Doug Armitage, Nederland. Some of our friends have used the Corona time to build musical instruments. A guitar kit is available in many forms, the higher quality kits are available from some sources like Stewart-Macdonald, and less expensive kits available from Solo and other suppliers. Most of the inexpensive kits are made from plywood. These kits are a good place to start. During your first project you will learn a lot of skills, and it is better to wait until you have acquired them before starting on more expensive kits. The construction of a guitar is pretty simple, and the kits make it easy for beginners to understand how a guitar works, and what to look for in a finished product. 

A really good kit that is inexpensive and easy to build is a ukulele. There are several kits that cost as little $45. To get started, you need a workbench and a variety of inexpensive tools. In most of the beginner kits, challenging wood cutting, drilling and shaping is already done professionally, as well as fret leveling and dressing. Some minor woodworking skills and tools would be nice. Completing one of these projects, you will need some tools and finishing supplies, all of these are available at your local Ace. 

You can build your own ukulele from scratch. Unfinished wood gives you endless opportunities, so you can design and paint it according to your own style. It’s a great way to learn about a ukulele, and offers an opportunity to learn how they are made. 

Brightwood Music stocks a 21 inch unfinished ukulele kit. It is all wood, with a beautiful natural wood texture and a smooth sanded surface, ready to finish.The tuners are machine heads. You will have to use an exacto knife or a sharp chisel to finish fitting the neck to the body, and glue the neck and the bridge. Most of the rest of the project is assembly and finishing.

Another great project is building an electric solid wood guitar. Most of these kits are available in the Stratocaster style. There are many kit forms and parts available for this construction. A good quality kit is important here, and skills at soldering and basic set up become more important. A good basic kit is around $199. 

Try something new. Get in touch with your building and crafty side. Build a musical instrument! Contact Brightwood Music for info at 303-258-8863.

(Originally published in the March 25, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)