This hands-on course introduces STEM concepts during a real-world guitar building experience. Each student will focus on using specialized tools, techniques and craftsmanship to design and fabricate a custom hollow body acoustic guitar. Each student will follow a rigorous academic schedule which develops skills across disciplines including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students will keep their guitar once it is completed.
STEM 1512 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify components of an acoustic guitar. - Technology
- Describing wood species and their attendant environment issues. - Science
- Create proper acoustic-guitar headstock design features. - Engineering
- Solve math problems relative to all aspects of guitar design & fabrication, such as fretboard layout. - Math
- Select proper finishes for acoustic guitars based on their acoustic properties, as well as their chemistry and compatibility. - Science
- Identify and describe the various physical-science aspects of the guitar. - Science
- Identify and describe the use of simple machines and mechanical systems in a guitar. - Engineering
- Demonstrate the appropriate and safe use of specialized hand and power tools, emphasizing the care, adjusting, and sharpening of these tools. - Technology
- Apply design and assembly skills to achieve a playable instrument. - Technology
Topical Outline
Week 1, Introduction STEM Guitar II – Acoustic
Learning Objectives:
Explore the history of Guitarbuilding.org
Review the types of builds at Guitarbuilding.org
Define the typical KCC acoustic build.
Describe and discuss the need for PPE in the lab area, specifically focusing on safety glasses, hearing protection, and dust masks.
Assemble the bent sides, neck block, and tail block of the soundbox.
In-Class Activities:
Review Syllabus
Review Canvas
Sign photo/video release
Review safety procedures
Sign KCC Safety Contract
Hand out guitar bent sides, neck block, tail block, and body forms
Review gluing procedures.
Prepare to glue the bent sides to the end blocks.
Glue rim to end blocks.
Week 2, Constructing the Soundbox - I
Learning Objectives:
Visually identify and properly name the components of a hollow-body acoustic guitar on a pictorial diagram of a guitar or on an actual, physical guitar.
Analyze an acoustic-guitar manufacturing plan.
Demonstrate proper use of the tools used in the fabrication of acoustic guitars.
Describe, and demonstrate the basic steps in the process sharpening edged, cutting tools, and deploying them safely in their appropriate uses.
Install the kerfing.
Create a 25-foot radius to the bent sides.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 2 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Create a 25’ radius to each side of the rim.
Glue in the kerfing.
Create a 25’ radius to each side of the rim with kerfing.
Week 3, Constructing the Soundbox - II
Learning Objectives:
Calculate quantities of materials, costs, and sizes of an acoustic guitar in a spreadsheet.
Analysis of costs and benefits of critical guitar components.
Analyze the real-world problem of wood-species extinction relative to the legacy materials used in guitar construction.
Define the concept of “tone woods,” list at least three of these, and describe their specific uses in acoustic guitars.
Assemble soundbox top bracing.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 3 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Prepare to glue the top bracing to the top.
Draw a center line on the backside of the spruce top.
Dry fit all top bracing pieces to the spruce top.
Locate the bracing from the top.
Use locating tool for proper placement of the bracing to the spruce top.
Glue the bracing to the spruce top using the go-bar deck.
Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #1
Week 4, Constructing the Soundbox - III
Learning Objectives:
Explain and demonstrate how to nondestructively bend and form thin pieces of wood to create curved forms for soundbox sides.
Visualize relationships between two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects.
Assemble the top bracing to the soundbox.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 4 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Remove DO NOT GLUE pieces.
Prepare to notch the top kerfing.
Notch the kerfing.
Trim the top with a bandsaw.
Glue the top to the rim using spool clamps.
Week 5, Back Bracing and Rim Preparation
Learning Objectives:
Make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods.
Apply geometric methods to solve design problems.
Assemble the back bracing.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 6 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Draw a centerline on the inside face of the guitar back.
Glue on back bracing to the back.
Notch the rim for the rear bracing ends.
Apply 1/4 inch radius to the ends of the neck
Week 5, Routing the Neck Pocket
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate how to read a ruler.
Demonstrate precision measurement and marking out of measurements.
Discuss the significance of material-hardness relative to the process of sharpening edged, cutting tools for wood working.
Create the neck pocket with a router.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 5 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Flush trim the entire top perimeter with a router.
Prepare to rout the neck pocket.
Insert the open-ended insert.
Drill a hole in the center of the neck pocket.
Set the router bit.
Router the neck pocket.
Router for the neck shims.
Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #2
Week 7, Neck Glue-up
Learning Objectives:
Explain and demonstrate how deflection can result from the interaction of tension and compression in a guitar neck’s truss rod.
Explain and demonstrate the direction of torque on a truss-rod adjusting nut to cause an upward deflection in the middle of the guitar neck.
