This is my third guitar build, handcrafted in Brussels, Belgium.
I used wood from a shelf to make the body, not only because Brian May is my hero, but mostly because the build started in mid April 2020, as Belgium was in complete lockdown and my usual lumber store was closed. Making this guitar may look tedious (or stupid) to you, but this was my own personal therapy during this insane period.
Update (January 2021): I've been teaching myself how to build guitars for the last 15 months, so I thought I'd share my findings with you all. Here is my first (and most likely only) tutorial on " How to make a guitar at home : a comprehensive guide for the weekend woodworkers and other guitar enthusiasts with no woodworking experience who always had the dream of building their own guitar but never really knew where to start" :
thworld.info/to/rKOV0pPQzoVx138/w-d-xo
For those who wonder why I even had a sapele shelf in the first place, full story here : imgur.com/gallery/I3T7h2R
0:00 Little sound demo
0:19 Top and back
5:19 Sides
9:42 Neck and fretboard
19:59 Finish and electronics
24:52 Beauty shots!
Here are the specs:
- Sapele top and back
- Mahogany & sapele sides (two plys)
- Wenge & mahogany laminated neck
- Ebony fretboard
- 628,65 mm (24"3/4) scale, 22 jumbo frets (6105) with ebony fretboard binding
- Seymour Duncan hot rodded pickups (SH on the neck , JB on the bridge), two volumes two tones (CTS, all audio, 500k) no push/pull, three way toggle switch short frame (Switchcraft)
- Schaller tail piece and bridge
- Kluson tuners
- Graphtec nut
- Custom made pickguard and trussrod cover (3 plys)
This was as demanding as it was fun ! The whole build took me about 2 months, working on and off when I had the time.
I'm not a professional guitar builder and don't sell guitars, even if I find your private messages very touching and somehow flattering.
I'm probably going to pass this one on to my kids someday, as a reminder that hard work can be rewarding sometimes.
You can find all my builds on my Instagram @
instagram.com/tchiksguitars
I build guitars, furniture, toys, random household items ...
again, only for my family and myself :)
little update (December 2020): a lot has happened since this video came out and I haven't had the chance to record the demo yet, but I did 2 other builds, including one with my hand in cast and using only hand tools (I think it's a fair answer to those blaming on my " crazy expensive power tools") :
the video is here :
thworld.info/to/bqOpvmTbmIGOrJ0/w-d-xo
As soon as I'm done with physiotherapy and can hold a guitar again in the playing position, I'll record the shelf guitar demo !
thanks for watching, and stay safe, this nightmare of a year is almost over !
Update (January 2021): I've been teaching myself how to build guitars for the last 15 months, after two years of being a woodworking hobbyist, so I thought I'd share my findings with you all. Here is my first (and most likely only) tutorial on *" How to make a guitar at home : a comprehensive guide for the weekend woodworkers and other guitar enthusiasts with no woodworking experience who always had the dream of building their own guitar but never really knew where to start"* : thworld.info/to/rKOV0pPQzoVx138/w-d-xo I believe that in this day and age, ANYONE can build a guitar at home. So ... prove me wrong?
Electricherald.com
Salut bravo pour ce super boulot pour une première c est génial j aimerai savoir où tu te procurer les .patrons pour cette gratte j ai un.parie avec un.pote luthier que j aimerai bien relever cette année merci d avance bonne continuation.
Beautiful!!!! 😯
Vous avez bien fait. Ces étagères n'étaient pas terribles.
This is an inspiring story! I'm close to starting my first guitar build. Like you, inspired by Brian May I intend to use some 100 year old timber from my house (no longer needed!). I'm planning to use an old mahogany bannister rail for the neck and some massively thick pine for the body (I know that pine isn't ideal but this is a recycled guitar). It would be really interesting to me if you could show your first guitar. Thanks again for a brilliant video!
I did an entire tutorial 2 weeks ago, I think it will be a good start for you :) cheers
Sounds like a shelf!
26 minutes of pure art!! Thanks man!!
Wow magnifique 🤩 T’as un sacré atelier et un sacré talent
Before u know it all your furniture is Gone...but at least you'll have 20 Beautiful Guitars lolol
awesome!
