Category Archives: Finishing

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Uncategorized, Videos

Stringing Up and Playing the Parlor Guitar Prototype for the First Time

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am stringing up, adjusting the saddle height and playing Guitar #86 for the first time!

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Jigs, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Guitar #106 | Full Build with Commentary from the Luthier

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making: A full guitar build from start to finish! I give detailed commentary including guitar building techniques and analysis of the finished instrument. Guitar #106 is an Orchestra Model with a 25.34″ Scale, Sitka Spruce soundboard, and Nicaraguan Rosewood back and sides, with Macassar Ebony for the fretboard, bridge and appointments.

For the full playlist of Guitar #106: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yuallm2hNg&list=PLF1Ql6t0lWVrAGz4z7GO2cIr11xq58SRv&pp=gAQBiAQB

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Uncategorized, Videos

Guitar #106 is Finished! | A Critical Review by the Luthier

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, we take a close look at Guitar #106, an Orchestra Model with Sitka Spruce and Nicaraguan Rosewood. I discuss the guitars features and the details of its construction.

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 See Eric’s Available Instruments: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Uncategorized, Videos

Prepping the Fretboard for Fretting | Guitar #86

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am applying Tru oil to my Wenge fretboard and preparing the fret slots by filing a slight bevel in to each slot.

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/ 

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/ 

🔴 See Eric’s Available Instruments: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/ 

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Uncategorized, Videos

Fretboard Levelling on Guitar #86 and Tru Oil Finishing on Guitar #106

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am working on both my Wenge Parlor guitar and the Nicaraguan Rosewood Orchestra Model that I have in the finishing room.


The Parlor needs the fretboard levelled and radiused and the OM is receiving it’s hand-rubbed Tru Oil finish in a process similar to french polish.

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

 🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/ 

🔴 See Eric’s Available Instruments: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/ 

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Finishing, Guitar Making, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Carbon Fiber Neck Reinforcement | Scrapwood | Tru oil | Fretboard Radiusing

In this episode of DIY Guitarmaking, I am answering your questions on carbon fiber rods in guitar necks ,whether to save scrapwood or not to save it!, tru oil finishing, and applying a radius to a fretboard. The mentioned available spots for the Fall Guitar Build Workshops are as follows: September 2 – 10 (1 spot left) September 30 – October 8 (1 spot left) November 11 – 19 (1 spot left)

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 See Eric’s Available Instruments: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Finishing, Guitar Making, Jigs, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Guitar #85 | Full Build with Commentary | Part 6

The sixth part in a series detailing the construction of a Triple-O guitar, with educational commentary from the builder. This one was built with Redwood for the top, Ziricote for the back and sides, and Port Orford Cedar for the neck. This instrument has a handful of unique features: Steinberger Gearless Tuners for 40:1 tuning precision, lattice bracing for the back plate, Mother of Pearl purfling and rosette, and a new bridge shape.

In this part, I will be making a fox-style bridge clamp, gluing the bridge, routing the saddle slot, shaping the saddle, Installing the tuners, slotting the nut, and applying a Tru-Oil finish.

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 See Eric’s Available Instruments: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Shop Rounds | New Parlor Guitar Project, Setting up a Finishing Room, Dental Scrapers for Lutherie

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I talk about what is coming next after Guitar #85. We take a look at my finishing room that I am setting up for efficiently working on my hand rubbed finishes. Lastly, my new tool of the week is dental scrapers. 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/ 🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/ 🔴 Check out my available guitars: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/

All, Finishing, Guitar Making, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Guitar #85 Speaks! plus a Finish Prep Demonstration and Q&A

I tune up and play guitar #85 for the first time! Then we strip it down and begin the process of finish prep by steaming out dents, filling gaps, and fixing blemishes.

🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

🔴This guitar will be available for purchase at https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/available-instruments/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Shop Rounds | Mylar Pickguards, Endpins, Brace Chisels, Finishing Cloth

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I cover clear pickguards for fingerstyle guitars, installing endpins, Two Cherries Brace Carving Chisels, and how to remove sizing from new finish rags.

🔴 Register for an 8 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: ericschaeferguitars.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴Check out the Radial Rosette Maker jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/