Building an acoustic guitar in one hour! (Time-lapse video)
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- čas přidán 2. 12. 2017
- Watch as luthier Chris Alvarado of Driftwood Guitars builds an acoustic guitar from start to finish. This guitar was made for the 2018 30A Songwriters Festival and was auctioned off to benefit the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County. This video was shot entirely in the Driftwood Guitars workshop in Freeport, FL.
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Interested in some tonewood for your next guitar build? Go to: driftwoodguitars.com/tonewood
Guitar Specs:
Model: Grand Session
Soundboard: Hawaiian Koa
Back & Sides: Hawaiian Koa
Binding: Curly Maple
Arm Bevel: Curly Maple
Neck: Mahogany with Taylor Specs. (14 Fret)
Pickup System: LR Baggs VTC Element - Jak na to + styl
you should have shared the sound of the guitar while you play it. how it sound is what matters.
After seeing the absolutely astounding amount of time, tools, skill and expertise that goes into one of these guitars, the price would be well justified even if it were to be doubled. Simply an amazing instrument, and a work of art.
Would of loved to hear you play the guitar after all that hard work. Beautiful guitar and amazing work.
I just wanted to let you know that people are still watching and enjoying this display of craftsmanship from five years ago! This and other videos that you have made do inspire others or foster a sense of appreciation of the skill that it takes to craft a quality instrument@
Amazing, I can only imagine the number of years you've invested in your craft. You are definately looking good for 85 years old ;)
It's the music for me, exquisite selection, made the video 10 times better.
Thanks James it's a real treat to watch a pro Luthier at work, myself I'm at the one a year stage but I get immense satisfaction in playing one I have made. I have also made my friends Guitars, well 3 of them but they all swear by them (in a good way) and I know I'm getting better, especially when there is great content like yours to pick up techniques from.
Wow!!! That's a masterpiece! Wonderful guitar! Amazing job! Congratulations!
I want to hear how this guitar sounds like so bad! Please make a video of it. Thanks
Beyond Amazing. Chris Alvarado is an amazing craftsman and a true talent. His Song writing skills and vocals are as pleasing as his luthier abilities. It is a pleasure to see his work in all aspects.
That inlay!!!! You are awesome! A pleasure to watch.
The sound of the guitar is amazing 🙃
Beautiful! Bravo! Bravo!
Just amazing
As a guitar builder myself, I always like to see how others work, and see the similarities as well as the differences. No two builders do the same thing
Yes Sir, and no human is equal to another....I don't like the background "music?" Ok, it is copyright free but, o my goodness how boring......But, however, this is one of the best builders video.
Simply incredible display of craftsmanship! Well done!
One beautiful guitar!
This is amazing.
Stunning instrument!
Now Chris, This is what I call Art! one of the best videos I've seen. Thanks!!
Phenomenal build! And one of my pet peeves, which you managed to overcome with perfection, was getting those tuning machines dead on straight. Thank you, Mr. Alvarado!!! Thank you, dearly!!!!
Simply the best guitar build i've ever seen even in super fast speed. Also one of the best looking guitars i've ever seen as well. Can't say how many times I said "Wow" in this video.
@Bloodshotgamer. I too said wow way too many times. A truly incredible build.
Beautiful work! Awesome to watch a master at his craft!
Oh, your that guy I hated in shop class!!!! Love the channel, amazing craftsmanship.
I just keep watching this. I put it on in the background when I'm doing other things. It's nice to watch the process, but the inspiring part, to me at least, is seeing that you didn't always have all of the nice, new, refined tools. Even your mold wasn't the fancy CNC one that you use now. It helps make this feel more achievable. I appreciate all of the how-to videos as someone that's just learning and starting out on this
Absolutely fabulous!
Wow. I’ve been following your videos for some time and love them. Just finished watching this one today. You have some incredible skills making a guitar that is also a work of art. I’ve made only a few and was nervous watching you cut your inlays! Wow, you’ve got such a tremendous skill set. Respect!
Just awesome and beautiful well done
Really beautiful. You are amazingly talented!!!!
Amazing work.
Entertaining, educational and inspiring. Thank you for letting me look over your shoulder.
Best wishes
Stunning guitar.
What a craftsman. Bravo!
