Over 300 ‘Build Your Own’ Electric guitars made here in the Bailey workshop!
Thanks to everyone who has helped us reach this amazing milestone including Morgan who now has the magic number 300!
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- End of Day 6 – I sleep now
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- Toby: BYOF-303
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- fret dressing
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- Checking for high spots
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- Assembling the guitar
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- End of day 5
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- Greame: BYOF 301
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- Graham: BYOF 302
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- Dude!
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- Morgan: BYOF-300!
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- Toby makes his wiring loom
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- Toby wanted the ‘full gloss’
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- Strings on and tuning up
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- Recrowning the frets
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- Leveling the frets
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- End of day 4
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- Satin finish – figured ‘brown’ maple
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- Oiled finish on Figured Ash
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- Oiled finish on mahogany
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- The guitars ready for finishing
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- Gluing in the necks
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- Sanding the body
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- Making the belly carve
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- Routing the neck slot
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- Routing the pickup holes
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- End of day 3
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- Marking out the body
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- Routing the control cavity
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- Refining the neck heel
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- Installing the frets
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- End of day 2
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- Carving the neck
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- Gluing in the front dots
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- Carving the neck
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- Working on the fretboard
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- End of day 1
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- Installing the truss rod
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- Thicknessing the headstock
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- Cutting out the neck
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- Cutting the fretslots
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- Graeme (Right Handed)
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- Graham (Left handed)
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- Morgan
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- Toby
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- Carol does the H+S talk
Build your own first guitar is aimed at new builders who want to give it a try without over-complicating the design. If you would like to give it a try without spending the earth or investing huge amounts of time then this may be the one for you. This course also suits those who would like to continue building at home as it is the easiest style of construction to master.
On this course everybody makes roughly the same guitar – a set neck, flat top, based on the Bailey Bandsman. There are four places available for each course which lasts 5 days.
This is the best introduction to guitar making we can concieve of. The beauty is in the simplicity of the design. The emphasis here is on learning the methods used to make guitars by hand, my job is to make sure every student leaves here with a high quality instrument to be proud of. We have other courses for those who require totally custom specific instruments, have more time and a larger budget.
It is not possible to have a trem system or carve top due to the nature of the course but there is still plenty of scope for customization.
You can choose your own wood, parts and pickups and even customize the shape. There is also the option of a 21, 22, or 24 fret version and choice of inlays- As you can see all four we made this time are a little different.
Check dates and prices | Bailey Guitars
BYOF 300: Morgan
“Never thought I’d ever build a guitar if it had not been for Mark & Carol. You both have seriously inspired me. This course is one of the best experiences of my life and I can’t thank you enough…can’t wait for the next build!!!!”
BYOF 301: Graeme
“First new guitar ever… Made the best thing I have ever made. Mark is an inspiration. Had a great time- thankyou both.”
BYOF 302: Graham
“First guitar I have built… I had a great week… Mark knows his stuff. Hospitality was great, soup was fantastic… thanks for a great week.”
BYOF 303: Toby
“First guitar build. Best Experience of my life & most beautiful guitar I’ve seen & to play. Mark and |Carol are fantastic and Fiona’s soup is amazing. Thank you so much! (P.S. Billy made a beautiful job of spraying!)