Build and repair stringed instruments by hand.
Step-by-step courses in guitar making and repair — taught with the relentless pursuit of perfection, from raw tonewood to a setup that sings.
What you can expect from the bench
Fretworks is built on a single standard — do it right, or do it again. Here is the promise behind every lesson.
Real techniques, no shortcuts
Every joint, fret, and finish is taught the way working luthiers actually do it — measured, repeatable, honest.
Tools you'll actually own
We start with hand tools and a modest bench. You won't need a factory to follow along.
Answers when you're stuck
Hit a problem mid-build? You can ask, and you'll get a straight answer from someone who has made the mistake first.
From a stack of wood to an instrument that plays.
Each course follows the full arc of lutherie. Take them in sequence to go from curious beginner to confident maker — or jump straight to the repair skills you need today.
Hands-on from lesson one. You'll cut, clamp, and fret — not just watch.
- 01
Wood, tools & the workbench
Reading tonewood, setting up a small workspace, and the core hand tools every build depends on.
- 02
Bodies, necks & joints
Bracing, bending sides, carving necks, and cutting the joints that hold an instrument together for decades.
- 03
Frets, nut & action
Fretwork, slotting the nut, and dialing in a setup so the instrument plays clean across the whole neck.
- 04
Finishing & final voicing
Sealing, finishing, and the small adjustments that turn a working build into one you're proud to hand over.
- 05
Repair & restoration
Diagnosing cracks, resets, electronics, and the everyday fixes that keep instruments alive and playing.
Featured courses
Make your first instrument.
Pick up the tools, follow the bench, and chase the same standard we do: perfection, relentlessly.
Start a course