Learn to Build Guitars: Luthiery Coaching & Instruction
Learn how to build guitars with live, personalized luthiery coaching from a professional luthier and guitar-building teacher with over twenty years of experience. Whether you're starting your first acoustic guitar build, developing your luthiery skills, or working through an advanced guitar construction project, choose a single 20 minute session or a package of 30 minute sessions to move forward with confidence. This is instruction in the craft of building guitars — not guitar-playing lessons.
Jay also teaches Steel String Acoustic Guitar Construction at Red Rocks Community College — the course where his own luthiery began — and brings that same open, no-gatekeeping teaching style to every session.
Coaching covers every stage of the craft — acoustic guitar construction, voicing, and finishing. Explore custom acoustic guitars from the bench, browse my repair & setup services, or get in touch with any questions.
Session Topics
Tool & Technique Help
Get real-time feedback on your hand tool technique, jig setups, and workflow.
Build Planning
Plan out your next build — wood selection, bracing patterns, body shapes, and specs.
Troubleshooting
Stuck on a problem? We'll diagnose finish issues, structural concerns, or setup problems together.
Finishing
Master UV finishes, french polish, and hand rubbed oil finishes to bring your guitar to life.
Tone & Acoustics
Understand how your construction choices affect the sound of your guitar.
Voicing Your Guitar Top
Learn how to tap tune, thin, and flex your top to achieve the resonance and response you're after.
Coaching Packages
Single Session
20 min
A focused one-off session to tackle a specific problem or question.
- One 20-minute Google Meet call
- Screen share & video walkthrough
- Follow-up notes via email
Builder Bundle
4 × 30 min
Four sessions to guide you through a major build phase or technique.
- Four 30-minute Google Meet calls
- Priority scheduling
- Build progress review each session
- Follow-up notes via email
Full Build Mentorship
16 × 30 min
Comprehensive support from first cut to final setup on a complete build.
- Sixteen 30-minute Google Meet calls
- Flexible scheduling throughout your build
- Wood selection consultation
- Detailed session summaries
- Direct email access between sessions
Book a Session
Sessions are held via Google Meet · Mountain Time (MT)
