9voltchicken
Aspiring Luthier
Greetings once again.
I am currently attending Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. This thread will cover the progress of the three builds I have underway. I will also answer any questions you may have about the school and give my opinions warts-and-all of my experiences here. Keep in mind you are not allowed to use outside materials for your guitar builds. There are other electives available. I've already registered for pickup winding, french polishing, metallic patina finishing, and advanced electronics.
Two of the three builds will are required to be "industry standard" involving everything from scale length to wood choices. I'll list the specs and choices our class was given.
Student Electric:
Neck joint: bolt-on, PRS set neck style, or Gibson set neck style. For bolt-on style we're given a choice between scarf jointed or flat fender style. Maple only for bolt-on
Scale Length: Gibson 24 5/8", PRS 25", or Fender 25.5"
Strings: 6
Radius: Compound 12-16"
Fretboard: Ebony or Rosewood
Top Wood: Whatever is in stock
Body Wood: Alder or Mahogony end-grain matched
Student Acoustic:
Acoustic type: Orchestra Model (OM), or your classic Martin dreadnaught.
Scale: Martin 25.4"
Radius: 12"
Fretboard: Ebony or Rosewood
Top wood: Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, or Western Red Cedar
Back and Side wood: Whatever is in stock
Possible 3rd Instrument: Whatever you want
______________________________________________
My acoustic specs:
Dreadnaught style
25.4" martin long scale
Ebony fretboard
Sitka spruce top
Mango wood back and sides
Flame maple/ebony b/w/b binding
Ebony/Abalone rosette
Fishman Matrix Infinity acoustic pickup
Grover tuners
My electric specs:
Blackmachine inspired
25.5" scale
24 frets
Bolt on maple neck w/ scarf joint.
Ebony fretboard
Curly Bubinga top
Mahogony body
Ivoroid binding
Dimarzio Dominion w/ black covers
Hipshot tuners
Vol/tone/5way
My 3rd instrument specs:
Strandberg. 'Nuff said.
25" - 26 1/8" scale
7 strings
24 frets
20" radius
Neck through 5 piece Madagascar Rosewood/Maple neck
Ziricote Fretboard
Walnut crotch top
Ash body (possibly chambered)
Bridge: Deathbar 3.5" Neck: X-Bar 3.5"
Black EGS hardware
Vol/3way/variable split
__________________________________________________
My acoustic back is a little washed out here. There are more tans/reds/greens that aren't shown. Much softer than rosewood. More closely resembles Ash.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img12/7018/7nba.jpg)
Here's my electric top that I've jointed and glued. Almost has a 3d look to it in person.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img713/830/t0my.jpg)
Mahogony body blank. This weighs a hair more than 16 lbs. quite a hunk of wood.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img841/5884/k5mw.jpg)
Feel free to ask me anything about the school.
I am currently attending Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. This thread will cover the progress of the three builds I have underway. I will also answer any questions you may have about the school and give my opinions warts-and-all of my experiences here. Keep in mind you are not allowed to use outside materials for your guitar builds. There are other electives available. I've already registered for pickup winding, french polishing, metallic patina finishing, and advanced electronics.
Two of the three builds will are required to be "industry standard" involving everything from scale length to wood choices. I'll list the specs and choices our class was given.
Student Electric:
Neck joint: bolt-on, PRS set neck style, or Gibson set neck style. For bolt-on style we're given a choice between scarf jointed or flat fender style. Maple only for bolt-on
Scale Length: Gibson 24 5/8", PRS 25", or Fender 25.5"
Strings: 6
Radius: Compound 12-16"
Fretboard: Ebony or Rosewood
Top Wood: Whatever is in stock
Body Wood: Alder or Mahogony end-grain matched
Student Acoustic:
Acoustic type: Orchestra Model (OM), or your classic Martin dreadnaught.
Scale: Martin 25.4"
Radius: 12"
Fretboard: Ebony or Rosewood
Top wood: Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, or Western Red Cedar
Back and Side wood: Whatever is in stock
Possible 3rd Instrument: Whatever you want
______________________________________________
My acoustic specs:
Dreadnaught style
25.4" martin long scale
Ebony fretboard
Sitka spruce top
Mango wood back and sides
Flame maple/ebony b/w/b binding
Ebony/Abalone rosette
Fishman Matrix Infinity acoustic pickup
Grover tuners
My electric specs:
Blackmachine inspired
25.5" scale
24 frets
Bolt on maple neck w/ scarf joint.
Ebony fretboard
Curly Bubinga top
Mahogony body
Ivoroid binding
Dimarzio Dominion w/ black covers
Hipshot tuners
Vol/tone/5way
My 3rd instrument specs:
Strandberg. 'Nuff said.
25" - 26 1/8" scale
7 strings
24 frets
20" radius
Neck through 5 piece Madagascar Rosewood/Maple neck
Ziricote Fretboard
Walnut crotch top
Ash body (possibly chambered)
Bridge: Deathbar 3.5" Neck: X-Bar 3.5"
Black EGS hardware
Vol/3way/variable split
__________________________________________________
My acoustic back is a little washed out here. There are more tans/reds/greens that aren't shown. Much softer than rosewood. More closely resembles Ash.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img12/7018/7nba.jpg)
Here's my electric top that I've jointed and glued. Almost has a 3d look to it in person.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img713/830/t0my.jpg)
Mahogony body blank. This weighs a hair more than 16 lbs. quite a hunk of wood.
![](http://imageshack.us/a/img841/5884/k5mw.jpg)
Feel free to ask me anything about the school.