US Guitar Kits makes some of the finest flat-top acoustic guitar kits around. Buy and build a US Guitar Kit in your home shop, or attend one of our start-to-finish kit-building classes at Woodcraft® stores and dealers nationwide.
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Class Photos
Teacher Bios
All of the Instructors are guitar builders or Luthiers and have been trained specifically in the methods to build the kits from US Guitar Kits. Use the postal code or city lookup on the homepage to view the upcoming classes in your area. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please review the Teach the Teacher program.
Teach the Teacher Program
U.S. Guitar Kits is committed to providing not only top quality kits but top quality instructors. Our goal is to teach a universal method to complete these kits and train in other technical aspects of Lutherie to take back to the dealer class programs. We will be strategically identifying those geographic locations around the United States to offer the greatest ability to serve as many dealers and feature those locations as our Master Lutherie Programs. Our goal is to have dealers create a program that uses our kit class as a prerequisite to all other guitar classes. Our hope is that students will be better matched to further classes based on a good foundation of knowledge and the progression of skills.
Classes are forming. If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please send us pictures of your current work, past instructor experience/references, and your interest and location to teach classes.
Scott Dixon
Scott has been instrumental to the development of the kits, tool selection, the teaching program for stores and the Teach the Teacher program.
He studied with Tom Knatt from Concord, MA and has taken that experience to help build in the expertise as a consultant for U.S. Guitar Kits.
With over thirty years playing guitar and many years involved in woodworking, it just made sense to put the two skills together.
Scott has recently filmed an episode of the American Woodshop with Scott Phillips showing the steps of building a U.S. Guitar Kit. The episode aired October 4, 2008. Episode may be viewed at http://wbgu.org/americanwoodshop/episodes.html, Season 15 Episode 1505 Custom Rare Wood Guitars.
Scott is also featured in the Kit Instruction clips posted on YouTube.
Jack Spillane
Jack has been involved in making and playing guitars for most of his life.
He spent 25 years repairing and building stringed instruments including Authorized repair work for Ovation, Takamine and Martin guitars.
You may have seen Jack playing in the local Norfolk/Virginia Beach music scene as a member of various rock, rockabilly and country bands as well as some solo and duet music gigs.
Jack plays several instruments including guitar, mandolin, dobro, pedal steel and banjo and has played professionally for over 35 years.
Woodworking has been a passion for many years and he loves the opportunity to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with students.
Tim Trimble
Tim, having completed the U.S. Guitar Kits Teach the Teacher program, comes to us with a rich, diversified skill set that includes years of custom woodworking, carving, metal work, and instrument making.
Guitars are one of the several instruments that Tim has been playing for decades. He also enjoys the violin, bass, and most recently the mandolin.
Tim incorporates a wide knowledge base that combines an attention to detail with an easy comfortable teaching style that is both safe, informative, and most of all fun.
In this classroom setting Tim’s skills, combined with his passion for music, provides an opportunity for students’ to produce a quality instrument, and enhance their own skills and abilities in a new and exciting way.
Robert Ford
Robert Ford was introduced to woodworking at an early age but began focusing seriously on his skills when he started formal training at the Harris Enterprises School of Fine Woodworking in Manchester, CT. There he studied under such prominent craftsmen as Bob Van Dyke and Garrett Hack.
After leaving the restaurant business Robert accepted a position with the CT Valley School of Woodworking and served as assistant store manager at the Woodcraft in Manchester, CT where the school is located. He then moved to the Woodcraft in West Springfield, MA as store manager where he currently teaches classes in woodworking.
Alan Feldman
A graduate of Pratt Institute's school of Industrial Design, Alan brings to the table expertise in working with a variety of materials including wood, metal, and plastics. In addition to skills honed making prototype models as a product designer, he is an artist and an avid musician and for over 30 years has operated a business( currently Feldman Guitar Works, www.feldmanguitarworks.com) repairing guitars and other stringed instruments, along with the building of custom electric guitars. He is recognized by knowledgeable musicians and music related businesses in the Roanoke area as a master of fret-work and action set-up. Alan has a long history doing fine finish work and custom paint jobs, dating way back to his high school days, offering knowledgeable advice on finishing the instruments built in the classroom.
Shown playing the instrument he built in the U.S. Guitar Kits Teach the Teacher training program.
Alan is the Instructor teaching the guitar building classes in the Roanoke, VA Woodcraft store.
David Smith
David was introduced to antique restoration and refinishing at a very young age. He spent many years in the Wood Manufacturing Industry in several management positions including Finishing Department Supervisor and Quality Control Manager. For the last thirty years he has been building custom furniture as a hobby.
A few years ago he decided to combine his finishing expertise with his woodworking skills and start building guitars with exceptional finishes, and has been doing so ever since.
He loves to share his enthusiasm for building guitars with others in a classroom environment and also offers individual instructions.
His patient teaching style with students, and his knowledge of woodworking, guitar building, and finishing, assure a good experience for all.
George Vondriska
