Acoustic guitar from reclaimed wood - 'The Scrapnought'
I made my first acoustic guitar!! Dubbed the 'scrapnought'.
The reason I started dabbling in the realm of woodworking was so I could make my own guitar. In the last year or so I already made 2 electric guitars for myself, so I sort of knew the basics of lutherie. Or at least how to make a piece of wood look, feel and sound sort of like a guitar is supposed to look, sound and feel. Now it is time to tackle a project of a different scale of difficulty: my first acoustic guitar.
To wood I used for this acoustic guitar was either scrapsI had or wood that I picked out of a dumpster. The beams of tropical hardwood (mahogany-like) was found in a dumpster, I took enough to make another acoustic guitar (already started) and a couple of electric guitars. This wood was used for the sides, the back and the neck. The pine for the top was scrap, really 'bad' for a guitar top, but I did this on purpose just for experiments sake. Besides those I used some pine for the bracing and the kerfing inside the acoustic guitar's body. I used red oak for the binding and the center strip for the 3-piece neck. The fretboard, bridge and rosette is made from afromosia. The heel cap en headstock top lamiate is made from an unknown tropical hardwood (possibly also Afromosia).
This was a lot of work, but very rewarding. And ,a little bit to my surprise, it also feels, looks and sounds like an acoustic guitar. I play a few quick chords at end, just some spontaneous jamming so don't expect to much lol.
This is a long one, I might make shorter, sped up, videos of the different main parts of the build. So stay tuned.
Thanks for watching! And as always like, share, comment and subscribe. For more stuff take a look at / robincoomans
Music used:
Acoustic Instrumental by Hyde - Free Instrumentals / davidhydemusic
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I'm impressed. Considering the lack of dedicated luthier tools, the scrap wood, and that it's your first acoustic guitar... that's amazing. Definitely made me want to build an acoustic guitar, and I don't even play guitar!
its not about what you have, its about what you do with what you have.
I agree! Thank you!!
Yes, I also have a small penis
hahaha
Yes. Know your tools. Good job! Great watch.
agreed. I reviewd something , It is one of strong things I have ever watched.
Thank you for posting this build Robin, WOW. Your tenacity and ingenious methods around technical problems was really fun to watch. Finally, the fact you documented it all so well was truly appreciated. Do another one!
what else does one do in ones spare time ? he does what he loves to do making music , not killing anyone or making anyone else unhappy his passion is making things plz don't knock him, just applaud him well done m8 all the best to you .
ข
Two of my favorite things. Building, and guitar. After watching this it is making me want to make my own. Thank you for this amazing video!
Thanks!
Jmar I was thinking the same thing!
Me too!
What an incredible and wonderful video. The music, the content and the love that went into this build is absolutely beautiful to experience. One of the best youtube videos yet. Thank you.
I truly admire your style. You’re character indeed bro. You taught me I can make an instrument out anything just attitude. Thank your for sharing your art and passion for music. 👍🏼
It's inspiring to see you tackling a really complicated project, with such good results. Thanks!
One of the best video documentations I have ever watched! Thank you so much for posting this. I got a whole new appreciation of the work and love that goes into making a guitar.
Thanks Jack!! 👊
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT VIDEO. I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE, THAT GUITAR IS A WORK OF ART AND YOUR WOOD WORKING SKILLS TO MAKE SUCH A GRAND PIECE, OUTSTANDING.
You are truly a master! What a work of art! I enjoyed every second of this video. Thanks for sharing your talents with us! Keep up the great work!
Beautiful workmanship with great attention paid to the minute details. What ever the subject THAT is what separates the good finished peace from a great finished peace . Thank you for allowing us to watch a true craftsmen at work !
Probably one of the most satisfying things I've ever watched
Thank you!! Much appreciated 👊👊
why
David Holland +1
Yes.....
Without doubt well done
Ronald Puett here just wanted to say l admire people who looks at something and know what they want. You are too be looked up too, for what you had to work with was amazing to take reclaimed wood and make an amazing sounding guitar, very well done two thumbs up
This was awesome! Such a cool guitar, loved how the back of the neck and sides looked. Well, the whole thing actually. Nice concept!