Amazing work!
Wow. Amazing what an art. 👌👍🏻🎸
Some serious craftsmanship going on in this. Nice guitar.
awesome !!!
I would be proud to own that, over any of the major brands. Stunning guitar, amazing work. You are one hell of a craftsman. Loved all of the inlay work.
You are an awesome guy. A true Craftsman. Soooo glad I found your channel. :)
I’ve been watching some of your more recent videos when I came across this one. It’s interesting to watch how your techniques have progressed. You do truly beautiful work
Amazing skill .... i think he was a master builder
Very impressive!
Gorgous, really liked the inlay very creative
Thoroughly enjoying this. As if I'm in the room. I've been playing for 25 years. I had an old classical I tried to restore and ruined it due to inexperience. Sanded finger marks into the wood. It was not repairable. The wood was redwood on the front and very light. It probably still sits in the closet of the guy I gave it to. Memories....
I saw the movie (yes a movie) with any break...astonishing. A very difficult job. One day I hope to be able to treat myself to one of your works. Cheers from Italy
Very cool video
Hi Chris - I happened by your video by accident and this lead me to investigate your website. I've been making guitars for many years, but I have never enjoyed watching a guitar being built so much as watching you. Your work is truly inspiring and the quality looks superb. I doubt I will ever see one of your instruments in the flesh as I live in England, but I must congratulate you for some amazing work and your inlays are out of this world. To have this much talent at such a young age is fantastic. Well done and keep up the great work - Regards Dave
You are a true master craftsman
a master piece
Díky za vaše úžasná videa. Je to velmi inspirující, dokonale poučné a v neposlední řadě neuvěřitelně zábavné a záživné. Nemáte žádné zbytečné komentáře, vše je řečeno k věci velice zábavnou formou. Díky vám za vaši práci. Jste nejlepší, zdraví vás Martin Smažík Czech republic
You technique is 1 I have really never seen ,but awesome to say the least!! love all your work especially your attention to carving braces and tone bars very important!!
Beautiful work, too ornate for me
excellent
After watching this I feel like I can make my own acoustic guitar.
I think I am ready to take orders too.
Just WOW
You wonder why these hand-built guitars are so expensive. Just consider the time without materials...Not sure the total hours it took....More than 200...Even if it took 200....Multiply 200 hrs times say 50 bucks an hour. Then check what he charges.
This young man is a true artist! Working at labor of love rates.
65-100 per hour
great build. would have been nice to hear it !!!!
Impressive
nice!
Muito bom. Parabéns.
I am just a poor journeyman woodworker. But watching your technique. And your setup to different operations is quite interesting. I know you pick stuff up like that as you go. And sometimes modify your techniques. Amazing skills Brother! Much respect for your craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. Alot of which,sadly, has been lost in the modern trades.
Man...that would take me 4 or 5 hours!!!
Good speed!
Beautiful, I wish I could be able to do this. I have a physical limitation that as soon as I started the job I'd be riddled with pain.
BEAUTIFUL BOAT OAR
Simply Hermosa. waw.
Thank You. 🫡
I appreciate your attention to detail I’d like to hear what it sounds like too
Stunning, but also would have liked to hear it’s voice. With that much work seeing one go to a new home must be like having a piece of yourself go as well. That is what hand built is. You are a highly skilled luthier.
When I win the lottery, this is the first thing I am buying!!!
thank you
exellente I want to hear the sound
wow!
This blew my mind. I think I'll just stop complaining about how expensive guitars are now. What was the theme that drove the bicycle inlay?
Díky!
!!!!acojonante hermano!!!!...puto amo!!!
Interesting background music
Stunning. Gorgeous. Fantastic. Artistic. Inspiring. Your woodworking skills are extremely skilled, top of the mark. So you must have a very good reason why make a tenon bolt on neck instead of a dovetail joint. Please let us all know what brought you to that decision. Your artistry can't be questioned so you must have a fantastic reason and I'd love to know. Again, thank you so much for this video.
I agree what does it sound like .
What is the music playing in the background? Very nice and relaxing. Thank you for showing us how you build your guitar.
I'd love to see a video going into more detail on doing an arm bevel. Such a nice feature.
