How to Build a Classical Guitar

A well-built classical guitar is a work of art as much as it is an instrument to produce beautiful music. The curves and lines of a classical-styled guitar are elegant, and the sounds produced when all the elements of great guitar making come into play are magical. There's nothing like the pride and satisfaction that come with playing a guitar you built yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Semi-finished neck Semi-finished body Fret board Truss rod File Sound hole border Pick guard Frets Fret cutting tool Vise clamp Router Bridge Nut Tuning keys French polish or lacquer Guitar strings

Instructions

1. 

   Purchase semi-finished neck and body pieces from a luthier supply shop in your choice of woods. Different woods produce different tones. Some of the tones are bright, and some will produce warmer, richer tones. Classical guitars often use one type of wood for the top and another for the back and sides. Redwood, spruce, and cedar make good tops. Rosewood, walnut, and mahogany are popular choices for the backs and sides. The neck of the guitar can be the same as the back of the body, or a completely different wood altogether.

2. Check the semi-finished neck of the guitar for imperfections. It should be completely smooth and straight. The truss rod seating and the frets slots will already be cut. Use very light sandpaper to remove any rough spots. Stain the neck and apply French polish or lacquer coating. Set it aside to dry.

3. Check the top, back, and side pieces for imperfections. Smooth any rough spots, and then glue the three pieces together. Use clamps to hold the pieces together until they have dried for several hours.

4. Match the ebony fingerboard to the top of your guitar's neck, and clamp it in place. You'll use a fret-cutting tool (available at luthier supply shops) to cut fret slots matched to those already in the neck of your guitar.

5. Remove the fingerboard and place the truss rod in the seating chamber. You do not need to glue it in place. You can, however, add some silicone gel to prevent rattling if you desire. If the fit is as snug as it should be, though, this isn't necessary.

6. Glue the fretboard to the neck of the classical guitar and install the frets.Clamp the fingerboard and let it dry first. Give it twenty-four hours, and then install the frets. Each fret is seated and tapped into place using a rubber hammer. When you've finished securing the frets, ensure they are level by placing a yardstick along the length of the neck and checking to make sure contact is even all the way down. File the edges of the frets smooth. Run your fingers along both sides of the neck to make sure this has been accomplished. Glue the nut to the top of the neck at this time.

7. Stain the body of the guitar and apply lacquer or French Polish. Once the body of your classical guitar has dried, glue the sound hole border and a pick guard to the top of the body. You may not want a pick guard. The choice is yours. Many classical guitars don't use one. Glue the bridge to your guitar at this time.

8. Holes for the tuning keys will already be in place. The tuning keys come with everything you need to install them. Follow the included directions and assemble the tuning key mechanism, and then install the tining keys to the head stock. You'll need a Phillips head screwdriver to do this.

9. 

   Glue the neck to the body. Seating in the neck joint should be a tight fit. Let the instrument dry for a full day before you string it. When the classical guitar has dried thoroughly, it's time to put the strings on and tune it up. Use nylon strings. This is what most classical guitar players prefer. Tune the guitar with an electronic tuner, bringing the strings up to pitch.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Stewart MacDonald Luthier Supplies
• Project Guitar
• BuildYourGuitar.com
• Building a Classical Guitar from Scratch Video