a dental technician and transfered his perfection and skills to something much larger. His Guitars are perfect in every detail.
National Reso-Phonic Guitars
Nado Guitars Beautiful and unique guitars from Croatia

O
Olson Guitars
NoahJames Guitars and EvanJohn Pickups
Robert OÕBrien

P
PRS - Paul Reed Smith Guitars
Pegasus Guitars
JPBasses Basses made in France
Prochazka Guitars from Czechoslovakia
Philip Porter Guitars from UK
Probett Guitars from UK
Potvin Guitars from Canada

R
RainSong Guitars They use graphite for their guitars
Tom Ribbecke
RickenbackerFamous guitars made in California. Very comprehensive site
Steve Ryder Stringed Instruments Electric Mandolins - Finishing/Refinishing - Pickups/Rewinding
Ritter Basses Unique Basses made in Germany
Andreas Rall Sehr gute Information über Tonholzerzeugung
Tim Reede Custom Guitars
John Ray Guitars from Spain
Ruokangas Guitars from Finland

S
Santa Cruz Guitar Company
Sadowsky Guitars Ltd. Highest quality Fender-style custom guitars from NYC
Gitarrenbauer Stefan Sonntag Well made site
The Stick The American Emmet Chapman invented this special guitar and bass instrument. It is played by two hand tapping
Schecter Guitars
Ken Smith Good factory tour
Schramm Guitars
Stratmann-Gitarren
Staufer Guitars André Waldenmaiers guitar shop in Munich, Germany
Ervin Somogyi
Schack Basses Basses made in Germany using the CNF (Covered Neck Fixing) system.
Scott Wise Guitars Australia
Gerald Sheppard Guitars
Skillett Guitars Germany
Schloff Guitars Germany
Stoll Guitars Germany
Scharpach Guitars from The Netherlands
Swanson Guitars
Shaw Guitars
Segler Gitarren

T
Taylor Guitars Excellent website. Check out their tech sheets.
Michael Tobias Fine hand made guitars and basses. Some interesting articles from Bass Player Magazine
Totem Guitars Very uniqe guitars by Michael S. Spalt
Rick Turner Guitars
Tym Custom Guitars Made in Australia
Tonebender Guitar Works Customguitars by Doug Van Quekelberg
Thorndal - electric guitars and basses Timeless Instruments
Tausch Guitars Germany
Joe Till Guitars Handmade in California
Zebulon Turrentine Handmade Classical Guitars
Taisto Guitars

U

V
Vogel Guitars Large guitar factory in Ecuador


W
Abe Wechter His "Ask The Guitarmaker" is very useful
Ray Whitaker
Washburn Makers of Oscar Schmidt String Instruments, Washburn Guitars
Warwick Famous Bass Guitars made in Germany
Washburn
Winstons Customs Guitars This Canadian builder makes beautiful guitars Kathy Wingert Guitars
Wal Basses
Richard Wilson Handmade Weissenborns
Windmill Guitars made in Germany

Z
Zolla guitars

Pickups, Electronics

EMG
Seymour Duncan
DiMarzio
Bartolini
Kent Armstrong
K&K Sound-Systems Pickups and transducers for any instrument
McIntyre Acoustic Pickups
Q Tuner pickups Neodymium powered bass and guitar pickups by Erno Zwaan
Hässel Pickups made in Germany
Noll Electronics made in Germany
Voltage Guitar Pickups
Porter Pickups They specialize in hand wound pickups, and wind strat, tele, humbuckers and p-90's.
Mr Glyns Pickups Pickups made in New Zealand

Strings

D'Addario
Thomastik-Infeld Strings made in Austria and famous all over the world

Other Instruments

Ukulele Diner Welcome and Menu Everything you need to know about the ukulele
The Online Doublebass Guide Informations about the double bass, its history and amplification, tips on pickups, amps and strings. In German and English.
David C. Hurd- Ukulele Builder in Hawaii He shares a lot of his building experience. Very informative and well made site.
Ciro Caliendo Italian violin maker

Publications

Acoustic Guitar Magazine
Gitarre&Bass
Fine Woodworking
Akustik Gitarre

More links

Links to classical guitar builders all over the world
Links to very useful knowledge
Luthiers Around the World An alphabetical listing of luthiers listed by geographical location.
MusicWorld.de
HotVsNot.Com Web Directory - Comprehensive Database of Web Resources that includes Do-It-Yourself

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