That’ll be happening in the near future. Stay tuned.
wow realy beutiful, I would like to have this type in a ukulele, do you build ukulele type tenor and if so what would the cost be for such a beutiful ukulele
Loved the build. Loved your craftsmanship and artistry. The guitar looks amazing. My only complaint is that we didn't hear it sing at the end. You are a true master of building beautiful instruments. Just wanted to hear it. Love whatyou do.
I totally understand. Back when I posted this video, I had only intended to use CZcams as a place to store the video and play it on a loop while I did my public speaking events, so the audio wasn’t even going to be heard. Here I am all these years later and 90% of my comments are about the damn audio haha. Live a learn.
Please know that my quibble was small and mot important. Your craftsmanship is immaculate and I cannot wait to see what else you accomplish.
Hi Chris - Absolutely superb and the inlay work is stunning. To have that level of skill at such a young age is incredible!! Like the previous comment I would have loved to have heard that guitar at the end.
I have been making guitars for some 45 years but do not pretend to have your inlay skills. I tend to be very conservative in my adornments. I wonder if you would mind sharing some of your experience with me and maybe others. I have always used acrylic grain filler and nitrocellulose lacquer and wondered if you could give your view on any possible effects of the the epoxy grain filler on the sound, does it tend to tighten up the wood and consequently the sound? Also what lacquer do you use?
I have made Rosewood, Mahogany and Maple acoustics but never Koa. I treated myself to a couple of sets of highly figured Koa about 32 years ago for myself, but have never got round to making them up. I purchased enough to have Koa tops just like yours but have never made up my mind if I wanted Koa, Cedar or Engelmann spruce tops. Have you made many with Koa tops and how do you think the sound compares to Spruce? I would love to visit your shop some time when I come to the States next time but I don't see me travelling for a while until this virus is beaten. Keep up the superb work and stay safe.
A really enjoyable Visio. A great deal of artistry on display.
I noticed that the sound board bracing was scalloped. The deeper the brace the stiffer. Therefore, the stiffest parts of the sound board are at the points of the scallops. Are the scallop point locations predetermined?
Great job ! How it sounds?
Watch this! More than worth the hour.
very high craftsmanship ... I would have watched more through the technical details ... and of course how it sounds
Curious why only accoustic and not acoustic-electric for such a high quality instrument
Thank you for letting us look over your shoulder. That was very gracious.
WOW
Beautiful work I now have builders envy (joking) you are a very talented young man, maybe someday I’ll have you build me one.
😲 wow Incredible! Looks very much like the shape of a 000-28 but I guess Stradivari copied or used the standard violin shape... I always thought that the maker would voice or tune the top by changing the shape of the top bracing. I love how the fretboard inlay overlaps onto the body; truly artistic! A work of art! Magnificent!
mortise
With the neck block extension under the sound board I don't understand how you access the truss rod, Do you slot the top of the extension before gluing on the top? Do you drill through the hole in the transverse bar? Inquiring minds and all that;)
Music over the part where you play it.... really
How to waste one hour of video, cover the part where he is playing...what a waste
Caned music!
he probably does not have a good enough microphone to do the guitar justice, just be happy that he shared his process of making the guitar with us
Matthew Harper has
"Wow! Amazing and beautiful instrument! I sure would love to hear it!". See, that's how you can accomplish the same thing cordially.
It always makes me think,”Shouldn’t we have figured out a better way to glue bracing on by now?” whenever I see it done. 😂
Chris, Thank you for this awesome build. Congrats to a stunning looking instrument. i ve been building instruments for 5 years as a part time luthier - and this one is really inspiring to me. the details are first class. keep building and doing such great work. would love to hear the guitar, since koa as wood for tops is absolutely new to me, at least for a guitar (not for an uke). any reason you didn´t choose spruce or cedar?
I was starting to think I wanted to try building guitars for myself. I'm cured now.
CGM are you serious. Why not some of your guitars music. Nice koa by the way. When you are glueing the top and back they seem to be shinny. Do they have sealer on them or shellac?
Awesome video discounting the music
Superb workmanship, but with 12 coats of lacquer on the soundboard?
Anyone know how to get the specs for the molds/jigs without actually measuring a guitar?
Does it have good sound being Hawaiian Koa with 12 coats of lacquer?