What it takes to make a guitar

When people think of building something like a musical instrument, they often think it is a sole craftsman in a cozy workshop. The reality is that to produce consistent hi-quality takes an army

After my post about the Music Man guitar, and so many of you urging me on (thanks for offering the drink to the alcoholic…) I did some more digging.

And I found this video tour of the Ernie Ball plant in San Luis Obispo, California, and a pretty complete walk through of the steps it takes to build a guitar from the incoming wood, thru it being ready to ship.

The size of the operation, and all the machinery used to go from sawn lumber to a ready to play instrument, and the processes that are used to make it is fascinating.

The thing that surprised me the most is how much the use of modern tools like CNC machines, and robots for tasks like painting, buffing, and other tedious process steps, but interleaved with manual processes that help deliver the impressive end result.

Also, I was surprised that they design and build some of their own components that matter, such as the tremolo block, but then they also source high quality parts where they can’t do better (for instance, the Schaller tuning machines).

If you ever wanted to see a modern, high quality manufacturing process, this video is for you.

If you clicked on that, you got to geek out.

Oh yeah, I bought a new “used” version and it should arrive Monday or Tuesday.

I have fallen off the wagon.