DIY Network

Handmade Guitars See how the musical magic happens. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-130

Great music means great craftsmanship back at the guitar shop.

It finally happened: Michele Beschen found something she's not ready to do herself.

The B. Original host went behind the scenes with good friend Tim Thelen of The Lutherie Shop to see how he hand-builds a custom guitar—turning plain blocks of wood into a visual and musical masterpiece. She learned just what's involved in building a custom guitar, and how it takes years of experience and true mastery to make these instruments.

Scroll down for some of her insider information.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Guitar Building Behind the Scenes

Tim Thelen's guitars start as blocks of wood—exotic hardwoods like birdseye maple for the guitar sides and backs, and extra-strong softwoods like spruce for the all-important faceplates.

His first step in building a custom guitar, after talking with the customer about what he or she needs, is to build the sides. He does this by using heat and moisture to bend hardwood sheets around a frame to get the instrument's actual shape. This guitar body (figure A) is an original design of Tim's, based on his years of experience working with different musicians.

The guitar body is reinforced with blocks and braces. This give it strength to withstand the 170 lbs. of pressure put on by the strings as well as the many other stresses the instrument will face. It also gives a surface for gluing on the back and front plates.

Tim carves the bowed guitar front from a thick piece of softwood (figure B). He says the spruce he used for this guitar has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel, again to withstand the pressures of constant play. The top and back of the guitar also are important because this is where the minute vibrations occur that make the guitar work. Both must have the right degree of flexibility for a pure sound.

After the body is assembled, Tim creates the neck of the guitar (figure C). This part also sees heavy stress from play, and is typically reinforced with a thin metal rod. The neck also is where much of the decorative work of the guitar-maker's craft comes into play, with laminates and detailed inlays to suit each customer.

Once the guitar is completely built, it is stained, coated with polyurethane varnish, sanded with 2,000-grit sandpaper and buffed to a glassy finish. Now the guitar is ready for its new owner, and a whole new kind of artistry.