A Luthier's Path

Luthier Instruction & Guitar Building Course

Building a guitar is more than a woodworking project—it is an exercise in patience, problem-solving, and quiet persistence. Few experiences compare to holding a finished instrument and knowing that every curve, joint, and detail was shaped by your own hands.

With over 20 years of experience building custom acoustic guitars, I offer an immersive, hands-on guitar building course for beginners, experienced woodworkers, and aspiring luthiers. Instruction is one-on-one or two-on-one, guiding students through the complete construction of a steel-string acoustic guitar or classical guitar in a working luthier’s shop.

Each course begins with a design consultation, where we select tonewoods, discuss aesthetics, and tailor the build to your interests, musical goals, and experience level. From there, we work side by side through every major stage of guitar construction. This is not a demonstration or classroom-style course—it is a true luthier apprenticeship-style experience. My goal is for you to build as much of the guitar as possible, with guidance, demonstrations, and support provided throughout the process.

Because every student arrives with different skills and objectives, luthier instruction is billed hourly. Students may focus on the fundamentals of acoustic guitar construction or explore advanced techniques such as inlay work, comfort bevels, voicing, and fine detailing. The current rate is $45 per hour, plus the cost of materials, with most builds spanning approximately 80–150 hours of personalized instruction.

At the conclusion of the course, you leave not only with new skills, but with a fully playable guitar you designed and built yourself—an instrument that may become a lifelong companion, a family heirloom, or the foundation of a deeper journey into the art of guitar making.

If this type of one-on-one luthier instruction sounds like an experience you’d like to explore, I invite you to reach out and schedule a shop tour.
Spaces are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If no openings are currently available, you may be added to a call list for future availability.

Joel Stehr - Luthier

Joel Stehr is an artist-luthier who blends an impressionist’s eye with time-honored woodworking to craft acoustic guitars that look — and sound — like a single, hand-finished idea. Trained in the slow art of painting and the precise patience of instrument-making, Joel guides students through every step of his A Luthier’s Path course: from measuring and bracing to shaping and finishing. His instruments favor natural tones and understated detail, and his teaching emphasizes careful handwork, problem-solving, and respect for materials. Whether you’re building your first guitar or refining workshop skills, Joel offers clear, hands-on instruction in a well-equipped studio — taught with the same quiet aesthetic that defines his paintings.

All Skills Levels Welcome

Whether you’re stepping into the workshop for the first time or bringing years of woodworking experience, this course is designed to meet you where you are. Students of all skill levels are encouraged to apply. Instruction is tailored to each builder, allowing beginners to learn foundational techniques while more experienced makers refine their process and explore advanced details. What matters most is curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn.

Tonewood & Intent

For the experienced builder, tonewood selection is less about tradition and more about intent. Subtle differences in stiffness, density, and damping — whether between spruce species, or mahogany versus rosewood — directly shape responsiveness, overtone content, and dynamic range. Understanding how these materials interact with bracing, body geometry, and thicknessing allows you to make deliberate voicing choices rather than relying on recipes. This course invites builders to deepen that relationship with wood and build guitars with a clearer, more personal sonic vision.

Where Vision Takes Shape

Every instrument begins as a quiet idea, waiting to be shaped by hand and intention. Students are invited to follow their curiosity, trusting their instincts as their guitar takes form. Through close collaboration and thoughtful guidance, I help each vision unfold—honoring individuality while grounding creativity in craft. Together, we shape not just wood and sound, but an instrument that carries your voice.