Watch a Master Luthier Build a Guitar (from scratch)

Join us as we travel to Michael Bashkin's workshop to make an acoustic guitar from scratch. Michael is not only a master luthier, but one of the top names in the world when it comes to building a finely-made steel string acoustic guitar. He's generously invited the StewMac team in for a peek behind the curtain into his process. We hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks to Michael Bashkin! Check out his enlightening podcast collaboration with Fretboard Journal, "Luthier on Luthier", on your favorite streaming platform.
https://www.bashkinguitars.com/
Instagram @bashkin_guitars

All music in the video was performed by Sean McGowan, as well as the final live performance. Huge thanks to Sean!
https://seanmcgowanguitar.com/
Instagram @seanmcgowanguitar

If you're thinking of starting or continuing your own guitar building adventures, StewMac has everything you're looking for. Here are just a few of the items you might be looking for to build your own acoustic guitar:

https://www.stewmac.com/making-an-aco...

Video Chapters:
0:00 Choosing your wood
2:52 Joining the back and sides
7:56 The rosette
14:20 Bending sides
17:28 Linings
21:24 Bracing
35:23 Gluing the back on
36:40 Voicing the open box
37:27 Gluing the top on
40:15 Cleaning up the sides
42:09 Voicing the closed box
43:57 Binding and purfling
51:01 Rough carving the neck
54:50 The headstock overlay
1:00:18 Installing the truss rod & fingerboard
1:03:54 Fine tuning the neck
1:06:52 Setting the neck angle
1:09:49 Fitting the neck to the body
1:12:18 Final sanding
1:14:10 Pore filling
1:23:20 Sealer & lacquer
1:28:46 Wet sanding & buffing
1:31:02 Final fitting of neck and body
1:32:48 Installing frets
1:35:18 Installing tuners
1:37:10 Gluing on the bridge
1:39:27 Making the nut & saddle
1:41:57 Stringing up
1:44:24 Fine tuning & playing


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StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.

Shop StewMac: https://www.stewmac.com

Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook:   / stewmac  

🎥 Gear We Use in Our Studio
We get a lot of questions about the gear we use to make our videos, so here’s our current setup!*



Camera / Mounting Gear

Canon C70 à https://bhpho.to/3UOUkef

Canon XC10 à https://bhpho.to/4n4urD3

Sachtler Ace XL Fluid Head Tripod System à https://bhpho.to/3Hz9YHF

Manfrotto Deluxe Autopole 2 à https://bhpho.to/45SCNqs

Glide Gear OH 75 Overhead Portable Pole Rig à https://bhpho.to/4maFBpf



Lights

Aputure 300 Bi-Color LED à https://bhpho.to/47m0ASc

FotodioX C-700 Flapjack LED à https://bhpho.to/4fUL9Cs

Quasar Science Q-Lion LED à https://bhpho.to/4p3OROA



Sound

RODE Wireless PRO Microphone System à https://bhpho.to/45FLK7F

Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Microphone àhttps://bhpho.to/4oUAsUR

Sennheiser e 609 Microphone à https://bhpho.to/4mxRJRW

TASCAM DR-70D Multi-Track Field Recorder à https://bhpho.to/3URMwbG



🛠 Workshop Tools & Supplies We Use
While most of the tools we use in our shop are StewMac (shocker!), we’ve also outfitted our shop with some other essentials. If you’re looking to pick up anything to make some improvements to your own shop or bench, here are a few of our essentials.*



Storage & Organization

We love Craftsman toolboxes in this shop! à https://shoplowes.me/4mYqhwV

Storage Cabinets àhttps://shoplowes.me/3HVk9pO, https://shoplowes.me/3T4wSsw, https://shoplowes.me/3ZHXN0V

Small Parts Organizer à https://shoplowes.me/4l9cSkY

Storage Chest à https://shoplowes.me/45wIrA7

Workbench and Toolbox Stations à https://shoplowes.me/43YRlVX

Wire Storage Racks à https://shoplowes.me/4loDrSW



Tools

Craftsman Drill à https://shoplowes.me/4nghEOW

DeWalt Drill à https://shoplowes.me/4l1LVzz

Drill Bit Set àhttps://shoplowes.me/44tvxlh

Screwdriver Bit Set à https://shoplowes.me/4lEOGXx

Screwdriver Set à https://shoplowes.me/3I8iTiS

Silent Shop Vac à https://shoplowes.me/40chXjO

Spindle Sander à https://shoplowes.me/3T6RPmz



Shop Supplies

Blue Shop Towels à https://shoplowes.me/4l4xjzo

Shop Rags à https://shoplowes.me/4nqDpf6

Power Strips à https://shoplowes.me/4llBfLP

Work Lights à https://shoplowes.me/4ljsK3F

Dehumidifier à https://shoplowes.me/46LWAd8

Mixing Buckets à https://shoplowes.me/4ekkUVf



*These are affiliate links, which means if you pick something up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That support helps us create more great content for you—thanks for being a part of it all!