I offer one-on-one and small group guitar building instruction at my shop in Parker, Colorado. If you are building your own guitar and need a little help or advice along the way, we can set up a time for you to get the help you need so you can get on to the next step in building your  guitar. We can also build a complete guitar together. Contact me to set up an appointment.

My 2010 private teaching schedule

May 21-28 - One on one classical or steel string - $2500 + materials (approx. $400)

Build you own classical or steel string guitar under my supervision in my shop. We will work for 8-10 hours per day. Your guitar will be strung up and playable in the “white”.  For an extra $200 you can extend the class for 2 more days and learn my French polish method and apply it to your guitar.   

July 9-16 - One on one classical or steel string - $2500 + materials (approx. $400)

See description above.

July 21-25 - Small group classical or steel string - $900

In this class a maximum of 4 students will be able to watch me as I build a classical or steel string guitar in my shop. You can take as many pictures and make as many notes as you want. There will be time for questions and answers. This is an opportunity for those that have already built a few guitars to see first hand how I build my guitars. It is also good for those that are thinking about building a guitar to actually see how I do it and what it takes to build a guitar. The guitar will be for sale at the end of the class at a discount over my commissioned guitars.

July 26-27 - French Polish - $400

Learn my modern day approach to the traditional art of French polish. In this two day class you will learn surface prep, pore filling and how to apply a French polish that can be rubbed out to a high gloss or satin sheen. Class will be held 4 hours each day.

                         

Here is what a recent student had to say about studying with me.

“I recently completed a ten day guitar building course with Robbie O’Brien. I whole heartedly endorse Robbie and his teaching method. If you are at all thinking about learning to build a guitar you should strongly consider studying with Robbie. I found Robbie to be generous with his time and knowledge. I cannot think of a better way to learn guitar building than ten days with Robbie.”  Stephen Boone

Here is a video of Stephen’s Class

 

In addition to teaching  classes at my personal shop, I also teach guitar building, French polishing and other guitar finishing courses at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado.  Everyone is welcome to drop by and see the facilities and how we build the guitars. Over the past five years we have built approx. 250 guitars in the department. Below are some links to pictures from past semesters. 

My instructional DVDs on classical, steel string and electric guitar building as well as Guitar Finishing are also a valuable source of information and will answer many of your questions.

Join the O’Brien invitation only guitar building forum! This is an invitation only forum offering instructional information on classical and steel string guitar building and finishing. It is open to all of my current and past students as well as those who have purchased one or more of my instructional  DVD’s. This forum will allow students to post their questions about my building technique and get them answered by me and others who have encountered the same problems or questions. I will use this forum to announce updates to my current DVD’s and promote upcoming DVD’s and classes. If you are eligible to join my forum and would like to, please send me an email to robiii65@hotmail.com explaining your eligibility and intentions to join.  I look forward to having an exchange of information and ideas on guitar building an finishing.   

Kent Everett ( www.everettguitars.com ) comes to Colorado every year and teaches guitar building master classes at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood. His latest class was a top voicing masterclass. Check out the pictures of this class and others in the gallery below.    

Spring 2010 Finishing Class Spring 2010 Spring 09 Spring 08 Kent Everett Spring 09 Fretting Master Class Kent Everett set up class Spring 07 Kent Everett Fall 07 masterclass Kent Everett 08 voicing class Kent Everett 08 set up class    1 / 2  Next