Classes and Seminars

Guitar Set-Up & Maintenance Course

The Guitar Electronics Repair & Upgrades workshop teaches instrument electronics troubleshooting, repair and component installation for both electric and acoustic instruments.

Students will learn to achieve the best possible sound and reliability for their instrument and approach any instrument’s electronics problems with confidence.

This course offers an indispensable knowledge base for the instrument repair technician or guitar builder.

Students are encouraged to bring as many stringed instruments as they can to repair or upgrade themselves in this course.*

Take this course and our Guitar Repair & Restoration Course for a more complete overview of both electric and acoustic stringed instrument repairs.

This course is also a part of our Guitar Technician Program and our  Electric Guitar Making Camps.

* If the student is unable to bring their own instrument to repair please contact us in advance to arrange for the school to provide one for use during this course. 

Our Acoustic Guitar Making Camps offer the student an intensive schedule of guitar making for the beginner or intermediate guitar builder. Students will embark upon making their own high quality Martin style acoustic guitar. 

This course is the perfect initiation into the craft of luthiery. Classes are taught by an experienced luthier and offer an immersive learning and making experience in a professional guitar shop.

No drawing skills or work shop experience required.

Perfect for a beginner. No experience necessary.

The student will learn fundamental workshop and luthiery skills as the instructor carefully guides them through each construction phase of their guitar.

Students will work at their own pace. Most students require 100 hours to complete their first guitar. Students with already well developed shop skills can indeed complete their instrument in less time.

With the option to take 30, 60 or 90 hours of instruction, the student can choose to continue work on their guitar on their own at home, or with further instruction and access to tools at the school.

Student who wish to continue working on their guitar on their own schedule at the school, may register for our Open Workshops.

After completing an acoustic guitar the student will be ready to make an original design of an instrument from scratch.

Get your acoustic guitar started in an upcoming short course: Acoustic Guitar Making Fast-Track

CSGM curriculum is designed and taught by luthier and CSGM founder Ian Schneller.

This Acoustic Guitar Making course offers the student the perfect initiation to the craft of guitar making. Students will embark upon making a their own high quality Martin style guitar and learn skills and techniques necessary to build any fine acoustic stringed instrument.

The course is designed for the beginning or intermediate level student who prefers to get a quick start and then continue making their acoustic guitar on their own schedule either at the school in our Open Workshops or on their own at home.

No drawing, shop skills or prior experience is necessary.

Perfect for a beginner. No workshop experience necessary.

The student will learn fundamental workshop and luthiery skills as the instructor carefully guides them through each construction phase of their guitar.

Students will work at their own pace. More time outside of this course will be required to finish making their guitar. The student may choose to continue the work on their own at home, or with instruction and access to tools at the school in Open Workshops.

The student will be ready to make an original design of an instrument from scratch after completing this acoustic guitar.

We offer longer courses in our Acoustic Guitar Making Camps!

Our Electric Guitar Making Class offers the student a series of hands-on luthiery curriculums and guided hands-on work to get their own original custom electric guitar or bass, or any string instrument making project quickly underway.

No drawing, design or previous workshop experience is necessary.

Students will design, blueprint, and start making their 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.

With the option to take 30, 60 or 90 hours of instruction the student can choose to continue work on their guitar on their own at home or with further instruction at the school.

Seize this rare opportunity to make a successful first lap into a lifetime of Luthiery!

Check out our Student Gallery

Our Electric Guitar Making Fast Track Course is designed to give the student a quick start to making their own custom guitar, bass  —or any string instrument!

No drawing, design or previous shop experience is necessary.

This is not a kit course. This course teaches how to design and make an electric guitar from scratch —raw materials and stock or custom hardware!

This hands-on guitar making course teaches and guides the student through the complete design, essential planning, and initial construction phases of making an supremely playable instrument of their own design. Students will receive instruction, and access to all the shop supplies and tools needed to design and start making their own custom guitar, bass or any string instrment from scratch.

Continued work will be required to complete the instrument outside of this course.

