We are thrilled to finally release this epic build video after a year of planning, shooting and editing! HUGE thanks to Michael Bashkin for generously opening his workshop to us. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Cheers! 😊🎬
Awesome documentary! Great production. It was a real treat to see how the instrument I am learning to play is being handcrafted by a true artisan. Thank you.
Just to think that's maybe 3% at best of know-how about creating this guitar. I've seen some other vids about luthier job, it looked complicated and demanding but this one was a mind-boggler. Just strange that I heard custom guitars lose more of their value than mass produced ones, maybe that depends on its quality or something because can't picture this with regard to this one in the movie.
I haven’t touched my guitar since my dog passed 2 years ago. She loved to listen to me play and without her here I lost all desire. I know , I’m weak!! After 2 years and 4 months I got my guitar out and it’s because of this video. I even got to snuggle my dog for the first time in my dreams and I can’t tell you how much I needed that and I don’t care how pathetic that sounds. I needed this video , and I thank you’s for making it.
@chadfengel we really appreciate your heartfelt comment. I'm not sure if you saw his dog's few cameos in the video, but Michael is a canine lover, as well as many of us over here at StewMac. It brought tears to our eyes hearing how this video inspired you to pick up the ole guitar again, and reunite with your pup in your dreams! Take good care, and thanks again for the comment.
If you're too big to express your feelings, you're too big. I would be comfortable assuming that most of us who would watch this video have something deep inside of us that we need to get off our chest. I went through something similar when I lost my duck dog, Ace. I haven't been duck hunting in 5 years, because I'm afraid I won't enjoy it without him, or even worse, I might actually enjoy it and I think that would make me feel guilty. He was my best friend. He'd probably want me to go, but I still haven't found it in me. We men are strange creatures, but that's alright.
You, sir ... are absolutely amazing! 😳 Your skills in the making of such a fine instrument are "over the top!!" Your attention to detail is unmatched! I've never seen a guitar being made ... and your video was flawless! Well done!!! And your ending is totally priceless! 😂 Your great sense of humor matches your creativeness with all those woods! Wow! Just WOW! Keep up the good work, sir! Oh ... and your humility that you want "your tuning head to tell who made it" ... and not putting your name on it for all to see ... speaks volumes about your heart, too! Unbelievable! Job well done!! ❤️🎶🎵🥰
It is what it is. Had a black lab named Daisie that was one of those once in a 1000 lifetimes dog. Trained herself, not in commands, this dog understood plain english. She was only 8 and my daughter 9 when the vet said inoperable cancer in the snout. We fed her steroids til they quit working and we let her go as soon as we knew she was uncomfortable, 10 years ago last month. I still don't think I'll have another dog even after all this time. I owe it to her to remember her, but I will never tell that story to a woman I am romantically involved with or interested in and neither should you. They will pay to watch Matthew McConaughey live your story in a movie, but regardless of what they say, women have 5 allowable conditions for men: Stoic, funny, strong, working, and sleeping. Stray from those and they stray from you. It is what it is.
Marshall Brune has shown a really detailed build spit into different vids. He and his dad, R.E. Brune, make phenomenal guitars. I believe it's on his channel. I'm pretty certain there's also a build from him on Rob Scallons channel from when Marshall helped him build a guitar, IIRC. The stuff on Marshall's channel is like 12 or 14 vids that are all 12-20 mins long. So you're looking at around 3 hrs or more altogether, I'd guess. 12 vids at 20 mins is 4 hrs(240 mins). 12 at 12 mins is 2 hrs 24 mins(144 mins). So I just went for the middle at 180 mins or 3 hrs.
This guitar, and this video are masterpieces. I was lucky enough to have been gifted a guitar from a local luthier. All my friends and family came together to present it to me for my 40th birthday. The builder came to my party and presented the guitar to me in person. To this day, I still tear up thinking about it. The guitar itself has volume and tone like nothing else. It was built with some rare wood that had to be harvested from an antique door that he bought in New Orleans, and had shipped back to Connecticut. I'm sitting here looking at this instrument now with even more appreciation after watching this video.
Michael, We met at Swannanoa back in 2009, and you were the only person who gave me honest and critical feedback on one of my earlier guitars. I really appreciated that. You have an amazing eye for detail. I’ve thought about your feedback many times over the years, and I’ve tried to up my game with every build. Thanks for being honest with an aspiring builder, and thanks for generously offering your time and opening your shop to us in this amazing video!
Mr. Bashkin is clearly a master of luthiering. His command of the technology and artistry is legendary. This presentation's well-done and worth every minute of time watching whether one is a luthier or not. Without doubt, the Stradivari's and Jurado's of the 1700's and 1800's were at the pinnacle of those times' developments. Without doubt, Mr. Bashkin is, in my opinion, worthy of such recognition. And special thanks to the folks of Stew-Mac and TH-cam for making this presentation available to common folk like me.
Wow…minus his luthier knowledge, this man is STILL a master woodworker of the highest caliber. I’m glad that he’s found customers who are willing to pay what his masterpieces are worth.
