Passion for guitars
As a teenager I started to learn music theory and I played the cornet at the local music band. Later guitars followed and I wanted to know the fine arts of setting up guitars. I wanted to know precisely how a guitar exactly works, what the principles and mechanics are that all together make your guitar better playable and nicer sounding. Finally I traveled several times to the US and to the UK to learn more.
Galloup School of Guitar Building and Repair, Michigan, USA
Galloup School is a reference for luthiers of guitar makers and -repairers. The School, situated in Big Rapids, Michigan, is founded about 50 years ago by Dan Erlewine en is now run by Bryan Galloup of Galloup Guitars.
- Handicrafting a bone nut for an electric or acoustic guitar and handicrafting a bone bridge saddle for an acoustic guitar.
- Fretting a guitar neck by means of the Erlewine neck jig. Using this technique the string tension on the guitar neck is simulated with the strings removed. This way it is so much easier to work on a straight guitar neck, while the measurements and the adaptations can be done horizontally and in playing position.
- Fret leveling, which is an efficient option when frets are uneven and the guitar is hard to setup. Here also the Erlewine neck jig is used.
- Setup and stringing of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, classical guitars and guitars with a Floyd Rose system.
Guitar Tech Courses Academy, Heathfield, UK
James Collins did his studies for guitar building and repair at the Galloup School in Michigan, USA. Since 2008 he’s running his company 12th Fret Guitar Setup and Repair, a recognized Gibson Repair Centre in the UK. James is also commercialising his own handmade guitars via his company James Collins Guitars.
- Pro Guitar setup course: setup, stringing and maintenance of guitars.
- Build your own Guitar course: build your guitar yourself starting from a chosen guitar body and neck. My preference went to a red Jazzmaster guitar.
- Online Pro Guitar setup course: many dozens of video lessons, in which James step by step explains all details of the setup and maintenance techniques, paying attention to the various brands of guitars.
I attended some workshops from Marc Terreur and together we organised two guitar workshops in the Guitar Saloon.
You’re welcome to attend workshops “Setup your own guitar” in the Guitar Saloon. You learn the tricks of the trade in an oak construction, which reminds you to the authentic America en which feels as staying in the Far West between cowboys and cowgirls.
During the 4-hour workshops the participants learn the general principles for setting up guitars. They take care of their own guitars for setup, stringing and maintenance. The workshops take place on Wednesday afternoon or a Saturday morning. On demand extra setup days can be booked.
