Bone Nut & Saddle Making

Event Organizer: Specimen Products
Organizer Email: info@specimenproducts.com
Event Phone: 773.489.4830

Event Status: Upcoming

Categories: Guitar Building, Guitar Repair

Dates and Times:

• November 21 & 22
  November 21, 2015 - November 22, 2015
  10:00 am - 5:00 pm
• February 16 - 19
  February 16, 2016 - February 19, 2016
  7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
• April 30 & May 1
  April 30, 2016 - May 1, 2016
  11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Available Tickets:

Event Venue: CHICAGO SCHOOL OF GUITAR MAKING

Description: [M]aking a great bone nut and saddle is key to being adept at more advanced repairs, such as acoustic bridge replacement and neck resets. With the skills that you develop in this workshop and the proprietary methods and techniques you will learn, performing this frequently-needed upgrade/repair will be a simple and rewarding task that will not only greatly improve the tone of any instrument, but could also become a steady source of income for current and aspiring guitar technicians. Almost all modern guitar makers use a synthetic, injection molded material that is pre-slotted to save time and money.  Make no mistake - hand carving a nut or saddle from a piece of bone is tedious and difficult work. Most luthiers and repair techs are quick to admit that it’s their least favorite repair.  The skill required to cut a piece of bone by hand into a beautiful finished product is a dying art.  In this workshop you will learn that skill and keep the art of  lutherie alive for future generations.

Schedule

Weekend workshop runs on Saturday & Sunday 11 am- 5pm. Week-night workshops run from 7pm-9:30 pm over 4 weeknights.

Enrollment

Enrollment is limited to 8 students.

Fee

$485, weeknight shops.  $585, weekend workshops.  An early registration discount may apply.  Tuition includes lectures and demonstrations, handout materials, use of specialized tools, guitar workbench and shop supplies.

Registration

Enroll online on this page or by phone: 773.489.4830, or with a check or in person.  You will receive a registration confirmation email once we receive payment.

Accommodations

Click Here for a list of nearby places to stay during seminars, along with transportation information.

 Techniques and demonstrations covered in this workshop include:

• The correct method for laying out string spacing for any neck
• Material selection - distinguishing between real bone and imitation
• The differences in working with bleached and unbleached bone
• The correct use of various specialty files
• How to properly fit any style of nut and saddle
• The correct method of making a compensated saddle
• Various era-correct shaping styles for matching the aesthetic of vintage replacements
• Various methods for polishing bone to a marble-like finish

Workshop Supplies

The school provides each student with their own individual workstation and the use of instruments to work on for those who do not wish to travel with their own.  Excellent specialized tools are provided for your use during the class. These tools include:

• High Quality Japanese Nut Slotting Files
• Nut Shaping File
• Nut and Saddle Vise
• Specialty String Spacing Ruler
• .010 Gauged Saw
• An Assortment of Polishing Compounds and Abrasives

Instructor

Pete Mueller    Pete is a guitar maker and repair technician at Specimen.  Pete teaches Bone Nut & Saddle Making, Fret Workshops,  Set-up for Guitar, Bass & Strings and Advanced Repairs at the Chicago School of Guitar Making. 

How to Register

You can register for any of our classes on-line, by phone, through the mail, or in person.  We will send you a confirmation email of your registration once we receive payment.

Register  Online

Make your selection of the class dates you wish to attend with applicable kit, in Available Dates column on the upper right of this page.  Click ENROLL NOW > Enter the required information and then proceed to pay by clicking the Paypal button where you can pay with either Paypal or a Credit Card. NOTE: It is NOT necessary to have a Paypal account to use their service.

Register by Phone:  773.489.4830

If you prefer registering by phone with your credit card: Please call us at 773.489.4830 and we will complete your registration over the phone.  We will send you a confirmation via email, or by snail mail if you prefer.

Register by MAIL with a CHECK

You must first contact us to register to pay by check in the mail.  Please call us at 773.489.4830 to reserve your space in the class.  Please print out the registration form and mail it to:
  Specimen Products 
1240 N. Homan Ave  
Chicago, IL 60651   We will email or snail mail your enrollment confirmation upon receipt of your mail-in registration form/payment.

Register in Person

You can come in to the shop during business hours and enroll using cash, your credit card, or a personal check. We’re open Monday through Friday 12 – 7 pm, Saturday 12-5 pm. We are closed on Sundays.  Map our location. Please call us at 773.489.4830 to let us know that you wish to register, so that we can save your space.