Resources You Might Find Useful

A searchable library of 397+ guitar and bass wiring diagrams covering single-coils, humbuckers, coil-splits, series/parallel configurations, and multi-pickup arrangements. Filterable by pickup count, type, and switching. The de facto reference for guitar and bass electronics — diagrams work with any brand of pickup.

Robert O'Brien's YouTube channel hosts the long-running "Luthier Tips du Jour" series — 200+ videos covering acoustic and classical guitar building, setup, finishing (lacquer, French polish, Tru-Oil), and repair. One of the most comprehensive video resources in lutherie with over 8 million total views.

StewMac's library of instructional videos and written guides covering fret work, neck and truss rod adjustments, finishing, refinishing, electronics, and hardware installation. The "Trade Secrets" video series features professional luthiers demonstrating real shop techniques used daily in working repair shops.

Educational projects and resources for string instrument maintenance, bow rehairing, and repair in developing regions, created by Luthiers Sans Frontières UK.

Comprehensive reference database of wood species used in instrument making. Provides Janka hardness ratings, Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), specific gravity, shrinkage rates, and allergen warnings for tonewoods including rosewoods, ebony, spruce, cedar, and maple.

Community forum with dedicated sections for luthier advice, bow rehairing, string tension choices, tailpiece adjusters, and soundpost adjustment for violin, viola, and cello players and makers.

The official technical association for band instrument repair technicians. Provides technical articles, repair clinic archives, and resources for professional woodwind and brass technicians.

The premier online community archive for builders and repairers of all musical instruments — fretted, bowed, woodwind, brass, and organology. Thousands of archived discussions on wood drying, adhesives, varnish formulas, and specialized tooling.

The largest online community for piano technicians, tuners, and rebuilders. In-depth technical discussions on pinblock rebuilding, hammer voicing, action regulation, and soundboard crack repairs.

Ben Crowe and the Crimson Guitars team demonstrate guitar building, neck carving, fret leveling, custom staining, and woodworking techniques. Features detailed video series on restoring broken headstocks and building guitars from scratch.

Community-driven site covering DIY guitar building, modification, and repair. Contains tutorials on body and neck construction, routing, hardware installation, wiring, and finishing, plus extensive member build logs with photos. One of the longest-running English-language resources for guitar builders.

Telecaster-focused community with substantial sections on guitar building and finishing. The "Tele Home Depot" subforum documents DIY builds step-by-step, while "Finely Finished" covers nitrocellulose lacquer, relic aging, and refinishing techniques in depth. Finishing and construction knowledge applies well beyond Telecasters.

Long-running forum for professional and amateur luthiers covering acoustic and classical guitar construction, tone wood selection, bracing, joinery, neck resets, and finish work. Primarily acoustic-oriented but includes active sections on electric guitar building and repair.

Community forum centered on Warmoth parts and DIY electric guitar assembly. Contains build logs, wiring discussions, finishing advice, and hardware comparisons from experienced builders. Useful for technicians advising customers on partscaster component choices or working on assembled Warmoth instruments.

Written tutorials and guides focused on electric guitar setup, maintenance, and electronics. Covers pickup installation and height adjustment, wiring mods, action and intonation setup, and common repair techniques. Aimed at players and technicians maintaining and modifying their own instruments.

A structured guide covering daily care, humidity and temperature management, string changing, rosin selection, bow care, and when to take an instrument to a luthier. Useful as a patient-handout reference in a workshop context.

Horace Petherick's technical manual on violin repair and restoration, available in multiple formats from Project Gutenberg. Covers adhesives, crack repair, wood replacement, and preserving acoustic integrity. Dense and technical — aimed at both amateurs and professionals working with violin-family instruments.

Paul Hostetter's personal site covering bowed and fretted instrument construction, repair, and history. Includes original content on bridge and nut cutting, wood selection, neck straightening, Selmer/gypsy jazz guitars, and resophonic instruments, plus a curated directory of luthier organizations and forums.