Fantastic I want to keep this short but you have given so much inspiration now to get up and do it the whole guitar build and methods are brilliant. Thanks changed someone's outlook on life.
Great to see a build like this completed with rough materials and simple tools. People think you need a ton of equipment and specialist tools but it can be done with a fairly basic tool kit. Very well done!!
Thanks!! Yup it definitely can be done in pretty simple ways.. that's not to say I would mind some more advanced tools 😉
The world's most valued and revered instruments were built using simple hand tools by master craftsmen.
Watched from start to finish enjoyed every minute. You created a work of art.
Thank you!
Is this Beeb?
It’s amazing how reclaimed wood would become such a great looking guitar!!! I like how you made it look so easy! Great job!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
the fact that your methods are unorthodox made the result and the video even more impressive and interesting. Good work
At first sight I had a little chuckle thinking this guy's in for a shock. As the video progresses and you see all the rough arse ways he's going about the build you think it's all just a joke. But I have to say the end result is fantastic. Maybe not the best example of quality tone woods but aesthetically pleasing to the eye. So 10 out of 10 for effort and results.
Thanks Chris! That's sort of the reaction I was hoping for. I always wanted to make one but I don't have a lot of the tools you would 'need' to make a guitar so a lot of my methods are pretty unorthodox. But it turned out quite allright in the end, as you mentioned.
Yes it can be done that way. But it makes me glad I invested in the tooling to make it faster and easier. You see all these videos of guys with $150,000 shops and you think it has to be that way but it doesn't if you just take the time to finish it out. I would have lightened up the sound board a little more and used a little better clamping but but great job!
I really liked heating up the pipe to bend the wet wood.
If you think about it, it was probably not to waste $500 worth of wood on a first build. If nothing else, it makes a great wall hanger and conversation piece for your instrument playing friend. As a guy who plays a lot of Martin/Martin inspired dreadnoughts, I'd be super happy to play a guitar someone handed me and said "i build it in the garage"
Fab, I would be as pleased as punch to get the results you got from a bunch of scrap wood and some simple tools.well done mate,great video.cheers.
This is, without question, my most favorite video that I have seen to-date of how to make something very nice, creatively, and that is truly desired by the person making it. Also loved the fact that you used regular tools that most people who like working with wood have in their garage versus other videos I have seen that try to be instructional but use tools that everyday people cannot possibly purchase or have room for. Loved every minute of it from the sounds of the saw, the music, the creative use of scraps, binder clip clamps, tape, tape and more tape - THANK YOU so much for taking the time to make this video so nicely done. I learned many new things watching that will make my life easier on future projects, it was also extremely therapeutic and relaxing watching it. Again thank you!
Thanks man! If I had some bigger/better tools I would have used them, but this worked out just fine.. you don't need all the latest and greatest to do good work. Thanks for watching!
I LOVE this build, from beginning to end! A bucket full of well dones! 😍🤓😀
I started watching and after a while I thought, he's got a perfectly good guitar already. I just kept watching. I don't know if it was like a train wreck that you just have to stare at or what. But finally towards the end when he did some finish sanding, coated it again, strung it up and started playing. At that point I was thinking, this sounds pretty good, he's got two perfectly good guitars now. I love seeing people craft things from their passions, you know, a labor of love. You should be proud of that guitar.
This was amazing to watch, therapeutic even and a beautiful guiar :)
One of my favourite youtube videos. Period. I watched the whole thing till the end. Great job man this deserves to go viral.
Thank you!!
Loved the background music throughout the video! After watching multiple handmade guitar work shops I really appreciate the wood working techniques you’ve used during the process. It was a pleasure to watch and the result of each step was phenomenal. The trim pieces get me every time and the neck/fretboard is a masterpiece all on its own. A true luthier!
You have just made the world a whole lot more beautiful! Thank you for this amazing "experiment!" It is an unqualified success!
That was very nicely done. Quite relaxing and enjoyable video. Great job!
Thanks!
Great video. I love the improvised tools and jigs. Makes me think I could maybe build one some day.
Thank you for this. I watched the whole thing and found it very calming and almost meditative.
