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:

• April 30 & May 1
  April 30, 2016 - May 1, 2016
  11:00 am - 5:00 pm
• June 14 - 17
  June 14, 2016 - June 17, 2016
  7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
• August 20 & 21
  August 20, 2016 - August 21, 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 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. Description 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 luthiery alive for future generations. Techniques and demonstrations covered in this workshop:

• 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

Materials and 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

Schedule Weeknight: 7pm - 9:30 pm over 4 weeknights Weekend: 11 am - 5pm Fee $485, Weeknight workshops $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. 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: Registrations are limited to 8 students. You can register for any of our classes online, by phone or in person. Register Online Make your selection of the class dates you wish to attend (and if applicable, the type of kit) in Available Dates column on the upper right of this page and click ENROLL NOW > Enter the required information and then proceed to pay by clicking the Paypal button and choose your method of payment. NOTE: It is NOT necessary to have a Paypal account to use their service. Register by Phone 773.489.4830 Call us if you prefer to register over the phone with your credit card. We will send you a confirmation via email, or by snail mail if you prefer. Register in Person Come by the shop during business hours and enroll using cash, credit card or a personal check. Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 12 - 7 Saturday: 12 - 5 Map our location