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Home School of LutherieMaster ProgramTerm 2 Galloup School of Lutherie Practical training in a professional shop 
Master Program, Term 2: Building a Classical, Tooling, and Guitar Design
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 CLASS: TOOLING 1 Tools |
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To be a successful luthier you’ll need the tools to get the job done. Depending on the areas of building and repair you move into, one of these three packages should fit your needs. If necessary we will custom-build a package to fit your budget. For the rest of the program, you will continue to expand your toolbox by building the cauls, jigs and templates necessary to be a successful luthier so you can hit the ground running wherever you set up shop. We do not profit from your tool purchase. All tools purchased through the Galloup School of Lutherie are purchased at our cost. In many cases, our suppliers offer student discounts to you while you are attending our school. We strongly recommend you take advantage of our services and purchase your tools at this time in the program. Tool package costs vary depending on tool prices at the time of purchase, and shipping charges will be in addition to the costs of tools.  Master listJourneyman listTechnician listCLASS: TOOLING 2 Cauls and Templates There are many specialty tools you will need to perform your job that can't be purchased — you need to make them. You’ll have used many of these school-owned items in the program by this point, and become familiar with them. This is the time to create these tools of your own. Your tools and cauls will need to be well built and functional. Your work in this part of the course will be graded just as all the other classes are. CLASS: DESIGN 1 Guitar Layout and Design Over the next four months, you will design an acoustic guitar, including a detailed layout drawing. You’ll be provided with the necessary drafting tools and a checklist of required topics, and you will be graded on your design. This painstaking exercise will give you a solid understanding of guitar layout and design, plus an original instrument you can start building when you’ve completed the Master Program. Building a Classical Guitar The classical guitar is one of most important instruments being played by concert level performers, but in the average guitar market it is widely misunderstood and overlooked. The classical or flamenco guitar has proven to be an outstanding market for me and once I understood its design and its players. You will be surprised how much you have retained from the past weeks and how far you have progressed as a luthier. The Master Program Classical guitar incorporates many new guitar building techniques that will advance your guitar building skills to a higher level as well as many familiar procedures from previous lessons. In addition repeating these procedures within weeks of your last guitar allows you to perfect your techniques. CLASS: CLASSICAL 1 Body In today’s market, guitars that have a hand bent cutaway demand the highest price tag. Detail work such as hand cut mitered perflings on the top, back and sides show the talent and commitment to excellence of a true craftsman. Your Master Program Classical will incorporate all of these features plus many new lessons that will elevate you to the next level of guitar building. Topics covered: Classical guitar layout and designSelecting woodMatching top setsMatching back and sideJoining tops and backsThickness sandingBending sidesBending cutawayCutting rosettes and sound holeFitting sides to moldGluing in head and end blocksFitting kerfing and liningsShaping side bracesScalloping back bracesFan style top bracingAssembling bodyCutting binding and perfling slotMitering perflingsBindingCutting mortiseDrilling neck mounting holesCLASS: CLASSICAL 2 Neck One of the most popular formats for an acoustic guitar is a slot peg head with a 12 frets to the body design. By focusing on this format you will open a new area of guitar building and tone that are over looked by other builder and focus on a different style of neck layout and how it affects the top bracing and tone. Topics covered: Scale lengthMaking fret boardBinding fret boardFret markersMaking neckPeg head designsPeg head overlays and laminatesCutting slot peg headTuner layout and fittingTruss rod installationGluing fret boardsShaping necks and heelsNeck-setsSide markersPeg head pearl inlayHeel cap and laminateCLASS: CLASSICAL 3 Finishing By this time you should be very familiar with our spray booth, and you’ll notice a significant improvement in your finishing technique. We will also cover how to deal with side and back perflings during the finishing process. Topics covered: Scraping binding and perflingsFinish sandingUsing spray gunsWash coatsFillersSunburstClear coatsWet sandingBuffingCLASS: CLASSICAL 4 Setup and Assembly Final set-up and assembly are the means to well-balanced tone and most people consider this to be the most challenging aspects of the course. The classical guitar set up can prove to be even more challenging to get the delicate tone this instrument has to offer. Topics covered: Final neck-setsBridge layoutsGluing bridgesInstalling tunersFitting bridge pinsLeveling fret boards using neck jigFrettingDressing fretsMaking nutsMaking saddlesFinal set-upFinal buff and polish  
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