Gallery
Arch top Style (Basswood)
$899.00 inc. GST
Our Archtop Style guitar building course will show you how to construct this world famous guitar model. It features an archtop, semi hollow, Basswood body with bound F holes, Maple neck and Poplar laminate fretboard. Please be aware, with a set neck and access to the electronics only through the f holes, this is the most involved kit to build- patience will be required!
*Please select the Saturday of the Weekend you would like to do the course.
Description
Features
Joint: Set-Neck
Body: Basswood
Neck: Hard Maple
Fingerboard: Poplar Laminated
Tuning Machines: Gold Grover Style
Scale Length: 628mm/24.75″
Fret: 22
Control: 2V, 2T, 3-Way Toggle
Pickups: H-H
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: Trapeze Tailpieces
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black
ARTHUR SHINITI CATO –
Arch top guitar built in August 2025! Amazing experience! Nick guided us through the whole process and explained everything very well while also allowing us to personalize our guitars! The instrument is beautiful and it sounds fantastic. It is really nice to see your work gaining life. The learning opportunity is great!
Jarrod –
I highly recommend getting a group of 4 like minded mates or family members together and spending the weekend creating and personalising your own kit guitars at wildwood instruments in Daylesford. Everything from prep, colour and seal to attaching and setting your neck, fret prep, wiring setup and accessorising. Even if you think you have nothing to learn it’s still a very rewarding weekend with your mates. A day hasn’t gone by since completing my Arch top without giving it a run. Great teacher, mates and guitar. Thanks again Nick for a very rewarding weekend. Hope to cross paths again
Charlie O’Sullivan (verified owner) –
I completed a semi hollow arch top at Wild wood instruments on the first weekend in Dec 2023. What a fabulous experience, Nic is a very knowledgeable teacher and his workshop is very well set up for students. I have limited woodwork and soldering experience but Nic patiently guides you through the process. It was very insightful to learn how to professionally set up the guitar. Its a great weekend and a very good value way to get a new guitar. I highly recommend for people with all levels of experience as I am sure you will learn a lot and find it enjoyable. Many thanks Nic.
Antony Rokkas (verified owner) –
Strongly recommend this course! I had been thinking about it for a while, and eventually locked in the first weekend in October (2022). I picked the Arch Top as I thought they were a little more involved and I might pick up some additional tips. Plus I’ve always wanted one…
A great opportunity to spend a couple of days with like minded people, and learn from an experienced luthier. Nick is a great teacher and has inspired me to tackle more projects like this in the future.
Thanks Nick!
ncarpenter –
Thanks Antony. Great to hear you enjoyed the course and it has inspired you to continue your guitar making journey. Be warned though, it is addictive! Hehe
Lou Di Quinzio (verified owner) –
I had a great time building my ES 335 style archtop guitar with Nick at Wilwood Instruments.
He is a great teacher and a lovely bloke and I would recommend taking his classes to anyone, in fact I might just do another one in the future.
Thanks Nick for a wonderful experience.
ncarpenter –
Thanks for your review Lou. I am glad you enjoyed the course. Hope to see you again for your next build!
Phil Lavelle (verified owner) –
I put together an arch top on one of Nick’s weekend workshops. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Nick is a great teacher and has some great, unique tools to assist with the more difficult tasks in assembling the guitar. It was great to work I’m an an encouraging environment with like minded souls. Not to mention the satisfaction I get from playing a guitar I put together. I thoroughly recommend the workshop. Thanks Nick!
Brendan –
I made an arch top guitar at Wildwood instruments in March 2022. The process taught me an incredible amount about building and setting up guitars. Due to this course I now have the knowledge and confidence to set up and service my own guitars. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn more about guitar maintenance.
Michael Wilkins (verified owner) –
On the 6th and 7th of May I attended Wildwood to make my very own Arch top guitar. Under the expert supervision of Nick I came home on the Sunday with a beautiful guitar that sounds fantastic. I now have to learn to play a little better. It was a great experience for myself and my brother in law Stewart who made a telecaster. Nicks patience and guidance was fantastic. He allowed me to assemble the guitar myself only helping if I requested it.
I recommend anyone thinking about the course to give it a go.