Explain and demonstrate the direction of torque on a truss-rod adjusting nut to cause a downward deflection in the middle of the guitar neck.
Assemble the fretboard to the neck.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 7 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
In-Class Activities:
Locate the fretboard on the neck.
Prepare to tack the fretboard to the neck.
Put the neck and fretboard together.
Take the neck and fretboard apart.
Using rubber bands, glue your neck and fretboard together.
Remove the rubber bands after 45 minutes.
Week 8, Neck Fitting and Attachment,
Learning Objectives:
Fit the neck to the body.
Assemble the neck to the body.
Install side dots
Install fret dots * Optional
Create the fretboard radius
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
In-Class Activities:
Trim the edges of the neck flush with the edges of the fretboard.
Locate and drill two 1/8 inch diameter holes through the neck and fretboard.
Place the neck in the neck pocket and drill through the neck into the neck block.
Enlarge the holes in the neck and countersink.
Attach the neck using two 2” long drywall screws.
The fretboard end may be cut off.
Remove the neck and set aside.
Install side dots.
Install fret dots * Optional
Create fretboard radius.
Week 9, Attaching the Bridge
Learning Objectives:
Locate the bridge to the body.
Attach the bridge to the body.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 9 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Prepare to locate and attach the bridge.
Sand the backside of the bridge to conform to the radius of the top.
Verify the string saddle fits into the bridge.
Use the bridge locating template to establish the bridge position.
Use a pencil to transfer the location of the two outer E strings to the guitar top.
You will glue the bridge to the guitar top.
Use the USGKIT bridge clamp to adhere the bridge to the body.
Places scrap bits of wood on the ends of the bridge.
Check if more clamping force is needed.
If you have glued the bridge on well, the entire bridge will be adhered to the top with no glue squeeze-out.
Allow the glue to dry 45 minutes and remove the bridge clamp.
Guitar Progress Check #3
Week 10, Gluing on the Back, Flushing the Edges and Shaping the Neck Rear Contour
Learning Objectives:
Attach the back to the body.
Flush the edges
Shape the neck rear contour.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the fretboard.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 10 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal.
In-Class Activities:
Prepare to trim the back to slightly oversize.
Remove the bracing pieces labeled “DO NOT GLUE”
Glue the back to the rim using spool clamps.
Rout all remaining back edges flush
Scrape and sand the top and back flush to the sides.
Round the edges of the top and back of the guitar.
Shape the neck rear contour.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the fretboard
Week 11, Frets
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate understanding of the concepts of string instrument scale length and how fret locations are determined by calculation when given the scale length of the string instrument.
Explain sound frequency and wavelength.
Explain and demonstrate the frequency difference between the vibration of an open string and that same string shortened to the 12th fret.
Explain guitar “scale length.”
Define a plan of parallel operations for guitar fabrication.
Prepare fretboard for fret install.
Install frets.
File fret ends.
Level frets.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 11 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Preparing the fretboard.
Install frets.
File fret ends.
Level frets.
Apply two more coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
Week 12, Headstock
Learning Objectives:
Calculate how much a string post has turned based on a knob-turn amount expressed as degrees or fractional turns.
Calculate the linear distance of a string movement the post diameter, gearing ratio, and number of knob turns.
Create the headstock shape.
Install the tuners.
Install the string nut.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 12 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Sand a 17 degree angle from vertical in the end of the ebony headplate.
Glue the headplate to the headstock.
Create a peghead shape and locate the six tuner holes.
Cut the headstock on the bandsaw.
Install the tuners.
Install the string nut.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the neck only.
Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #4
Week 13, Final Assembly - I
Learning Objectives:
Attach the neck.
Fit the bridge saddle and pins
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 13 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
In-Class Activities:
Neck attachment overview.
Attach the neck to the body.
Verify that the fretboard extension is not pressing on the spruce top.
Fit your bridge saddle.
Fit the bridge pins.
Week 14, Final Assembly - II
Learning Objectives:
Define acoustic strings
Install the strings.
Perform open tuning.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 14 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
In-Class Activities:
Install the strings.
Perform open tuning.
Week 15, Guitar Setup
Learning Objectives:
Adjust string height.
Adjust truss rods.
Perform open tuning.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 15 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
In-Class Activities:
Measure the bridge string height.
Measure the first fret string height.
Filing the nut slots.
Verify the neck relief.
Changing the neck shims if needed.
Perform truss rod adjustment.
Perform open tuning.
Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #5
Week 16, The Finishing Touches
Learning Objectives:
Describe intonation basics.
Perform final intonation.
Before-Class Activities:
Reading and viewing assignment – Online
Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 16 Wednesday 5:15 PM
Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
In-Class Activities:
Perform intonation
Finals Week, Final Guitar Quality Evaluation
In-Class Activities:
Exit survey
Acoustic guitar quality evaluation
Class photo
Guitar jam