Watch a Master Luthier Build a Guitar (from scratch)

Join us as we travel to Michael Bashkin's workshop to make an acoustic guitar from scratch. Michael is not only a master luthier, but one of the top names in the world when it comes to building a finely-made steel string acoustic guitar. He's generously invited the StewMac team in for a peek behind the curtain into his process. We hope you enjoy it!

Special thanks to Michael Bashkin! Check out his enlightening podcast collaboration with Fretboard Journal, "Luthier on Luthier", on your favorite streaming platform.
Instagram @bashkin_guitars

All music in the video was performed by Sean McGowan, as well as the final live performance. Huge thanks to Sean!
Instagram @seanmcgowanguitar

If you're thinking of starting or continuing your own guitar building adventures, StewMac has everything you're looking for. Here are just a few of the items you might be looking for to build your own acoustic guitar:

Video Chapters:
0:00 Choosing your wood
2:52 Joining the back and sides
7:56 The rosette
14:20 Bending sides
17:28 Linings
21:24 Bracing
35:23 Gluing the back on
36:40 Voicing the open box
37:27 Gluing the top on
40:15 Cleaning up the sides
42:09 Voicing the closed box
43:57 Binding and purfling
51:01 Rough carving the neck
54:50 The headstock overlay
1:00:18 Installing the truss rod & fingerboard
1:03:54 Fine tuning the neck
1:06:52 Setting the neck angle
1:09:49 Fitting the neck to the body
1:12:18 Final sanding
1:14:10 Pore filling
1:23:20 Sealer & lacquer
1:28:46 Wet sanding & buffing
1:31:02 Final fitting of neck and body
1:32:48 Installing frets
1:35:18 Installing tuners
1:37:10 Gluing on the bridge
1:39:27 Making the nut & saddle
1:41:57 Stringing up
1:44:24 Fine tuning & playing

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Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar

[stewmac]

We are thrilled to finally release this epic build video after a year of planning, shooting and editing! HUGE thanks to Michael Bashkin for generously opening his workshop to us. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Cheers! 😊🎬

[chadfengel]

I haven’t touched my guitar since my dog passed 2 years ago. She loved to listen to me play and without her here I lost all desire. I know, I’m weak!! After 2 years and 4 months I got my guitar out and it’s because of this video. I even got to snuggle my dog for the first time in my dreams and I can’t tell you how much I needed that and I don’t care how pathetic that sounds. I needed this video, and I thank you’s for making it.

[charliedillon]

I didn't know who this guy is, but I live in his town and I randomly took a $400 Chinese Alvarez acoustic guitar to him to get a set up done. He took the time to check out my cheap guitar and made a few minor tweaks to it. Never once did I feel an ounce of snobbery from him. Later, I looked at his website and found out his level, lol! Good dude!

[AndrewRembel]

This is the most meticulous guitar build I have ever seen. It would be a huge privilege to own one of these guitars.

[jeremypappenfus]

OMG!! The ending is epic!! Michael’s craftsmanship is second to none. Thank you for putting this together and sharing it with the world.

[ctsingletrack]

This guitar, and this video are masterpieces. I was lucky enough to have been gifted a guitar from a local luthier. All my friends and family came together to present it to me for my 40th birthday. The builder came to my party and presented the guitar to me in person. To this day, I still tear up thinking about it. The guitar itself has volume and tone like nothing else. It was built with some rare wood that had to be harvested from an antique door that he bought in New Orleans, and had shipped back to Connecticut. I'm sitting here looking at this instrument now with even more appreciation after watching this video.

[CarolinaLandshark]

Wow...THANK YOU Michael. Very kind of you to open your shop and give us a peak behind the curtain at how you build guitars. Best wishes, Mark.

[lennymcdonald]

Michael, We met at Swannanoa back in 2009, and you were the only person who gave me honest and critical feedback on one of my earlier guitars. I really appreciated that. You have an amazing eye for detail. I’ve thought about your feedback many times over the years, and I’ve tried to up my game with every build. Thanks for being honest with an aspiring builder, and thanks for generously offering your time and opening your shop to us in this amazing video!

[stephenbamford]

Mr. Bashkin is clearly a master of luthiering. His command of the technology and artistry is legendary. This presentation's well-done and worth every minute of time watching whether one is a luthier or not. Without doubt, the Stradivari's and Jurado's of the 1700's and 1800's were at the pinnacle of those times' developments. Without doubt, Mr. Bashkin is, in my opinion, worthy of such recognition. And special thanks to the folks of Stew-Mac and YouTube for making this presentation available to common folk like me.

[RandyWillcox]

I was just gonna watch a few minutes of this for nostalgic purposes. An hour and 49 minutes ❤

[shanetapp]

My gosh I wish I had the money to give this man for one of these gorgeous machines.
I can only imagine these being so highly sought after so many years after they are made.
Take a long hard look people, super heroes are real... this level of luthiering is a lot more rare than you know.
Just wow.

[edmiller]

As an amateur builder, I am in awe of Michael’s talent and attention to every aspect of building an acoustic guitar. Very impressed and inspired. Thank you for sharing.

[droid]

As a classical/acoustic lutherie student, you have no idea how helpful this is to get new perspectives on how others make guitars. Thank you Michael for letting the StewMac guys in, and thank you StewMac for uploading this.

[TheyBeingMyBand]

The camera work, angle choices and editing were as good as the guitar. Nice job!

[pauljoseph]

Wow…minus his luthier knowledge, this man is STILL a master woodworker of the highest caliber. I’m glad that he’s found customers who are willing to pay what his masterpieces are worth.

[brianfort]

Had definitely heard of Bashkin guitars. What a fabulous way to get acquainted with his work. Unbelievable intimacy in such a level of master craftsmanship. Didn’t know his bar was so high….. second to none. His techniques for specific build steps were unique from some of the other world’s top builders. I could watch him for days on end.
Now the whole world can delight themselves in knowing Michael Bashkin.
Bravo Stewart MacDonald for your choice of him for your video excellence!!!

[gmill]

I've watched this entire video twice now, and am absolutely floored by both the craftsmanship and the film making that went into this project. As both a guitarist and Colorado native, this was an especially meaningful, eye opening experience for me. Thank you.

[steveorc]

Refreshing in this tech age to see that there are some things a computer can't do and it takes the incredible skill and craftsmanship of a human to accomplish.

[Mrguitarcraze]

For everyone watching what he’s doing, which is great, make note of the most important tool in the mix, an optivisor, this will change your life when you work on things. It’s in the details.

[bdubz]

As a Luthier myself, I really enjoyed this video and Bashkins attention to detail, especially back and soundboard tuning. Every Luthier has their preferred tonewoods they like to pair up, this was a nice insight as to Bashkins choices and why. Thanks for sharing this video.