So, a quick bit of background...
I've been working on and setting up my own guitars for over 25 years, and although self taught I'm confident doing this. I've also worked on guitars for friends.
What I'd like to do is to be able to offer my services on a part time / semi professional level. However, I have one key gap in my experience and that's fret work - I've done odd little bits on my own guitars but wouldn't want someone else to trust their pride and joy to me without getting a bit of training in this area.
I know places like Mark Bailey and Crimson do guitar making courses and I've seen other places offering entry level basic set up workshops but I think what I'm looking for is something in between where I can develop more technical confidence in setting up (rather than just doing it intuitively) and also focus on fret work.
Anyone have any experience or suggestions?
I'm in Nottingham, so unless it was a 1 day, weekend or couple of days type thing, it would need to be within reasonable travel from me.
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I hope to do one of the maintenance workshops later in the year!
Check the link out below (nearer the bottom of the page) I bought a tele of Jon Shuker a little while ago and the fretwork (to me) seems great.
https://shukerguitars.co.uk/luthiery-courses/
Will check out all 3, and particularly interested in finding out more about Shuker as they're relatively local.
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Many years ago, I spent a day with Dr Robbie Gladwell, running through some basics of set-up. All great stuff and a day very well spent, but memories fade (unless you're practising those new skills every day).
With the books/DVDs and on-line freebie videos, that's an always-there reference source that you can revisit as many times and as often as you like/need. But all of that tuition is really one-way - there's no opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of it, or to consider different ways of doing something.
If it's an option, I'd say "do both". Do a day's course, ask the questions, understand some of the "why it's done this way" aspects, and then grab a book/DVD to remind you whenever you need reminding.
I'll check out Stew Mac.