An Inspiring Guitar Build

I just came across this inspiring video by a Belgian amateur woodworker and guitar player named Tchiks, in which he details his custom semi-hollowbody build. The video is well-paced and clearly edited, and if you’re at all like me, there’s lots of ooh and ahhh moments, and it’s hard to stop until the end.

Tchiks’ bio says he works in an unrelated professional field, and has taught himself woodworking from YouTube and reading books. I could describe myself in exactly the same way- and I’ve always dreamt of building a guitar, but been too intimidated.

What completely blows me away as this is only his 3rd guitar build, and he makes it look like his hundredth. And the guitar turned out absolutely beautifully.

A couple of my favorite moments in the video- carving the top with paper templates and chisels, and of course that wonderful moment when the oil stain goes on.

Tchiks uses a portable table saw, router, planer, band saw, chisels, planes, drill press, drum sander, and various hand tools, jigs and templates. He does not use a CNC or any other impossible-to-obtain tools that you’d see in the big guitar factories.

In short, I have the same tools and can build the same jigs, so what’s my excuse?! I really should attempt this some day!

Thanks for the inspiration, Tchiks!