My skills are limited to making my guitar a coaster. Awesome video. Im so jealous.
iMPRESIONANTE, ,SUBLIME.
Thank you - this was perfectly calming and truly inspiring.
when your money is not enough to buy a new guitar
I wish I had the tools to try this... Where did you get the wood? I live right next to Brussels and I might have a go at this haha
Luar biasa,pasti mahal harganya seni yg tinggi
I think Brian May beat you to it by several decades. Only he made his with only hand tools and no power tools
But he used two hands. thworld.info/to/bqOpvmTbmIGOrJ0/w-d-xo
WOW !!! Respect. and the Sound, wow. g from germany
It is incredibly dangerous to do this, what will your books sit on now?
great work! awsome
j'adoooooore
How on earth can 1,000 people give this a ‘thumbs down’ ? I would love to have the skills and equipment to build like this ... I build ‘partscaster’ guitars - and do repairs and set ups ... but to create a beautiful 335 type from scratch requires incredible skill and talent. I salute you for your excellence 👏👏👏👏
すげーな
Bravo, c'est juste magnifique, dans la précision, l'outillage, les astuces, le calme et le résultat final ! Merci pour ce partage !
Can I have a pattern for the size and thickness, bro ??
I'm speechless!👏👏👏🥲
amazing work. i don't get how 1k people don't like this video. guess they are just jealous of what you can do and what they can't
I guess I'll never know :)
That's not normal shelving to start with
Who are the bloody dislikers? Oh must be sheer jealousy. Lol
What?! U carved the inside too? F a n t a s t I c
You bought yourself some cool tools too!! Awesome feat of art! Congratulations!
Mais quel boulot de fou, la recherche du détail, de la finition... Et voilà comment passer 30 minutes à regarder un pro réaliser une magnifique guitare
Merci ! Je ne suis pas pro par contre :p
Fantastic job. Well done!
Wow. Incredible craftmanship.
It's beautiful.
When the wife says you can’t buy another guitar, so you take her shelf
You a MASTER!.... It was great to see this, from first to last second!
bonjour monsiuer a combien est estime cette guitare? merci
Man, that was a nice shelf...
How long did it take to make this guitar?
Wow would love to have one of your guitars, fantastic job
なぜタイトルと字幕が日本語なのか気になる。でもとにかくすごい・・・。笑
Its dificult to understand why so many people have given you a thumbs down, I doubt there are even 1000 people than can make a guita at all, never mind sugest you didnt do a good job. Well done for me atleast.
Whow! Now I really estimate my ES 335 even more! Thank you for this really fascinating documentary! and the result is a wonderful guitar! congratulations!
Wow para no ser un Luthier hiciste un trabajo increíble !!! Muy impresionado!!! Saludos y gracias por compartirnos tu arte. Saludos desde México!!!
This was probably one of the most calming 26 minutes I've ever had lol. Beautiful guitar!
I watched this while drinking a cold craft beer... and everything was fine with the world.
Haha thank you ! And I hope everything will be fine someday soon
You think that's impressive? You should see the video of how I built a Shelf out of a GUITAR during lockdown!
Is this sapele?
It is sapele
Why do you build it only for yourself? Who wouldn’t. like to buy that 335.
trop bien tu a des main en or
Des Mains d'Or, Bravo et merci.
This cat is a master craftsman. One thing though, I would have used animal glue, hide or fish. Bone or metal nuts. And he did not lock his fret wire in by hammering them in from the side. And make sure all furniture, shelves, doors, etc. are made with tonewoods, mahogany, rosewood, ebony, alder, maple, or ash. So during lockdowns you have a good supply of materials for making guitars. And a good stash of pickups, wire, tuners, truss rods, fret wire, etc.
Pake kayu olympic bisa ga om?
Wow! Amazing! I stick to frying an egg. Way easier for me.😂
i still struggle frying an egg. The results are hazardous
Beautiful! Also really liked the way you shot this video.
You are joking?! 😃 Wow that's amazing. I want one bro. Or I'd love to review one for my blog.
Cool Japanese saw
Sounds like a strat ngl
The way you went about fretting this thing. Polishing with a dremel is my therapeutic thing, really finished the video for me.