Wonderful creation Robin, made with less than expensive material ! The whole is greater than the sum total of the parts ! Excellent video ! Inspiring ! Thank you ....
That’s just amazing, well done dude best video I’ve watched in ages on here. Totally mesmerizing
Thanks! Glad you liked it 👊👊
it comes to life when the music starts!
Hats off to you Robin. Bit rough and ready but its all reclaimed materials and your first acoustic build. And in the end the main thing is if and how the guitar plays. What I love about this is you show how damn hard it is to create from scratch and the hours of hard work that went into it. Like most of us wouldn't be able to make an instrument that is remotely playable. Very impressive.
This is by far the best thing I have watched on KZhead in a very long time. Thank you!
this video makes me appreciate my guitar even more :)
unless he made it i bet yours wasnt made like this hahah
@@Halliday7895 why you gotta be a piece of shit on a good video and comment dude?
@@Sunny-yg2pq just asking him a question bruh
Loved every second of it. I'd love to make my own guitars.
You made it look easy, and the whole video was a joy to watch. I like the choice of brass inserts for the neck, the way you relieved for the truss, and much more. I bet that tree never thought this would be its next life!
This is love in action. Pure genius. Thank you Sir for sharing.
I watched the whole thing. Incredible! Sounds really good!
Wow, really!? :) Thank you Gabriel!!
That is absolutely incredible
Thanks!
I'm speechless. Just love this work of art!!!! I may be late to this video but I'm in Sydney Australia and only found you recently. I'm hooked.
This shows me I don't need tools I want but don't really need. I just need patience and desire. A great video, many will want to go and build using what they have. Thank you so much for this.
Great job on your first acoustic. Enjoyed that tremendously. Great job on the video as well. Struck a nice balance between showing everything and showing too much of everything, if you know what I mean. Pace was excellent.
Thanks Bill! Editing the video tested my patience a lot more than making the guitar, as I had over 20 hours of footage to choose from :D glad you like it!
That was absolutely amazing. I can hardly get out the words to say.... I wish you were my neighbour. You’d never be able to get rid of me lol. I’d want to just watch you work and try to absorb everything you do so I could learn myself... and then make myself a guitar Ive been wanting one so bad since my papa died, he was a guitarist in the 50s all through out his life he practically passed away holding a guitar, I’ll never be able to afford one but man if I could build one wow. Thank you so kindly for this video it was actually breath taking
Thank you for sharing your experience, I found this video to be extremely helpful, and a great lesson. Again thank you very much.
What a fantastic job, Robin. Ingenuity at extreme levels and a result that I'm sure surprised many. I was also mesmerized by the video and watched the whole thing. Great idea, great content, and great guitar! Congratulations, man...
me during the video: what is he doing me at the end: wow that is so amazing!
I had to laugh when you installed Gotoh's on your "Scrapnought" - great job!
Why?
Great lots of detail work watched the entire video its 10pm now nodding out. I believe you have created a rewarding piece that will give you years of pleasure.
This is perfect and very satisfying to watch. Awesome woodworking skills!
It's hard to watch this video and not have a new found respect for the acoustic guitar and and he people who create them. Thank you for sharing this video. You are truly a craftsmen and an artist!!
This is marvelous.
Steve Soldwedel Thank you!
Wow! Man you're blessed with amazing wood work skills I applaud you keep it up thanks for sharing👏🙌👍🏼
I gotta admit... I was very sceptical about how it was gonna sound but jeez man... That guitar turned out amazing. Ingenious use of tools like the hot airgun. And to bring what was very rough hewn wood together like that. Amazing. Well done Sir.
Hats off to you man! I feel like there's probably a bunch of haters about this, but they don't have a scrap-wood guitar, you do!
Why would be haters guys with the best woodworking shops and thousands of pounds with the best equipment could not even do this Well done watching in Scotland 🏴
You are the essence of when there's a will there's a way.
There is so much crap on YT these days but every now and then someone posts a gem. Great job all the way around. The only thing that troubles me is how anyone could give this a thumbs down. Thank you.
