This is the one that started it all. So, back in Summer 2019 I completed a 3 day build course with James Collins. I had always been interested in building my own guitar and learning more about the intricacies of the set up. My goal was to learn the skills to fully set up and repair my guitar collection by building my own guitar.

So I paid for the course in May and went back and forth with James over the next 4 weeks to organise the details of the guitar. Originally I wanted a jaguar racing green tele with a maple neck or, an aztec gold strat with a maple neck. As I’d booked late I couldn’t get the right finish so I went for a natural wood finish, a maple neck with a vintage gloss finish, bare knuckle pile drivers and a black pickguard.

I found a great air B&B near by and drove down the night before. The place was great! Quiet, private and comfortable. So the next day I drove down to the course, not really sure what I was expecting. I always feel nervous doing things like this. Out of my control, going in with little knowledge and more importantly, am I gonna fuck the build up? Day one was great, the first step was assessing everything, making sure it was all there and ready to go. As soon as I got into the workshop I saw a mirror tele pickguard… so yeah I swapped our the black guard and the guitar took on a new life!

As the three days roll on I learn more than I ever thought possible. The place is amazing, James is an incredible teacher, his guitars are out of this world and, as a Gibson service centre the other guitars on the wall are incredible! Especially that R9. We were in the middle of a heat wave during this time but the workshop was great, remained cool and a great place to learn… the drive home not so great.

So during the build you learn how to check the alignment, attach the neck, align the bridge plate, do the electrics, dress the frets, carve a bone nut, complete a full set up and add decals! The end result is one of the best playing guitars I’ve ever owned and one that has a-lot of sentimental attachment as it’s my first build. The one thing I might look at in the future is a new neck… This one is bigger than I’d normally go for, I’m a slim 60’s neck kind guy, this is closer to a 50’s so swapping between guitars feels very different. Also, I can’t stop looking at roaster flame maple necks.

If you wanna hear what it sounds like…