Students who take this course may continue working on their instrument on their own or with continued instruction in Open Workshop at the school.

Seize this rare opportunity to make a successful first lap into a lifetime of Luthiery!

See our Student Guitar Gallery!

Check out these longer courses:  Electric Guitar Making Camps

This course welcomes both traditionalist and experimentalist. Students will produce a full size detailed plan of their own original stringed instrument design. The student’s personal aspirations for their ideal stringed instrument will be manifested into this drawing. A treasure map, if you will. Whether you choose to chart new territory, or design a reproduction of a traditional guitar, bass or any string instrument – the emphasis is on designing a supremely-functional and long-lasting instrument of beauty.

No drawing skills required.

Completing this workshop will prepare students for the exciting prospect of starting the actual construction of their design.

This course is also part of our  Electric Guitar Making Course.

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.

This workshop is ideal for the musician or roadie, or anyone interested in working on stringed instruments.

Students are encouraged to bring their own instruments to re-fret.

If the student is unable to bring their own instrument to re-fret please contact us in advance to arrange for the school to provide one for use during this course.

Installing a new Nut is important when Fretting, check out our: Fretting + Bone Nut Making Combined course.

This course is also part of our Guitar Technician Program.

New frets are taller than the old frets and generally it’s considered a dramatic tonal compromise to shim up an old nut to achieve the correct string height. A hand made bone nut is the best option and solution to follow a re-fret.

Brand new frets with a properly fitted bone nut will upgrade the playability, tone, and clarity of even the most humble instrument. The results are truly stunning!

Learn how to execute a professional quality re-fret and hand carve and properly fit a custom bone nut for any fretted instrument. Then do the job on your own instrument in this course.

This skill is a must for the guitar builder or guitar repair technician.

This workshop is also ideal for the musician or roadie, or anyone interested in working on stringed instruments.

We’ve bundled our Fretting  Course and our Bone Nut Making Course to help you learn and get the job done right —with significant savings.  These courses are also a part of our Guitar Technician Program!

A bone nut will upgrade the tone and clarity of your guitar, bass or any stringed instrument  – acoustic or electric. Even the most casually made instrument can benefit immensely from a hand cut nut. The results are truly stunning!

Students will learn to carve a bone nut for their instrument, with the guidance of an experienced luthier in the workshop.

Make no mistake – hand carving a nut from a piece of bone is a highly valuable skill for any guitar technician, and a necessity for the guitar builder.

Cutting a piece of bone by hand into a beautiful finished nut is a vanishing art.

In this workshop you will learn that skill and keep the art of luthiery alive for future generations. 

Check out our Fretting + Bone Nut Making Combined course, and our Bone Nut and Saddle Making Course!

This course is also part of our Electric Guitar Making Camp, and the Guitar Technician Program.

A bone nut and saddle will upgrade the tone and clarity of your guitar, bass or any stringed instrument! Even the most casually made instrument can benefit immensely from a hand cut nut and saddle. The results are truly stunning!

Students will learn to carve a bone nut and saddle for their instrument, with the guidance of an experienced luthier.

Make no mistake – hand carving a nut and saddle from a pieces of bone is a highly valuable skill for any guitar technician, and a necessity for the guitar builder. Cutting pieces of bone by hand into beautiful finished parts is a vanishing art. In this workshop you will learn that skill and keep the art of luthiery alive for future generations.

This course is also a part of our Guitar Technician Program

The Guitar Repair and Restoration course teaches the essential procedures for a variety of repairs, addressing damage, aging, and wear on any stringed instrument.

Students are encouraged to bring as many instruments as they like to work on themselves in the hands-on portion of this course. In fact, realizing repairs on student instruments often more than offsets the cost of tuition!

The instructor, Ian Schneller, will share proprietary repair techniques gathered from over 35 years of luthiery experience, reference traditional repair methods, and demonstrate the proper use of a variety of specialized hand tools and power tools. In addition to observing a variety of repairs, students will learn about materials, components, tools, and various glues and how to use them properly.

