if you build it…

At Gilmore Guitars Inc. we offer a fully comprehensive ‘Build your Own Guitar’ course. Yep! Start to finish you can build your own dream guitar under the supervision and instruction of Master Luthier David Gilmore himself. Have you ever wanted the chance to design and build your dream axe?
Now you can! Contact David today to discuss and book your spot.

testimonials

  I found Dave's "Build your Own Guitar" course an amazingly rewarding experience. To design and build a guitar with one-on-one guidance from a Master Luthier is a special opportunity. Of course, building materials, tools and workshop are of the highest quality and perfect for the task at hand, more importantly, Dave is an awesome teacher and guide. He personalized the experience to meet my skill level and schedule. He set clear expectations with commitment to progress. His passion for his craft is contagious and inspiring. I highly recommend this course.

• Warren Hartnell

“The build your own guitar course was more than I could have ever hoped for. Under the expert guidance of David, I was able to turn a couple of pieces of mahogany and an amazing piece of maple into a one off custom creation. I can't thank him enough for the experience. Any time I was struggling or doubtful, David reminded me that if it was easy, then everyone would be building guitars. His confidence was inspiring and I hope that I inspired him as well. I would recommend this course to anyone that wants something more than a factory made guitar. If you can dream it up, David can help you make it happen.

• Cody Smith

“Buying a new guitar is always an exciting day. It is even more exciting to special order a guitar; choosing your woods, neck profile, appointments, and the waiting for the finished instrument, the anticipation, almost unbearable. 

 And then there is building your own guitar under David’s tutelage.  You have the same choices to make as you would if you were having a custom guitar built, but now you have to do the build.  You have the excitement of expecting a new guitar.  You have the anticipation of what is it going to look and sound like? The exhilaration of being the creator of this; your new musical instrument. You have the worry of, “what if I screw it up”. 

Rest assured you are in the most capable of hands.  The instruction, hands-on demonstrations, and the shop discussion put you at ease and allow you to be even better than you would have imagined you could be. Guitar building with David is a Zen-like experience.

I am always amazed when I go into David’s shop and there is a new “Build Your Own Guitar” builder there working on his/her new creation.  I remember the questions I had for David.  I remember thinking and dreaming about, upcoming steps in the building process. And all the why questions I had for him. They are asking the same questions I did, in exactly the same order. 

In the order of life experiences you have, getting married, the birth of your child/ren and “Building Your Own Guitar”.  When my wife is not present, the order is different, because in only one of these cases was I the responsible for the final product.”

• Scott Barnabé

“I am most delighted to be a part of Dave Gilmore’s “Build your own guitar” family.

My story is of a “young” 56-year-old that, picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time. New to it and practicing lots cause of the Oil Patch retiring me. I took my first guitar to Dave and had him put a pick-up in it in about 2016. Great guy, great service. Quick turnaround.

I started following his Facebook page and along this time I took a retirement job as a school bus driver. So one day I see this “Build your own guitar course”. I talked it over w/ my little wife. And she said “Do it man”!”

• John Barker

“In 2017, under David's patient tutelage, I built a beautiful classical guitar as a gift for my son. What an amazing experience to bring new life to wood. To carefully craft & assemble almost each & every component, then string it & create the beautiful sounds. You learn about the sounds of different woods. You will study grains & see wood in an new light. And when it’s all done you also find you’ve made some dear friends.

Our son was excited about the guitar & plays it at every opportunity. If you have this on your bucket list, get 'er done. If you don’t, you need to add it!”

• Don Routley