As a classical/acoustic lutherie student, you have no idea how helpful this is to get new perspectives on how others make guitars. Thank you Michael for letting the StewMac guys in, and thank you StewMac for uploading this.
As an amateur builder, I am in awe of Michael’s talent and attention to every aspect of building an acoustic guitar. Very impressed and inspired. Thank you for sharing.
My gosh I wish I had the money to give this man for one of these gorgeous machines. I can only imagine these being so highly sought after so many years after they are made. Take a long hard look people, super heroes are real... this level of luthiering is a lot more rare than you know. Just wow.
Refreshing in this tech age to see that there are some things a computer can't do and it takes the incredible skill and craftsmanship of a human to accomplish.
For everyone watching what he’s doing, which is great, make note of the most important tool in the mix, an optivisor, this will change your life when you work on things. It’s in the details.
As a Luthier myself, I really enjoyed this video and Bashkins attention to detail, especially back and soundboard tuning. Every Luthier has their preferred tonewoods they like to pair up, this was a nice insight as to Bashkins choices and why. Thanks for sharing this video.
man, I gotta respond to this....I'd never heard of this guy. So as I watched this I realized that with a few exceptions, this is how I built my first guitar - under the supervision of the sadly deceased John Whiteside in New Hampshire. Very similar techniques but of course nowhere near the detail. But the detail in this...the headstock veneer, the way he makes the inlays, fingerboard markers, and the sound (found a couple of sound samples on reverb and you tube). Wow. I'm not sure most handmade one-off guitars like these have the sound to justify the price, but this sure did. I could see dropping mid to high 4 figures on one of these. Not sure I deserve it though... And just a caveat for aspiring luthiers; this is not really a "how to" video. it does show most of the steps, but for example, the neck just sort of magically appears. Most of us don't have near the resources he does - jigs, CNC, thickness sander (I wish....). No real explanation of how to carve the angles of the cheeks to optimize the final neck angle or whether there are angles on the head and foot blocks. We see him voice the top but really don't know what is happening with the readout. Not a lot on fretting. But an hour and 48 minutes of sheer mastery. So many cool jigs, so many cool ideas (Indexing pins on the bridge to prevent it from slipping as it is glued on - who'd a thought!). And as I spent 2 years building my masterpiece, this is a great video for friends and family to watch to see what goes into making a handmade guitar. Kudos Mr. Bashkin.
Thank you Michael for sharing your gifts and talent with us through this video. Your last statement gives goose bumps Michael Bashkin "A really cool aspect of being a guitar maker is not only do I get to use art and science to make these, what I think are beautiful objects but then this physical entity that I’ve created in my shop then I get to hand off to somebody else and they get to make their own art with it and create and so, it’s something that keeps on giving and creating and hopefully inspire other people so it’s not just here what I do in the shop but it’s also what happens to the guitar after it leaves the shop and it takes on a life of it’s own”
Wow. This builder is a master instrument builder; from solid wood bindings to extreme craftsmanship and artistry, and an all wood philosophy this builder is genius in his use of computer numerical controlled systems and hand tools. I would sell my soul to own one of his creations...
I have been an enthusiastic amateur guitarist for nearly 70 years which has seen me embrace the odd repair. I appreciate the instrument design as much as the music it can produce in the right hands. This video absolutely captivated me on every level. The guitar seems to represent the very best in mankind. The concept, the choice of materials, the beautifying, and the many manual skills that go into both the making and the playing. There is also the question of imagination and development of the musical phrases and riffs that help to make the instrument actually work on a musical level. Its said they have the shape of a woman to add to the aesthetic appeal. They certainly look good when hung on a wall! Thank you so much for making and displaying the high level art-form of a Luthier.
I keep thinking I’ve seen the most extensive guitar build video on TH-cam and then I’m astounded by another. I think I can safely say this build will be hard to beat. The amount of obviously hard earned experience with every detail down to the smallest is incredible. The amount of time spent on the neck, frets and fretboard, nut, bridge and overall setup is so important and good to show to other builders. The tone of the this guitar is incredibly balanced. Thanks to Michael, StewMac, and all involved with the production of this video. Oh and the ending was a nice bit of humor!😁
@AudioAtmos thank you very much for the comment! It was an incredible experience to follow Michael in his shop. Really glad you enjoyed the end result.
Thanks for letting us see a Master at work ( with Very informative narration) I'm a guitarist, retired now, Iv'e had some good advice from several Luthier's over the years and now as a hobby, I buy acoustic guitar's ( structurely sound ones) and improve their sound, and do VERY SMALL repairs, then move them on. Sincerely, thank you, & I'm Don from Hamilton NZ, on my Wife's tablet-Susan😊😮
I can't thank you enough for this. This is my first ever guitar build and I am so emotionally caught up I can't believe it. Michaels's skill and craftmanship combined with the editing has left me in a Zen like space. Unbelievable just unbelievable how this whole experience has affected me. The detail and patience shown here is incredible but totally fascinating to watch. Thank you so much.