Now I regret using my sapele leftovers for other projects. Happen to have any leftover shelves? 😂
Not only beautiful...but sounds fantastic too !! A pleasure to watch you make it Amazing
What is the shelf life on this guitar?
Next video, I build a shelf out of a guitar.... I love how he says he's not a luthier,.....you are for sure a luthier my guy
painting the headstock :-(
Brilliant video. Congratulations!
no truss rod?
Thank you. There's a trussrod I'm just messing with you. It's in the video btw
@tchiks guitars and furniture that might cause you some trouble i think, but really amazing work dude.
Nope.
you are one of a kind.....
very good artist
Man i want to build my guitar with you!!! how can I contact you?
I don't do courses, BUT I've made a tutorial, check it out :)
What the hell do you do for a living make guitars? Did you work at a guitar shop?
No and no :)
A thing of great beauty, I truly enjoyed watching and am filled with envy seeing all the tools in action. I built a 3 string Fender paddlecaster during the UK's 1st lockdown, made from boat bits found in my garden shed which included a broken oar for neck and body, copper nails for frets and various other drop pins , cleats and shackles. Added a couple of pick ups later but had to wind up the strings to get the desired action as no truss rod! Was good fun and is playable.
Jeuj nen Belg! Kei goe bezig 🤪👍
Dank u!
Mijn complimenten, echt heel indrukwekkend.
INCREDIBLE!
Just my opinion but that headstock looked awesome without the black paint
You can make your own if you like. Then you can paint or not paint whichever parts you desire.
I can’t be the only one that gets the chills when ppl use these type of tools 😬
Cool guitar
Great work, unbelievable. I can't afford myself building a guitar neither in terms of spare time nor in terms of all the necessary power tools which cost a fortune at least over here. So for me it's easier just to buy a guitar. :-) The problem is then to find spare time to play it...
Check out my last video, it may inspire you :)
Wow
いやぁ～、手間かかるな～。しかしすごい技術ですね。
This has to be one of the most satisfying things I've seen on the internet in a while
Thank you so much !
This is an extraordinary project completed with both a high sense of craftsmanship and a very dedicated amount of patience.....and this did not emerge from nowhere....which makes me curious.....what is your actual career, job, or pursuit? Best wishes for you and the family, be well, and blessings for a happier and healthier new year.
all the best for you and your family too ! :) Someone suggested in the comments, that I do a day job reveal at 100K subs :p I have time hahaha
Super satisfying video lol
What an awesome job mate. As a woodworker I can only imagine that there was an amount of anxiety going about the final steps of the build and not wanting to make a mistake having done so much work. That just kills.
at some point I was afraid to go in the workshop and let the carved plates fall on the ground. I felt better when they were glued in place :)
Did you ever planted a tree? How you easily cutting the wood? 🤨
@tchiks guitars and furniture 👍please plant more trees... Sorry if i said something wrong🙏
Yes
You make it look so easy I think I'll have a go. But seriously, a lot of specialist tools, a lot of patience and a lot of skill. Well done. I especially like the Ebony. Must be hard to find.
Didnt Brian May make a guitar out of a shelf?
mille millions de mille sabords ! avec une étagère !!! encore une histoire belge ça même ! En tout excellente.. Mille fois bravo ! le manche me parait bien plus difficile non !?
One of my guitar's jack plug wires broke yesterday. I have tried soldering it this weekend, and it has been impossible for me. And not only that, during the attempt, I broke the other one. And this man says he is not a luthier, and he makes a guitar from a shelf. Life is unfair.
I've been in that spot not so long ago :) Watch my last video, I think it will give you hope héhé
i am just blown away. thanks for capturing this on video and sharing it.
Super ta nouvelle étagère 👍🏽
no shitty ass bgm. truly enjoyable to watch
Ya.. I sharpened lolly sticks on the kerb edge during lockdown so...
This was amazing to watch
très impressionnent. Très belle instrument felicitation .un salut du Canada
merci !
What's name of music that you played at the beginning of the video
Magnifique, travail remarquable, quel beauté du geste et de précision .
A lot of people played video games during lockdown...
Thick Shelvecaster C19-2020
Magnifique ! ( ..........mais projet a éviter si on n'a qu'un opinel et une meuleuse dans son atelier ! )))