The skills and knowledge base taught in this course are a must for the guitar builder, instrument repair technician, or anyone interested in instrument restoration.

This course is part of our Guitar Technician Program.

Open workshops offer our students the freedom to schedule their preferred hours to work on a project at their own pace. Students often continue work on acoustic or electric builds, fretwork, finishing, or electronic projects.

This is an hourly, pay as you go, opportunity for students to continue their studies.

Blocks of time maybe purchased at considerable savings. These blocks can be used incrementally for pre-scheduled sessions.

Open Shops run Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 7 pm.  Space is limited. Request for a space is confirmed based upon availability and offered on first come first served basis.

All Open Shop scheduling is by appointment. Arrangements for scheduling are on a case by case basis, and can be made by email or by phone during business hours – 12 pm – 7 pm Tuesday through Friday.

Call 773 489 4840 or email info@specimenproducts.com with any questions, to check availability and a request to reserve your specific date and time.

Our Guitar Tech Program offers a special series of classes teaching fundamental luthiery principles, repair techniques, shop skills, and the knowledge base necessary for the guitar service professional. Perfect for those who wish to prepare for entry into the guitar service and repair industry.

This program bundles and arranges classes sequentially so that the student can progress through a logical series of curriculums.

Courses include lectures, demonstrations and hands-on course work taught by an experienced luthier in a professional guitar service shop. Students will apply knowledge learned while practicing  techniques under the supervision of the instructor in class.

Students who have completed this program may qualify for an apprenticeship at Specimen Guitar Shop through the school. Apprenticeship offers those with proven skills an opportunity to develop expertise and gain experience at Specimen. Apprenticeship positions are limited and unpaid.

To enquire please email info@specimenproducts.com

Amp Camp combines Tube Amp Making and Tube Amp Repair courses, offering the student the opportunity to make their own high quality tube amplifier and gain the understanding and confidence to service it. Students who complete this course will be well prepared for our Amp Repair Laboratory Course!

No prior shop or electronics experience is necessary.

Students will learn fundamental electronics shop skills, and then hand wire and assemble their own tube amplifier of choice, under the watchful eye of the instructor in the Tube Amp Making course. While constructing their own amp the student will begin to develop the skills necessary to troubleshoot and repair amplifiers.

Students will then learn about tube electronics, circuits, troubleshooting, and repair fundamentals in Amp Repair I.  Students who opt to attend Amp Repair I+II as part of this camp will also learn about tube theory, advanced diagnostic tools and techniques, and modifications from the standpoint of the amp repair professional, in Amp Repair II.

Start your journey into the exciting realm of electron tube audio!

Students will make either a Tweed Deluxe, Bassman, or Champ tube guitar amp – or make a Specimen Stereo Hi- Fi Tube Amplifier.

Learn about the wonderful Stereo Tube Amp kit here.  You may peruse the assembly instructions here: Instruction Book for Specimen Single Ended Stereo Tube Amp.

The legendary circuits in our outstanding guitar tube amp kits are the same that have made “Tweed” – era amplifiers revered among musicians. Our guitar amp kits include special component upgrades. For students who already have experience making tube amps, a variety of classic Fender amp kits are available to make in this class by special order. Orders for other amps must be requested at least 6 weeks in advance of the course.

Here is a great opportunity to build your own tube amp while learning about tube audio electronics and acquiring electronics shop skill.

Our Amp Repair Technician Program is a special series of courses offering the fundamental knowledge base and hands-on experience and training necessary to modify and repair tube amplifiers from the standpoint of the amp repair professional. Perfect for anyone who wishes to prepare for entry into the electronics service industry.

No experience necessary.

Instruction includes lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on course work in an intensive program taught by an expert technician in a professional amp making and repair workshop.

Students will repair or modify one or more of their own tube amplifiers in this course. Students are required to bring their own tube amplifiers to class for hands on work and training.

The program bundles and arranges our Tube Amp Diagnostics and Repair I + II Courses and Amp Repair Laboratory Course sequentially so that the student can progress through a logical series of curriculums. 