Amazing craftsmanship. I watched your video from start to finish. I got excited when it was almost finished and the sound outcome. No part of the job was left to chances. It was meticulously done. I hope you could post a video of your guitar 1 yr after production compared to a 1 day-old guitar when every part of the wood has adjusted to your humidity & temperature cycle, fully dried and settled. Your workmanship is superlative. I wish I could play your guitar. I was having a heart attack watching your guitar fall off the guitar case. No worries, you're in good hands with a MASTER.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! Good idea about posting an update on the guitar a year from now. And don't worry - the dropped guitar was just a busted one laying around the shop 🙂
I didn't know who this guy is, but I live in his town and I randomly took a $400 Chinese Alvarez acoustic guitar to him to get a set up done. He took the time to check out my cheap guitar and made a few minor tweaks to it. Never once did I feel an ounce of snobbery from him. Later, I looked at his website and found out his level, lol! Good dude!
As a wanabe luthier myself, does anyone else feel totally humbled and inadequate by watching the finesse, precision and master craftsmanship of Michael?
I am almost as impressed with the level of workmanship as I am with the level of detail on the manicuring of your fingernails sir... Both are exceptional... But seriously, this entire process was a joy to watch. I can onlly imagine just how much you have learned along the way. There is a certain amount of fearlessness involved in trying to achieve perfect widths, levels, joins, strengths, tones, weights and balances. Big respect ❤
Buying a guitar from this guy wouldn't feel like a assembly line product,but a part of himself that he poured into pieces of wood and made a work of art
I have built 4 guitars as a hobby, and have repaired?modifies many instruments. I had the great privilege many years ago in 1979 to spend the afternoon with with William (Grit) Laskin in his workshop. Grit is renowned for his workmanship, his "Laskin Arm/Rib Bevels, and especially for his stunning artistic inlay work. i really appreciate your attention to detail as well your thoughtful innovation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
The end scene is hilarious!! Great that you can have a sense of humor while making such a exacting and beautiful guitar. Bravo from one guitar builder to another… very impressed with your work for years now and just love this video you’ve put together.
I am lucky enough to own a Bashkin guitar. Michael built in a few personal things, inlays etc and I deem my guitar the most beautiful guitar ever build. Micahael is truly master craftsman!!
I was THE lucky one that actually got to see this beauty in Michael's shop. What an Artist! We are actually based in the same city. I feel really grateful to get to know Michael. This is work of a real artist!
Nice one Michael. They are all good, but I think it's your best Luthier on Luthier episode yet. I wish something this thoughtful and comprehensive had been available 30 years ago. Well done, thanks StewMac.
Congratulations Gramps! What a joy! Here’s to the grand kids! It’s all about passing along your passion! Nothing better than hearing “Grampa” for the first time. Exceptional! 🙏🙏🙏
I don't know what's even harder: to learn how to play the guitar, or to learn how to build a guitar. Probably the latter, as mistakes are certainly more "expensive" in all senses of the word. So yeah, great guitar playing sometimes may seem like magic, but nothing astonishes me more than this level of craftsmanship.
absolutely floored by the precision and patience and workmanship. Makes a person really understand and appreciate the skill set and details needed for a precision instrument.
Wow! Just Wow, I mean, just speechless. I've watched the entire production piece and, every second of it I was in complete awe. If I were to hold that guitar, I could even say I was there present as it was built. Just amazing.
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED this!!! I started watching at lunch time and said screw work till I got to see and hear the guitar! I would watch a luthier build start to finish every week! Better than any of the other crap to watch.
I just finished my second student build which was mostly solo but with some help at some key spots in the process and this video has inspired me to go through the whole process again and again! Watching this and reflecting on my own process there have been times where I clearly rushed things and am looking forward to refining both my process and my work.
It was an absolute pleasure watching and listening to this Master share his craft. Mr. Bashkin you are incredible. Thank you to all involved in arranging, filming and bringing this to the community...well done.
The world is in turmoil right now.. and sometimes i wonder if mankind is worth the trouble. The mess in Europe, the carnage biden is wreaking on the USA and i cannot help but dispair. Then i see this astounding documentary. I worked in broadcast television my whole career and the production value, the storytelling, the quality of the audio track ... BRAVO!!!! An outstanding documentary masterpiece so well done that all the attention is focussed on the subject matter. Tip of the hat to the producer, camera team, lighting guys, sound was superb and the editing, masterful. Then we come to the actual subject matter and again i am blown away. Part of my career i spend in a sound recording studio as a technician. Surrounded by artists.. i so badly wanted to play the guitar properly, but i realised very quickly that i simply do not have "it". Instead i have come to appreciate the true artists. But even the musicians skill for me pale in comparison to this Luthier's mastery of his craft. THANK YOU for showing us your world. I am in awe and i am in no doubt i will watch this and appreciate the monumental skills of all involved here, over and over again!! Salute!
Master Luthier!!!!!!!! what a total under statement!!!!!!. Michael, I'm at a loss for words. HUGE RESPECT. Your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.👊👊👊
this was completely engaging! i appreciate the obvious effort and artistic eye that was put in to making this. i would LOVE to see this continue as a series with other luthiers. 🎸
It was pleasure to see the intricacy and detail a master luthier embraces when creating an heirloom instrument. I usually do leatherwork while I watch videos but 10 minutes in I had to put down the leather and just watch. And if nothing else, the last 30 seconds were worth the first 148 minutes. Great craftsman and excellent video.
perhaps the best, most useful StewMac video to date. This is a treasure trove for all acoustic builders. Thank you both (StewMac and Michael Bashkin) for doing this.
