Ormsby Guitars Build course

You've been dreaming of this, haven't you? Building your very own custom guitar, hand shaping the neck, routing the pickups and neck joint, learning about all the tiny details that come together as an instrument we fall in love with. Well, dream no longer!

We offer a range of courses for those new to guitar making, and seasoned veterans of the industry, but without a doubt, the most exciting offering is this course. Held over six days, you'll build a solid body electric guitar from scratch. You'll draw the plans by hand, do all the cutting, routing, shaping and gluing, wire the electronics, and complete the fretwork and setup.

Sound daunting? Sure, it would be on your own... but you aren't. You'll work directly with Perry Ormsby and his team, in a small group to build your new 'number one'. Everything has been laid out in an easy-to-follow formula, breaking down all the difficult tasks into smaller manageable chunks, to ensure your success.

That's not to say you'll have an easy time. You'll be dusty, dirty, and tired at the end of each day, but you'll not want to stop. It's addictive, fun, and very productive.

- What do I need to supply?

Nothing! Bring yourself, and a desire to build! 

- What do I get?

All timbers for the body and neck, hardware, pickups, plastics, electronics. Access to machinery, jigs, templates, and tools. There are no pre-made bodies or necks in the Standard or S+T Courses... you will build, machine, carve, sand, and shape your own body and neck from scratch under guidance and tuition. Stripey Course, we supply you with a premade neck.

- Which type of guitars are being built?

Basically, a "bolt on neck" style instrument. There are six main guitar designs to choose from: Strat, Soloist, Tele, SC (Single Cutaway), DC (Double Cutaway), Hype and the SX style shape. The neck will be a single piece neck, with either a laid back (angled), or recessed (Fender style) headstock.

-How do you know what I want to build? Can I design my own?

We will be in touch with anyone who pays a booking deposit to discuss their ideas and specs prior to them coming in. You'll be given a list of models/specs/choices to select from so we can guarantee we have the materials available and can achieve everyone's build in the course time frame. Unfortunately we cannot offer custom build ideas you've designed as we simply cannot prepare for that in advance.
 

- Do I need woodworking experience?

No! We have designed the course so you do not need to know anything about woodworking. Your safety equipment is provided, as are all machines, power tools, and hand tools.

- Which type of finish are we using?

Our team will provide you with a nitro satin lacquer finish. This provides a very protective semigloss/satin finish. You may choose to do some work at home to lacquer your guitar. We can direct you to suppliers that sell fantastic, inexpensive, DIY lacquer kits.

HOWEVER, if we feel everyone has progressed enough by mid course, we reserve the right to offer a free upgrade to lacquer. In 2019, every single person ended up being upgraded to lacquer finishes.

- Is this just assembling pre-made bodies and necks?

Absolutely not. You will start with a block of wood for the body, and a block of wood for the neck. You'll shape everything from there. Furthermore, this isn't a "watch a guy cut your stuff on a CNC' style course either, like offered elsewhere. You'll do everything.

- Are the materials all quality parts?

Yes. All hardware supplied is the same high quality we use on our own custom made instruments. The pickups supplied are our own handwound pickups. Gotoh, Grover, Floyd Rose, etc etc.

- What if I don't feel confident in doing certain parts?

No problem. Whilst the aim of this course is to get you started in guitar making, some aspects can be a little daunting for a first timer. If we see you getting into trouble, or not confident about one aspect, we can assist you.

We understand some parts of guitar making are scary, eg: using a bandsaw, or shaping the neck. You'll be encouraged to do it yourself, whilst luthier Perry Ormsby looks over your shoulder and guides you in the right direction. If you still don't feel confident, Perry and his team can complete that section for you as you watch.

You'll find that with the right guidance, anything is achievable!