1 on 1 Guitar Building Classes
Isaac taking the 7 Day course in 2025
If you’ve ever had the idea of building your own guitar, but didn’t feel you had the space, equipment, or knowhow then I have some good news! JKM Guitars now runs private 1 on 1 guitar building classes to help you build the instrument of your dreams!
These classes will be held in the Northern Ireland workshop in Dromore, County Down, and will allow you to learn and construct every element of you instrument, from wood selection to stringing it up.
The classes will be entirely solo, so you will have the undivided attention of the teacher, Master Luthier Jacob Menear, who has been making instruments since 2008 and who has clients from all over the world.
The class will start with finding out what sort of instrument you want to build via phone call, facetime or workshop visit. All of the details can then be decided, such as type of instrument, materials and any other custom details. We will also decide what sort of lesson structure would help you best, either 1 day a week, a 7 Day intensive course, or an alternate schedule to fit your needs.
Once the materials have been chosen and paid for, along with the first set of lessons/course, then the guitar building can begin!
The lessons can either be done in 3 hour sessions once per week, full day (7 hour) sessions, or 7 days in a row. These sessions can also be used by more confident makers that want to improve a certain element of your building knowledge, such as bindings, fretwork, set up etc.
Once the instrument has been completed, not only will you have the great satisfaction of knowing you built an instrument you can be proud of, but you will also a new wealth of knowledge in many areas of woodworking and instrument building. You will have access to a fully stocked workshop, with a large range of hand tools, specialist equipment, some larger machines and a Shaper Origin CNC.
No wood working experience is necessary, so all levels of skill will be able to make an instrument to enjoy! To book your classes, just send a message through the contacts page, or call to discuss your new guitar.
Terms and Conditions, as well as pricing, can be found in the document link below.
7 Day Intensive Classes
Monday
Sunday
The 7 Day Intensive Course is designed for those who want to learn and make their own beautiful instrument, but are restricted in the time that they have available. Spanning a full week, this 7 day course will allow you to complete a full body acoustic guitar, experiencing all the elements of the construction including joining tops, wood preparation, bracing, carving, fret work, side bending, neck carving and set up.
Due to the restricted time on this course, only full body acoustic guitars can be made, without any extra ornamentation or customisation (so no fan fret, arm bevels, sound ports, or crazy inlays!). It will also mean that some days during the week can be quite long, ranging from ten to 12 hours to ensure that certain parts are glued up overnight before beginning the next stage, but this will be entirely dependant on how quickly you work.
An oil finish will be used (currently Rubio Monocoat) in order to have the guitar ready in time, this will give a satin open pored look to the instrument, so if you are after a high gloss finish this would not be possible in the time available.
Of course, I will be on hand throughout, to help keep things on track during the week. At the end of the 7 days, you will return home with a complete guitar that you’ve built yourself, as well as all the new knowledge and skills you have acquired along the way.
The price for the 7 day intensive will be £2250 + Parts.
For more information, or discuss what course would suit your needs, please get in touch.