What a STUNNING video !! This was the best 1:48:48 I have spent on line in quite some time. Watching such craftsmanship in action is wonderful. Thank you for making this and sharing it with us all !!
This video shows how crazy you can get with a high-end hand built instrument. If you're gonna build the best guitar you can build it's gonna take a lot of work. Mr. Bashkin is showing you what goes into a super high end instrument. You're not gonna get one of these on the cheap. He is blessed to be able to do what he loves and get paid for it. It's about what you're willing to take on. And what kind if instruments you want out there with your name on it.
I thought I'd have a quick look, the next thing I know an hour and a half passed by as if it were 10 minutes. I was totally captivated by your talent. Thank you for staying on point without any unnecessary distractions. I envy your skill and dedication. I wish I could experience what you do. I was so enthralled that I almost fell out of my chair at the end.
Fascinating, absolutely captivating! I have never watched any other Luthier for this long. Where do I start the amazing attention to detail, some of the most beautiful jigs and ingenious to boot! Great video work, clean and well thought out. I really enjoyed this from start to art!!
@benzonex thank you for noticing that! We thought it would add an extra dimension to the video to actually have the soundtrack being played by the instrument that was being built.
If you have to ask the cost.....you can't afford it.....this is the best video of a building process I have ever seen....what an honor again....a year and a half to film and edit....TY
This was such a joy to watch and learn more about how our instruments make their way into the world. Thank you for all the work on this lovely documentary both Michael and the StewMac team!
The last scene was the best. I did not see that coming, so I bought into the gag!!! What a wonderful documentary about a really skilled and gifted guitar maker. I have never built a kit guitar yet, but I have the itch and the inkling to do it. Thank You so much for putting this video together, it was a real treat to watch and be part of seeing the "birth" of a guitar!!
We are thrilled to finally release this epic build video after a year of planning, shooting and editing! HUGE thanks to Michael Bashkin for generously opening his workshop to us. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it. Cheers! 😊🎬
This is absolutely fascinating .
I’ve watched it twice.
Thanks for showing this process and this artist in particular.
Amazing job guys! Thanks
Well done.
Awesome documentary! Great production. It was a real treat to see how the instrument I am learning to play is being handcrafted by a true artisan. Thank you.
Just to think that's maybe 3% at best of know-how about creating this guitar. I've seen some other vids about luthier job, it looked complicated and demanding but this one was a mind-boggler. Just strange that I heard custom guitars lose more of their value than mass produced ones, maybe that depends on its quality or something because can't picture this with regard to this one in the movie.
I haven’t touched my guitar since my dog passed 2 years ago. She loved to listen to me play and without her here I lost all desire. I know , I’m weak!! After 2 years and 4 months I got my guitar out and it’s because of this video. I even got to snuggle my dog for the first time in my dreams and I can’t tell you how much I needed that and I don’t care how pathetic that sounds. I needed this video , and I thank you’s for making it.
@chadfengel we really appreciate your heartfelt comment. I'm not sure if you saw his dog's few cameos in the video, but Michael is a canine lover, as well as many of us over here at StewMac. It brought tears to our eyes hearing how this video inspired you to pick up the ole guitar again, and reunite with your pup in your dreams! Take good care, and thanks again for the comment.
If you're too big to express your feelings, you're too big. I would be comfortable assuming that most of us who would watch this video have something deep inside of us that we need to get off our chest. I went through something similar when I lost my duck dog, Ace. I haven't been duck hunting in 5 years, because I'm afraid I won't enjoy it without him, or even worse, I might actually enjoy it and I think that would make me feel guilty. He was my best friend. He'd probably want me to go, but I still haven't found it in me. We men are strange creatures, but that's alright.
You, sir ... are absolutely amazing! 😳
Your skills in the making of such a fine instrument are "over the top!!"
Your attention to detail is unmatched!
I've never seen a guitar being made ... and your video was flawless!
Well done!!!
And your ending is totally priceless! 😂
Your great sense of humor matches your creativeness with all those woods!
Wow! Just WOW!
Keep up the good work, sir!
Oh ... and your humility that you want "your tuning head to tell who made it" ... and not putting your name on it for all to see ... speaks volumes about your heart, too!
Unbelievable!
Job well done!!
❤️🎶🎵🥰
It is what it is. Had a black lab named Daisie that was one of those once in a 1000 lifetimes dog. Trained herself, not in commands, this dog understood plain english. She was only 8 and my daughter 9 when the vet said inoperable cancer in the snout. We fed her steroids til they quit working and we let her go as soon as we knew she was uncomfortable, 10 years ago last month. I still don't think I'll have another dog even after all this time. I owe it to her to remember her, but I will never tell that story to a woman I am romantically involved with or interested in and neither should you. They will pay to watch Matthew McConaughey live your story in a movie, but regardless of what they say, women have 5 allowable conditions for men: Stoic, funny, strong, working, and sleeping. Stray from those and they stray from you. It is what it is.
