Should You Level Frets Straight, or With Relief?
You're reading an issue of Letters from the Bench. Every Saturday morning I share practical tips, techniques, & lessons from my guitar-building bench to help you...
2024 Video Message From Tom Bills
Our New Spotify Podcast!
Luthier Tool Guide
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Some 2024 Luthier Tool Guides & Resources
The Room Inside the Guitar
Yesterday I was carving the top of an archtop guitar I've been working on, and somewhere in the middle of the work, I caught myself listening. Not the kind of listening...
The Invisible Rules Holding You Back (And How to Erase Them)
I've been thinking about constraints lately. Not the real ones — the ones we don't even realize we've created for ourselves. It started when I came across an old...
Guitar Playability: Why It Matters More Than You Think
I just received a letter from one of my mentors that gave me a much-needed reminder that I think we need to hear from time to time to keep us on track in our lutherie...
Best Guitar Nut & Saddle Materials & How To Choose
In this article, I'm going to show you how to select the perfect guitar nut and saddle material for each guitar you build or work on. At first glance, it might not seem...
Dust Extractor Vs Shop Vac (How To Choose)
Today, I'm going to talk some common questions about a confusing but very important tool debate: dust extractor vs shop vac: Why is this so important? Is there even a...
How To Transform Your Guitar Building With The Art of Story
Today, I'm going to show you a powerful technique for elevating your guitars and your guitar building process to higher levels of quality and impact. It's the same...
Accu-Burr Scraper Burnisher & How To Use It
In this article, I'm going to show you an amazing tool that will make it way faster and easier to sharpen your scrapers with scary-sharp burrs. The tool is called the...
The Secret To Better Guitar Inlay Design
Today, I'm going to share what I believe is the secret to creating elegant and beautiful guitar inlay design. The story of how I realized this secret and learned to put...
