FAQ

If you have questions about our school, the curriculum, our facility, etc., that are not answered below, please feel free to call us or contact us through the web site. We also welcome visitors to tour the school any time during our shop’s business hours.

Do I need previous experience to take classes?

All of our Guitar Repair and Tube Amp Building classes do not require students have any previous experience. For those interested in taking our acoustic or electric guitar building classes, we recommend familiarity with hand tools and wood working procedures.

Do I receive a diploma or certificate after I complete a class?

We offer all students who complete any of our classes a signed Certificate of Completion.

Is there a recommended order to what classes I take?

Really, it’s up to you and what interests you most. That being said, we think taking the Guitar & Bass Setup and Maintenance Course first is a great primer and will benefit students greatly as they advance through the curriculum.

Do I need my own tools?

No, we provide all the tools you need. For those interested in acquiring tools, we have put together two tool kits, the Electronics Tool Kit (useful for working on guitar and amp electronics) and the Fretting Tool Kit. Also, all alumni of our school receive a 10% discount from Stewart Macdonald and Luthiers Mercantile.

Do I need to bring a guitar with me to work on?

No, the school can provide anyone with a guitar to work on during the class.

Do you have locations outside of Chicago?

No, Chicago is our only location.

What age must I be to take classes?

We request students be 16 years or older to attend our classes. However, should an adult want to take a class with someone under 16, that is fine.

What kind of guitar should I bring to the Setup & Maintenance Course?

Any kind of stringed instrument is recommended in our Setup class. The curriculum applies to all kinds of instruments: acoustic, electric, banjos, ukuleles, tenor guitars, mandolins, bass guitars, etc.

Can I cancel my registration and/or get a refund?

No, all registrations are final and non-refundable. Once the class is full, we close registration. However, if we are notified with enough time to fill your space, we are happy to move you into a future session of that class.

How often do you offer your classes?

We offer classes all year round. Most of our classes are offered at least once a quarter and many of our most popular ones are offered two to three times a quarter.

Can you help me find a job as a guitar technician?

We always try to notify all of our alumni whenever we are contacted by other guitar shops and companies about possible job opportunities. We are also happy to provide a signed Certificate of Completion to all students who complete any of our classes. And, Specimen has been known to hire a few alumni!

How do I find out when you open new classes?

The web site is updated when new classes are opened. We also send a newsletter via email about every 6 weeks which includes the most current class schedule, listings of any new classes offered, and other general news about the shop and school. You can sign up for this email newsletter by providing your email address in the form found in the upper right corner of our web site.