Good dog.
This is the most meticulous guitar build I have ever seen. It would be a huge privilege to own one of these guitars.
I second that.
Marshall Brune has shown a really detailed build spit into different vids. He and his dad, R.E. Brune, make phenomenal guitars. I believe it's on his channel. I'm pretty certain there's also a build from him on Rob Scallons channel from when Marshall helped him build a guitar, IIRC.
The stuff on Marshall's channel is like 12 or 14 vids that are all 12-20 mins long. So you're looking at around 3 hrs or more altogether, I'd guess. 12 vids at 20 mins is 4 hrs(240 mins). 12 at 12 mins is 2 hrs 24 mins(144 mins). So I just went for the middle at 180 mins or 3 hrs.
I just started watching it. Exactly my thoughts!!!
what are you waiting for?
@@cattnippmoney
This guitar, and this video are masterpieces. I was lucky enough to have been gifted a guitar from a local luthier. All my friends and family came together to present it to me for my 40th birthday. The builder came to my party and presented the guitar to me in person. To this day, I still tear up thinking about it. The guitar itself has volume and tone like nothing else. It was built with some rare wood that had to be harvested from an antique door that he bought in New Orleans, and had shipped back to Connecticut. I'm sitting here looking at this instrument now with even more appreciation after watching this video.
Michael, We met at Swannanoa back in 2009, and you were the only person who gave me honest and critical feedback on one of my earlier guitars. I really appreciated that. You have an amazing eye for detail. I’ve thought about your feedback many times over the years, and I’ve tried to up my game with every build. Thanks for being honest with an aspiring builder, and thanks for generously offering your time and opening your shop to us in this amazing video!
Lenny, do you still build guitars, and if you do, do you have a website? Thanks
Wow...THANK YOU Michael. Very kind of you to open your shop and give us a peak behind the curtain at how you build guitars. Best wishes, Mark.
I was just gonna watch a few minutes of this for nostalgic purposes. An hour and 49 minutes later..... ❤
The camera work, angle choices and editing were as good as the guitar. Nice job!
Thanks a bunch! We figured it was only right that the camera quality matched Michael's superior level of work 🙂
Mr. Bashkin is clearly a master of luthiering. His command of the technology and artistry is legendary. This presentation's well-done and worth every minute of time watching whether one is a luthier or not. Without doubt, the Stradivari's and Jurado's of the 1700's and 1800's were at the pinnacle of those times' developments. Without doubt, Mr. Bashkin is, in my opinion, worthy of such recognition. And special thanks to the folks of Stew-Mac and TH-cam for making this presentation available to common folk like me.
Wow - thank you so much for the positive feedback. It's because of viewers like you that we make these videos!
I honestly felt a bit sad when the video ended.
Wow…minus his luthier knowledge, this man is STILL a master woodworker of the highest caliber. I’m glad that he’s found customers who are willing to pay what his masterpieces are worth.
As a classical/acoustic lutherie student, you have no idea how helpful this is to get new perspectives on how others make guitars. Thank you Michael for letting the StewMac guys in, and thank you StewMac for uploading this.
@droid1008 Awesome! That's the main reason we wanted to make this video - to inspire others working on their own craft. Really glad you enjoyed it.
As an amateur builder, I am in awe of Michael’s talent and attention to every aspect of building an acoustic guitar. Very impressed and inspired. Thank you for sharing.
As an amateur builder also, I totally agree. Thanks also.
@@hymnplayer same, new builder, like only built an electric and done a few repairs on camera for youtube.
Most impressive
My gosh I wish I had the money to give this man for one of these gorgeous machines.
I can only imagine these being so highly sought after so many years after they are made.
Take a long hard look people, super heroes are real... this level of luthiering is a lot more rare than you know.
Just wow.
Refreshing in this tech age to see that there are some things a computer can't do and it takes the incredible skill and craftsmanship of a human to accomplish.
For everyone watching what he’s doing, which is great, make note of the most important tool in the mix, an optivisor, this will change your life when you work on things. It’s in the details.
As a Luthier myself, I really enjoyed this video and Bashkins attention to detail, especially back and soundboard tuning. Every Luthier has their preferred tonewoods they like to pair up, this was a nice insight as to Bashkins choices and why. Thanks for sharing this video.
man, I gotta respond to this....I'd never heard of this guy. So as I watched this I realized that with a few exceptions, this is how I built my first guitar - under the supervision of the sadly deceased John Whiteside in New Hampshire. Very similar techniques but of course nowhere near the detail. But the detail in this...the headstock veneer, the way he makes the inlays, fingerboard markers, and the sound (found a couple of sound samples on reverb and you tube). Wow. I'm not sure most handmade one-off guitars like these have the sound to justify the price, but this sure did. I could see dropping mid to high 4 figures on one of these. Not sure I deserve it though...