Really enjoyed this start to finish. The last two days I’ve watched two different master guitar makers making their pieces of Art. I imagine you have done the same sort of thing to get the inspiration to do the same. Also the time just to film and edit! Good on you for having the guts to do it and share the build with us and play after all your hard work! You should feel very proud of what you have achieved. Thanks you, you made my Saturday morning!
Now this is a work of art....not sure how you got all the measurements and dimensions right, just using standard tools. the neck even looks perfect.
Thanks! Comparing to my 'real' guitar and a lot was by feel. The neck is the best and easiest part of this guitar!
for me the neck angle was the part that gave me the most difficulty, though your way of transferring the angle was really interesting and I will try it next time.
Hi Max, I think I saw this in an other video on KZhead. I'm not sure, if I find it I'll post the link. If not I'll try to give a short explanation. A straight edge should rest on the neck joint-edge of the body and 2-3mm raised above the body at the location of the bridge. This is the neck angle. To make this into a permanent gauge I superglued a piece of wood to it, parallel to the side of the body at the location of the neck joint. Hope this helps :D Edit: That's what I did, there probably are many different methods.
I want a custom guitar that looks similar to the Vintage Gibson Hummingbird any year, and thats it. Do you have a website? Or can you make me one on the low low? I'll send you cash via Fed Ex, seriously, or gold if you want it, up front no questions asked. I just want a guitar you hand made. That guitar sounded like a dove to me. Or just make any acoustic guitar, whatever you want, and I'll pay for it.
Yahuchanonyakov what other kinda of tools are there? Lol
Now that is talent!
This was awesome, I really like what you’ve done. Thank you for sharing
I was surprised that I have watched the entire build...from scraps to a functional musical instrument. Amazing tenacity!
I may try this it looks cool me and my grandpa might try!
Parabéns !👏👏👏 Amei❤
What a pleasure to watch. I am sending this all over the world to my friends, so that they can enjoy this amazing video. Thank you Robin for the video, and the inspiration.
Haha thank you!
I have to tell you, I am really impressed at the ingenuity you have without all the luthier specific jigs and tools we take for granted. I was impressed with the results were considering how crude some of your methods were. Blew me away. Thanks for showing us.
I watched the whole video, because I did not believe you would succeed. GREAT !!!!!!!!
Thank you!!
Nice work !!
Amazing work, skills, all done with passion & love of making something, I'm speechless. I'd buy it.
Love the video. I think by build a guitar this way you learn so much that your skills are dramatically improved as a result. A very nice initial guitar build with minimal material costs!!!
Nice experiment!
I'll be honest I added this to my watch later list but excited to watch it.
Riverbendlongbows.com Much appreciated! 👌 👌
Adam le
Om santi
What a beautiful reminder that life does not have to be perfect to be enjoyed. Great video I thoroughly loved it.
Discipline and patience, makes perfection.Excellent work of a piece of music wood art.
Make me 1 i need 1 lol
Fantastic video and build. There are a couple of really simple things you can do to really improve the sound of this guitar: - Make the bridge string-through - Do a proper fret levelling - Set the action up to about 90 thou on the bass side and 80 on the treble side Basically, a proper setup and it would sound like a million bucks.
Thanks! Just after I made this video I did some fret leveling and I did lower the action as well. On the next one I will make the bridge string through.
That wood seems much happier than it did in the dumpster.
Dude this was a magnificent build. It was an honor to watch. Thanks.
Great video and great work on the guitar! It was really relaxing to just listen to the music while watching you work. Keep it up!
Who needs clamps when you got a good ol' chunk of steel
When it works, it works! ;) Thanks for watching
I was waiting for the kitchen sink to go on top.
You're blowing hot air through a steel pipe to form the wood? Genious!
Thanks! 👊
Tjita1 excellent isn't it! I have been thinking on trying a build, that's how I ended up here! I don't have fancy equipment.. this video is great inspiration. Really, well done ☺️
Exactly what I thought
Yeah, that part surprised me. I would have built a steam box out of a long piece of pvc with a kettle, but that method worked pretty well!
This was great to watch. Stunning guitar. My hats off to you.
Wow! I'm blown away. You're a true artist bro, keep it up.