Guest Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp professional and stage technician, working for an impressive roster of clientele in Nashville, the mid-south and around the globe. His extraordinary amp diagnostics curriculum is well thought out and comprehensive. Here is your chance to learn from a master amp technician who is one of the best in the business.

To enquire about this course please email info@specimenproducts.com

Tube Amp Repair I and II courses are two intensive seminars given in a series offering a complete overview of tube electronics circuits, diagnostic testing, modification, and repair techniques from the standpoint of a repair professional, through lectures, demonstrations and Q & A.

Students who have completed this course will be prepared for hands-on repair work on their own amplifiers in our Amp Repair Laboratory!

This course is a part of our Amplifier Repair Technician Program which is open to students with no electronics experience.

Guest Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp professional and stage technician, working for an impressive roster of clientele in Nashville, the mid-south and around the globe. His extraordinary amp diagnostics curriculum is well thought out and comprehensive. Here is your chance to learn from a master amp technician who is one of the best in the business.

Tube amp diagnostics and repair is equal parts science and art – there are very few places to learn it and few masters of the craft willing to divulge their hard won secrets. Students will learn the fundamentals of tube amp electronics, diagnostics and repair from the standpoint of the electronics repair professional. This course is the perfect choice for the beginner.

No prior electronics experience necessary.

Students who complete this course or who already have a grasp of these fundamentals may continue their training in Tube Amp Diagnostics and Repair II course.

Tube Amp Repair I and II courses are offered in series at significant savings.

More than just the keys to a vocational opportunity – here’s a chance to learn tube amp electronics and professional diagnostic and repair techniques from a master technician.

Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp and stage technician working for an impressive roster of clientele in Nashville, the mid-south and around the globe. His extraordinary amp diagnostics curriculum is well thought out and comprehensive. Here is your chance to learn from a master amp technician who is one of the best in the business.

This course is a part of our Amplifier Repair Technician Program which is open to students with no electronics experience.

Students will learn about advanced diagnostic and repair techniques, how to modify tube amps for optimal sound, and how get the most out of advanced diagnostic tools and equipment from a master amp repair professional in this course. Pre-requisite: CSGM Tube Amp Diagnostics & Repair I – or similar experience.

Student who have completed this course will be well prepared for our Tube Amp Repair Laboratory.

More than just the keys to a vocational opportunity – here’s a chance to learn tube amp electronics and professional diagnostic and repair techniques from a master technician.

Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp and stage technician working for an impressive roster of clientele in Nashville, the mid-south and around the globe. His extraordinary amp diagnostics curriculum is well thought out and comprehensive. Here is your chance to learn from a master amp technician who is one of the best in the business.

This course is a part of our Amplifier Repair Technician Program which is open to students with no electronics experience.

Our Tube Amp Repair Laboratory teaches the techniques and skills necessary for the amplifier service technician through hands-on testing and repair operations, observation and discussions. Designed for students with a fundamental electronics knowledge base this course is taught from the standpoint of the amp repair professional. Perfect for anyone who wishes to prepare for entry into the electronics service and repair industry. 

Students will perform diagnostics tests, evaluation, analysis, and repair or modifications operations on their own tube amplifiers. Student amp service operations are supervised and guided by the instructor under observation of students in class.  They will observe and discuss all amp diagnostics tests and repairs performed by students in the class, broadening their understanding of a variety of  amps, repair problems and practical applications.

Students are required to bring one or more of their own tube amplifiers to repair or modify in this course.

PRE-REQUISITE: Tube Amp Repair I + II Courses or similar electronics experience.

This course is a part of our Amplifier Repair Technician Program which is open to students with no electronics experience.

Please contact us if you have questions about this course and pre-requisite experience at info@specimenproducts.com

Instructor Kye Kennedy brings decades of experience as an amp technician working for an impressive roster of clientele in Nashville, the mid-south and around the globe. His extraordinary amp repair curriculum is well thought out and comprehensive. Here is your chance to learn from an expert who is one of the best in the business. Seize this opportunity to advance your electronics knowledge and skills guided by a master amp technician!