And just a caveat for aspiring luthiers; this is not really a "how to" video. it does show most of the steps, but for example, the neck just sort of magically appears. Most of us don't have near the resources he does - jigs, CNC, thickness sander (I wish....). No real explanation of how to carve the angles of the cheeks to optimize the final neck angle or whether there are angles on the head and foot blocks. We see him voice the top but really don't know what is happening with the readout. Not a lot on fretting. But an hour and 48 minutes of sheer mastery. So many cool jigs, so many cool ideas (Indexing pins on the bridge to prevent it from slipping as it is glued on - who'd a thought!). And as I spent 2 years building my masterpiece, this is a great video for friends and family to watch to see what goes into making a handmade guitar. Kudos Mr. Bashkin.
Holy Smokes!! What a fantastic story and doc about this artist of wood. The ending was genius by the way.
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you Michael for sharing your gifts and talent with us through this video.
Your last statement gives goose bumps
Michael Bashkin
"A really cool aspect of being a guitar maker is not only do I get to use art and science to make these, what I think are beautiful objects but then this physical entity that I’ve created in my shop then I get to hand off to somebody else and they get to make their own art with it and create and so, it’s something that keeps on giving and creating and hopefully inspire other people so it’s not just here what I do in the shop but it’s also what happens to the guitar after it leaves the shop and it takes on a life of it’s own”
We loved that part too, he's an inspiration to all of us builders and players.
Wow. This builder is a master instrument builder; from solid wood bindings to extreme craftsmanship and artistry, and an all wood philosophy this builder is genius in his use of computer numerical controlled systems and hand tools. I would sell my soul to own one of his creations...
I have been an enthusiastic amateur guitarist for nearly 70 years which has seen me embrace the odd repair. I appreciate the instrument design as much as the music it can produce in the right hands. This video absolutely captivated me on every level. The guitar seems to represent the very best in mankind. The concept, the choice of materials, the beautifying, and the many manual skills that go into both the making and the playing. There is also the question of imagination and development of the musical phrases and riffs that help to make the instrument actually work on a musical level. Its said they have the shape of a woman to add to the aesthetic appeal. They certainly look good when hung on a wall! Thank you so much for making and displaying the high level art-form of a Luthier.
The sound of that back mating with the sides was exceedingly satisfying! Nice work Michael!!
I keep thinking I’ve seen the most extensive guitar build video on TH-cam and then I’m astounded by another. I think I can safely say this build will be hard to beat. The amount of obviously hard earned experience with every detail down to the smallest is incredible. The amount of time spent on the neck, frets and fretboard, nut, bridge and overall setup is so important and good to show to other builders. The tone of the this guitar is incredibly balanced. Thanks to Michael, StewMac, and all involved with the production of this video. Oh and the ending was a nice bit of humor!😁
@AudioAtmos thank you very much for the comment! It was an incredible experience to follow Michael in his shop. Really glad you enjoyed the end result.
omg the ending. thank you michael. just fantastic.
😜
Thanks for letting us see a Master at work ( with Very informative narration) I'm a guitarist, retired now, Iv'e had some good advice from several Luthier's over the years and now as a hobby, I buy acoustic guitar's ( structurely sound ones) and improve their sound, and do VERY SMALL repairs, then move them on. Sincerely, thank you, & I'm Don from Hamilton NZ, on my Wife's tablet-Susan😊😮
Thanks so much, Don! We're glad you enjoyed the video.
I can't thank you enough for this. This is my first ever guitar build and I am so emotionally caught up I can't believe it. Michaels's skill and craftmanship combined with the editing has left me in a Zen like space. Unbelievable just unbelievable how this whole experience has affected me. The detail and patience shown here is incredible but totally fascinating to watch. Thank you so much.
Amazing craftsmanship. I watched your video from start to finish. I got excited when it was almost finished and the sound outcome. No part of the job was left to chances. It was meticulously done. I hope you could post a video of your guitar 1 yr after production compared to a 1 day-old guitar when every part of the wood has adjusted to your humidity & temperature cycle, fully dried and settled. Your workmanship is superlative. I wish I could play your guitar. I was having a heart attack watching your guitar fall off the guitar case. No worries, you're in good hands with a MASTER.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment! Good idea about posting an update on the guitar a year from now. And don't worry - the dropped guitar was just a busted one laying around the shop 🙂
I didn't know who this guy is, but I live in his town and I randomly took a $400 Chinese Alvarez acoustic guitar to him to get a set up done. He took the time to check out my cheap guitar and made a few minor tweaks to it. Never once did I feel an ounce of snobbery from him. Later, I looked at his website and found out his level, lol! Good dude!
That’s really awesome!
As a wanabe luthier myself, does anyone else feel totally humbled and inadequate by watching the finesse, precision and master craftsmanship of Michael?
No
I am almost as impressed with the level of workmanship as I am with the level of detail on the manicuring of your fingernails sir... Both are exceptional...
But seriously, this entire process was a joy to watch. I can onlly imagine just how much you have learned along the way. There is a certain amount of fearlessness involved in trying to achieve perfect widths, levels, joins, strengths, tones, weights and balances. Big respect ❤
Thanks for sharing your guitar building process. I'm from the Philippines. Not a guitar builder, just a player interested in quality instruments.
Buying a guitar from this guy wouldn't feel like a assembly line product,but a part of himself that he poured into pieces of wood and made a work of art
lovely perfectionism. it's no wonder your instruments are so exceptional, michael .. .