Great video. The sheer courage of getting into the fight with these tools, woods, etc.: Epic. I loved watching the video. I'm still collecting courage to give it a shot and this video really helps. Hope you follow some of Jack Shiznits advise eg. watching the Goodall video "Full Building of a Custom Goodall Guitar", and then start with Scrapnought 2.0. I'm looking forward to it!
Who else watched the whole video?
Start to finish, amazing, yep I watched it all!
Yep....whole thing. Amazing. Minimal shop, dull chisels BUT great skill.
I watched the whole video, I come from a wood working back ground and this was amazing to watch the end result looked great and sounded pretty good as well the guitars will only get better from here.
I saw the video complete excellentcomo abrir una tapa de mandolina napolitana
x2 times faster
I am learning a bit at a time of the art of making guitars. You are a master At making Guitars thank You for being a Greate Teacher and a Master at Your Art.
The sheer ingenuity makes this worth the watch and the end product is beautiful.
I think the same, when I first saw the stick he was about to used I was kinda laughing but now, I shut myself he wasn't ending still
I am not sure if this guy is a true luthier or not...however he is a master craftsman.
Haha I'm definitely no luthier.. I made this up as I went along so to speak :) Thanks!!
Nice Job Brother!
Thank you!!
@@RobinCoomans heyya...wanna ask ya somethin...how thick the wood you cut for making the soundboard...
This was the "This Old House" for guitar building! Loved every minute of it. Well done!
Thanks man! I love this old house haha
Brilliant, educational and just truly entertaining. Watched from the start to the finish. Great build man
The whole time you were making this, I kept telling myself "it looks cool but probably sounds like shit". In an pleased to say that I was totally wrong. Amazing work. New sub.
Haha thanks!!
Why would you think its going to sound like shit? Guitar companies propaganda?
You wish you could play that guitar it looks amazing.
Robert Lee I don’t know if you have made a guitar before. However, if you haven’t, you should know it’s extremely easy to make a shit sounding guitar. There is a reason luthiers get payed so much for each guitar
~12:30 nice "clamping" technique
great job,and the guitar is just amazing looking,i love the knotty pine wood look.!! thumbs up,and yes i watched the entire video!!
Great job with your editing along with the angles, music, and close ups at the right times 👍 totally awesome video.. even good for learning a few steps. Thanks man!
Great video. You had me spellbound that this was not a $100,000.00 shop with all the latest special tools and c.n.c. How long did this take you? I never made a guitar, but I did make some furniture out of old pallets once. I couldn't believe all the Philippine mahogany I found at that time.
Ted Rowland Thanks! I don't remember exactly. I believe I got most of it done in 2 weeks, progress slowed down quite a bit after that and I think it took another 2-3 weeks to finish it. I had aprox 22 hours on video! You never know what you'll find in those things, but I've never been so lucky to mahogany out of them 👌👌 Thanks for watching!!
Well Robin, I'm older now. That was about 30 years ago when Philippine mahogany was plentiful. When I say it is a very soft wood, I don't mean soft as in cone bearing as I know it is classified as a "hardwood". I mean you could scratch it with your thumbnail. But beautiful grain striation, and the wood is pink. I made an entire bookcase out of it back then.
Ted Rowland...About 44 mins.
I know this is probably a crazy question. But here it goes. I have always wanted to learn how to build a guitar and your video makes me want to go out to the garage and start one right now. Only thing is where could I get measurements from. Do you have them or tell me where I can find them at. Thanks
@@robertvasquez3964 he was using he's other guitar for reference to measurements. Atleast that is what it seemed like. When he keep using a tape measure on it. Great video watched the whole thing
All I can say is that you have some really serious woodworking kit and woodworking skills too. You should acquire some really decent wood and make a truly great acoustic from a truly great tonewood.
Nice to see a female honor and praise a mans' handywork. You rock!! Ge deserves the praise!! What a great job!!! What patience.
Well I have no excuse in my woodworking, he did this without the normal tools available and rigged up everything he needed. Amazing work! I learned a lot from this.
W0W pretty cool watching you make this out of scrap wood and the methods you use is amazing. Love the name too.