Guitar Kits, Tools & Instruction

U.S. Guitar Kits has created one of the most unique opportunities to get started in guitar building.

By providing a kit with some of the more complicated steps done, yet leaving plenty of woodworking and customization choices, our customers have told us that our kits have made it possible to take on building a guitar they otherwise felt was out of reach.

We have created methods to build the kits and provide a complete instruction manual as well as over 20 video steps that help anyone complete the guitar with great results.

We have trained several instructors that teach in locations throughout the country that hold classes where you can build side by side with an instructor and other students.

Having the right tools for the job is key to having good success.

We have assembled a full array of the specialty tools that we offer via our website.
The classes use our tool kit and have all the tools needed to complete the project leaving the builder to do their own finishing.

History

U.S. Guitar Kits was formed back in 2006.

Scott Dixon, Chief Consultant, began the idea of creating a unique guitar kit after building a Martin guitar kit 10 years earlier. "I purchased the kit and when the kit arrived it was very humbling", realizing so many specialty jigs, forms and techniques were needed to build the kit.

Scott went on to study with Tom Knatt of Concord, MA and spent several months and almost $1,600 between the kit, instruction, tools and jigs......with "no regrets".

The problem was not everyone that wanted to build a guitar would spend that much time or money building a first guitar.

So the idea of building a kit that was further "down stream" in the process and minimizing the building of specialty jigs, forms and tools and ultimately making the process affordable was the vision.

Several prototypes were reviewed and two kit species emerged and an order was placed.

Soon after, the Teach the Teacher program began with Jerry Brown from Musicmakers in Stillwater, MN teaching the first group of instructors at George Vondriska's Wild Earth Woodworking School in Hudson, WI.

We all ended up with pretty good guitars but realized we still had lots to learn about the kits, methods and what tools to make it a more universal process.

Since that first class back in September of 2006, several hundred students have either taken a class at one of the distributor locations or purchased a kit via the website and have been thrilled with the experience enough to share a positive testimonial.

Highlights

In June of 2007, U.S. Guitar Kits was invited to the Woodcraft Vendor Trade show. This was our real "kickoff" with the Woodcraft stores and we assembled an All Star lineup of guests in our booth including George Vondriska of the Wild Earth Woodworking School in Hudson, WI, William Cumpiano, a renowned guitar builder and author of arguably the "textbook" on guitar making "Guitarmaking-Tradition and Technology" and two-time Grammy winner, Laurence Juber, former guitarist for Paul McCartney's Wings.

George shared his experience building our kits in the first Teach the Teacher session at his Wild Earth Woodworking school just a few months earlier.
William did a side bending demonstration and autographed his book "Guitarmaking-Tradition & Technology".
Laurence signed autographs on his DVD "World on Six Strings" followed by an incredible performance of some of his greatest fingerstyle guitar arrangements.

In October of 2008, the American Woodshop with Scott Phillips aired the PBS TV show featuring U.S. Guitar Kits kits and Scott Dixon.

"Honestly, I was pretty nervous, but Scott Phillips is the most encouraging, high energy guy you'll ever meet and he really made the filming experience great", says Scott Dixon.

The show continues to air across the country and you can see the entire show on our site in the Instructional Video section.

In the same October 2008 time frame, USGK created a YouTube channel and produced over 20 instructional videos that were to function as a supplement to the instruction manual. The feedback from many customers is the instruction manual is now a supplement to the videos. Seeing work in motion in a video is really the best way to learn. We encourage everyone to view these videos to help build their kit along the way or even to help build the confidence to take the plunge into guitar making.

We are awaiting the final copy of a new book featuring U.S. Guitar Kits. The book focuses on several guitar kits available today from various companies. U.S.Guitar Kits is featured in the book showing many of the steps to building our kit as well as the history, teaching program and tools offered.

Guitar Builder's Community

We continue to find new methods that are born out of the the various students and instructors of the class program.
The new Guitar Builder's Forum is an opportunity for everyone to to share their experience and expertise in the various steps and methods.

This unique opportunity to interface with other builders will provide another level of support to our building materials, instruction manual and video series.