The jigs and tools used here are meticulously maintained, making this process even more incredible....what an honor to watch a MASTER at work
This is poetry on a video. I'm almost in tears at its beauty. Would watch it full-length in a movie theater. Thank you so much.
I have built 4 guitars as a hobby, and have repaired?modifies many instruments. I had the great privilege many years ago in 1979 to spend the afternoon with with William (Grit) Laskin in his workshop. Grit is renowned for his workmanship, his "Laskin Arm/Rib Bevels, and especially for his stunning artistic inlay work. i really appreciate your attention to detail as well your thoughtful innovation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
The end scene is hilarious!! Great that you can have a sense of humor while making such a exacting and beautiful guitar. Bravo from one guitar builder to another… very impressed with your work for years now and just love this video you’ve put together.
I am lucky enough to own a Bashkin guitar. Michael built in a few personal things, inlays etc and I deem my guitar the most beautiful guitar ever build. Micahael is truly master craftsman!!
Dude makes woodworking look like Lego! Awesome stuff.
I was THE lucky one that actually got to see this beauty in Michael's shop. What an Artist! We are actually based in the same city. I feel really grateful to get to know Michael. This is work of a real artist!
Nice one Michael. They are all good, but I think it's your best Luthier on Luthier episode yet. I wish something this thoughtful and comprehensive had been available 30 years ago. Well done, thanks StewMac.
Very kind words... thank YOU!
I literally jumped out of my skin! 😮 Unbelievable craftsmanship,,,
It is art, I love watching craftsmen apply their skills.
Congratulations Gramps! What a joy! Here’s to the grand kids! It’s all about passing along your passion!
Nothing better than hearing “Grampa” for the first time. Exceptional!
🙏🙏🙏
I don't know what's even harder: to learn how to play the guitar, or to learn how to build a guitar. Probably the latter, as mistakes are certainly more "expensive" in all senses of the word. So yeah, great guitar playing sometimes may seem like magic, but nothing astonishes me more than this level of craftsmanship.
This was amazing! Thanks to MAB for sharing his experience and ideas, and for Stew Mac having this filmed and shared.
Thanks for tuning in!
absolutely floored by the precision and patience and workmanship. Makes a person really understand and appreciate the skill set and details needed for a precision instrument.
Wow! Just Wow, I mean, just speechless. I've watched the entire production piece and, every second of it I was in complete awe. If I were to hold that guitar, I could even say I was there present as it was built. Just amazing.
Wow, thank you!
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED this!!! I started watching at lunch time and said screw work till I got to see and hear the guitar! I would watch a luthier build start to finish every week! Better than any of the other crap to watch.
This is what it looks like to take pride in your work... amazing Craft thanks for the video
This was one of the most enjoyable video's to watch on TH-cam.
This man is an American treasure. Many folks throw around the term master. To call him anything but would be an insult. Outstanding build!
Wow! What a master. The attention to detail was amazing. Great work and thanks for bringing these insights.
Thanks so much! It was a true pleasure to work with Michael on this project.
It´s kind of a hypnotic feeling watching skilled people working. 😴
I just finished my second student build which was mostly solo but with some help at some key spots in the process and this video has inspired me to go through the whole process again and again! Watching this and reflecting on my own process there have been times where I clearly rushed things and am looking forward to refining both my process and my work.
It's art. It's science. It's just all encompassing and completely alive.
I admire this very talented capable man, it was a real pleasure to watch him create an instrument.
Wow! Talk about top notch!
The ending was was hilarious twist too.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much for the great feedback!
As a guitar player and woodworker I have to say that your craftsmanship is absolutely astonishing.
It was an absolute pleasure watching and listening to this Master share his craft. Mr. Bashkin you are incredible. Thank you to all involved in arranging, filming and bringing this to the community...well done.
@markroberts2186 Thanks a bunch for the positive feedback! The whole process was a pleasure for us to put together and share with the YT community.
The world is in turmoil right now.. and sometimes i wonder if mankind is worth the trouble. The mess in Europe, the carnage biden is wreaking on the USA and i cannot help but dispair. Then i see this astounding documentary. I worked in broadcast television my whole career and the production value, the storytelling, the quality of the audio track ... BRAVO!!!! An outstanding documentary masterpiece so well done that all the attention is focussed on the subject matter. Tip of the hat to the producer, camera team, lighting guys, sound was superb and the editing, masterful. Then we come to the actual subject matter and again i am blown away. Part of my career i spend in a sound recording studio as a technician. Surrounded by artists.. i so badly wanted to play the guitar properly, but i realised very quickly that i simply do not have "it". Instead i have come to appreciate the true artists. But even the musicians skill for me pale in comparison to this Luthier's mastery of his craft. THANK YOU for showing us your world. I am in awe and i am in no doubt i will watch this and appreciate the monumental skills of all involved here, over and over again!! Salute!
Loved that ending. Actually loved the whole lot. Your attention to detail is incredible.
Glad to hear it! Thank you!
What an incredible 1.48 minutes , your craftsmanship it outstanding. Watched from start to finfish thoroughly enthralled. Thank you !
