Hello everyone, I hope you all had a splendid holiday season and also had a chance to, at least for a little while, ease up and take in a few moments of quiet splendor. I had the chance to spend a little time in Polo IL at our new Specimen Luthiers Sanctuary. The renovation has progressed nicely over the past year and the facility is nearing completion. Stay tuned for more news about this historic place and upcoming CSGM classes to be held there toward the end of this year.
Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Classes have been very productive and sessions have resulted in the completion of a good number of student builds. This Van Halen style Strat is a dream come true that was in the making for a while. All scratch built and pretty faithful to the original except for the “Drink the kool-aid” Specimen neck featuring non adjustable reinforcement. We do it the hard way to do it the right way! The result is magnificent- stability, tonality, and longevity.
Shown below with blowtorched VH dummy switch and inert crusty neck pickup installed. Enroll now for upcoming classes below and make your own special instrument. Anything you can dream up, or a fanatical replica, I promise.
I also want to announce two very special amp kits that I am offering in upcoming amp building classes. I have a couple Tweed Pro amps kits that I have included vintage 15” JBL speakers in. Not only that, but I am offering these for the same price as with the stock speaker, so get in this upcoming class in February and build, experience, and own, the whomp of these cast frame beauties in a vintage circuit. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, come find out!
Using liquid oxidizer and a blowtorch to age the dummy switch.
Upcoming CSGM Full Courses
Design, blueprint, and start making your own custom electric string instrument with instruction from an experienced luthier in a professional guitar workshop.
This is not a kit course. This course teaches how to design and make an electric guitar from raw materials and stock or custom hardware.
The nine most daunting moments while building an acoustic guitar
Learn the skills and build the knowledge to bring a new sense of confidence to your next acoustic build with this course from guest instructor Ron Bieganski.
Guitar, Bass, or Stereo Hi-Fi
Learn to build your own tube amplifier while learning about tube audio electronics and acquiring electronics shop skill. Build your choice of Tweed Deluxe, Bassman, Tweed Pro, Champ tube guitar amp, or Specimen Stereo Hi- Fi Tube Amplifier! Bulletin-I have two tweed Pro kits available as an option with amazing JBL 15 inch vintage speakers for the price of stock speakers! This is a rare opportunity folks, come get the whomp, pomp, and twang- of a lowdown thing. Cast metal and Tweed. For a first build, I also recommend a Deluxe or Champ, or the Hi Fi as an excellent option.
Upcoming CSGM ala Carte Classes
Learn the fundamental skills needed to set up any stringed instrument for optimal tonality and playability.
Lectures will explain the mechanical operation of the instruments, including many useful details specific to various makes and models.
Learn to execute a professional quality re-fret on your own guitar, bass or other fretted instrument in this hands-on workshop. This skill is a must for the guitar builder or guitar repair technician.
Learn to carve a bone nut and saddle for your instrument, with the guidance of luthier Ian Schneller. Even the most casually made instrument can benefit immensely from a hand cut nut and saddle. The results are truly stunning!
Tube Amp Diagnostics & Repair 1+2
Guest Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp professional and stage technician offering the fundamental knowledge, hands-on experience, and training necessary to modify and repair tube amplifiers.