Art in motion. A revalation to watch the creation of somthing truly unique.
Master Luthier!!!!!!!! what a total under statement!!!!!!. Michael, I'm at a loss for words. HUGE RESPECT. Your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.👊👊👊
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Great ending!!! What a process! Very inspiring!
This is not a guitar, this is a "work of art" one can play !! Thourghly enjoyed watching. Thank you so much for sharing. From New Zealand. 10/10.
this was completely engaging! i appreciate the obvious effort and artistic eye that was put in to making this. i would LOVE to see this continue as a series with other luthiers. 🎸
It was pleasure to see the intricacy and detail a master luthier embraces when creating an heirloom instrument. I usually do leatherwork while I watch videos but 10 minutes in I had to put down the leather and just watch. And if nothing else, the last 30 seconds were worth the first 148 minutes. Great craftsman and excellent video.
perhaps the best, most useful StewMac video to date. This is a treasure trove for all acoustic builders. Thank you both (StewMac and Michael Bashkin) for doing this.
Wow, thank you! It certainly was one of our most involved video projects, and well worth the effort we hope. So glad that it's been useful to you!
I wish I had a gazillion dollars! Not only would I send my existing guitar to him, I’d have him build me a guitar! Guy is a master!! Hats off!
What a STUNNING video !! This was the best 1:48:48 I have spent on line in quite some time. Watching such craftsmanship in action is wonderful. Thank you for making this and sharing it with us all !!
The sound when Michael split that spruce and it fell to the floor at 22:13 was incredible.
We like that part too. Definitely a lot of ASMR happening in this vid!
@@stewmac I meant more you can tell how musical that wood already is!
@patienthands ahhhh, right! Yes, totally agree, it was already ringing.
I think it takes someone that has built guitars to truly admire the perfection you see here.
While to someone who appreciates woodworking, it's as fascinating
for possibly different reasons, however appreciated nonetheless.
This video shows how crazy you can get with a high-end hand built instrument. If you're gonna build the best guitar you can build it's gonna take a lot of work. Mr. Bashkin is showing you what goes into a super high end instrument. You're not gonna get one of these on the cheap. He is blessed to be able to do what he loves and get paid for it. It's about what you're willing to take on. And what kind if instruments you want out there with your name on it.
that ending was hilarious!
the pacing of the edits on this video is amazing. held my attention perfectly
Thanks!!
I thought I'd have a quick look, the next thing I know an hour and a half passed by as if it were 10 minutes. I was totally captivated by your talent. Thank you for staying on point without any unnecessary distractions. I envy your skill and dedication. I wish I could experience what you do. I was so enthralled that I almost fell out of my chair at the end.
That is some real passion for work and amazing craftsmanship
So very generous of you. Thank you very much. Best wishes.
best build vid ever! Michael's process for cutting and shaping the frets is something I really hadn't seen before.
Always nice to see a pro at work. Great video.
Thanks 👍
Fascinating, absolutely captivating! I have never watched any other Luthier for this long. Where do I start the amazing attention to detail, some of the most beautiful jigs and ingenious to boot! Great video work, clean and well thought out. I really enjoyed this from start to art!!
Wow, thank you so much! "From start to art" - love that quote!
Classy fellow and builder, met him and shared a table with him in Santa Barbara some years ago.
You guys ate the table??!
Now that's dedication to wood workers!!
loved the fact that throughout the video we were listening to the finished guitar 🙂
@benzonex thank you for noticing that! We thought it would add an extra dimension to the video to actually have the soundtrack being played by the instrument that was being built.
Great video and EXTREMELY informative. The end make me laugh out loud.
Thanks. We were so thrilled to work with Michael on this. Glad you liked the ending. 😎
I am impressed.
Wow what a great visit we just got and really informative and being a novice builder this was truly a nice insight thanks
Glad it was helpful!
If you have to ask the cost.....you can't afford it.....this is the best video of a building process I have ever seen....what an honor again....a year and a half to film and edit....TY
That is such a bs saying, people like to know what it costs in order to save for it or whatever reason
masterful work ,,, how i wish :) ,,, whoever gets your guitars are some very lucky people ,,, take good care
Lovley! Thank you Michael for sharing
I've been listening to the LOL podcast for ages, it's so cool to get to see your workshop. Thanks Michael!
True craftsmanship!
Never mind the guitar, just listening to those chisels and planes in action is a joy!
This was such a joy to watch and learn more about how our instruments make their way into the world. Thank you for all the work on this lovely documentary both Michael and the StewMac team!
Really glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the positive feedback.
The last scene was the best. I did not see that coming, so I bought into the gag!!! What a wonderful documentary about a really skilled and gifted guitar maker. I have never built a kit guitar yet, but I have the itch and the inkling to do it. Thank You so much for putting this video together, it was a real treat to watch and be part of seeing the "birth" of a guitar!!
Simply amazing video, thank you so much for sharing. I almost sprayed coffee out of my nose at the end.
😅 Had to do it...
Coming back after two months just to rewatch this amazing video. It's truly something unreal.
Really enjoyed this video and the craftsmanship.